Trailer

[JohnC]

Eventually, I'd like to buy a trailer to haul the Z to/from track events - the reasoning being that I don't expect the car to be totally reliable all the time and it doesn't have much room at all for things like tools and luggage, especially with two people going to most events. Here are a few trailers I found on Ebay:

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Anybody got any other suggestions or arguments for enclosed/open, etc... Anybody got a good line on a used trailer? Chad - are you gonna go this route soon?

[PDenbigh]

My suggestions:

Get a dovetail, makes loading and unloading really nice, especially on our low cars.

Get aluminum if at all possible, the weight savings is incredible, which results in a nicer tow, better mileage, less struggle, nicer ride, everything

Get tandem axle, and from the looks of your choices, you know that.

Get used, a good trailer will last a long time, and used will provide a much better price

Get real, radial, big trailer tires. Don't go for something small.

As Chad's dad would say, get a spare tire or two

Get one with brakes, either mechanical or electric. Mechanical are less to worry about, and don't require any additional wiring.

You can get two or three open trailers for the price of a closed. The open weighs less, and has a lot less aerodynamic drag. You have a powerful truck, but the less drag you have, the better mileage and more uphill speed you will achieve. I don't care what my car looks like, so open is fine (rocks here and there...)

For a starter trailer, I'd suggest open. IF you get more serious, and have taken care of the trailer (And buy it used,) you can resell it for what you have in it.

Check the local auto/valley traders at gas stations for a trailer.

Hope that helps!

Peter

[Chris]

It's MM trailer time!

Chad started a trend... I've got one now, and soon others will follow...

[Feersty]

Chris was that your secret? or your winter projekt rather?

[Chris]

Chris was that your secret? or your winter projekt rather?

both, its almost finished

[JohnC]

Well, I'm having a hell of a time finding a decent, cheap, used trailer around here. I've got a couple more folks to call about used trailers (in the $1200 - $1500 range, but they all sound like heavy equipment trailers, ie - too heavy). As for new trailers - no one in the area will sell a new open trailer for under about $2000. I found a place in SC that sells decent-looking new trailers for $1550 - but thats a 12 hour roundtrip and $100 worth of gas (although it may come to that - the next best place is in Georgia, followed by Missouri).

Is that about the price range I should expect, or are there better deals to be had?

[.RJ]

Pick it up on the way to Road Atlanta

[JohnC]

Pick it up on the way to Road Atlanta

Honestly not a bad idea - but is that a good price in your opinion?

[.RJ]

16' might be cutting it a bit short, you probably wont have any extra space for tool/storage boxes, etc - but dovetail, dual axle, electric brakes (see if you can get them on both axles) - nicey nice. Some guys prefer a steel deck - i dont know how that affects price at all.

[JohnC]

16' might be cutting it a bit short, you probably wont have any extra space for tool/storage boxes, etc

I'm going to put the tonneau cover back on my truck, so I'll have that whole space for covered, locked storage. And if I'm trailering the car, I don't need a tirerack (can just mount tires before leaving). Unfortunately, 18ft trailers are right up into the $2k range again...

- but dovetail, dual axle, electric brakes (see if you can get them on both axles) - nicey nice. Some guys prefer a steel deck - i dont know how that affects price at all.

The steel deck version of that trailer is $1900. I think I prefer wood - can be replaced very easily if it gets messed up, I'd think that with a steel deck it might be more difficult and costly...

[PDenbigh]

That's a fine price for a new trailor. It has nice wheels, big wheels, and an electric brake. Hopefully the brake is a good one and not one that'll cause you trouble, not much expereince here. Also, since it's a no-name, I'd test drive it before purchase to make sure it tracks well.

I'm curious how the ramps work. From the picture of the ramp, it looks like a 5"+ step to get from the ramp to the deck of the trailer, something that would not work well on low cars. The approach would scrape the bumper, and it'd make getting high centered easier. It is possible that the whole ramp comes out and then sits on the edge of the deck, but not common.

[JohnC]

Well, as things look now, I may be buying my neighbor's trailer, which I borrowed for this past weekend. $600 - needs the brakes fixed, and a little repair to one of the fenders. Other than that, it's in good shape. 15'6" long, dovetail, ramps that sit flush to the open steel deck, and it pulls really well... Definitely needs to get the brakes fixed though - I burned up the pads on the Lightning trying to stop this thing

[Ryan T]

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[Nick325is]

Now thats a trailor. I'd hate to see how much some of those trailers at the track this weekend cost. hock:


Nick