Enclosed Car Trailer Recommendations

[gordyzx9r]

Well..I'm under a year out from returning back to the states and it's time I started looking for a car trailer and I need some help sorting out the good from the bad and what I really need over what I want.

I have a budget of $12K. I've been watching ebay...but I haven't seen anything yet that has caught my eye.

If it has to be built, it has to be available in CA by June of '08.

I want an enclosed, tag trailer (yeah I know the goose necks are better but this isn't negotiable).

I plan on using this thing occasionally it's not like I'll be taking the car to track meets around the country. Maybe just some of the more popular Buick events and get togethers. I'm thinking under a dozen trips a year.

I plan on being able to put the GN and the Ninja in the trailer at the same time (at least I hope too anyways).

These are the dimensions I've been going off of when looking at trailers online (I hope the one about the GN is right):

1987 Buick Grand National (Regal): weight 3,520lbs, length 200.6”, & wheelbase 108".

1997 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-9R (motorcycle): weight 403.5lbs, length 80.7”, & wheelbase 55.7”

My first thought is that a 24' enclosed car trailer would be sufficient.

I would like to park the motorcycle in front of or behind the car, parked perpendicular to the direction the trailer is facing. I think it would be better to park the bike in front of the car closer to the front of the trailer. But I'll need to hear some ideas about that.

To accomodate the bike, I imagine the trailer would need additional floor mounts and some wall mounts (I think I've seen tracks advertised at some sites for the walls of the trailers). I would also like a removeable motorcycle wheel chock as well.

These are the other requirements that I think I need:
Bumper Pull (tag)
5,000lbs Axles
Stoneguard
4 5,000lbs Floor Mounted D-Rings
Roof Vents
Dome Lights with a Wall Mounted Switch
Corner Trim
Spare Tire

I'm not really interested in cabinets.

I have pulled trailers before (small ones mind you), but I've never had a car trailer before so I'm not up to speed on how far in you would actually want to park the car in the trailer, or the best methods to tie it down inside the trailer.

I will be towing this with my new truck, a brand new (left over) 2006 GMC 2500HD SLE:





So far, online, I've looked at the following brands/manufacturers:

Carson Trailers
Classic Trailers XT Dominator Series
Exiss Trailers Mach 10
Performance Specialty
R&R Aluminum Trailers
Pac West Trailers
United Trailers
US Cargo Trailers

I've done a search here and on the other Buick boards and there isn't much outside of a couple of people complaining about Haulmark trailers.

I'd like some recommendations on trailers and the different manufacturers.

I'd like some recommendations on options I should get and the options I should stay away from.

I'd like some tips on loading, securing, pulling, and unloading.

And anything else you would think is pertintent.

I've started looking at dealers in CA but I'm not sure about pricing and what would constitute a good deal.

Like this one...

Haulmark 24' Race Trailer for $11K

[TurboDiverArt]

24' trailer should be fine for your needs. 5K axles are a must. Get yourself a weight-distributing hitch. I got a Reese 10K lb. rated hitch with 15K ball and 1000K round bar brand-new on eBay for $250 shipped from blue grass trailer. Towing with a weight-distributing hitch is like night and day. I got my tie downs from Cherokee Tie Downs. They are really nice people there. I bought two 4' aluminum aircraft strips for $20 each (cut them into four 2' strips). They are rated at 10K lbs each, just bolt them in with 5/16 grade-8 bolts through the floor into the frame. The couplers are like $5 each I think and allow you to adjust the coupler anywhere along the strip. The strips can be oriented in any direction that you need as long as they attach to the frame. They also have the 10K cargo strips, which are the wide green tie downs you typically see out on walls, I don't remember the price of them but they were close in price to the aircraft strips.

Cherokee Tiedowns
734 Gowdeysville Rd.
Gaffney, SC 29340
864-902-9063
streetrodtiedown@aol.com

You won't really find a used trailer now, racers are still using them. Try around December-February, this is when they all go on sale as people are either getting out of racing or upgrading. When I was looking there were many choices. I picked up my 2002 Horton 24', 5K axles for $4000 in great shape. Try RacingJunk.com as well as many of the car boards (godragracing.com, he Camaro and mustang boards, etc.). Again, you probably won't start to see them until December. Act fast cause they get snapped up quickly.

Hope this helps,
Art.

[BLACK6PACK]

My brother was looking at new trailers when he came across the one below for $3500. Its a 30' trailer and he takes his 700 kawi atv along also. There's probably 8' in front of the car and several feet behind the car for stuff. Keep you're eyes open.

[firebird_1252]

a 24' trailer is more then enough i think. in my experence you want the heavyest axles you can find. you want 102" wide, duel axle brakes, and i think its important to get the dimondplate in the front.

[BLACK6PACK]

Sorry gordy, kinda highjacking here...

Rob, my brothers f350 2wd gets what ford guys call the "death wabble" while pulling the trailer. Its very rare, but at all times it just seems wabble side to side a little. We've pulled his trailer with 2 chevy duellys and they were rock solid. The ford has an airbag setup which I think may be part of the problem, but from everything I've read, airbags should be better than the stock setup. What do you suggest he do to the truck to make it a little more stable. I'm not exactly sure what is under the back of the truck now.

[Old Buzzard]

I pull a 28' Featherlite w/ my 01 HD Dirtymax... No need for additional hitch equipment. I use the factory hitch, and a 2 5/16" ball.
It hauls a$$ at 80mph, all day long, and does so with a rock solid ride.
As for the trlr.. U get what U pay for... The cheapo, low end price teasers, are not what I would have for a quality trlr.
Many items to check out:
1. Floor and wall members.. on ctr dimensions.. 16" 24", etc.
2. Floor rails.. 10" 12", ??
3. is the roof a true, 1 piece roof??
4. Floor.. alum deck, or plywood? thicknesses?
5. Undercoated?
6. Wheel bolt pattern? Common size?
7. Springs, or torsion bar suspension?
8. Wired for winch?
9. TIRES..Watch out for CHEAPO, supposedly trailer rated tires!!
10. Lighting.. Leds or bulbs? LEDS are the way to go!
11. Brakes on both axles? NO surge brakes.!
12. Must have: Breakaway controller.
13. Gauge of the outer skin? hidden rivits, or? FRP walls make the trlr much heavier.
My $.02.. reality may be different..

[firebird_1252]

very good advice above!! dont get a seamed roof! we had that in our haulmark and it leaked bad! i also think tortionbars are the only way to go