Car Trailer

[jclark5810]

I'll finally be getting out of the Socialist Republic of Commifornia in July!!!Oo. I'm going to be needing a car trailer to pull my Jeep (4k lbs plus some cargo) out to Tenn. I've never owned a car trailer but have borrowed a few from friends in the past. The ones i've looked at all seem to be about the same. Are there some things to look out for or avoid? Any brands that are better than other? My intent is to buy new from a dealer, the used ones i've seen aren't much of a deal considering i'd have to replace tires and service bearings. I'd rather just buy new. The wife is under the impression i'm going to sell it when we get there but I'm going to keep it so i'd like something that will hold up well. Any insight from the experienced? Thanks for the help!

 

[jhenderson]

I'm sure some will disagree with me, but, with a trailer in the 8-10,000 GVW range, I prefer torsion axles. They ride better when the trailer is empty, and they require less maint. There're no hangers, bushings or pins to wear out. As long as your not going off road, they stand up well.

 

[AEdelheit]

Reeds trailer sales in Petaluma has some nice trailers and a friendly staff, worth looking in to

 

[jclark5810]

Thanks for the tips guys. Yeah I was actually just looking at Reeds today on my lunch. I might take a ride up there Saturday and chat with them. I'm really not looking for much.

 

[AEdelheit]

Let me know if you you do, I live 5 minuets from them

 

[jclark5810]

OK thanks buddy I appreciate it. How's the inventory right now, do they have a few out there?

 

[AEdelheit]

Uhhh dunno, it's the opposite way I normally drive so haven't noticed

 

[jclark5810]

Ok thanks, i'll give them a call tomorrow. There's a Bix Tex out by my parents that I might look at too on Saturday. I think most brands at this level are comparable?

 

[HBarlow]

Are you talking about an enclosed trailer or flat bed?

I think Big Tex has become the largest manufacturer of open working trailers in the country. They have dealers all over the country. BT builds good trailers.

Dove tail rear deck on a car trailer is helpful and you'll want one wide enough to allow adequate room. I think 80" deck is the wide one but have forgotten.

I bought a Big Tex in late '99 because I was preparing to gut and rebuild a rental property. I bought 80" deck and removable steel ramps to allow transporting cars also. It's been a good trailer.

If you have a choice insist on a treated wood deck because the cheap lumber deck will rot in only a few years.

You'll want at least 3500# axles and 7000 lb. GVWR but if I was going to buy a replacement I would buy one with 6,000 lb. axles and 16" wheels. The torsion suspension suggested by JHenderson is a good idea but it adds cost as does my suggestion of heavier axles, wheels, and tires.

Beware the cheapo flimsy trailers sold everywhere with marginal frames that sag under load.

 

[PatrickMarshall]

I too had been looking at car haulers since the first of the year. Checking out Craig's List and dealers. Finally decided on a new PJ trailer. After looking and getting price quotes from Big Tex and Carson and Performance I decided to go the PJ trailer route with a 16' C5 with dove tail.



Although the PJ base price was somewhat higher, once you added the "extras" to the others that PJ included in their base the others priced out higher and don't offer the strength and finish product the PJ does.



#ad

 

[jclark5810]

Thank you Harvey for the guidance, I definitely trust and value your experience. I'm looking for an open flat bed trailer. I'm basically looking for what PatrickMarshall got. I'll check out PJ trailer too. I too have seen some that don't seem to be very stout. I've noticed too that some don't come with many tie down options. I need to haul the Jeep out there, but would like to use it for hauling other articles too (lawn tractor, furniture, atv's).

 

[dresslered]

When I am heading up to the mountains, I always see some HUGE lots of trailers in the Stockton area. I've resisted the temptation to stop and look around, besides I like to get through Stockton as fast as I can. That area is pretty depressed right now and it wouldn't surprise me if they had some good deals out there. The Wells Cargo trailers have always appeared to be nicely built.

 

[jclark5810]

Yeah I feel the same way David. I went to Delta College for a few weeks when I got out of highschool. It was too much of a culture shock so I ran my butt back up into the mountains. It's waaaay worse now too. When you're passing through, are you reffering to the ones off 5 or 99? I know coming through Lathrop there are some dealers. I might try there too.

 

[EGroeneveld]

I'd recommend getting a 10K rated trailer, you never know what you might end up with hauling in the future. And I would also recommend the dove tail and 20' length. This just allows you to have a great trailer for many many years. You just never know what might pop up.



I'm currently looking at the 20' PJ ''Buggy Hauler'' 102'' wide with driveover fenders in the 10K flavor.



Just a full size truck can overtax a 7,000 pound rated trailer.



In my view I think Big Tex has better paint then PJ trailers but this could have changed in the last couple years.



I'd only caution on one item and that is check with the state you are moving to on trailers. Here in Oregon a trailer RATED over 8K pounds is ''Perm'' plated and you have to run 'T' plates on your truck which is a total combined weight rating yearly ''TAX" I get to pay this in June for $ 764 to be rated at 26,000 combined weight. Without my ''heavier'' trailers my Truck license plate would be $84 for two years. Please note this is for 100% Personal use in my state of Oregon



And P. S my Truck Camper when loaded on my truck is included in the 26K weight calculation... .

 

[jclark5810]

Thanks for the great advice EGroeneveld, that's one thing I hadn't really considered. The weight starts to ad up REALLY quick. As far as tags go, Tennessee does not require utility trailers to be licensed. Unless i'm reading this wrong? http://www.countyclerkanytime.com/Tag_Title/trailer%20registration%20requirements.pdf I'll have to pay the sales tax and i'm sure there's no way out of registering it here when purchased for a dealer. As long as i'm getting out of here I don't care.

 

[dresslered]

When you're passing through, are you reffering to the ones off 5 or 99?

The one I am thinking of is off of 99 but your are correct, there was also one off of 5. Have no idea what the prices are like, but with that kind of inventory, I'm sure they'll beat the smaller dealers.

 

[WalterRyan]

I did the same in 2005 to move to Oregon. After looking at used trailers and pricing tires I just bought a new one. I settled on a Carson that a dealer had in stock. I have not dealt with the other 2 but I am very happy with my Carson. One thing about Carson is that they will rate the trailer lighter than what it was built for. The one I bought was 18' beaver-tail with a 10,000 pound GVW. The salesman bragged about the 6,000 pound axles and said it was a 12,000 pound trailer that they had rated at 10,000. I asked if it could go back to 12,000 and he said no problem he could just call the manufacturer and have them send a new tag and certificate of origin. That is what it was when I picked it up a week later. The only thing I did not like was Chinese tires but they are 16" truck tires and they have worked for 7 years and yes it has traveled thousands of miles at 12,000 pounds.



I have one thing to add to EGroeneveld's post. You will have to register it in California before you leave the lot. Be sure to have them order a title from the DMV. California uses electronic titles for trailers and you need to pay extra to get a paper one. I got to Oregon and had to order a title from California DMV so I could take it in and give it to the DMV here. Yo might not need it now but Tennessee could change that or you could move again. Better to already have it.

 

[HBarlow]

Thanks for the great advice EGroeneveld, that's one thing I hadn't really considered. The weight starts to ad up REALLY quick. As far as tags go, Tennessee does not require utility trailers to be licensed. Unless i'm reading this wrong? http://www.countyclerkanytime.com/Tag_Title/trailer registration requirements.pdf I'll have to pay the sales tax and i'm sure there's no way out of registering it here when purchased for a dealer. As long as i'm getting out of here I don't care.

PJ is also a good trailer and one to consider.

If you are still active duty AF you can legally register the trailer in TN claiming TN as your new official home of record. If you've already been discharged just fake it. I would urinate in KA before leaving but I would't spend any money there or register a vehicle there.

If you pay cash for the trailer they'll hand you the bill of sale and statement of origin and you can register it anywhere you please or not register it at all. You might get away with hanging a dealer's paper temporary license plate on it until you get to TN.

 

[AEdelheit]

One other thing to consider is you need a class A license if the trailer is over 10k in CA so unless you have a comercial license it would be best to get one rated under 10k

 

[jclark5810]

If you are still active duty AF you can legally register the trailer in TN claiming TN as your new official home of record. If you've already been discharged just fake it. I would urinate in KA before leaving but I would't spend any money there or register a vehicle there.



If you pay cash for the trailer they'll hand you the bill of sale and statement of origin and you can register it anywhere you please or not register it at all. You might get away with hanging a dealer's paper temporary license plate on it until you get to TN.

Thank you Harvey for the info. That was one thing I was concerned about as I do not want to give them another dime of my money. I'm still active duty until the end of July and i'll be paying cash so i'm hoping I can just take the bill of sale, and get a title(either there or in the mail), and be on my way. I really like the PJ's too, it's either going be that or the Big Tex.

One other thing to consider is you need a class A license if the trailer is over 10k in CA so unless you have a comercial license it would be best to get one rated under 10k

Thanks Aaron, yeah I had no idea about that. Definitely no CDL for me. If that's the case i'll just have my dad take it to the state line and i'll take it from there haha, stupid laws.