Enclosed Car Trailers

[mchaplin]

Hi. Need some information on the right car trailer to purchase.

Our tallest car a 1916 touring car is one inch short of seven feet tall. Can someone suggest a solid but reasonably light enclosed trailer capable of hauling these early cars. Was thinking a trailer with a door just higher than 7 feet would work and a trailer about 24 feet long.

Would appreciate anyone's experience here as to brand, model, or any useful info. I hate to buy a trailer that is either too small or too awkward to handle. mark

[DaveBerg]

You want to keep in mind the angle of entry when determining the height you will need. If I am not mistaken my trailer has an interior height of 7'6" and my seven foot high Detroit Electric just gets in. I think when I bought it I ordered it to be one foot taller than the standard height. The cost difference was moderate.

[Jay Wolf]

I had an Elgin that was 7 foot tall, I went with an Avenger Vindicator with and extra foot of height added to it. When pulling it, I don?t think it was the weight as much as it was the wind resistance, mine was 8.5 foot wide and 11 feet tall. Like a big parachute behind you. I even bought on of these fancy wing things for my truck and never noticed any difference. Pulling the same car (Elgin about 2600 lbs) behind my Dodge motorhome (360) on a Trailex open trailer, I got 12 mpg, pulling the Vindicator I got 5-6 mpg. I hated to pull that trailer and I have pull trailers all my life. I even pull a trailer with a Rokon on it behind my BMW motorcycle.

[Guest imported_jmarsicano]

Mark-

I just made the purchase of a 20 footer. I too was looking at the 24' version, but decided on the 20. You will be suprised what an pain the 4 feet is. Mine is a caremate, bought it off the lot after it sat for a year and the lot owner had to move it. he knocked off a grand off the price. One thing to consider when getting into these trailers is, how are you going to load it? If you drive it on, how do you get out of the car? In my case, I just ordered a winch (3700 lb) and that solved that problem. As for weight... they are heavy! Dropped my MPG to about 8 from 18.

Hope this helped! Good luck and dont forget the weight distribution kit!

Joe

[Jay Wolf]

To add a little to my last post:

I looked at my bill on the trailer (1998) it cost $100 to 12 inches of height to a $5600 trailer.

That gave me 7?6? ceiling height and with a beaver tail floor 7? 2? door height.

I went with the ultra wide 8?6? trailer with 8? wall to wall inside. As far as getting in and out that isn?t a problem with older cars, I could open all four of my touring cars doors without hitting the sides, I even worked on my Elgin inside the trailer. I always drove mine in and out of the trailer

A modern car is a problem getting in and out of unless you have the manufacturer add a door for the drivers door, most trailer companies will do this. .

If you have a Roadster I would consider putting the top down for trailering and not adding the height, if you have a touring like mine it is too hard to put the top up and down to mess with it.

As far as my recommendations I would recommend getting a trailer with a pointed or wedge shaped front to help cut the wind. If money isn?t a big issue I would look at the lighter fiberglass trailers.

I know this is not want you want to hear, but if I was pulling a car that could take the wind I would pull it on an open trailer. The trip is more fun when other people can see your car and comment on it or just give you a thumbs up. And the big PLUS is people will let you pull out in front of them so they can see your car. With a box trailer they will do everything possible so they don?t have to follow you.

With all the enclosed trailers it just isn't the same going to Hershey like it was 20 years ago, where you talk to everybody on the CB and hooked up with others going to Hershey as far away as IL or IN by seeing what they had on their trailers, cars or junk.

[Rich Niezabitowski]

I am using a 16' Prolite Trailer from Transport Designs in Montoursville, PA. ( Not too far from Rochester). This was a custom built unit so I could fit a small British racecar - didn't need a larger one. Everything they do is custom. This is a super trailer- tows great and built like a tank. Most of the brass guys in New England are using them and they come highly recommended.

[Amphicar BUYER]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I know this is not want you want to hear, but if I was pulling a car that could take the wind I would pull it on an open trailer. The trip is more fun when other people can see your car and comment on it or just give you a thumbs up. And the big PLUS is people will let you pull out in front of them so they can see your car. With a box trailer they will do everything possible so they don?t have to follow you.

</div></div>

I agree on this point! Besides after just getting back from a 4100 mile trip with a 20' enclosed trailer and paying $1.49 - $1.97 for diesel @ 10MPG (2003 6.0L F-250). It got to be very expensive! We got the same mileage with a 2600 LB Amphicar on board as we did empty. When we had an open trailer, we got 14+ MPG.

[Guest Skyking]

Check out my trailer! see attachment......

[Peter J.Heizmann]

Sky...

That's pretty ingenious. Is that a rental truck? The only problem you may have is if the truck breaks down in the middle of nowhere. U-Haul will send out a towtruck. Under their agreement, if the tow truck operator finds out a car is in it, they will make you unload the car, leave it on the side of the road, or, they will not tow the truck. I asked them a few years ago and that is what the clerk told me.

How do you tie it down? as no rental trucks have "D rings".

Regards, Peter J.

[Guest Skyking]

Peter, that photo was taken in 1986 when we took the Mets to Macungie. I towed the red one in back and my brother followed in his 30 Model A street rod. The truck was a u-hall. We drilled some holes in the floor and tied it down. Luckly, we made it there and back without any major problems. Coming back home to R.I., we encounted one problem with my brother's Model A overheating in heavy traffic on the Washington Bridge in New York. While we were stopped he jumped out of his car and tied his car to the Met I was towing. I had to pull him all the way across the bridge. That was alot for that old 6 cylinder Ford truck. I turned the truck in when I returned home and no questions were asked..... Attached is another photo..

[Peter J.Heizmann]

Sky, that sounds like it was quite an adventure. I know the area of the George Washington Bridge/Cross Bronx Expressway isn't exactly a great neighborhood.

Used to pour castings for the Morgan Corporation and other straight bodied trucks. (Aluminum front top corner L & R half-moons.) I was informed that the wooden floors come from hardwood farms in Malaysia for practically every rental truck manufacturer as we know them in the States. At least the floors are definitely solid due to the abuse they are subjected to, however...

Regards, Peter J. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Peter J.Heizmann]

mchaplin, and, others...

The subject of Trailers, Towing experiences, etc., has been discussed at length over the years on the Forum.

Click on the "Search" area at the top of the page, pound in "Trailers", or, "Towing" and you will find a miriad of posts on all sorts of tips.

Regards, Peter J.

[another old car]

skyking

I did same thing when I moved out to calif back in 79 put the jeep in a 70 era ford uhaul - loaded it at a sears loading dock on a sunday - used ramps to get it off - when we moved back 12 years later it rode on uhaul car trailer - 6000 miles coast to coast and never touched ground - still got that jeep

[Guest Skyking]

Peter, the floors were indeed solid. The Metropolitan only weighs around 1700 pounds soak & wet, so there really wasn't a problem with weight. It was a fun experience, but I don't think I would go that route again. Like I mentioned earlier, we were lucky we didn't get caught. My brother who followed in the A designed the ramp. We pulled the steel ramp out and built a platform on that. It worked like a charm....Even though the truck looked big, it was a tight fit.We sure had alot of on-lookers when we arrived at Macungie.

[Guest Skyking]

RJ, it sure is an inexpensive way to transport....

[1937hd45]

Hauling a car inside a Ryder/Budget rental truck will cancel whatever insurance you think you have in the event of a mishap. You'll make the guy that tore the top of the box off look like a genius. Any 24 footer is worth at least $50,000, your car ??, plus the legal bills makes that trophy a bit pricy.

[Peter J.Heizmann]

Hi, Bob..."Great points". Hopefully, some inquisitive folks down the pike will take it to heart.

Regards, Peter J.

[Guest Skyking]

1937, like I stated, I wouldn't do that again......

[caf]

Last year I purchased a Haulmark trailer and have to say it has been so far a really great trailer. The springing is such that things arn't jarred and if I leave something loose on the floor it doesn't seem to move while traveling. I like 20 feet as anything longer becomes a hassle for several reasons. I also had it made 1 foot taller for one of my cars and it fits fine and doesn't seem to have much wind drag while traveling. They also have an option of galvanized sheet metal flooring and it is a great idea. easy to clean and lacks the fire hazard of wood when it gets greasy, not to mention carpeting which is the worst, if it gets oily it is a real bear to clean and talk about fire hazard, I don't even want to think of that one! Some like polished aluminum deck material but the little deck marks are difficult to clean. The galvanized is smooth and you can just wipe it down. I also had them install grey plastic sheeting inside which again is easy to wipe down and reflects lite. Sure makes the inside look nice. They will mount the floor anchors wherever you want, as early cars need different positions than later ones. I didn't want to put the tracking in as I don't think it will hold up in a severe crash. Just some thoughts , remember to order a spare tire mount and don't forget the gravel guard in front, it really saves the paint on the front, especially on dirty roads. As you can probably tell I really love this piece of equipment, although when loaded with a 4000 lb car it takes a 3/4 ton truck to move it safely. It is made as a car hauler so it has a ramp rear door and is 8 feet wide which is essential for moving autos, anything narrower will take a winch as you can't get out. I also installed a winch, but mainly when the cars don't want to go in under their power and need some encouragement. I used to use open trailers but enclosed keeps the cars much cleaner, especially if you get caught in the rain, besides when staying overnite the security is much better and you don't have to check on it all night. Also you can load ahead of time and not deal with it the day you travel. Don't have to unload either when you get home if your too tired.