WANTED: open car trailer

[stylin99]

I'm looking for a used car trailer in good shape with trailer brakes, preferably open trailer to keep costs low. Anybody have one for sale or know where to get one cheap?

[fastoldman]

Check out www.hhtrailer.com. You might be surprised what you can get for a new tilt bed trailer and the quality is superb.

Give me a call if I can help?

Bill Pemberton
1-800-889-1893

[BOSSMAN]

Steve, go to the pantry and get a heavy equipment trader. I got mine cheap out of there.

[justagt]

Steve,

Try Trailers of the East Coast in Mocksville, too. That is where I got mine and the prices are great. They can also wire up your tow vehicle if you need that too. What car are you going to tow and what are you towing with?

[stylin99]

Will, it'll be towing the '99 GT. Tow vehicle will (for now) be the wife's V6 Montero SUV.

[stylin99]

Originally posted by BOSSMAN
Steve, go to the pantry and get a heavy equipment trader. I got mine cheap out of there.

good idea!

[Two-Mystics]

Originally posted by stylin99
Will, it'll be towing the '99 GT. Tow vehicle will (for now) be the wife's V6 Montero SUV.

I also use the H&H tilt bed. With every option I could put on it, the cost out the door was just over $2K. BTW you might want to reconsider the V6 Montero, towing around 5500 lbs, that thing ain't gona last long (what's it rated for?).

[stylin99]

How much does the trailer weight? Car weighs about 3250. Figure another 100lbs in tools, accessories. I don't think it will go over 5000. I'll have to check the rating.

How do you read the tow rating on the door jamb? There's several numbers there.

[Two-Mystics]

Originally posted by stylin99
How much does the trailer weight? Car weighs about 3250. Figure another 100lbs in tools, accessories. I don't think it will go over 5000. I'll have to check the rating.

How do you read the tow rating on the door jamb? There's several numbers there.

A good rule of thumb on trailer weight (steel trailer) is 100lbs empty for every foot of length. You don't want anything less than an 18' trailer. Also, I think your way low in your estimate of what you will carry in tools, lugage, parts, tires, wheels, fluids, brake rotors, cooler of food/drinks, jacks (jack stands), gas cans, tie downs, tarps, lawn chairs (easy up), and accessories - it all adds up, Fast. The faster you go, the more stuff you will have to carry. Add in your weight, and your car full of fluids. If you have a passenger go to events with you, add in their junk also.

The tow rating on the door will be explained in the owners manual.

[stylin99]

LOL
looks like i need to change my ad to "looking for a used V8 truck".

I'm not totally hardcore enough yet to need all of those things but maybe some day. Why is 18' preferred? Just for loading extra junk? Or is there another reason?

[Two-Mystics]

The primary reason for an 18' minimum is weight balance, the other (for a tilt bed) is ease of loading the car without having to use "step up" ramps (depends on how low your car sits, I have an 18' and still need 4" of step up ramps to clear - with a 20' I might not need the step ups).

For wieght balance: as a rule of thumb, you want about 15% of the total weight of the trailer/car combo to be on the tongue. This assumes that the hitch is rated properly (I recommend a class III frame hitch). If the trailer is too short, then when the car is loaded you will have a large excess of tongue weight and towing will be dangerous and very uncomfortable. With an 18' you will be able to position the car far enough back on the trailer to achieve the proper tongue weight (a 20' would even give you more adjustment room). I would also recommend that if you tow with anything less that a Power Stroke dulie that you use a weight distributing hitch. A. It will allow you to carry more weight because you can distribute some of the load onto the front truck axle, and B. With better weight distribution you will have a much more comfortable ride. A sway control between the trailer and hitch is also a nice addition. Of course, don't even consider a traler unless it has 4-wheel electric brakes and a DOT break-a-way kit ( and lights, and a 10,000 lb bull-dog coupler and a tougue jack) . Don't underestimate the comfort factor. A typical pull for me is 8 - 10 hours (one way) up to 12 times a year; an uncomfortable ride will kill you.

[BOSSMAN]

Originally posted by stylin99
How much does the trailer weight? Car weighs about 3250. Figure another 100lbs in tools, accessories. I don't think it will go over 5000. I'll have to check the rating.

How do you read the tow rating on the door jamb? There's several numbers there.

Mine is a 16' trailer with brakes on the front axle. It weighs about 1500lbs. A 16' trailer is more than enough to get the proper weight distribution (sp?). Also brakes on one axle is more than enough for your car and trailer combo. If it's over 7000 lbs I would recomend brakes on both axles. My truck has an inline 6 in it and I can run with any power stroke down the highway.

Just my $.02

[Mystic_Cobra]

Anybody towing with a V8 explorer? That's my plan.

[johnbasf]

Originally posted by Mystic_Cobra
Anybody towing with a V8 explorer? That's my plan.

V8venom does Jimmy. Check out his sight.

[Mystic_Cobra]

couldn't find anything about explorers on his site. V8venom, where are you??

What's all this DOT breakaway and load distributing hitch about??

[justagt]

Jimmy, I use an Explorer to tow my car with.

[Big Daddy]

Well I'll probably get flamed for this but I use a Durango V-8 to tow my car. I don't have the anti-sway bar hitch setup and I only have brakes on one axle. I towed out to MAM about 2100 miles round trip and it pulled fine. Of course I have a 5.9L in the Dingo so it's got a good bit of power for a Mid-Sized SUV. :D :D

[Mystic_Cobra]

Thanks, Will. Any mods on the Ex? I plan to get an inexpensive steel open car trailer. I haven't purchased the Explorer yet, either, but I plan to get a 96-99 V8 AWD 4-dr with a AT.

Sound reasonable?

[justagt]

Mine is a 2WD with the 5.0. I have pulled about 3 times with it and it seems to do fine. The longest trip was to VIR and it did fine. I would suggest leaving the overdrive off when towing to keep the tranny from shifting all the time. I hope to make it a couple of years with this before getting a 250. Oh, and no mods to it.