Wood Vs Steel Open Trailer

[Sully]

You mean wood? And yes several hundred pounds.

Yes.
Ok!

Anyone else read his posts in a super defensive and snippy manner? Or is it just me?


Btw, wood can be just as slippery if not more so. Leave it in a shaded area and let it get a layer of green organic material on it and you'll bust your ass on it pretty quick. Just saying, wood isn't slide proof

Just curious, where do you plan to keep this in downtown richmond?

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[G.Irish]

The other thing about having that open center trailer is it's easy to have a hard fall if you're unloading a trailer alone at night...I still have scar tissue from that.

[*insertusernamehere*]

Just curious, where do you plan to keep this in downtown richmond?

Probably won't tell us so we can't talk shit about his stuff. Like the truck he wants he's not telling us about

[rherold9]

Lol definitely not in downtown. Somewhere a few miles away maybe near the west end where it's nicer

Edit: I have seen quite a few open steels and idk. Rather just get a full steel but there aren't many for sale at least on CL that I've seen near richmond

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[BLINGMW]

Anyone else read his posts in a super defensive and snippy manner? Or is it just me?

I usually use more smileys. I'll use more smileys. ԅ(≖‿≖ԅ)

[Sully]

Anyone else read his posts in a super defensive and snippy manner? Or is it just me?

I usually use more smileys. I'll use more smileys. ԅ(≖‿≖ԅ)

Talking about Ryan bud. I could never imagine you angry. If I did, I would busy picture you beating the shit out of a car with an old cane and then I would laugh.

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[Evan]

my personal opinion:

full deck is better than open deck.
The year I started racing a guy killed himself loading/unloading his car. Closed deck makes it harder to kill yourself.
Also about the same time I witnessed a guy in the paddock, tired after racing, literally an inch from dumping the car off the trailer.
and the whole 'you can work on your car on an open deck' is mostly bs. its a pain in the butt to get under there and work, lots of crossbeams.

[rherold9]

Take it however you like Sulli. I just told people to stop being obviously stupid at the start that was it...

Yeah I was looking at the full deck. Didn't even think about issues with the split in the middle until it was mentioned.

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[JustinG]

Whatever you do get a closed deck, or open deck and build inserts to make it a closed deck. You just get more use out of a closed deck.

If you buy used know mileage and factor in cost of replacing/repacking the bearings.

I'd go wood personally, just cause easier to maintain IMO, apply a good deck stain and the boards will last just as long as a deck would.

But you can't go wrong with either, just buy the cheapest you can find.

[HAULN-SS]

Ive used wooden trailers before for 15 years without replacing the decks. Most all heavy equipment trailers have wood decks. I think you'll be fine. Besides that, it's like $100 in materials and some time to replace the decks if they shit out on you

[rherold9]

Good thing about wood from looking online they are usually cheaper than steel as well but that may just be what I'm looking at. Definitely have to keep all this in mind. Seems like wood be better overall from what I'm seeing. I guess it's just preference and whatever is a good deal at the time

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[D_Eclipse9916]

Take it however you like Sulli. I just told people to stop being obviously stupid at the start that was it...

Can you take your own advice? You ask for help and get all snippy. "Obviously stupid" is a matter of perspective, get over yourself.


Most wood decks trailers wont be dovetailed...since at some point you will be getting rid of that mazda 3 (or being obviously stupid and continue down that path :lol and replacing it with something low, a dovetail will help immensely with not scraping getting on the trailer. This sounds like a minor inconvenience but most people will tell you its a huge pain in the ass.

[rherold9]

Most wood decks trailers wont be dovetailed...since at some point you will be getting rid of that mazda 3 (or being obviously stupid and continue down that path :lol and replacing it with something low, a dovetail will help immensely with not scraping getting on the trailer. This sounds like a minor inconvenience but most people will tell you its a huge pain in the ass.

Didn't think about that. It would be annoying to have to lug around less steep ramps or something if I didn't have a dovetail.

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[BLINGMW]

The year I started racing a guy killed himself loading/unloading his car.

Christ hock:

[Jake]

How does one kill oneself loading/unloading a trailer?

[navin]

Steel trailer, open center. I wish I had a closed deck, but it's all I could afford at the time. Bought mine new from econotrailer and they delivered it for free, which was nice.

Don't really think the price difference btwn new and used on steel trailers is that much, unless you find a steal of a deal and can act quickly on it. They sell fast... then also factor in doing mainteance such as bearings, brakes, tires depending on useage and you are almost back at the price of a new one.

And thanks Evan for scaring me on now killing myself loading my car up in a couple days on my deathtrap trailer.. rain + slicks + loading solo =

[rherold9]

Yeah steel ones are very close to new pricing. There a several beat to shit that need maintenance that still want 2.5k for them. New wood ones are about that same price but aren't dovetail lol. Hopefully more open up as we approach July/August. I'll be jumping on a good deal then if possible.

[ScottyB]

How does one kill oneself loading/unloading a trailer?

if its a response to Evan's open deck warning....just imagine being between the runners in the center of the open deck with your feet on the ground and getting pinned to the crossbars as the car rolls over you. thats my guess anyway. not a preferable way to go.

[Evan]

And thanks Evan for scaring me on now killing myself loading my car up in a couple days on my deathtrap trailer.. rain + slicks + loading solo =

for the record, I have no idea if the guy who killed himself did it on an open deck trailer. I just know he killed himself loading/unloading his car. I think they named the Feb VIR race after him for a while.
Its always been a saying in club racing, youre more likely to kill yourself loading or unloading your car than in a racing accident on the track, so apparently its not *that* rare

When I bought a trailer, I got tired of waiting around for the perfect used trailer to come around for sale (usually only a few hundred cheaper than a new one) so I bought a new Kaufman in NC. Great prices and fully customizable.
Sold it to jeff a few years back, no idea if he still has it.

what DJ says about the dovetail is true, they are important (but they also take up usable deck space)
brakes on both axles, removable fender, breakaway box, spare tire.
all good things to have.

[Scott]

I had the same experience as most others, I got tired of waiting for a deal on a used trailer that wasn't beat to hell or was way overpriced so I bought this new in 2008:
http://www.econotrailer.com/Open.html

It's been a great trailer, all I have done to it is put on new tires every 5 years and service the brakes and bearings yearly. I also keep it covered with a top and when I notice in chips in the paint, I spray the area with whatever "blackish" paint I have laying around to keep it from rusting.

Open deck vs closed deck? I made the decision between the two because the open deck was lighter. I was towing with a Honda Ridgeline at the time and overall weight was a factor (and couldn't afford an aluminum trailer). The thought was also I could use it as a "lift" to work on the car, which I have done a grand total of 0 times..... It has made it easier to look under the car to do a quick look around before or after an event. That being said, a closed deck would be more versatile, I have an old Triumph that is to narrow for the gap in the trailer.

Pro-tip: Get a winch. Trying to get a dead car onto a trailer can really suck sometimes.......

I recently purchased an enclosed trailer (thanks for the lead DJ) and I've been on the fence of selling my open.