I was considering getting an enclosed trailer, but HOA regs forbid parking one on my property, so I'm going to get an open trailer and park it in the garage with the car on it.
Did some local shopping. Most of the trailers I saw looked like someone learned how to weld on them. Fit and finish was terrible, ramps sucked, dovetails were often short.
What's a good open trailer?
Measure the garage door first, and then the length of the garage to see if any open trailer will fit! Don't forget to measure the door height. It would really suck to buy a trailer that won't fit in the garage with the car on it!
Tony D
I'm thinking of chekcing out a smaller carry-on utility trailer that is big enough to fit my e30 on it, but is only 8' wide so I can get it through my double-gate into the back yard. Carry-on trailers are great, and not too expensive.
NewEdgePerf wrote: Measure the garage door first, and then the length of the garage to see if any open trailer will fit! Don't forget to measure the door height. It would really suck to buy a trailer that won't fit in the garage with the car on it! Tony D
Yeah, I did.
Trailex.
irish44j wrote: I'm thinking of chekcing out a smaller carry-on utility trailer that is big enough to fit my e30 on it, but is only 8' wide so I can get it through my double-gate into the back yard. Carry-on trailers are great, and not too expensive.
8' is hard. I searched for a year to find anything w/ a max width of >8' to fit through the narrow spot of my driveway - and I only need to carry an 1100# sports racer.
I ended up w/ a 6x14' deck over - a hideous craigslist $400 monstrosity of which I only kept the steel bits. W/ new brakes, bearings, wheels, tires, deck, wiring, lights and jack I was in for about a grand plus a weekend of angle-grinding, wire wheeling, priming, painting and what not.
Tows like it's not there, fits down the driveway.
So, 8' w/ a 2500# car isn't impossible, but it's hard to find.
http://www.diamondc.com/trailers/car-haulers-motorcycle-trailers/12CHSL18X83
http://www.texastrailerman.com/New27.htm
I'm on my third one of these. The first was stolen, the second was bought new without a title and sold after being temporarily taken by the police, the third one is a heavier duty 20'.
They have long tongues, long dove tails, low decks, and the best ramps I've ever seen on a trailer. The diamond Cs are better built, but more expensive. They're heavy (@2200lbs). With rising steel prices they don't depreciate. The last one I bought new for $2200 and sold 8 years later for $2000.
motomoron wrote:irish44j wrote: I'm thinking of chekcing out a smaller carry-on utility trailer that is big enough to fit my e30 on it, but is only 8' wide so I can get it through my double-gate into the back yard. Carry-on trailers are great, and not too expensive.8' is hard. I searched for a year to find anything w/ a max width of >8' to fit through the narrow spot of my driveway - and I only need to carry an 1100# sports racer. I ended up w/ a 6x14' deck over - a hideous craigslist $400 monstrosity of which I only kept the steel bits. W/ new brakes, bearings, wheels, tires, deck, wiring, lights and jack I was in for about a grand plus a weekend of angle-grinding, wire wheeling, priming, painting and what not. Tows like it's not there, fits down the driveway. So, 8' w/ a 2500# car isn't impossible, but it's hard to find.
This is the one I had in mind. 8' overall width, and and long enough for a smallish car.
http://www.carry-ontrailer.com/products/show/6X14GW2BRK/
I bought an Econotrailer in '04. Goes to at least 8 events a year with racing Spridget plus did two 24 hour almost non-stop runs to pick up parts-cars.
Also carried several MGBs, mid-size American cars, and an airplane (wings off).
Very happy with it and have had no issues. Since I picked it up at the factory, they gave me a good deal.
Mine is 18' car carrier. I did have to modify the ramps to suit my skinny Spridget, but that was easy.
Had good success towing it with a Ford minivan, but I have been towing it with a Chevy Express V6 cargo van since '09 and works fine. This is an old photo.
MOTO IQ did a bit on trailers.
http://www.motoiq.com/magazine_articles/id/2119/project-trailer-part-one-building-the-ultimate-open-deck-trailer.aspx
I like open trailers with wooden beds. If you need, you can build anything on top of it with 2X4s and screws. I've turned mine into a rolling dumpster for roofing jobs. Used it with a tarp on top for hauling dirt, rocks and other landscape materials. Once I hauled a 6 foot sliding grass door by standing it up on the trailer. Open deck trailers are only good for moving cars.
irish44j wrote:motomoron wrote:This is the one I had in mind. 8' overall width, and and long enough for a smallish car. http://www.carry-ontrailer.com/products/show/6X14GW2BRK/irish44j wrote: I'm thinking of chekcing out a smaller carry-on utility trailer that is big enough to fit my e30 on it, but is only 8' wide so I can get it through my double-gate into the back yard. Carry-on trailers are great, and not too expensive.8' is hard. I searched for a year to find anything w/ a max width of >8' to fit through the narrow spot of my driveway - and I only need to carry an 1100# sports racer. I ended up w/ a 6x14' deck over - a hideous craigslist $400 monstrosity of which I only kept the steel bits. W/ new brakes, bearings, wheels, tires, deck, wiring, lights and jack I was in for about a grand plus a weekend of angle-grinding, wire wheeling, priming, painting and what not. Tows like it's not there, fits down the driveway. So, 8' w/ a 2500# car isn't impossible, but it's hard to find.
That ramp is a huge air brake.
Wound up buying a Featherlite 3109. Blowout deal on a new trailer. Like this one, with a box on front: http://www.fthr.com/bumper-pull-car-trailers/model3109-car-trailer/. Got it on the internets. Should be here this week.
I'm OK with the open style trailer. In fact that'll let me either get rid of my Kwiklift or use it a lot less. Understand it would be less versatile if I wanted to haul bales of hay or something. Even then, I could pretty easily fill in the open part with a wooden deck.
I have an open deck trailer.
But when I need to carry stuff, I lay plywood sheets on top, cut to fit between the rails.
I have holes drilled into the corners of the plywood, and run long bolts with fender washers under the heads, down to pieces of 2x4 cut to length across the width of the trailer, that fit on the other side of the rails.
iceracer wrote:irish44j wrote:That ramp is a huge air brake.motomoron wrote:This is the one I had in mind. 8' overall width, and and long enough for a smallish car. http://www.carry-ontrailer.com/products/show/6X14GW2BRK/irish44j wrote: I'm thinking of chekcing out a smaller carry-on utility trailer that is big enough to fit my e30 on it, but is only 8' wide so I can get it through my double-gate into the back yard. Carry-on trailers are great, and not too expensive.8' is hard. I searched for a year to find anything w/ a max width of >8' to fit through the narrow spot of my driveway - and I only need to carry an 1100# sports racer. I ended up w/ a 6x14' deck over - a hideous craigslist $400 monstrosity of which I only kept the steel bits. W/ new brakes, bearings, wheels, tires, deck, wiring, lights and jack I was in for about a grand plus a weekend of angle-grinding, wire wheeling, priming, painting and what not. Tows like it's not there, fits down the driveway. So, 8' w/ a 2500# car isn't impossible, but it's hard to find.
well I'd take the ramp off, since it's a landscaping style. I'd just get some steel ramps for it :)
You'll need to log in to post.
