Enclosed car trailers, Who's got 'em and are you happy with it? Options

[GTeener]

Considering upgrading the open 18' trailer for an enclosed one.

Questions for those of you that own 'em:

What kind do you have?
Do you like it?
What don't you like about it?
What would you do differently if you bought another one?
How do you keep it protected from being stolen?
What's the best way to get a used one?
What do we need to look out for when buying used?

[bryanc]

I'm looking for one as well. So far, I've found some bargains if you are willing to do some work to them..... the floors get torn up, doors get tweeked, stuff like that. All of the used ones seem to have one or two 'oops'.

I'm hoping to buy something early next year, but I've been keeping my eyes open...

[GTeener]

I'm looking for one as well. So far, I've found some bargains if you are willing to do some work to them..... the floors get torn up, doors get tweeked, stuff like that. All of the used ones seem to have one or two 'oops'.

I'm hoping to buy something early next year, but I've been keeping my eyes open...

Where've you been looking?

[bryanc]

I'm looking for one as well. So far, I've found some bargains if you are willing to do some work to them..... the floors get torn up, doors get tweeked, stuff like that. All of the used ones seem to have one or two 'oops'.

I'm hoping to buy something early next year, but I've been keeping my eyes open...

Where've you been looking?

Around town and ebay. My office is in the 'industrial' section of town, so there are lots of trailer dealers. They usually have a few used ones in stock.

[propricer]

Used trailers ...

http://www.racecar2000.com/

[JoeSharp]

Gwen: I have a Classic 32" Box trailor. Love it. I keep it in my drive way. Bought it from a racer on E-bay. Came with lots of extras. It hauls 2 cars. Awning, generator, comperssor in cabinets and a whench, exteror lights and a nice doubel foulding rear ramp for low cars.
:PERMAGRIN: Joe

[drew365]

You have to try to balance how much stuff you want to take with how much trailer you want to tow and store. I use a 20' Haulmark. I fit my 914 and all the tools, parts and spare tires I need for a weekend. I don't have any built ins, meaning cabinets or spare tire racks. I don't bring a compressor or generator. I like not having to manuever anything larger. If you think you will want cabinets and spare tire racks you should probably figure on going 24' or larger.

[GTeener]

Gwen: I have a Classic 32" Box trailor. Love it. I keep it in my drive way. Bought it from a racer on E-bay. Came with lots of extras. It hauls 2 cars. Awning, generator, comperssor in cabinets and a whench, exteror lights and a nice doubel foulding rear ramp for low cars.
:PERMAGRIN: Joe

Don't think we'll be hauling 2 cars much, but your is really deluxe! How do you keep it securely stored?

[akellym]

I have a H & H trailer that's just perfect for 914's. The photo is from the web site. I have aluminum rims on mine.

http://www.hhtrailer.com/05XLTandemCargoTrailer.asp

[TimT]

What kind do you have?

I have a 26' Haulmark, its equiped with cabinets, pitpal accesories, a 55 gal fuel cel, generator, compressor. Im pretty happy with it, though I think there is a bit of wasted space ie I could get all the stuff I have in a 20' trailer.


Do you like it?
Im happy with my trailer, though it is a touch on the large size for what I need


What don't you like about it?
It offers so much more storage than a flat trailer, offer shelter, a place to secure stuff overnight etc.

What would you do differently if you bought another one?

Id get a smaller, all aluminum trailer

How do you keep it protected from being stolen?

I have a lock on the hitch, and a lock that goes between a pair of wheels

What's the best way to get a used one?

Word of mouth, Signs on the bathroom walls at the track. Also try Racejunk, I have andfriends of mine have located trailers there.


What do we need to look out for when buying used?

The obvious cosmetic damage. The the hidden stuff, rotted plywood floors, bent axles, cracked frames (near axle attachments)

[steveinOC]

A lot depends on what you have as a tow vehicle. I tow my 16ft enclosed
Interstate trailer with an Tahoe. With 914, tools, spare set of wheels/tires, etc.,
this size trailer is perfect for this size tow vehicle. It also serves very well
as a garage between events.

Here a few names of car hauler trailer manufactures.

Pace, Interstate, Mirage, Carson, Haulmark, Featherlite, and
there are many more.

Good hunting, Steve

[shaggy]

my friends dad who races mustangs and he has an enclosed trailer

its big enough that her can get the mustang(99 GT) in as well ans 2 more sets of slicks a 25 gallon compressor a welder 2 hydrilic jacks and 2 sets of jack stands 3 full size coolers a generator a full tool set and 3 chairs and blankets.

he likes it alot. hes going to weld up a bunch of shelves to keep the front of the trailer more organized though.

even with all of that stuff in there you could sleep in there too if you had to, im not sure how comfortable it would be though.

to keep stuff from being stolen he just takes the welder and the generator out and chains them to the trailer and then shuts the door and dosent bother with locking it. theres usually someone near by watching it.

hope that helps.
i really like it, its easy to work out of. i have become his pit crew and i think its easy enough to find tools in there but i cant wait for him to put the shelves in.

-jim

ps
he tows it with a ram 2500. ive never been in it when he was towing but he says it pulls well.

[MJHanna]

Make sure you have a tow vehicle that will handle an enclosed trailer.. I’ve got a 20ft Wells Cargo, with aero bubble, observation deck, tire racks, aluminum shelves and the electric tongue raiser (the best thing on it) also has an equalizers hitch. They all weight more than you think by the time you put your stuff and the car in it. I would NEVER hook it up to my ½ ton short bed truck. It would be a very BAD combination. Even though the numbers say it’s OK it would be a scary tow. A ¾ ton works well, with a long wheel base.
When I originally bought my trailer I though I could get way with the ½ ton. I borrowed a friends 1 ton to go pick it up. (1400 miles round trip) When I got home I did not even bother to try to hook it up. I just found a ¾ and moved on. Right now I’m looking for a 44-48 gooseneck for two cars. So I bought a 1 ton dually cuz the ¾ will not hack it with that size trailer. Go in with your eyes open.

[john rogers]

I bought a 34 ft toy hauler and when not racing we go camping with it which is great. I bought a 2000 Ford diesel to pull it as the gas powered trucks are seriously lacking when it comes to pulling a big box. Oh yea, the A/C is GREAT during those July races in CA!!!! I posted a couple of picts in another thread, here is the link: http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=61035

[sjhowitson]

I have a 20 foot wells cargo. It fits the 914 and all the tools and spare parts I need for a track weekend. I tow with a surburban. I am thinking about selling. If you want to come over and have a look PM me and we can work out a viewing. I park it at my office in Richmond. It is empty meaning no work bench or stuff like that. I don't have any pictures...sorry

[JoeSharp]

Just Bragging

[GTeener]

Good info guys. Thanks! We use a Ford Excursion (V10 - gas) to pull the open trailer. Works well.

Joe-
Nice. Definitely brag worthy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumb3d.gif) Bigger than I think we'll want to go though.

[messix]

gwen do you remember my toyhauler from wcc6?
it's the way to go! and don't you have a diesel excursion?
you set to get a 30' toy hauler with all the comforts of home and a nice safe place for you car while towing, you can even use it as a spare garage, or guest house.

and the differemce in towing fuel economy form towing would only be 2-3 mpg different from open trailer to enclosed to toyhauler. my gas one ton gets about 10mpg unloaded, 6-7mpg towing 10k lbs. so your deisel should be closer to 10mpg.

[GTeener]

gwen do you remember my toyhauler from wcc6?
it's the way to go! and don't you have a diesel excursion?

I remember you toy hauler (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumb3d.gif)
probably bigger than we want to go at this time.

And no diesel Excursion (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) . It's gas. I was recommending diesel when Dad was looking to buy it, but he's diesel phobic I think. He didn't want to go there. Didn't want to have to worry about where to get refuelled.

[majkos]

gwen do you remember my toyhauler from wcc6?
it's the way to go! and don't you have a diesel excursion?

I remember you toy hauler (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumb3d.gif)
probably bigger than we want to go at this time.

And no diesel Excursion (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) . It's gas. I was recommending diesel when Dad was looking to buy it, but he's diesel phobic I think. He didn't want to go there. Didn't want to have to worry about where to get refuelled.

Kinda true on finding Diesel fuel,but along the highway, no prob.
Big plus, diesel gives WAY more mileage than gas, in the long haul.