Looking for info on enclosed car trailers

[RSchwarzli]

Hey Guys,



Dad is looking at potentially changing car trailers from what he currently has (Haulmark).



But he does not want to the crappy quality of these large mass produce trailer companies anymore.



Does anyone have experience with a quality manufacturer that will not kill the bank? I know there must be companies out there... .



Thanks!



Robert

 

[BIGNASTY]

FIL has one of these that he tow's behind his motorhome, we just used it going to Yellowstone pulling the wife's Audi A3 in it, it worked out just fine not a problem at all. It followed the motor home very well even at high speed (80 MPH) Kind of far for you to see one but he's had his for a long time he bought it when we lived in So Calif.

http://www.sporttrailersonline.com/

 

[RSchwarzli]

Those dont look too bad!

Although apparently info required that I neglected to share, he wants gooseneck/5th wheel. They apparently don't have those!

 

[JJPage]

I have owned two of these Charmac trailers made in southern Idaho. They have different qualities/models available, 16"/20" on center wall tubing supports, torque flex/spring axles, light/heavy ramps, etc, etc.

http://www.charmactrailers.com/



This is my latest.

 

[Wayne M.]

It's almost as intimidating as travel trailers, with all the brands and small outfits out there. I had a 24' wells cargo and it was real good and well built. If budget is high, then Featherlight (all aluminum) is top notch. Other good brands are Pace, Classic. I have seen and heard of many sad stories with Haulmark. Bottom line is you need to see them in person and check features and quality. Another idea is to go to race tracks and talk to the guys.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I like my Wells Cargo and its price was reasonable. It has 2x6" box tubing frame, Dexter Torflex axles, etc. I got the thicker aluminum skin option, and the thicker plywood interior panels.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I have owned Pace,Wells and a couple of the other steel framed aluminum sided trailers. I used them hard (commercial use) and they looked bad after 3-4 years. Then I bought a Hilsboro Endura trailer, had it for near 11 years and a couple of hundred thousand loaded miles. It still looks great, is square and solid. Costs more but in the long run was well worth the extra money. http://www.hillsboroindustries.com/Products/EnduraCarTrailers.aspx



I think that Pace went out of business.

 

[6speed]

PACE went out of business about 2 years ago. It is now "LOOK" I have a Goose neck Continental Cargo with a slide out

Had a few problems in the beginning but worked them all out. Forest River is the parent company and they make several brands.

 

[ewcmr2]

My Southwest Expressline (a division of United Expressline) is holding up well. One piece aluminium roof, triple dexter torflex axle, aluminium skin, 3/8 plywood interior.

I added living quarters and upgraded to 16" wheels.

Besides upgrades (generator, compressor, fuel tank etc) the only work it has needed is regular maintenance, re-pack (original) wheel bearings & goop edge of roof seam once a year. New brakes @ 90k. Trailer currently has about 140k

 

[EGroeneveld]

I have a 2005 Pace Showdow GT and love it! Pace sadly went bankrupt several years ago. But someone else has bought the rights to the name. Which to me is meaningless unless they build them to the same standards with the same parts.

Interstate is a cheaper brand that works okay if $$$ is a concern.

Wells Fargo and Halmark are decent brands.

Featherlight is great for those that can pay the $$$.

It really is all about the frame size and axles used. Then the electrics and fit & finish of the trailer itself.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

My last Pace trailer was damaged at a fairgrounds in San Diego. I took the outer skin off of it to install new aluminum panels in my shop. The steel "hat channels" in the wall were not all connected to the frame!! some of them had little scrap bits of metal buzzed together to make them reach the perimater frame. Made me sick to think how shoddy the unseen construction was. I was very happy to see them go out of business.



Again the Endura line is in a world all to itself as far as build quality and how strong the trailer box is.

 

[RSchwarzli]

I have owned two of these Charmac trailers made in southern Idaho. They have different qualities/models available, 16"/20" on center wall tubing supports, torque flex/spring axles, light/heavy ramps, etc, etc.
http://www.charmactrailers.com/

This is my latest.

I will do some searching. Thanks!

It's almost as intimidating as travel trailers, with all the brands and small outfits out there.

Exactly! I have seen travels trailers fall apart due to the same stupid workmanship!

I like my Wells Cargo and its price was reasonable. It has 2x6" box tubing frame, Dexter Torflex axles, etc. I got the thicker aluminum skin option, and the thicker plywood interior panels.

Yes. They are a common brand as well. Good thinking on the thicker panels. Less frame flex.

I have owned Pace,Wells and a couple of the other steel framed aluminum sided trailers. I used them hard (commercial use) and they looked bad after 3-4 years. Then I bought a Hilsboro Endura trailer, had it for near 11 years and a couple of hundred thousand loaded miles. It still looks great, is square and solid. Costs more but in the long run was well worth the extra money. http://www.hillsboroindustries.com/Products/EnduraCarTrailers.aspx

I think that Pace went out of business.

I will do some digging there as well!

My Southwest Expressline (a division of United Expressline) is holding up well. One piece aluminium roof, triple dexter torflex axle, aluminium skin, 3/8 plywood interior.

I added living quarters and upgraded to 16" wheels.

Besides upgrades (generator, compressor, fuel tank etc) the only work it has needed is regular maintenance, re-pack (original) wheel bearings & goop edge of roof seam once a year. New brakes @ 90k. Trailer currently has about 140k

Hmmm. Living quarters... .

Wells Fargo and Halmark are decent brands.

Wells Fargo is a good brand eh? :-laf

My last Pace trailer was damaged at a fairgrounds in San Diego. I took the outer skin off of it to install new aluminum panels in my shop. The steel "hat channels" in the wall were not all connected to the frame!! some of them had little scrap bits of metal buzzed together to make them reach the perimater frame. Made me sick to think how shoddy the unseen construction was. I was very happy to see them go out of business.

Again the Endura line is in a world all to itself as far as build quality and how strong the trailer box is.

Yes. We have also pulled the Haulmark apart. Gaps and tack welds. Beyond scary!

 

[Powder Extreme]

I've owned 4 pace trailers with my current one being about 7yrs old. Their quality got worse and worse, the build quality on my latest one is so poor, the dealer finally told me he was done doing warranty work on it, he was losing too much money. Needless to say I will never buy a pace or a trailer from that dealer again.

Not surprised they went out of business.

 

[Schumacher]

I have a 13yr old Wells Cargo that has done a good job for 350k. I'm looking to step up to a Wells Cargo gooseneck but, found out that Haulmark purchased Wells Cargo as their premium brand.

 

[Wayne M.]

haulmark purchased wells cargo as their premium brand.

Seriously!!!???

Living quarters... Yes, I occasionally get big ideas about going NHRA racing on a division scale and building a class car. I've looked into living quarter trailers. Basically, anything's possible, just provide 22-26' for the car/ work area, and the rest is anything you want.

This is nice...

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Check local, state, province laws. In some states. a trailer that is 10,001 lb. gvw pushes you into commercial compliance, CDL, etc. While being non-commercial, I also stay under the radar with a SRW pickup and 10,000 gvw trailer with two axles, moderate length (24' box, 28' total).

 

[Schumacher]

Seriously!!!???





Unfortunately, that's what the wells cargo dealer told me earlier this year... .

 

[Wayne M.]

My trailer was awesome. Nothing is what it seems nowadays. You can't go by name alone.

 

[RDHamill]

I had used a couple of Pace units in a commercial application in Maritime Canada, rough roads and lots of salt. They rusted fast, the aluminum and steel combo was a real mess.
In 2007 I got an ATC ( Aluminum Trailer Co), after 6 years and 300,000 kms, there is no rust and the unit still looks great.
Have a look at that brand, great product.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I had used a couple of Pace units in a commercial application in Maritime Canada, rough roads and lots of salt. They rusted fast, the aluminum and steel combo was a real mess.

In 2007 I got an ATC ( Aluminum Trailer Co), after 6 years and 300,000 kms, there is no rust and the unit still looks great.

Have a look at that brand, great product.

You are correct, Galvanic action is tough on the aluminum sheeted steel frame trailers. Things get loose and sloppy quickly when you drive in salt. This is why I went to the all aluminum construction, the difference is astounding.