Enclosed Car Trailers

[RSchwarzli]

I am looking for a enclosed car trailer for my 1968 Chrysler Newport. As I have really no backround in enclosed car trailers, what are good brands to work with and ones to stay away from?



Thanks!



Robert

 

[JKloppe]

I will be ordering an Optima next year. Optima | Premium trailers through superior aluminum design

Racing Junk has a few nice used Optima in tag and goose. For Sale: race & performance cars, engines, engine parts, trailers

 

[JimB1]

www.hhtrailer.com and Home



These websites show their trailers to be in a seperate class of sturdiness & quality.



Also, request the H&H cataloge which has 5x more info then their website, even tho' their website has way more factual info than most other mfg's.



Cataloge comes pretty quick.



As a future buyer I've studied the heck out of many other brands and these two are the tops if you're looking for a well built rig that'll still be good as new after 10-15 yrs hauling over many miles of roads, expansion joints and potholes.

 

[chuckwilson]

Check out Haulmark, United Expressline, & Pace American for low end & Featherlite for high end trailers. They all have web sites you can check out. Now a good time to buy, sales are slow!!!!

 

[RSchwarzli]

Thanks guys! This is what I needed to know!



Robert

 

[DonTX]

Don't entirely overlook the "no name" trailers. Often a startup company builds better trailers than anyone else, then too late finds he is spending too much for quality parts and goes broke.

 

[oneshotkyle]

make sure the trailer you buy has two 5000k pound axle, preferably torsion style. torsion tow night/day difference over conventional spring style. i looked for a car hauler for a while and found lots of them had 3200lb axles. don't know why anyone would want them but there are lots. for me i bought a interstate enclosed car hauler and am happy with the everything thus far. not the most expensive trailer but seem to be well built. the trailer i bought is a 24'x102" beaver tail floor white walls and ceiling with two inside roof vents, 3 interior

lights, spare tire, all LED lights outside, 48 inch side door, outside door light, rear load lights, diamond plate 40" inches tall on the front and 10 or so inches down both sides, chrome wheels. expect to pay 7500-10000k.

 

[HBarlow]

I spent the entire day today online and on the phone helping my daughter buy a car hauler trailer as a gift for her husband. He has a Corvette collection and is buying one out of state in a day or two but didn't have an adequate trailer for me to transport it.



It can be frustrating. A single car hauler needs to be a minimum of 24' long and 8. 5' wide and as another poster said above, should have 5,200# torsion axles and 10,000# GVWR, which includes 225/75-R15 LRD tires/wheels. Should also have D ring tie-down hooks, and a heavy duty rear ramp.



The oldest enclosed trailer manufacturers are Haulmark, Wells Cargo, and Pace American. They are competitive and offer several basic models each and dozens, possibly hundreds of optional features.



Personally, I wouldn't buy a no name trailer. I've seen several car guys do it and regret it. No name trailers look like quality trailers the day you buy them but they often have flimsy weak frames, Communist Chinese suspension and running gear, and... . well, you get what you pay for.



I found a dealer in a tiny town in NE OK with a website who is a Haulmark dealer and very helpful. He scanned and e-mailed the build sheets on each model so we could study the standard and optional features to make sure we were getting what we wanted. My daughter didn't want to pay for a gooseneck, I tried, and also had no need for a tricked out race trailer with all the goodies. She settled on a Haulmark Thrifty Hauler and will pay $6800 for it. I'd guess it is possible to buy one for less but we couldn't find it. This one has optioned up 5,200# rubber torsion axles and 10k GVWR.



Beware of old-fashioned "bait and switch" tactics among some internet advertisers and lots of vague descriptions by salesmen that will draw you in and if you're not careful you'll end up with a very basic entry level trailer with standard spring suspension and 3500# axles. When you subtract the weight of the trailer, approximately 3500 - 4500# trailer weight from a GVWR of 7,000# you won't have sufficient capacity to carry a car.



I couldn't find a suggested MSRP from manufacturers so you have to wing it depending on comparing regular retail dealer prices and e-bay dealer prices to get an idea what the one you want should cost.

 

[RSchwarzli]

Harvey,



Thanks for the detailed wright up! Yesterday I actually finalized the details on a Thrify Hauler as well. 26' with 10,000 lb GVWR. I found a place in AL (www.metrotrailer.net) as they have all of the prices of every model and option that Haulmark offers.



Just thinking though, you said that yours came with 16" tires. Did you order that extra? I was told 15s come with the 5200 lb axles. If 16s were wanted, then the 6000lbs axles were needed.



Thanks!



Robert

 

[KBalzuweit]

I hate to say this, but I had a Haulmark 24ft and had nothing but problems. Seems they either don't pay much or pay at all for warranty since I had a heck of a time getting things fixed (several dealers). Haulmarks offer was send me parts and fix it myself. I got tired of the headache and sold in less than a yeaR.

 

[HBarlow]

Harvey,



Thanks for the detailed wright up! Yesterday I actually finalized the details on a Thrify Hauler as well. 26' with 10,000 lb GVWR. I found a place in AL (www.metrotrailer.net) as they have all of the prices of every model and option that Haulmark offers.



Just thinking though, you said that yours came with 16" tires. Did you order that extra? I was told 15s come with the 5200 lb axles. If 16s were wanted, then the 6000lbs axles were needed.



Thanks!



Robert

Robert,



Oops! I screwed up. No, the wheels/tires are 15". I don't know if that was a typographical error or I was thinking 16".



Glad you found the trailer you wanted.



I just got home from a three day trip. I left home early Tuesday a. m. and drove to Colcord, OK, picked up the trailer, then drove up to Shell Knob, MO to spend the night at an old Navy buddy's home. It was a 650 mile day. Then Wednesday I drove up to Blue Springs, MO to pick up a Corvette my son-in-law bought off e-Bay, loaded the Corvette, then drove down to Tulsa, OK to spend the night. Made it home today. A 1600 mile roundtrip in three days. Almost like being a transporter again.



I was very impressed with the new Haulmark trailer. It tows straight and true and rides nice, empty or loaded. The torsion arm suspension that is standard on the Thrifty Hauler is well worth the extra $1000 over the basic Transport Car Carrier model. The trailer can be felt, of course, but it doesn't transmit sharp jerks and jolts to the truck.

 

[HBarlow]

I hate to say this, but I had a Haulmark 24ft and had nothing but problems. Seems they either don't pay much or pay at all for warranty since I had a heck of a time getting things fixed (several dealers). Haulmarks offer was send me parts and fix it myself. I got tired of the headache and sold in less than a yeaR.

Karl,



Well, if this Haulmark is a problem it's too late now. My daughter is what's called in the car business a "proud owner. " It was paid for and has a 1,000 towing miles on it and is parked in their driveway. Initial indications are that it is an excellent product. Everything functioned perfectly, even excellent brakes after the linings mated with the drums after a few hundred miles of towing. I hope it is a good one. It pulled great.



Was your Haulmark a Thrifty Hauler or a Transport Car Carrier with leaf springs and 3500# axles?

 

[RSchwarzli]

Thanks Harvey. That makes more sence! Also glad to hear that you like yours/your daughters.



I pick up my trailer from the Indiana factory on Monday, so I will find out how it tows on the ride back home!



Robert

 

[smitty3500]

I have a 07 30' tag Haulmark Edge. I have been nothing but happy with the trailer and the way it tows and how it has held up. When I upgrade to a Goose/5th Wheel I will purchase another Haulmark.

 

[RSchwarzli]

Weel, I picked up my trailer and I love it! The fit and finish is great and it tows like a dream. Thye foiks at the factory made it seamless and had everything ready and cleaned. Highly recommended and when I go for my 48' fifth wheel, it will also be a Haulmark.



Robert

 

[HBarlow]

It seems that several of us have written a free commercial for Haulmark here.



If anyone is searching my daughter's Haulmark was purchased at Trailerland in Colcord, OK. Here's a link:

http://www.trailerlandusa.com/haulmark_terms to know.htm