looking into getting an enclosed trailor - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

heavy_chevy29 · 01-01-2008, 01:36 PM

right now i have a 16' open trailor. i want to get an enclosed trailor so that i can keep my 84 z in it while i put my 68 in my garage, so i can start working on it. my question to you guys out there is, what size trailor are you using. im looking at some 18' trailors. i think a 20' trailor is way overkill. do you guys think i could get away with a 16' enclosed trailor. thanks for any advice.

NJSPEEDER · 01-01-2008, 01:40 PM

honestly, once you get into an enclosed trailer, you are gonna want to use it to transport a lot more stuff. simple convenience of having access to everything when you use it to travel will make a little bit larger trailer vastly more useful than one that just fits the car with a little space to spare.
if the price difference is not outrageous, go for the larger 20ft trailer. you will be surprised all the uses you find for the extra bit of space.

1QWIKBIRD · 01-01-2008, 02:46 PM

I'd go for the largest trailer you can safely tow, hopefully at least 20'. Ideally 24'. Tim is correct in saying that the extra space is well worth the $$$$ if you can swing it. If you are using the trailer for racing you will need room for a tool box, generator, fuel jugs, jack, lights. It's not an absolute must, but there is the real possibility that you could outgrow an 18' or 20' trailer real quick, then you have to start all over. To get the best deal and save big $$$ you will have to travel to Indiana or down south to pick up the trailer. Check RacingJunk.com and look under the trailer section. You can get some sweet deals if you are willing to make the haul.

Just before the holidays I did some preliminary $$$ crunching for an open trailer, but checked out an enclosed trailer prices just for kicks. Franklin Trailers down on Rt. 73 was in the $6200 dollar range (basic trailer, no upgrades) for an 18' or 20' and Deande in Ewing is about the same. I saw 24' trailers (comparable features) for $4500-5000 on racing junk, but you have to go get them.

What are you towing with? It takes more truck to pull an enclosed trailer of comparable size.

From Racing Junk:

http://www.racingjunk.com/post/10175...ty-Hauler.html

http://www.racingjunk.com/post/93764...y-Trailer.html

http://www.racingjunk.com/post/95611...l?free_trial=0

What kind of open trailer do you have?

Chris

mudjnky · 01-01-2008, 02:47 PM

If your truck will pull it I would go at least 22', maybe 24'. How long is your car tip to tail? When it is positioned right in the trailer you are going to want a minimum of 2' in front of it to crawl around and tie it down. Also, if you decide to put a workbench or cabinets across the front in the future you are going to lose 2' and still need room to get under the front. My general rule with trailers is whatever size you think will work, buy the next biggest one. I have an 18' open that we use for our 68. If I went enclosed it would be a minimum of 20'. Tieing down in an enclosed trailer is a lot harder than an open. Remember, you can't hang off the sides anymore. I Would also reccomend getting a man door on the left side, makes it a whole lot easier to get in and out of the car.

johnjzjz · 01-01-2008, 03:12 PM

racingjunk.com

has the largest trailer dealer net work around if you can travel to get one both new and used are available we got a 2 year old haulmark 28 foot race car d - plates and white walls with rug no cabinets it is like new for 5500 retail was 10,900 - took me 2 months it was in queens NYC -- and you can sell the one you have -- free -- jz

sorry did not see someone had posted it up already

heavy_chevy29 · 01-01-2008, 03:45 PM

i have an 04 GMC sierra 2500HD with the gas 6.0L and an automatic trans. anything over 20' is out of the question because i dont have the room for one. a 20' trailor would be a squeeze, but duable. i wanted to stay with an 16' or 18' trailor because they are cheaper and they weigh less. i dont want to kill my truck going to the track on the weekends. i just kinda roughed out how long my car is. i would say its about 16', probably alittle smaller. so i would have to go with an 18' or 20' trailor. ive been looking on ebay and you guys are right, it seems like all the trailors are it GA. not a big deal. ill just have to take a couple of days of from work. i dont have the money now but this is something i would like to do by the end of the summer. i have a friend that wants to by my trailor if i sell it, so that would help offset the cost of the enclosed one. i think that an enclosed trailor is a pretty worthwhile investment. im by no means a hardcore racer but ive deffinately been bitten buy the bug. and i will spend most of my time at the track this season. thanks alot

johnjzjz · 01-01-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heavy_chevy29

i have an 04 GMC sierra 2500HD with the gas 6.0L and an automatic trans. anything over 20' is out of the question because i dont have the room for one. a 20' trailor would be a squeeze, but duable. i wanted to stay with an 16' or 18' trailor because they are cheaper and they weigh less. i dont want to kill my truck going to the track on the weekends. i just kinda roughed out how long my car is. i would say its about 16', probably alittle smaller. so i would have to go with an 18' or 20' trailor. ive been looking on ebay and you guys are right, it seems like all the trailors are it GA. not a big deal. ill just have to take a couple of days of from work. i dont have the money now but this is something i would like to do by the end of the summer. i have a friend that wants to by my trailor if i sell it, so that would help offset the cost of the enclosed one. i think that an enclosed trailor is a pretty worthwhile investment. im by no means a hardcore racer but ive deffinately been bitten buy the bug. and i will spend most of my time at the track this season. thanks alot

we hade an 86 gmc surburban 4 dr 4 wd plow truck w/ 350 carb motor and a 700 trans and towed race cars all over the east coast for 200,000 miles open and closed only got 8 towing but gas was not 3 bucks eather cant believe it would wreck our new 03 chevy 2500 d max allison but thats a different truck and the new trailer weight is 10,000 pounds and the d max dont care - jz

heavy_chevy29 · 01-01-2008, 04:00 PM

at the time i bought the truck there was no way i could pull off 30-35 grand for a D-MAX truck. those truck will pretty much pull a house. the truck that i have pulls my open trailor loaded with the car with no problems. i think i should be ok if o go with an 18' 20' trailor. it will probably struggle on the hills.

Mike · 01-01-2008, 04:23 PM

i doubt it will struggle..........my trailblazer pulls my 16' trailer and car just fine, 2500 truck will handle a lot more than that

mudjnky · 01-01-2008, 04:47 PM

Check your owners manual, with a 2500 should be good to the 10-12k range. I really think the smallest you would want to go is 20'. Any smaller and you won't have room to move, especially if you are going racing. With an 18' by the time you get the correct tongue weight/balance you won't be able to get under the front of the car to tie it down let alone put any extra gear in the trailer. Also, watch your width when pricing out, see if they are 96" or 102" wide. Oh, if you are getting a new one, I highly reccomend getting the longer tongue. That allows you to make tighter turns without crunching the front of the trailer. Good Luck!

johnjzjz · 01-01-2008, 06:00 PM

the 2500 truck is a bull dog no matter what motor is in it and it has lock outs for towing and a double click for the converter i have plenty of people we know who do it but maybe your 6.0 is not up to it - if you stay local jersey its silly not to have a 24 or 26 foot - we go over the road east coast mostly and my 03 d max has 100.000 miles and we dident race last year and i sure do wish i could buy another one for 35 they want 48 for a replacement 08 --jz

Tru2Chevy · 01-01-2008, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnjzjz

the 2500 truck is a bull dog no matter what motor is in it and it has lock outs for towing and a double click for the converter i have plenty of people we know who do it but maybe your 6.0 is not up to it - if you stay local jersey its silly not to have a 24 or 26 foot - we go over the road east coast mostly and my 03 d max has 100.000 miles and we dident race last year and i sure do wish i could buy another one for 35 they want 48 for a replacement 08 --jz

That bolded part may be true John, but he said he barely has room to park a 20' trailer, and a 24' would be out of the question.

I would say definitely go with the 20'. You'll really need that extra space inside.

- Justin

johnjzjz · 01-01-2008, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tru2Chevy

That bolded part may be true John, but he said he barely has room to park a 20' trailer, and a 24' would be out of the question.

I would say definitely go with the 20'. You'll really need that extra space inside.

- Justin

i re read it and you are correct i was just giving first hand, having had a 2 gen car and years back & a coat closet to park it in well you know the car ended up beat up, i don't know if they make short wide, tall units now but at least that everything gets scratched climbing over the hood to tie it down and you end up with all your stuff soaked when it rains on the way home because its in the truck bed been their --hahahahhahahah just trying to give some help and island does rent spaces for trailers and if you live at home - jz

alamantia · 01-02-2008, 07:06 AM

my fathers selling his 24" halmark tag trailor. If you are interested, PM me

79CamaroDiva · 01-02-2008, 05:51 PM

if its not outside your budget, look into getting an aluminum trailer, especially if you're worried about pulling the weight. The towing difference is like night and day. I have a 28' Classic Dominator, with cabinets, tool box, generator, etc etc etc, and our Dodge 2500 diesel will pull it without even acknowledging its there. Still gets decent fuel mileage towing as well.

qwikz28 · 01-03-2008, 09:36 PM

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=835136

thats charlie. he used to frequent this board more often.

heavy_chevy29 · 01-05-2008, 05:42 PM

thanks for the post. i went to linclon tech with chuck. hes a good guy. that trailor is to big for me. right now my budget wont allow me to get another trailor. i have alot of money wrapped up in getting the fuel system set up. as for an aluminum trailor, i would love to get one, but its just way out of my budget. thanks again