Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Enclosed trailer help #2947954
07/27/21 10:27 PM
07/27/21 10:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,374
Houston,Tx.
L
Lee446 Offline OP
pro stock
Lee446  Offline OP
pro stock
L

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,374
Houston,Tx.
I have a friend who is looking to buy an enclosed trailer for transporting very high-end sports cars cross country. He has a friend that is an established auto transporter and cannot keep up with the demand and wants to sub out to him the overflow. He already has a 1 ton Dodge diesel but is going to buy a new 4500 diesel flatbed for the primary. He has years of experience hauling a 35 foot travel trailer across the country so he is not a total novice. We have been discussing what to look for in a good trailer and I told him about all the stories on here about what to get in a trailer, like three axles for stability and braking, 16 " wheels and tires for better safety and tire life. He wants a gooseneck and was thinking about a 35 foot. I would like y'alls feedback on what brands are durable and well built, what options are needed,(Like a side door), The owner of the company has been using Sundowners and he gets about 3 years of heavy use out of them then sells them. They get a lot of constant use. My thoughts are that limiting to a 35 ft means one car at a time, most of these cars are approx 16 ft long, but I don't know enough about it, so I figured I would ask here. They frequently transport 2 at a time, so he might be hurting himself financially by going too small lengthwise. Any helpful advice would be appreciated as to what brand of trailer and why would be appreciated! Thanks, Lee.

Re: Enclosed trailer help [Re: Lee446] #2947969
07/27/21 11:22 PM
07/27/21 11:22 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,036
Mooresburg, Tn
'
'72CudaRacer Offline
top fuel
'72CudaRacer  Offline
top fuel
'

Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,036
Mooresburg, Tn
A 35' will probably not be good for resale. Too long for a short trailer, too short for a long trailer. An awkward size.

Brian

Re: Enclosed trailer help [Re: '72CudaRacer] #2947979
07/28/21 12:03 AM
07/28/21 12:03 AM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,055
Michigan
A
A727Tflite Offline
master
A727Tflite  Offline
master
A

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,055
Michigan
Hauling two cars, should consider a stacker with an air damn on the tow vehicle.

Re: Enclosed trailer help [Re: A727Tflite] #2947980
07/28/21 12:13 AM
07/28/21 12:13 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,374
Houston,Tx.
L
Lee446 Offline OP
pro stock
Lee446  Offline OP
pro stock
L

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,374
Houston,Tx.
From what I have seen online, stackers seem to start at 60k and up. Not that much money in the budget right now.

Re: Enclosed trailer help [Re: Lee446] #2947993
07/28/21 01:45 AM
07/28/21 01:45 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,007
Bend,OR USA
C
Cab_Burge Offline
I Win
Cab_Burge  Offline
I Win
C

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,007
Bend,OR USA
If he is planning on doing this for a while (3 to 8 yrs)longer he should make sure the sport car sizes he wants(both of them) to hauls will fit in the trailer he wants to use and still have small living area to use on his trips to stay away from hotels and motels and the related problems parking a big car trailer around them as well as vandalism to the cars and trailer work twocents

Last edited by Cab_Burge; 07/29/21 01:07 AM.

Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Enclosed trailer help [Re: Lee446] #2948008
07/28/21 07:14 AM
07/28/21 07:14 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,768
Keymar, MD
DusterKid Offline
top fuel
DusterKid  Offline
top fuel

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,768
Keymar, MD
35' seems like wasted space. Either go to a longer trailer to be able to haul 2 cars or go shorter to haul just 1. I would think being able to haul 2 cars at once would be better since he's transporting cars.

Re: Enclosed trailer help [Re: DusterKid] #2948018
07/28/21 08:07 AM
07/28/21 08:07 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,319
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda Offline
I Live Here
an8sec70cuda  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,319
Marion, South Carolina [><]
Originally Posted by DusterKid
35' seems like wasted space. Either go to a longer trailer to be able to haul 2 cars or go shorter to haul just 1. I would think being able to haul 2 cars at once would be better since he's transporting cars.

iagree My thoughts exactly.


CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
Re: Enclosed trailer help [Re: an8sec70cuda] #2948040
07/28/21 08:55 AM
07/28/21 08:55 AM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,828
Ontario, Canada
S
Stanton Offline
Don't question me!
Stanton  Offline
Don't question me!
S

Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,828
Ontario, Canada
Forget "budget" for a moment and crunch some numbers. What will expenses, revenue and profit be per year. This will dictate how much should be invested, not his "budget". It makes sense to buy the right stuff the first time even if you have to stretch yourself a little thin. The last thing any new business needs are breakdowns or the inability to provide a service because you don't have the right equipment. Consider a good used stacker as well as a 20' enclosed for those "one car" jobs.

Last edited by Stanton; 07/28/21 08:57 AM.
Re: Enclosed trailer help [Re: Stanton] #2948091
07/28/21 11:01 AM
07/28/21 11:01 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,644
So Near, Yet So Far
topside Offline
Too Many Posts
topside  Offline
Too Many Posts

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,644
So Near, Yet So Far
We used a 20' for single cars, got some stuff that looked huge in there.
Most cars are 15-17 feet long, shorter for sports & race cars.
No ceiling lights or stuff above cars, lots of D-rings, 12" on center wall framing, power winch.
Put a half-million miles on them with good maintenance, then sold for pretty good money.
Never want to haul empty if you want to make money; logistics was the hectic part.

Re: Enclosed trailer help [Re: topside] #2948360
07/28/21 10:59 PM
07/28/21 10:59 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,471
Minnesota
Hemi_Joel Offline
master
Hemi_Joel  Offline
master

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,471
Minnesota
I would get a 5th wheel camper with enough floor space for 2 cars, then gut it and make a hidden hinge system to open the back. You could fly under the radar screen at all the weigh stations and aviod the hours of service regs. Put a mattress over the 5th, and have a toilet and shower up in the front to keep it a legal RV. twocents


[img]http://i.imgur.com/boeexFms.jpg[/img]
31 Plymouth Coupe, 392 Hemi, T56 magnum
RS23J71
RS27J77
RP23J71
RO23J71
WM21J8A
I don't regret the things I've done. I only regret the things I didn't do.
"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. ~ Plato"
Re: Enclosed trailer help [Re: Hemi_Joel] #2948502
07/29/21 12:23 PM
07/29/21 12:23 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,094
Byron, NY
W.I.N. Racing Offline
top fuel
W.I.N. Racing  Offline
top fuel

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,094
Byron, NY
With regards to using a goose neck. They haul better so IMHO they are the best chioce for extended trips and daily use. A 35/36 ft goose equates to a 28ft tag (usable floor space) at a minimum a 46-48 ft goose for mutiple car transportation. If this is going to be a car trasport only then it should be a pretty basic trailer with only the options required for vehicle security and ease of use, good interior lighting (above and below), access doors, winch, quality tie down anchors and straps, heavy axles and 16"min tire. etc...and if the budget allows an aluminum trailer (your getting paid to haul cars not a trailer) Thats my twocents


'01 P1500, Blown/Inj BAE,/Veney ,Bruno/CS2,Dana 60
'01 Dodge 3500 S Cummins Auto, Fresh air kit, 4" Exhaust,
'05 Dodge Magnum R/T - Too Much to list
'60 Willys CJ5
'01 International LPX - Project,DT466, Allison
'64 Plymouth Valiant, Inj 528 Hemi, 2spd
Re: Enclosed trailer help [Re: W.I.N. Racing] #2948913
07/30/21 05:58 PM
07/30/21 05:58 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY Offline
Master
MR_P_BODY  Offline
Master

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
If you go with a standard height trailer you have the standard wind drag.. on a stacker you have much higher wing
drag,, he might give some thought on the front design of the trailer.. also consider the height based on the truck
height, 4500s are taller than a 3500.. a 5th wheel is more stable thats part of the reason semis
use them... I really look close to the frontal area of the trailer I build or buy... I pull this one with a 3500
2wd dually diesel 6 speed stick.. if I built a new one I would make the LQ much smaller and add a 3rd axle
wave

Trailer2.JPG
Re: Enclosed trailer help [Re: '72CudaRacer] #2949080
07/31/21 09:43 AM
07/31/21 09:43 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,304
Las Vegas
Al_Alguire Offline
I Live Here
Al_Alguire  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,304
Las Vegas
All I am gonna ad is its pretty rare to hear someone say "I wish I had a smaller trailer"


"I am not ashamed to confess I am ignorant of what I do not know."

"It's never wrong to do the right thing"
Re: Enclosed trailer help [Re: Al_Alguire] #2949417
08/01/21 02:57 PM
08/01/21 02:57 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,094
Byron, NY
W.I.N. Racing Offline
top fuel
W.I.N. Racing  Offline
top fuel

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,094
Byron, NY
Originally Posted by Al_Alguire
All I am gonna ad is its pretty rare to hear someone say "I wish I had a smaller trailer"

iagree iagree iagree


'01 P1500, Blown/Inj BAE,/Veney ,Bruno/CS2,Dana 60
'01 Dodge 3500 S Cummins Auto, Fresh air kit, 4" Exhaust,
'05 Dodge Magnum R/T - Too Much to list
'60 Willys CJ5
'01 International LPX - Project,DT466, Allison
'64 Plymouth Valiant, Inj 528 Hemi, 2spd






Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1