Car Hauler Advice for Newbie?

[LRDG]

Asked this as part of a question on the 3rd gen forum but I think it's better asked here. I am a Dodge/CTD/Full size truck/towing total newbie I'm returning to the US after 14 years overseas and don't know much about any of the above.



One of the reasons for buying the 2500 (short bed) is to tow my trail rig - @ 3,500 - 4,000 lbs '78 Land Rover Series III SWB - 12' total length 5. 5' total width. Again, I don't know jack about towing.



I'd appreciate advice on a good open car hauler for the Land Rover. I'd much rather a bumper pull than a 5th (recognising that a 5th is a better platform) so that I don't loose bed space. I would like to get the shortest trailer that is safe to have. I would prefer wood plank deck. Other than that - clueless.



Any advice most welcome - make/type/dimensions of trailer and associated equipment required (I've got the tow package and will get the Jake brake - but have no idea what equipment is needed in terms of hitch etc. ).



Thanks.

 

[Okie-Go]

An 18ft. good quality car hauler will do you just fine. 16ft. would prolly do fine also. I would get two 3500lb. axles with brakes on both. You can find one with a two ft. dove-tail for ease of loading a lower car but may not need it for the Land Rover. I personally would try to get treated floor if you wanted wood floring. On one I had a special light kit for lights in the fenders. Lit up real nice for towing at night.

 

[Froadin]

With that short of a trailer, you will want to make sure you have a well balanced load. As long as the axles are in the correct location to properly balance your load, it will be very easy to tow.

Having a slightly longer trailer allows you more room to move the vehicle around to 'fine tune' the balance.

Also make sure you have enough clearance between the trailer and you bumper. I imagine you are trailering this Rover for off road purposes? If so, a little taller trailer will make things a lot easier for moving around some of the loading spots for trails.

I personally love my gooseneck. But sometimes wish I still had a bumper pull to use my bed while towing some things.

 

[dpuckett]

I'd say 16-18ft, 2-5/16 ball- bulldog hitch (costs a little more, but better/ easier hitching and unhitching), 2- 6000# axles (16" tires, load range D or E), brakes on both, 80" wide or better, treated floor, ramps of some kind. Make sure the axles are far enough back to put more weight on the tongue. I've pulled some that were light in front, and it is a ROUGH ride, not to mention all the swaying... ... .



BTW- where are you? I know of a factory in southeast MO that has good trailers at good prices.



Daniel

 

[LRDG]

Hey thanks very much everyone. Although the terminology is a little complex, I guess even I can figure it out Seriously though, this is really helpful.



Daniel - right now I'm still in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) but will be arriving in the States in two weeks, taking delivery of the Ram around June 15. I'll be living in NY - probably Westchester somewhere. The Land Rover won't arrive from KL until end June, so I've got some time to sort this all out but I'm just trying to pull together info now so that I have some idea of what I'm doing when it all comes together.



I will road register the Land Rover but while it is great offroad - between the Simex Extreme trekker tyres (sounds like a C-47 is flying about 10 feet above the cab!), the low gearing, the 2. 25 4cyl engine, and British ideas about ergonomics, it is not a comfortable ride for any distance - thus the trailer.



Sorry - possible sacrilege on this site (not a Dodge and not a diesel) - but here's the Tonka in its natural environment...



#ad

 

[dhauser]

Hi LRDG, look at a lot of trailers before you cough up the $$$. Load your Rover on and look down the side rails for deflection I finally decided at the time, to fabricate my own (won't do that again). I went over kill and used 6" channel for perimiter frame and wood deck. I am looking at replacing my deck with aluminum as my wood has rotted and alum is lighter in weight. I have a great trailer and I have towed it cross country 11 times but if I had it to do over I would have spent the $$$ on a good aluminum trailer. Check out Rider Rental sales and see if they sell their car trailers, you may be able to get a deal. If you are from NY you know the drill about road salt and rust. If I was ordering a steel trailer, I would have it sandblasted and inorganic zinc coated before coating with epoxy paint. I have yet to see a trailer that is properly painted. (mine is hot dipped galvinized steel from a salvaged Air Force radar tower,no rust). You may want to check out an Air cushin recever hitch, a lot of new technoledgy is coming out. Good luck, have fun, tow safe, Dave

PS. Is your new truck a 4x4? That would make towing to the boonies much better.

 

[Mel Swanson]

Back to God and Country

LRDG... ... ... . Welcome to TDR.

And, welcome back to the States.

I too returned after a 14 year seperation from the US. I love this country.

Great picture. Whats that thing on the front bumper? Elephant line and hook?

mel

 

[SKargo]

Bring me a set of those simex's back!

 

[LRDG]

Great stuff - really helps. Thanks



Dave - actually thanks for the reminder about road salt - I've spent the last 7. 5 years living in the desert and then the jungle - so this really wasn't on my mind - need to Waxoyl the Tonka again as well. I'll look at some ally trailers.



C'mon Mel, hook and line ? We use harpoons for elephants... ...



Skargo - sorry mate, container's full - I've got a spare set in there. Don't know how much they run in the States but the 36" ETs are still only running about $125 and my little 32" jobbies are $100 here. Great tyres but they don't last long running on the road... .

 

[PatrickCampbell]

If you are going to be living in NY, get a Bri-Mar or a Kaufman. Bri-Mar dealers are all over the place around here.



I paid $1700 for my 16' Kaufman, brakes on both axles, diamond plate deck and a 2 5/16" ball, jack, and ramps.



The Bri-Mar is about $2200 and comes with a nicer jack and sealed wiring and maybe recessed D-rings instead of ones that stick out. And a better paint job I think.



I would get the Bri-Mar and not the Kaufman ... you get what you pay for.



The kaufman is here: #ad




You don't need 6K axles or an 18 ft deck for a 12 foot car. Get a 16 ft. deck (this is probably the shortest you can find). If you have sway problems, you just put a load distributing hitch on it, but I doubt you will need it.

 

[LRDG]

Patrick - thanks a lot. That sounds good. You have diamond plate deck - is that enough anti-slip for loading a car/truck with wet/muddy tyres - I'd hate to have the damn thing sliding all overtrying to load it... .



Cheers,

 

[Froadin]

The diamond plate on my trailer typically does a good job of holding even muddy tires. Only BAD thing is if/when you get any kind of oil on there, man that metal gets slippery!

 

[PatrickCampbell]

I'd say with a 4WD and since these trailers are so low/ramps fairly long, it shouldn't be much of a problem at all. The diamond plate is not exactly grippy when wet but WET wood is worse in my opinion. If it came down to it, you could get the paint on bed liner and paint it onto the ramps and deck.