car Trailer size?
- Thread starter mallred
- Start date
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I've got a short one...14' deck, only 6-1/2' wide.
"best" will be one with a square tube frame, brakes on both axles, real trailer tires, clean wiring, and painted top and bottom.
"cheap" (like mine) will be a angle frame, single axle brakes, usless POS tires you get to replace, poorly wired, and only painted on the topside cause the manuf is lazy....$900-1000 for mine, add another $300-500 for tires, more paint, and upgrade work.
"best" will be one with a square tube frame, brakes on both axles, real trailer tires, clean wiring, and painted top and bottom.
"cheap" (like mine) will be a angle frame, single axle brakes, usless POS tires you get to replace, poorly wired, and only painted on the topside cause the manuf is lazy....$900-1000 for mine, add another $300-500 for tires, more paint, and upgrade work.
I haul my 40 with a 14 ft Big Tex car hauler called a Roadrunner. Very stout trailer with brakes. Was in a wreck, slammed a guard rail at 50, no damage: stout. I have a wooden bed, which is lighter for towing. Perfect fit for the 40 and some extra gear if you want. Easier to turn because only 14 foot. Be sure to wire in an in cab trailer brake controller (adjusts trailer brake power to match tow vehicle power for smooth stops.). I tow with a Toyota Tundra; will drag a 40 over any mountain pass in Colorado.
Been looking as well. New vs old is about the same price unless you find a deal. Local Fireman here sells Maxey brand trailers. The ones "rated" for hauling cars have a heavier sub frame. Wood decking available on both(should be lighter than steel). 18' was around 2,000. 14' was 1,600. Both have tandem axles/brakes...
Keep your eye out for used trailers also. You can find good deals in the local paper. Guys also haul using landscape trailers and they work. The deal is if you can fit it on the trailer, and it's rated for the total GVW(gross vehicle weight) then go for it.
Stew
Stew
the 2 I have been looking at are the Brimar and Big Tex. I am going with the 16 foot deck as I have another car I want to be able to put on it as well, otherwise I would go with a 14 foot deck. both have electric brakes only on 1 axle.
Make sur eit is streight!! My buddy got a tandom and when I was following him home I noticed three tires. checked the tracks in the drit and one side sticks out. It chewed up the 1st POS tires he got real trailer tires and they started to go fast he spent a couple of bills on haveinf it allined, he has spent enough to buy a new one. GOod hunting
I stepped up to a new trailer from Iron Eagle. I got a 10K pound trailer and love it. It is so much nicer than almost any other trailer out there. Box tube frame, 4x electric brakes, wood deck, ramps slide out the back, gromets on all electrical wires and feedthroughs, 6 lug wheels with trailer tires (not passenger tires), etc.
I chose the 10K trailer since my FJ40 weighs about 5K pounds empty. So if you add up the total weight of a trailer and rig, I was already at 7K pounds. So I spent more on a beefier trailer and now I have more overhead on hauling heavier loads. I also haul my Toy 4x with my motorcycles in the bed down to Pismo + camping gear and that wieghs about 7500 pounds while taking a beating bouncing down the beach to the camping spot.
I chose the 10K trailer since my FJ40 weighs about 5K pounds empty. So if you add up the total weight of a trailer and rig, I was already at 7K pounds. So I spent more on a beefier trailer and now I have more overhead on hauling heavier loads. I also haul my Toy 4x with my motorcycles in the bed down to Pismo + camping gear and that wieghs about 7500 pounds while taking a beating bouncing down the beach to the camping spot.
I have owned a few over the years and I love my 02 Big Tex 16' by 83" steel deck, has real trailer tires, brakes on both axles, good wiring tows perfect and is built bullet proof. Really not that expencive 2,500 used thats not much more than a atlas.
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Be sure to check the axle tubes and spindles if you look a used one. The tubes should have a slight upward hump in the middle. Look for a channel frame with a "full wrap" tounge. They are a lot sturdier then just a A frame tounge welded to the first couple cross braces.
I've only used a tandem axle vehicle trailer a couple of times but I got home yesterday some fool had parked one in my drieway blocking my garage so they could put a small tractor in the back yard of the neighbor. They fawking left the thing there, no sign of anyone, no note, nothing. I hooked it to the front of my crusier and displayed great restraint at not pushing the thing through their fence. Instead I just moved it out of my way. In retrospect perhaps I should have put some additive in the tractors fuel tank....I'm too darned nice....
- Thread starter
- #12
Thanks for all the info. I'm looking for used, they seem to be all over here just not for sale.
Hopefully I will be able to find one soon I'm loading the camper today and will be heading south soon and really do not want to flat tow again. It is such a PIA on turns and puts a lot of wear on the steering parts I'm leaning towards 14 feet. Thanks again, Myrle
Hopefully I will be able to find one soon I'm loading the camper today and will be heading south soon and really do not want to flat tow again. It is such a PIA on turns and puts a lot of wear on the steering parts I'm leaning towards 14 feet. Thanks again, Myrle