Looking at trailers - so many options and choices
#3164089
07/29/23 11:47 AM
07/29/23 11:47 AM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,453 It's a dry heat
gtx6970
OP
Too Many Posts
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OP
Too Many Posts
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,453
It's a dry heat
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Starting to think about buying a trailer. Not in use storage is a major factor. So Im not sure an enclosed is a viable option for me.
Im weighing the options to go open , or enclosed
18 ft opens average little under $4000 for brand new 2023 models And these are brand new I can pick my color 7000 gvw Brakes on the rear axle only. Steel frame, wood deck spare included.
I found a seller in Phoenix that has 2023 Pace American new 8.5' x 22' enclosed cargo trailer at $14,800 and for bonus points ( to me anyway ) it has 5200 lb Drop Spring Axle w/ Superlube Hubs, Plus 12 in of Added Height - Vertical Post Height - 96 3/4 in which I think is good. BUT well aboce waht I really prefer to spend of at all possible. UNLESS, when I resell, next year will it retain its value enough to offset the purchase price difference, Meaning how much will it depreciate in my allotted time frame, or will it ?
Ive found a used 24 ft enclosed, Hallmark but its a 1995 model for $7000 it has a few small dents and dings, but nothing major and overall looks solid . Just old. . Plus Im sure it was a lower grade model when new
I like the 24 ft enclosed . But deep down I think it will require storing in one of the RV storage pay lots. And Ive not looked into how much that costs yet . Keeping it at my house is not an option. For more than a few days
My thought process is keep it a year,,,, maybe a little longer . To do what I want to do in the next 12-18 months . Then sell it. Ideally get all or most of my money back. Which is why Im thinking enclosed. But Ive not kept up on trailers and values in any way. Ive looked for a decent used and they are not much , if any less $$$ than the brand new one.
Pics attached of the used Pace and the new open
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Re: Looking at trailers - so many options and choices
[Re: topside]
#3164099
07/29/23 12:14 PM
07/29/23 12:14 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,453 It's a dry heat
gtx6970
OP
Too Many Posts
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OP
Too Many Posts
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,453
It's a dry heat
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My truck is a 2102 Ram 1500 quad cab short bed, hemi auto. Pulling an enclosed should not be a problem. (Friend of mine has the same exact truck and 24ft enclosed combo and has zero issues pulling or stopping it all over the country )
Ive had opens behind it several times and it pulls and stops it just fine..
A friend of mine has offered I store it at his house, but he's at least 45 minutes, closer to an hour away. So thats a factor to consider. Although . its free
Keeping it beyond my initial time frame will be an issue more so with the enclosed than with the open.
Ive thought about the renting it option, But not sure Im ready to trust complete strangers to actually bring it back
Last edited by gtx6970; 07/29/23 12:16 PM.
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Re: Looking at trailers - so many options and choices
[Re: gtx6970]
#3164133
07/29/23 03:22 PM
07/29/23 03:22 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,595 Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
Rhinodart
Rhinotruck
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Rhinotruck
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,595
Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
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Well from recent personal experience DO NOT buy a Quality Cargo enclosed trailer! I have had it about a year and the whole right side is falling off, cold welds on the gussets that hold the siding to the frame, in fact the fender on that side tilted at an angle and blew both tires out! I dropped it off at the manufacturer in Georgia (another place NOT to buy new trailers that were manufactured there) and they haven't even looked at it going on two weeks now. I have owned over a dozen enclosed, and 6 open trailers in the last 40 years and have NEVER had anything like this happen to me... My experience with axles is NOT to buy spring axles, go with torsion axles, they last a lot longer with little maintenance while the spring axles are weaker and I have actually had a spring break recently and the shackles don't last long anymore because they are all Chinese made. And one last thing, you definitely get what you pay for with a new trailer...
Last edited by Rhinodart; 07/29/23 03:26 PM.
The funny thing about science is that if you change one miniscule parameter you change the entire outcome to the way you want it.
JB Rhinehart, Realist
A-Body's RULE!
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Re: Looking at trailers - so many options and choices
[Re: Rhinodart]
#3164141
07/29/23 04:13 PM
07/29/23 04:13 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,186 PA.
pittsburghracer
"Little"John
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"Little"John
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,186
PA.
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A 22 foot enclosed trailer will really limit resale. Not many guys are looking for 22 foot trailers. I went from 24 to a 26 foot trailer when I ordered a new one in 2017 and love it.
1970 Duster Edelbrock headed 408 5.984@112.52 422 Indy headed small block 5.982@112.56 mph 9.42@138.27
Livin and lovin life one day at a time
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Re: Looking at trailers - so many options and choices
[Re: gtx6970]
#3164144
07/29/23 04:32 PM
07/29/23 04:32 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,237 Bend,OR USA
Cab_Burge
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,237
Bend,OR USA
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I've use borrow doulble axle trailers with no brakes or suspension when we first started racing, never again after wrecking one (and totaling the race car) due to a dog running out in front of my 1960 1/2 ton Ford long bed pickup truck. I had a old 1955 Dodge D500 flatbed truck I had converted to haul cars and used that for several years, one of the guys at work offered me more for it to haul a small tractor on it than I could turn down so I sold it. I bought a 1973 Ford F350 crew cab 8 Ft. single rear wheel pick up and converted it int a car hauler by having the frame stretch 5 ft. and adding a twelve foot long flat bed with a 30 inch long adjustable dove tail onto the end of it along with going to dual rear wheels and tires.: up: That truck was a pleasure to use empty or loaded I ended up selling it also and bought an old 1957 dodge 1-ton Roundy round race car hauler that needed a lot of work, STUPID After that got fixed up and sold 3 yrs. later I bought my first enclosed race car trailer, it was a 24 ft. inside Braceo, It was really heavy, 6,000+ lbs. empty. Full of tools, spare tires and rims and the 3000 Lb. race car it was almost over the 10,000 Lb GVR Next was a custom ordered and made 22 Ft Pace Shadow with a 7,000 Lb GVR that was way heavier new empty than the salesman had told me it would be, it weighed right at 4300 Lbs. empty at the factory in Hurricane Utah when I picked it up, the salesman had said it should weigh under 3000 Lbs. empty, wrong Bottom line is I now have a 1999 24 ft. enclosed Pace Shadow 10,000 Lb. GVR car trailer that I have had since around 2003 that I like a lot and it will probably be my last race car trailer Maybe not a 35 Ft gooseneck with a living and sleeping quatres would be nice for out of town races next year I forgot to mention that I ended putting electric winches on all my car hauling trucks and enclosed trailer with a 30 Ft. long cord Makes loading them a breeze with no hassles straining your self driving them up or into or using a come a long to load them like we use to do years ago
Last edited by Cab_Burge; 07/30/23 07:27 PM.
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
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Re: Looking at trailers - so many options and choices
[Re: pittsburghracer]
#3164145
07/29/23 04:34 PM
07/29/23 04:34 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696 Bitopia
jcc
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696
Bitopia
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I have a 15? year old Featherlite open alum tandem torsion axle trailer, it's seen a lot miles/use been t boned and had axles ripped off, can sell it today for nearly what i paid for it. Best trailer I have own, tows great. Everyone says I never have to worry about them stealing the car on the trailer, the thief will be stealing the trailer.
Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
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Re: Looking at trailers - so many options and choices
[Re: RTSE4ME]
#3164254
07/30/23 11:12 AM
07/30/23 11:12 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,595 Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
Rhinodart
Rhinotruck
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Rhinotruck
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,595
Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
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I have a Featherlite 20' enclosed bought it right before COVID.It was used by a plumbing contractor. Not everyone wants a 24' trailer guys with smaller race cars, motorcycles,utv .....etc want them. When I was looking I found some really good deals on smaller trailers. I have hauled my e-body with mine.
I have a 32' LQ trailer with a 20' garage, it has been just find hauling my Darts and I even used to haul my 69 D200 long box in it along with my 69 Monaco 500 convertible. Sure it is tight tying them down, and anything else I need to bring along goes in the LQ area, but 20' is adequate for most vehicles just going to car shows.
The funny thing about science is that if you change one miniscule parameter you change the entire outcome to the way you want it.
JB Rhinehart, Realist
A-Body's RULE!
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Re: Looking at trailers - so many options and choices
[Re: gtx6970]
#3164356
07/30/23 05:51 PM
07/30/23 05:51 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 951 Central Michigan
nuthinbutmopar
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 951
Central Michigan
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One thing to think about when going open instead of enclosed is ramps. Good ramps are HEAVY and mount under the low trailer. I use my open trailer at least monthly; in March I slid a ramp out and felt a twinge in my back that turned into a week of stiffness and moving slow. That was a great trailer that had been all over the country and was set up exactly the way I wanted, but I sold it off and bought a tilt in May. A tilt will probably cost 50-75% of an enclosed, but what you're doing with it will tell you what you should get.
Last edited by nuthinbutmopar; 07/30/23 05:51 PM.
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Re: Looking at trailers - so many options and choices
[Re: nuthinbutmopar]
#3164405
07/30/23 10:33 PM
07/30/23 10:33 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,595 Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
Rhinodart
Rhinotruck
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Rhinotruck
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,595
Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
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One thing to think about when going open instead of enclosed is ramps. Good ramps are HEAVY and mount under the low trailer. I use my open trailer at least monthly; in March I slid a ramp out and felt a twinge in my back that turned into a week of stiffness and moving slow. That was a great trailer that had been all over the country and was set up exactly the way I wanted, but I sold it off and bought a tilt in May. A tilt will probably cost 50-75% of an enclosed, but what you're doing with it will tell you what you should get. I bought a set of 7' aluminum ramps for my open trailer 15 years ago, some of the best money I have ever spent! I carry them in the back of my pickup when I am using the trailer, the original steel ramps are still under the trailer, I wonder if they will ever come out again?
The funny thing about science is that if you change one miniscule parameter you change the entire outcome to the way you want it.
JB Rhinehart, Realist
A-Body's RULE!
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Re: Looking at trailers - so many options and choices
[Re: BloFish]
#3164494
07/31/23 12:09 PM
07/31/23 12:09 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,046 MD
RTSE4ME
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,046
MD
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