Trailer Talk

[Rsmith350]

Who's got suggestions on trailers, good, bad, cheap, advise? Thought this would be a good thread to start. When I searched, nothing came up.

[Rsmith350]

I'm thinking that I want a 16 foot but I wanna build a tire rack/tool supply thing for the front.

[Rob Liebbe]

I'm thinking that I want a 16 foot but I wanna build a tire rack/tool supply thing for the front.

I like my tool box and tire rack. 16ft is too short in my opinion, how long is a 4th Gen Camaro anyway? Big tires are better. Long ramps are a definite must or carry race ramps or wood. A winch would be good because you have a Chevy. Seriously, walk the pits and take notes and pictures.

[Tilton]

Kwikload trailers are really nice but come with 14" wheels and are about $500-$1000 more than a traditional trailer. http://www.kwikload.com/special.htm

Pranav sent a bunch of people here with good results (Spring, TX): houstontrailerconnection.com

I'm also looking (not really) for a trailer with the following:
- 18'
- steel deck
- 4' dove tail
- 6' slide in ramps
- 15" wheels
- trailer brakes on both axles
- D rings
In the end I was looking at a $3750 trailer, for a few $$ more I could just get the Kwikload.

[ShadowBolt]

I have a Kwik-load and if I could do it over I would get the same trailer as Rob has. I hated carrying the heavy short ramps from the side to the rear and back. Rob's trailer has long ramps that just pull out. Now I don't know if he has to jack up the front like I used to and like Marshall and Michael do. I did not like that either. The Kwik-load is a good trailer but 14" wheels is not good for tires selection. If your car is really low you need a slide trailer like the Sloan.

JJ

[AI#97]

Go to racingjunk.com....you can find decent economy 24' enclosed trailers now for just over $4k BRAND NEW. They usually come with 3500# axles which is borderline but some come with 4800# axles if you look well. Best deals are closer to Waco as they make most of them there.

Also, post here and on NASAforums/Texas to see if someone is looking to upgrade and might make you a hell of a deal. I got Jeremiah's old 24' when he was liquidating for CHEAP and you might be able to find Randy's old trailer on craigslist! too soon?! LOL!

[MikeP99Z]

What's your budget?

[Rob Liebbe]

I have a Kwik-load and if I could do it over I would get the same trailer as Rob has. I hated carrying the heavy short ramps from the side to the rear and back. Rob's trailer has long ramps that just pull out. Now I don't know if he has to jack up the front like I used to and like Marshall and Michael do. I did not like that either. The Kwik-load is a good trailer but 14" wheels is not good for tires selection. If your car is really low you need a slide trailer like the Sloan.

JJ

My trailer started as just a steel deck with a 4 ft dove tail and hydraulic inertia brakes. I am very lucky to have a friend who fabricates and we added the toolbox mount, tire rack, new ramps with slide-in racks, under bed spare tire mount from a Chevy truck, replaced the sliding tongue with a solid type, replaced hydraulic brakes with electric, re-wired everything including reverse lights for backing in the dark, and now a winch and mount. It has 15" Load Range D trailer tires and I've only had 1 tread separation that I didn't even notice until I arrived at my destination. My ramps are close to 8 ft long. The trailer originally came with something like 4 ft ramps that loaded a high riding drag car. With the long ramps, I don't need to raise the front of the trailer but the air dam does drag a bit. The trailer is parked with two tongue locks and a wheel boot to discourage theft. There are other trailers parked nearby with less security which will hopefully be taken before mine. It is all steel, heavy, and makes a lot of noise as it bangs down the road. It has hauled Mustangs, Camaros, a 69 Torino, a Highlander, a Dodge 1500 4x2, a Crown Victoria, an Explorer, lumber and some ATV's. I like my trailer in case you are wondering. Another consideration is brake control. I prefer electric and recommend a good digital proportional controller like the Tekonsha Prodigy line. All the above is just my 2 cents, your mileage may vary.

[Trublu]

Mine is a pretty simple point A to B model with very few bells and whistles. It started life as a landscape trailer, progressed to jet ski team race trailer then I picked it up for $400 gave it a quick and dirty once over and promptly stuck 5000 miles on it last year. Like Rob I quite like my trailer, it has long ramps, a place for tires/tools and serves its primary purpose in life quite well; dragging my car and crud from point A to B.

[kbrewmr2]

I'm thinking that I want a 16 foot but I wanna build a tire rack/tool supply thing for the front.

build it low, most of the people that do these have them way the hell up in the air creating a shitton of drag. Whole point of an open is trading having nice weather protection and such for lower drag / better pulling speeds / better mpg.

16' sounds like an MR2 size trailer.

+1 to the Prodigy brake controller. They're the gold standard. Pony up for it.