car hauler trailer questions .

[scooter]

Well i say if its on a trailer i just bought it , or it broke down .With the costs of the local tow trucks and also the need for a trailer i am looking to buy a trailer .My questions , will a 16' trailer haul most older cars n trucks ,16' deck length .Also what kind of space do i need between the fenders of said trailer ?Is a wood deck ok or should i replace it w/ metal decking ?I would really like a 18-20+' trailer for biz needs and car duties but found 2 16' trailers , just seein if a 16 will cut it.
dual axels on both trailers .
???16 or keep looking for 18+???trailer not girls bwahhahahha. THANKS

[Roothawg]

I have an 18' dovetail, the dovetail is about 4'.
I bought mine with a metal floor...don't get tricked into buying a wood floor if you plan on keeping your trailer. I have a buddy that has already replaced his wood twice since I bought mine. It pays in the long run.

[Deuce Roadster]

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http://photo.starblvd.net/~DeuceRoadster/5-3-4.jpg

This is a 16 foot trailer.

http://photo.starblvd.net/~DeuceRoadster/5-4-3.jpg

I have owned this trailer for 3 years. The first time I had a car on it was 3 months ago when my 40 got rear ended. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

It is nice to have sittiing in the shed. It pulls great and was about $1800 or so brand new.........


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[phat rat]

Damn that's a shame to have to use the trailer for the first time for a reason like that. In answer to the question about a 16' hauler. I've hauled a little of everything on my 16' in the 12 yrs I've owned it. Everything from an A to a COE. It's got over 20,000 mi on it and been all over from Montana to Vermont. But I really would like a 20' or bigger. As for the floor I prefer steel, I've got an open center on mine and put 2x's on it so that I could haul small stuff or motors in the center and I'm on my second set of boards in about 9 years.

[BELLM]

I have a plain old 16' lowboy trailer wood floor was about $600 new many years ago, I bought it for $150 spent $75 new treated 2x6 floor. Haul a lot of non rolling vehicles, hauled an 85 Chev 3/4 ton home few weeks ago little tight, hauled a 30 roadster home last week with space to spare. Has worked well for me but would like to have a nice 18' dovetail car hauler just cant seem to quit buying junk so cant afford good trailer. Mine works fine. Depends on what you got to spend. I bought a $29 boat winch with nylon strap mounted on front. Made some homemade ramps out of heavy angle, can load about anything that will roll. Best investment I ever made.

[WZ JUNK]

I have a 16 foot tilting trailer. I bought it because I have been in the wreck rebuilding business for many years and the tilting feature makes it easier to load and unload. I have an electric winch and I have the trailer modified to tilt using a crude electric over hydraulic setup. My trailer has a wooden floor that I have replaced it once in the 10 or so years I have used it. My experience is that sometimes a metal floor gets slick. One thought: Owning a car trailer is like keeping keg beer in your shop, you will have lots of friends. Most of the time when they come to borrow my trailer, I just stop what I am doing, and haul whatever it is they need moved. It is easier than repairing the trailer when it comes back.

[JimC]

I have seen a lot ofguys haul cars on pretty small trailers. WZJUNK and any one who has been to the track can tell you the same.
If you are hauling a 29 ford fenderless roadster, you can get by with a 16 wood floor 600 dollar trailer.
If you are hauling a larger vehicle, go for the 18 foor metal floor trailer with the 102 inch width.
The dove tail trailers with loooong ramps make loading lower cars easier.
I have pulled the small trailers and got by with it,
But the risks involved make the largest trailer your particular tow vehicle can pull worth the investment.
Also, check your state and city laws.
Some are strict on what you cna pull.
But in all cases, get a trailer with at least one axle trailer brake and wire it to your car.
Pulling is one thing. Stopping is another.
The trailer brake is the only way to go.
I, also, advise the cab mounted variable braking control.
It is usually around 50 bucks and easily mounted under dash and wiring is easy.
It then makes your trailer brake come on as your brake lights on the tow vehicle is on
Usually just a fraction before the tow vehicle brakes are actuated.
Thus the trailer is braking just before the tow vehicle.
A good thing in traffic or in panic stops.
Tie down straps should be for a greater weight than you are loading for the safety factor.
The loaded vehicle should be cross ttied on all four corners. Also, for sfety.
There are wuite a few choices in trailers.
The manufactured trailers all pull pretty well given the proper loading and tire pressure
I would advise you to look at the usage of your trailer.
Intermittant use vs. hard usage.
Then buy accordingly.
In the long run a better trailer will pay you back in terms of usability and in possible future sale.
Some of this I learned at the school of hardknocks.
Jim

[Rooster]

NO DOUBT on the loansies!!! Got a bent axle from a 'freind' who hauled a bobcat up near the tongue. He got a flat. And a jacknife that tore the shit outa his dually! He bought me all new tires though in his defense.

Built mine outa a house trailer frame and tube steel. 18' 3' dovetail @ 10-deg. It's too narrow at 76" wd. I can open that to 80" and will soon enough. Reason being, it won't take a 4x4 truck unless we switch it to stock 2X rims n tires. And it's tight on my Caddy's. I've been thinkin to add another 2' behind the wheels lately since I left em a little far back. I could get to 20' that way, and I'd swap the axles to Over the springs at the same time. But I think I'll settle for lowering it. There's really no Pressing Need that I've got for a 20'er. I've got a solid 2x8 wood deck cuz that's what came free from a construction site. Looks like shit after 5 yrs, but like one guy noted, I don't slip and break my neck on it either. And it wieghs less I'd suppose than two steel strips that I can't run a single floor jack along to load something with no wheels...

[Crosley]

buy an aluminum Featherlite trailer, you will be glad you did.


I'd put a tape measure to the vechiles to see what you need in length. Trailer beds looook longer empty