enclosed trailer tips...

[Greg L.]

I'm thinking of picking up a 8x20 enclosed trailer in the $5000 range and was wondering what I should be looking at, features, makes and such. I just want the most basic one because it won't get a lot of use. It will have to be able to haul C3 or newer corvettes as well as say my 70 Judge but other than that I have no requirements.

If anyone could suggest what brands or features to look for I'd appreciate it.

[Phillip E.]

Re: enclosed trailer tips...

I'm thinking of picking up a 8x20 enclosed trailer in the $5000 range and was wondering what I should be looking at, features, makes and such. I just want the most basic one because it won't get a lot of use. It will have to be able to haul C3 or newer corvettes as well as say my 70 Judge but other than that I have no requirements.

If anyone could suggest what brands or features to look for I'd appreciate it.

Greg,
It looks like your going down the same road I when last year when I was looking for a car hauler. My first recommendation would to get one with 5200 pound axles...it will be worth the upgrade. Also, I was looking at getting a 8x20 for my C3 but when with the 8x24 for the extra room. I found a new 2008 model in the $5000 price range. Good Luck!

[Gary C.]

Re: enclosed trailer tips...

Greg, I prefer a 36 inch draw (trailer front to end of the tongue). Short draw or tongues can cause side sway when driving down the road and are easier to dent a tow vehicle bumper with. Make sure the side door opening sill height is short enough and the positioning will accomodate a C3 driver's door being opened. Gross weight rating should be sufficient to include your Corvette and the weight of the trailer itself; i.e. empty weight 2400 lbs, plus 4800 lbs carrying capacity equals a 7200 lb gross weight. Never buy an under capacity trailer. Sorry, the archives are closed for conversion to the new TDB as they contain lots of posts with good trailer data. Good luck with your purchase. Gary....

[Harold M.]

Re: enclosed trailer tips...

...get a get-out door.

[Mike G.]

Re: enclosed trailer tips...

i got a 20 foot pace. i haul a c1, c3, and a c4 in it. all fit fine and you have about 4 feet extra in the front for chairs and other stuff. make sure you get the escape door on the left side so you dont have to go in and out the car window. i got the upgraded axles and brakes on all 4 wheels. get the equalizer hitch and sway bar. well worth the money. i pull the trailer with my avalanche and it pulls fine. i usually go 75 to 80mph on the interstate with no problem. its nice to have a cleen car when you get to the show. i find the trailer works best with the car all the way to the back. with a corvette the weight is pretty equal over the wheels that way. the cars are about 4 inches from the back door. you dont have alot of excess tonge weight that way so it wont change the handleing of the truck.

[Eric J.]

Re: enclosed trailer tips...

Make sure you have a spare tire and a good jack. Antisway bar and a load leveler help quite a bit as well. If your tow vehicle has the "Trailering" option you will also need to add a trailer brake control. The Option typically only includes the wire harness not the actual controller. I also load my trailer using a tongue weight scale. You want to make sure you put most of the weight on the trailer wheels. Eric

[Benjamin C.]

Re: enclosed trailer tips...

Greg, I bought my first trailer last August. I chose Haulmark. The price was $5400 with inside lights, vinyl walls and aluminum wheels. At that time it was 0% interest if you paid it within a year. I took my 67 from N.Y. to the meet in Florida this past Jan. and it was very easy to pull.

[Kent K.]

Re: enclosed trailer tips...

I don't own a trailer but have borrowed some very nice Wells Cargo units to haul my '67. Some tricks and lessons I've learned from others in this hobby and my father-in-law are:
(1) carry a 4x6, maybe 24" long, with a beveled end for pulling/backing the good wheel up on to change the other flat tire on the same side without the need for a jack.
(2) bolt 4x8s along the trailer floor in tire tracks for the hauled Corvette to raise it up so its driver door will clear the sill of the driver side escape door. Taper the ends of the 4x8s to closely approximate the ramp angle.
(3) Always use sway bars.
(4) Check your load (tie downs) after the first 100 miles.
Happy towing, Kent

[Stephen L.]

Re: enclosed trailer tips...

Purchase an 8x24, with 5000# axles. Much easier to sell down the road.

Skip the escape door ($400+ option) in favor of a 4000# winch (about $400).
You just winch the car into the trailer. Also you only need to set the car position once for correct load balance. When you establish rear tie down length just let the car roll back by raising the trailer tongue with the tongue jack and unhook the rear straps. Do not alter their length. Now they are preadjusted for the next trip. I pull mine partially into the trailer, on the ramp gate, reconnect the rear hooks into the frame and pull the car in against the straps. Then you just complete the front tie down and pull tight against the rear straps.
When you want to bring home a "non running dead one" it makes it easy. It also eliminates the need for 4X8's resulting in a flat floor.
A spare tire and floor jack are always nice to have...and the jack can be used in the garage.
Load leveler hitch and sway controller are a must.....

[Scott S.]

Re: enclosed trailer tips...

Greg, A word of caution. Trailering a car in a trailer is serious business. I personally know five individuals that have crashed their hauler trucks/trailers in the past fifteen years. A proper towing unit is essential, weight distribution hitch with a sway controller are a must. Speed is very important. Anything over 60 mph is risky for a number of reasons. I would be more than happy to talk to you directly.
Scott Sinclair
905-857-1463 home

[Greg L.]

Re: enclosed trailer tips...

Thanks guys that's all really good advice. What are your thougths on buying a used trailer... Would it be worth it or would I be better off just buying a new one?

What would be the minimum that I would need for a tow vehical? I know a 3/4 ton would work and a 1 ton would be great but I'd rather just use a 1/2 ton. I have a rusty ole 95 F150 now that I'm getting rid of anyways and was looking at say 98-04 Chevy or GMCs to replace it(the 98 is a sentimental thing for me). This truck will be my every day vehical so that is why I'm not interested in anything bigger than a 1/2 ton but I want to be able to use it for a tow vehical once or twice a year.

I've been looking at what I "need" and not what I want and feel that I can get by with a 8x20 trailer so I'm pretty sure that the right 1/2 ton will work just fine....any thoughts on that?

[Gary C.]

Re: enclosed trailer tips...

Greg, as Scott Sinclair advised. Opt on the side of caution. Lots of people tow with 1/2 ton vehicles. I for one would not. Lost a trailer with expensive Tennessee Walking horses one time with a 1/2 ton. Truck was too light for the load. Been using 3/4 ton with camper/towing packages since and haven't had any problems. JMTCW, Gary....

[Eric J.]

Re: enclosed trailer tips...

Ive Towed with a 83 Chevy van, Underpowered but long wheelbase, 2004 Chevy Tahoe w/5.3 liter worked great, I now tow with a 2007 Chevy Suburban. The longer wheelbase makes a difference.

[Patrick H.]

Re: enclosed trailer tips...

Greg,

I've used open and enclosed trailers, all towed by my 1994 Chevy 1500 or 2003 GMC Sierra 1500, both being 4WD trucks with the trailering package, extended cab and both with caps on the bed. In 2007 I towed my 72 in an enclosed trailer from Michigan to Boston and then in November took an enclosed trailer to Bowling Green to pick up my 2008.

Some things I've noted -

1. The cheapest is to borrow a friends' trailer. I don't own one - my friends do.
2. If you buy one, follow the advice given about axles, weight distributing hitches and sway bars.
3. The optional "nose cone" that covers the upper 1/2 of the nose of the trailer may increase your mileage by 1.5 mpg - it did mine! 11.5 mpg back and forth to Boston, barely 10mpg to BG with the rig shown below.
4. I like the driver's side "escape doors" but some are better placed than others. In addition, most do not have a low enough ledge over the trailer tires to open your car door without hitting something. I had to pop the tops and lower the driver's window on both the 72 and 2008 to escape after driving my car into the trailer, but it was a lot easier on the first trailer which had an escape door. You can use a 2x6 or 2x8 under the driver's side tires to lift/tip the car if you wish, but make sure it's nailed in place!
5. Always check your tie downs. My 2008 didn't loosen until 6+ hours home, and I was checking it every hour. Thankfully all it did was slide to the side a bit, even though my straps were crossed to try and prevent this.
6. You can never have too many D-rings in the floor. The trailer I used for my 2008 had them waaaay to far forward, and it was a trick trying to hook it up without ruining the front spoiler. I can't imagine using a winch (as mentioned elsewhere) on a C4/5/6 without destroying the spoiler.
7. Consider the E-track (?) system as previously explained by Art Armstrong as a way to secure the car if you end up purchaisng your own trailer.
8. No major issues with my 2003 truck, but if I were to buy a new one I'd get a 1500 with the "Max Trailering Package" that they now sell:
MAX TRAILERING PACKAGE:
VORTEC 6.0L V8
4-SPEED HEAVY DUTY AUTO TRANS
STABILITRAC, STABILITY CTRL
TOWING PACKAGE
LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL
HEAVY DUTY TRAILERING AXLE
FRONT/REAR DISC BRAKES

I hope that helps.

Patrick

[Nick M.]

Re: enclosed trailer tips...

Kent

Really good towing tips. I like the 4 X 6 for use in changing a flat tire on the trailer