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Enclosed trailer advice? #2740682
02/07/20 02:54 PM
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Researching enclosed trailers, used primarily to trailer a 69 Charger RT. From what I've read, if used to simply trailer the car, 8.5 x 20 would be about the minimum size. Most of the trailers I've seen have a side door on the right. With an 8.5ft width is it possible to drive a B body onto the trailer and exit the driver door side? Do you have to exit through the door glass opening? Realize I can install a winch, but trying to keep cost down. Suggestions?

Re: Enclosed trailer advice? [Re: 70runner] #2740684
02/07/20 03:04 PM
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If you are buying a new trailer, ask the manufacturer about a roadside escape door.

Those are a popular option for allowing easy access into and out of the loaded car.


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Last edited by hp383; 02/07/20 03:06 PM.

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Re: Enclosed trailer advice? [Re: 70runner] #2740688
02/07/20 03:15 PM
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IMO a 24' is the shortest I would look at . The extra room to get in front of it to strap it down is nice, not to mention storage space for tool box, jacks etc etc
A street side door is nice, but not a must for me. I use a winch to pull them in and out . If on the rare occasion the winch fails, I can still open the door slightly and get in.

Re: Enclosed trailer advice? [Re: gtx6970] #2740714
02/07/20 04:47 PM
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I have a 24ft to haul my road runner. I wouldn't want to use anything smaller than that. I do have the "fat man" door. It makes it way easier to get out of the trailer.


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Re: Enclosed trailer advice? [Re: Prodart440] #2740732
02/07/20 05:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Prodart440
I have a 24ft to haul my road runner. I wouldn't want to use anything smaller than that. I do have the "fat man" door. It makes it way easier to get out of the trailer.


Pls elaborate. Is the extra 4ft necessary for just the car, or for additional storage or ? Does the escape door line up with the car door so you open car door enough to exit? Pic?

Re: Enclosed trailer advice? [Re: 70runner] #2740738
02/07/20 05:52 PM
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at least 24ft, if you want to get in front of car to tie it down, we tow 69 charger in 24 and 28ft, think of coolers tool box etc


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Re: Enclosed trailer advice? [Re: 70runner] #2740751
02/07/20 06:40 PM
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Avondale AZ
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Originally Posted by 70runner
Originally Posted by Prodart440
I have a 24ft to haul my road runner. I wouldn't want to use anything smaller than that. I do have the "fat man" door. It makes it way easier to get out of the trailer.


Pls elaborate. Is the extra 4ft necessary for just the car, or for additional storage or ? Does the escape door line up with the car door so you open car door enough to exit? Pic?


The 4ft isn't necessary, but very nice to have. With the car in it I have about 4.5 feet of space in front. Yes, the door lines up (its almost too far forward) and I can open the car door, and get out of the trailer side door. I don't have the car in it to get pictures right now.


Aaron

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Re: Enclosed trailer advice? [Re: 70runner] #2740763
02/07/20 07:40 PM
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Originally Posted by 70runner
Originally Posted by Prodart440
I have a 24ft to haul my road runner. I wouldn't want to use anything smaller than that. I do have the "fat man" door. It makes it way easier to get out of the trailer.


Pls elaborate. Is the extra 4ft necessary for just the car, or for additional storage or ?


Both. Ive used both a 20 and 22' trailers. the 20 footer makes it really tight to get in front of the car to get it tied down

the 22 footer had boxes in the front, again makes it tight to get in lay down and tie it down.

So as long as you plan to put NOTHING on the floor in front of the car. You may be ok. But IMO going any less than 24; leaves no room for tools, floor jack, a winch. Nothing. Not to mention used values are much better at 24' and above for all the same reasons

Re: Enclosed trailer advice? [Re: 70runner] #2740774
02/07/20 08:24 PM
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Originally Posted by 70runner
Researching enclosed trailers, used primarily to trailer a 69 Charger RT. From what I've read, if used to simply trailer the car, 8.5 x 20 would be about the minimum size. Most of the trailers I've seen have a side door on the right. With an 8.5ft width is it possible to drive a B body onto the trailer and exit the driver door side? Do you have to exit through the door glass opening? Realize I can install a winch, but trying to keep cost down. Suggestions?

Understand trying to keep costs down but how often are you going to be towing the car? Personally a winch is cheaper than the side door option and you don't have to worry about firing your car up in a potential fuel vapor filled box. I've seen the result of that after a backfire and flooding carb, just a molten mass of metal when it was over. Spend the money on the extra length too, 24 would be a minimum I would consider. 26 or 28 would be better and you will be glad you got it later. The other thing is get the heavy duty axles and tires, don't cheap out on them.


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Re: Enclosed trailer advice? [Re: gtx6970] #2740775
02/07/20 08:26 PM
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Hauled all over the Country with a guy that had an 8 x 20 enclosed.
He was obsessed with weight, so no left door, only the curbside and an electric winch.
Kinda difficult to tie down the front of a B-body sized car.
Getting in & out involved an open window and brushing up against the car walking in/out.
Being the skinny guy, that was my deal, and often a challenge to not touch the car.
So for the nice stuff, it was winch only, with the car aimed dead straight.
Nowadays (retired), he has a 24 & a 28 for his own stuff.

He'd get over a million miles on his trailers, and specified 16" centers on side framing and nothing mounted above the car.
Used to buy them out of Kentucky, IIRC, some big outfit.
I ended up with one of their Duallys, but that's another story

Re: Enclosed trailer advice? [Re: 440lebaron] #2740776
02/07/20 08:28 PM
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If you run your front straps all the way to the back you can tie down the car entirely from the rear.

I know, you are going to say that will allow the car to move around.

After 2 different trailers and over 160,000+ miles of towing the cars have never moved. Longest tow, 1350, with 550 a regular for me 3 times a year. Throw in another 3 350 milers and you can see those are some good distances. My first trailer was a 19 ft unit and it necessitated the rear tie down. But, works so good I will never do other wise.

Good luck.

Re: Enclosed trailer advice? [Re: SportF] #2740780
02/07/20 08:49 PM
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My opinion (along with a few others who've already responded) is a 24' length is the best size to go with. I had a 28 and while the extra length was nice, it proved to be too long to get around in some tight spots. I found a 24' adequate in space and easier to manipulate in limited spaces.

I've not heard of the running straps from front to back approach. Would be curious to know more.


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Re: Enclosed trailer advice? [Re: 70runner] #2740797
02/07/20 10:26 PM
02/07/20 10:26 PM
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Spend a little more money now to get a 10,000 GVW rated 24 ft. trailer with 16 inch wheels and tires, 15 inch trailer tires SUCK badly. Get one with the side door that you can open okay inside in case you decide to sleep in front of the car sometimes in the future work
Get and install a good brand 4500Lb rated winch that will power both in and out and make sure the trailer tie down rings are placed so you can use them on your car scope
I bought my current used 24 Ft. Pace Shadow 10,000 GVW after having Pace custom build me a 22 Ft 7,000 GVW trailer that the salesman told me would weigh right at 2900 Lb. empty, he lied rant It weighed 4360 Lbs. when I picked it up at the factory whiney Most of my cars that I haul all weigh over 3,000 Lbs. so there was no room to add weight into it for spare parts, tires, winch, battery and so on down The 7000 LB rated trailers come with 3500 Lb. rated axles, five lug 15 inch wheels and C rated tires down Another thing on the tie downs, my trailer was used to haul a 1970 Challenger and a 1968 B body before I bought it from a friend. He had to redo, added another pair of the front tie down rings, to use it on both cars work I used it mainly to haul my old pump gas 1971 Duster with using new the front rings he added up
I've owned 3 enclosed car trailers, five car hauler trucks and put a lot of miles under my butt towing and going to races and other places hauling cars for friends, relatives and myself. You don't want to be broke down in the middle of the night a long ways away from anywhere due to using cheap parts, do you work tsk
One other thing is don't use a 1/2 ton truck to tow with unless it is rated to haul your car in the trailer and be over the gross combine rated weight of the car and trailer scope I made that mistake on the first race car, 1969 Hemi GTX, I was hauling for a friend with a borrow home made open two axle car trailer with no brakes , a large stray dog ran out in front of us in my 1960 Ford 1/2 ton long bed pickup, I couldn't stop quick enough to avoid hitting it and it got wedge up between the right front tire and wheel well jerking the steering wheel out of my hands and jack knifing the trailer into my truck making the race car come off the trailer and roll over, not good enough tie downs, totaling the car whiney
I had my D500 flat bed truck converted into a car hauler after that up No more hauling cars unsafely after that boogie
Be safe thumbs


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Re: Enclosed trailer advice? [Re: 70runner] #2740867
02/08/20 05:47 AM
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As other have said, I would get at least a 24 foot trailer.
It's great to have extra space in front of the car to make it easier to tie the car down.

You also have room to store other stuff that you might want to have with you (tools, coolers, etc).

My first enclosed trailer was a 24 foot and now I've upgraded to a 28 foot and love the extra space.
The 28 foot lets me have room to have the golf cart along as a pit vehicle.
The one thing that I wish it had is an escape door, but I'm planning on adding one at some point.
I added the awning last summer just before the Mopar Nats.

I don't know if you're looking at new or used but you can usually find a reasonable deal on a clean used one.
I got the 28 ft about 3 years ago and it had new tires on it then (cabinets in the front and a winch in it) and I got it for $4k which I think was reasonable for a clean used trailer.

To me it's tough to tie up a lot more money than that in a trailer that get used maybe 6 to 10 time a years.
It is great for storage also.

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Re: Enclosed trailer advice? [Re: SNK-EYZ] #2740869
02/08/20 06:55 AM
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I agree with most of what is said.

I would not consider less than 24ft, for resale, ease in tie down and room for cabinets later. Get the tie downs from Mac's. If you have the room a 28 would be good so you could haul a golf cart later. I have a 24 because I don't think I could back a 28 in my back yard driveway.

Get a winch, very important if the car is not running. If you are not driving it in I would pass on the expense of the extra door.

Get the very best tire and wheel combo you can probably 16".

You might consider a generator compartment even if you do not plan to have a generator now.

Consider installation in ceiling and doors.

Enjoy! After pulling with an open trailer for years I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the enclosed. One thing is that you always bring some shade.

Re: Enclosed trailer advice? [Re: peabodyracing] #2740889
02/08/20 09:01 AM
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Originally Posted by peabodyracing
My opinion (along with a few others who've already responded) is a 24' length is the best size to go with. I had a 28 and while the extra length was nice, it proved to be too long to get around in some tight spots. I found a 24' adequate in space and easier to manipulate in limited spaces.

I've not heard of the running straps from front to back approach. Would be curious to know more.



Hook up the front straps to tie downs, run them to the back ramp. Pull the car in, put in park. Put the ratchets on the front straps and pull the car forward tight against the park pawl ( I put the hooks on the rear subframe by bumper bracket, race car). Put the axle straps on the rear and pull the car back a little to release tension at park (watch the tire move). Don't cross them, as the pro's advise as well.

Your done, working with plenty of room on the beaver tail and ramp. Go under the car once, not twice. Of course unstrapping saves the same amount of trouble as well.

Best of luck.

Re: Enclosed trailer advice? [Re: SportF] #2740909
02/08/20 10:48 AM
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When you go and price trailers you will find that the difference in price between 20' and 24' is very small. Most people buy 24' trailers so the volume of the build keeps the price down. My 32' LQ trailer has a 20' box and 12' living quarters. I have put my 69 D200 pickup in there with no problem, but it being taller it made the tie down easy, with a lower car not so much... twocents


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Re: Enclosed trailer advice? [Re: Cab_Burge] #2740922
02/08/20 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Cab_Burge
Spend a little more money now to get a 10,000 GVW rated 24 ft. trailer with 16 inch wheels and tires, 15 inch trailer tires SUCK badly. Get one with the side door that you can open okay inside in case you decide to sleep in front of the car sometimes in the future work
Get and install a good brand 4500Lb rated winch that will power both in and out and make sure the trailer tie down rings are placed so you can use them on your car scope
:

iagree


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Re: Enclosed trailer advice? [Re: W.I.N. Racing] #2740927
02/08/20 12:41 PM
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Originally Posted by W.I.N. racing
Originally Posted by Cab_Burge
Spend a little more money now to get a 10,000 GVW rated 24 ft. trailer with 16 inch wheels and tires, 15 inch trailer tires SUCK badly. Get one with the side door that you can open okay inside in case you decide to sleep in front of the car sometimes in the future work
Get and install a good brand 4500Lb rated winch that will power both in and out and make sure the trailer tie down rings are placed so you can use them on your car scope
:

iagree


iagree


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Re: Enclosed trailer advice? [Re: Rhinodart] #2740938
02/08/20 01:07 PM
02/08/20 01:07 PM
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Listen to Cab. Get a 24’. A 20 is hard to get enough tongue weight with a heavy car. I’d show you a picture of what it looks like when a 20’ is not quite loaded right and it hits a wet spot on a hill and a gust of wind hits you just right, but this is a hard sire to post pictures on. Not to mention cheap axles and the 15” wheels just don’t cut it for trailer tires. Ok. Added a picture. Bty, I think this one can be bought cheap!

57D28113-DC15-4361-9691-45C3A1932E54.jpeg
Last edited by fastmark; 02/08/20 01:11 PM.
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