shopping for a car trailer

[cyborg]

I've been looking and shopping for a car trailer. I would like to see some pics of anything ingenius you have done to to make your trailer "uniquely yours".

If it matters, Not only will I haul my jeep XJ, I have two 1969 powerwagons (one at a time, of course) and other toys. Also firewood, steel and well, what ever.

One of my considerations is the ability to secure tools, spares and other ancillary goods. For this reason a covered trailer is not out of consideration, I just don't think it is as practical. I can't see mounting my roll-a-ways on an open trailer, in a motel parking lot overnight. But I could see a covered car trailer with a work bench and ???.

What do you guys got?

 

[SS]

I don't have any pics of my trailer, though it's just an average car (Jeep) hauler. I did cut/weld the coupling so it sits about 4" taller than original - don't need quite the drop hitch from the truck that way. I also welded a couple of nuts on the diamond plate above the ramps to drive a bolt into the ramp to keep them from rattling. Drove me nuts on the highway and the vibrations kept blowing tail lamp bulbs. Can't help much on the toolbox - I have a small box for the front of the trailer, but it's not 100% weatherproof or secure.



A few other things to consider:

A full deck trailer is useful for hauling other stuff too, but that also makes it more likely to want to be borrowed everytime somebody you know wants to move something. Not quite as bad with a car hauler since it's purpose built. I have thought about making a removeable deck between the ramps on mine - of course I wouldn't tell anyone that.



Fenders should be stiff enough to stand on. Tread plate or sticky abrasive strips help in the rain. If you're hauling Power Wagons might have to make them stiff enough to drive over depending on width. My truck won't fit on my trailer (would be overweight anyway).



Safety cable on license plate. I don't know if Michigan still has permanent plates but I don't want to lose mine to theft or fatigue of the bracket.



Plenty of places to tie-down straps.



LED lights - waterproof, lifetime bulbs, bright, low current draw, faster response - really no downside except cost and that's come down a lot.



Lots of other details can be added - reflective tape all the way around so it can be seen at night, round all the corners (top and underneath) so you don't catch your knee/forehead/whatever, hand/electric winch to pull dead vehicles onto trailer, 12 volt jack, slots in side to secure high lift jack if you have to change tire while loaded, quality paint for underside for Michigan winters, etc.

 

[cyborg]

Thanx steve.

Part of this is to facilitate my move to nevada

 

[SS]

Part of this is to facilitate my move to nevada

Ah - well in that case get the biggest trailer you can! It sounds like you might have a few projects so the more room to carry spare axles, wheels, etc. the better.



There is some great wheeling in Nevada if you're into that.

 

[MMeier]

I could possibly set you up with one like this !!

 

[MCummings]

http://www.dundoo.com/view.php?id=318377



That's mine.



http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=123205655&imageID=1350051802



Has alot of features I really like. Lowboy, 20kLb D-Rings every 3' welded onto the frame rails, 12k winch, LED lights, 8'x6' platform over the neck, 14' hydraulic dovetail is sweet. Flat bed, to dovetail in 15 seconds...





Merrick

 

[MRaynor]

http://www.dundoo.com/view.php?id=318377



That's mine.



http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=123205655&imageID=1350051802



Has alot of features I really like. Lowboy, 20kLb D-Rings every 3' welded onto the frame rails, 12k winch, LED lights, 8'x6' platform over the neck, 14' hydraulic dovetail is sweet. Flat bed, to dovetail in 15 seconds...





Merrick

That is one big trailer. :--) I like your Problem Solving FlowSheet in there too :-laf

 

[cyborg]

That is one big trailer. :--) I like your Problem Solving FlowSheet in there too :-laf

Ditto on both counts

MMeier: Nice unit. But I'll be buying in the east, and moving west.
If it was the other way around..... It's still too pretty, I'd tear that thing up.

 

[cyborg]

This is the type I'm leaning towards.

#ad


But prices are all over place. One thing that seems to be consistent is that the further away from the city (Detroit, Mi) you get, the cheaper they are.
It seems like everyone build them a little different.

Anyone want to pipe in on the pros of a wood deck?

Thanx for the responses guys!!

 

[dmhollister]

Wood decks are good, especially if you have a tendency to have spilled stuff, ie liquids, or other stuff, snow. These make a steel deck really slippery. Check the local laws regarding brake requirements on trailers. Out here in Colorado it is a requirement for brakes on all axles once over a certain weight rating. I have a 16' similar to the pic on cyborgs post. It works great for my wrangler and hot tubs, pipe parts, limbs, wood. You get the picture.

 

[drtrox]

This is the type I'm leaning towards.



But prices are all over place. One thing that seems to be consistent is that the further away from the city (Detroit, Mi) you get, the cheaper they are.

It seems like everyone build them a little different.



Anyone want to pipe in on the pros of a wood deck?



Thanx for the responses guys!!

Well... wood decks make it easy to nail down a wooden chock.



Look at these: http://www.appalachiantrailers.com/16-FT. DIAMOND DECK CAR HAULER12-29-05.htm I just bought one of these and it looks like the shop in Ohio might only be about 200 miles from your location.



Scroll down and select "HOME PAGE " and you can check out their other trailers and prices.

 

[bagd99dak]

i dont have any pics but i just bought a 2006 car mate 18 foot wood deck car trailer to tow my dakota show truck around. i am big on making my dakota part of the trailer when i tow it so i set the straps up specifically for the truck. i put wheel stops on the front, ressessed Drings behind the front tires and got lashing winches mounted right in front of wheel stops and use macs custom wheel nets to hold the front tires. for the back i got a set of ressessed Drings in front and rear tires and then a set of roller rings behind the tires, then 2 feet behind that i got another set of ressessed Drings to hook the ratchet up to. also got custom wheels nets for the rear tires. once strapped down i can tip trailer upside down and truck will not move. i paid 2900 for my trailer. im on long island so you could probably get one a little cheaper then that outside the big city area's.

 

[CRuth]

They also come in handy as a nice work platform (can even toss a small tent on it). But people will want to borrow it, often. I solved that problem by letting mine deteriorate.



Sure you can borrow it, just watch out for the hole on the right side and oh, that left rear is pretty bald, keep an eye out on it.



I got tired of paying for tires, bearings etc, and getting a six pack in return. Now I flat tow my jeep most of the time.



Oh, one thing people are good about is returning the trailer promptly, they sure don't want it taking up their precious driveway space.

 

[69RoadRunner]

I'm thinking about one of these.



http://www.camsnc.com/kl_trailers.htm

 

[MCummings]

That is one big trailer. :--) I like your Problem Solving FlowSheet in there too :-laf

Thanks, and Thanks.



It's for sale too.



Merrick

 

[steved]

This is the type I'm leaning towards.



But prices are all over place. One thing that seems to be consistent is that the further away from the city (Detroit, Mi) you get, the cheaper they are.

It seems like everyone build them a little different.



Anyone want to pipe in on the pros of a wood deck?



Thanx for the responses guys!!

I bought mine (new) on eBay from a guy in TN, he had one for $2200... 10k, almost identical to that one in your picture... except mine has folding ramps...



I save over a grand, even considering the fuel costs from PA to TN to pick it up...



I think the trailer is a down-2-earth?



steved

 

[FKowzic]

Idont know why but Missouri is the cheapest place in the country to buy a new trailer. In addition to the above features you need brakes (electric are better than surge) also I dont think anyone mentioned stake pockets, so you can put sides on and off easilly.

 

[Lrambo]

Lrambo

I have and enclosed 22' Pace tandem axle made in Utah. I ordered it with 8'6" width box so everything is inside. It has slot channels in the floor for the different vehicles that I haul. 34 Ford 3 window Coupe, 75 CJ-5, 71 Corvette, and 99 Buick Regal. All fit fine, but the jeep has a roll bar that is just a little bit to high so I place a 6x6 under the ramp door and it goes in and out just fine. I also made it a V nose so it would cut the wind better. There are tracks in the front V to anchor any tool boxes or taller equipment, and a winch in the front center incase something needs to be drug in after break-down. I also installed retractable rear adjustable legs. It was not cheap but I have had no problems with it. If you want pictures let me know.

________________________________________________________________



03 3500, silver DRW crew cab, 48RE, PAC-brake, running boards, 99 Lance, silver line-X in bed, Mag-Hytec Deep Trans pan and dif cover.

 

[MEREDOG]

http://www.buggy.com/trailer.html

 

[Nate]

You on mallcrawlin.com?? Wondering cause that where that pic is from.

This is the type I'm leaning towards.



#ad




But prices are all over place. One thing that seems to be consistent is that the further away from the city (Detroit, Mi) you get, the cheaper they are.

It seems like everyone build them a little different.



Anyone want to pipe in on the pros of a wood deck?



Thanx for the responses guys!!