Trailers, open vs. closed

[SteveA]

When I strap through the wheels (motorcycles or cars) 1. I first COMPLETELY clean the rims, 2. Stretch wrap any kitchen brand of plastic wrap through the wheel and tire 3. then cotton towel 4. then the strap. This way if there is any rub or movement during transport or even during the tightening process the metal is protected as the towel or strap moves/tightens aginst the plastic wrap. Maybe a little over kill but I have yet to be made sad by following these steps. :thumbsup

 

[SteveA]

On another note, I understand why it is a no no to trailer the car while in gear, but why is it bad to have the e-brake on? Isn't the only purpose of a e-brake to keep the car from moving?:confused

 

[Tungsten]

In gear?

Why would you not leave the car in gear and the ebrake on? I have always done it that way.
Don:confused

 

[Empty Pockets]

Why would you not leave the car in gear and the ebrake on? I have always done it that way.
Don:confused

'Cuz the factory put a "tag" on the GT's shifter ordering us not to.

I'm with you though. I've always dunnit that way too. But, not on THIS car evidently. I've seen the "tag". It definately sez "NO"!

 

[Fast Freddy]

towed my viper on my open flat bed trailer to nevada last year. i was sittin in my hotel room at the casino on the 17th floor looking at my rig in the parking lot when the wind started to blow so hard that the rain was flying sideways. i was watching the news at the same time and they said it was hailing on the other side of the strip :eek fortunately for my viper the hail never hit where i was. i decided right then and there that i was gonna get an enclosed trailer. i bought an enclosed trailex trailer and never looked back. i sleep peacefully at night now when i am towing on extended trips knowing that my ride is safe and sound despite what is going on outside.

i use my trailex to tow my viper and GT with now and i just use my open flat bed trailer for my camaro and lightning when i tow to my local dragstrip for a day race.

 

[RedGT]

I also have a Tommy's trailer that is open with a fiberglass cover in the front. I have towed the GT many thousands of miles and have never gotten a rock chip. The cover seems to deflect everything from the road but, wouldn't help much in a hail storm. I tie down using Mac's tie down straps that have fleece covers. I special ordered them to length to go thru the wheels and they made fleece covers that velcro on to keep from scratching anything. Work great.

 

[FlorIdaho Chris]

... Stretch wrap any kitchen brand of plastic wrap through the wheel and tire ...

Great idea Steve. I'll start using Saran wrap as well. :thumbsup

 

[MAD IN NC]

In-laws will leave before the end of the year, and I don't have to move them like some people on this Forum.

Don't mean to Hi-jack this thread but Frank reality is- Inlaws once moved in NEVER leave....:frown

Don't tell me you're using them for an upcoming board certification exam :rofl

 

[Cyclenirvana]

I also have a Tommy's trailer that is open with a fiberglass cover in the front. I have towed the GT many thousands of miles and have never gotten a rock chip. The cover seems to deflect everything from the road but, wouldn't help much in a hail storm. I tie down using Mac's tie down straps that have fleece covers. I special ordered them to length to go thru the wheels and they made fleece covers that velcro on to keep from scratching anything. Work great.

Tommy's trailers are interesting...I find the topper potentially very useful. I wonder how easy it is to break apart and reinstall...or tie down to the ground and use as a garage or perhaps a nice social shade at a track event.

 

[fjpikul]

Nirvana, you'll need to talk to Stormcat who's on vacation right now.

 

[Cyclenirvana]

Nirvana, you'll need to talk to Stormcat who's on vacation right now.

Thanks Frank. I will definitely contact him prior to purchasing any trailer. I am currently seriously considering a Pace American Rallye trailer, 20 X 8.5, with 54" LX side door. Trailer is slightly raised with low interior wheel wells under the door, allowing the me to open the GT doors. It weighs about 3360 lbs. (My GT weights 3489lbs. minus 50lbs for that muffler). By the time all is set up (sway bars, brakes, etc), it should cost me about $7200, if I decide to do this. I plan to drive the GT to the local dealer in the next week and see how it fits. The Cayenne Turbo can pull 7700 lbs. so should be able to do this without any problem. I know an all-aluminum trailer would be a little lighter, but it is hard for me to stomach paying over 15K for just the trailer, being that I will likely use it no more than 6-7 times/year.

 

[funat50]

Ditto!

You have arrived at all the same conclusions with and equal amount of consideration as I. Just a note, the new Haulmarks have narrow vertical LED brake lights on the rear sides of the ramp door which gives them a few extra inches of opening, very valuable when your thinking about those rear view mirrors as you roll up and down the ramp, it's why I chose Haulmark and the 07 model.
Let me know if you want to see my trailer this Friday or Saturday while I'm in town. You can also practice a drive in to see what you'll be experiencing at load time.

 

[Cyclenirvana]

Thanks Dave. I plan to stop by...will email you. I think everyone has convinced me that an enclosed trailer is probably best to ensure protection for the car from virtually all possible elements. So, I just have to narrow my choices down.

 

[Cyclenirvana]

Summary of Trailer Investigation

Well, I have been searching out the trailer issues and thought I would summarize my findings. I should also add that all of these companies will customize a trailer for you.

1) Trailex. www.trailex.com. I think this is the best trailer for our car. It is lightweight (about 2500 lbs. I believe) and, as the website demonstrates, it is made to haul cars like ours. Standard all-aluminum trailer uses 11' nice long ramps, is 22'6" length and 8'6" width. Interior width between wheel wells is
80" (our GT is 76.9"). Interior height is 4'11". The rear door is 94" in width. Unfortunately, they are expensive with a base price of $17K without other options, winch, etc. But arguably the best. Nice previous thread on this trailer by a GT owner:
http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4036&highlight=trailex

2) Tommy's trailers. www.tommystrailers.com. They have a unique set-up involving an open all-aluminum trailer and a removable canvas trailer topper with an aluminmum infrastructure. At least one Ford GT forum member uses this trailer and has great things to say about it. Their base 8'6" by 20' production class open trailer (starts at $4995) and deluxe open trailer (starts at $6495 with a few extras) have 80" between the wheel wells, 16'4" tracks, measure 22' in length, and weigh approximately 1350 lbs. They use 6' aluminum ramps. The canvas topper costs an additional $3895 and brings the total weight to about
1900 lbs. Delivered to you at about $1.35/mile.

3) Haulmark Thrifty trailer TH85X20WT2 (8'5" by 20"). Overall length 23'5" (interior length 20'4", slightly angled front), overall width 100" (interior width between wheel wells, 83", otherwise 96"), rear door width and ramp 94", weight 3325 lbs. At least one Ford GT forum member has this model and seems very pleased with it.

4) Pace American Rallye TH85X20WT2. (8'5" by 20"). Overall length 23'9" (interior length 19'7", flat front), overall width 99" (interior width between wheel wells, 81", otherwise 96"), rear door width and ramp 90", weight 3360 lbs.

Both Haulmark and Pace will do rampovers "over" the wheel wells. The ramp door for the Rallye can be widened to 96". I have priced both the Haulmark and Pace models at around 8k with the rampovers and 54" left side door, allowing the GT door to swing open and through.

Regardless of which trailer I get, I will need to obtain the proper towkit with sway bars and equalizer, about $600-700.
So, there you have it. I am leaning toward the Pace mostly based on looks....
Oh yeah, our GT weighs about 3489 lbs. (-50 lbs if you replaced your exhaust).

 

[fjpikul]

Do your homework and look at Featherlights also.

 

[dbtgt]

Do your homework and look at Featherlights also.

I'm very pleased with mine. It is very versatile and tows like a champ (Frank knows as he has followed me before:biggrin ). They are all aluminum and a lot of bang for the buck IMHO! They are lightweight and built like a fortress.

 

[Cyclenirvana]

One dealer about 50 miles from me sells Featherlite trailers. The one I would consider is their standard enclosed 8'6" by 20' aluminum trailer. The 4929 model has the raised floor which would apparently allow the GT doors to swing through the side door (which is a total of 11.5" from the floor)...by my measurement, our doors OEM are 11.75". So this should work but would be tight? You guys who own the Featherlite may want to comment?
My problem with the Featherlite (and most all aluminum trailers) is this...the above model weighs 3075 lbs. (so only 300 lbs. less than the Haulmark or Pace) and yet the base model starts at over $12K. The model I looked at was $14700. I am sure that these all-aluminum trailers are great values...but I am simply not convinced that they are so much better than conventional steel trailers which I could get completely modified for my GT with rampovers for approximately 8K. Just my 2 cents, probably worth 1 cent!!:biggrin

 

[dbtgt]

One dealer about 50 miles from me sells Featherlite trailers. The one I would consider is their standard enclosed 8'6" by 20' aluminum trailer. The 4929 model has the raised floor which would apparently allow the GT doors to swing through the side door (which is a total of 11.5" from the floor)...by my measurement, our doors OEM are 11.75". So this should work but would be tight? You guys who own the Featherlite may want to comment?
My problem with the Featherlite (and most all aluminum trailers) is this...the above model weighs 3075 lbs. (so only 300 lbs. less than the Haulmark or Pace) and yet the base model starts at over $12K. The model I looked at was $14700. I am sure that these all-aluminum trailers are great values...but I am simply not convinced that they are so much better than conventional steel trailers which I could get completely modified for my GT with rampovers for approximately 8K. Just my 2 cents, probably worth 1 cent!!:biggrin

The Featherlite is built with the frame beams much closer together than the Haulmark (in some cases - 24 inch centers for the Haulmark) and I believe the axles are lower spec as well. The cost savings have to come from somewhere. The fact that the all aluminum trailer is only 300 pounds less says something about how it is built. I know several folks who were attracted to Haulmark's value pricing and regretted their purchase a few years later. That being said, if you only tow a few times a year (and not long distances) you should be fine. JMHO:cheers

 

[Cyclenirvana]

I think you're right. There is no doubt in my mind that if I was seriously using an enclosed car trailer a dozen or more times/year, I would get an all aluminum trailer, such as ATC, Trailex, or Featherlite. I still think the idea of the Tommy's trailer with Topper is pretty cool...but I am somewhat limited by the local dealers whom I prefer, if possible, to do business. The Trailex and Tommy's Trailers would both have delivery charges associated with them. From what I've read the haulmark has 16 on center floors standard and
the 20' Pace rallye has 24 on center floors, that is a better option but also a bit heavier. I think the Pace may be slightly better quality.

The truth is that if I could rent a trailer a few times/year I would probably do it. But renting a high quality trailer convenient to where I live is just not possible and seems to be unlikely in most places. Thanks for all of your input!!