those who have enclosed trailers-question for you

[Greg L.]

Re: those who have enclosed trailers-question for you

Yes Michael that it is.

It's an 03 with a tad over 100k miles, 5.7 with 4:10 gears and it's towing capacity is about 8,700 lbs.

It pulls very well on level or slight grades but on steeper grades like in the Rockies it had to down shift even to second gear at times so on some hills my speed would drop to about 40-45 mph and the temp gauge would climb to about the 3/4 mark. If I was always towing in the mountains and towing lots a little more power would be in order but for all the towing I do, it did just fine.

When I was looking for a truck to tow this trailer AND as a daily driver for the other 99% of the time I had two options, a good tow vehical like a big 2500 diesel that would haul butt up any mountain but be a waste for day to day driving or a 1500, 5.7 that would do the job for that 1% of the time and still be a pleasure to drive for the rest of the time.

For me I made the right choice. I just love that Chevy! Actually it's a GMC but toemato tahmato.

Oh BTW, even though the bigger grades required 2nd gear and the slower speed I still kept up and at times passed some of the highway trucks so power to weight wise they are pretty close.

[Brant H.]

Re: those who have enclosed trailers-question for you

I have also seen a new one designed by the guy who did the fastback Cobra, it is really aerodynamic but can't recall the name, very nice one. Rounded front and sloped from top, great design.

Pete Brock

http://www.bre2.net/mm5/merchant.mvc...e=car_trailers

[Patrick H.]

Re: those who have enclosed trailers-question for you

I've used my friend's Wells Cargo a few times to haul my 72 across the country and it's a great unit. FYI, it has the "bump out" on the front side, upper 1/3, and it does help with aerodynamics and your gas mileage. Be sure to use a weight distributing hitch.

If I were to buy a new one, the Trailex looks good because it's all aluminum, short, and made to haul vehicles. However, not inexpensive and I wish it had different ramps or a fold-down back door. Driving up two skinny ramps isn't all that fun.

The biggest "flaw" I see is that the vast majority of trailers are way too tall for what we do. If I were going to get one, I'd order one tall enough to hold my Corvettes and my Cutlass and allow me to get in and out but not nearly as tall as most of the trailers out there. I'm never going to haul anything tall enough to use all the space, and if I would then I'd borrow an open trailer. So, think about chopping 2-3 feet from the height of the trailer to help your gas mileage and towability. Or, of course, buy a Trailex. They're built shorter to start with.

Patrick

[William L.]

Re: those who have enclosed trailers-question for you

Neat looking trailer. The problem I see with it is. No side door for getting in and out of the car and they don't offer one. Assess door is a must.

[Pat M.]

Re: those who have enclosed trailers-question for you

The biggest "flaw" I see is that the vast majority of trailers are way too tall for what we do. If I were going to get one, I'd order one tall enough to hold my Corvettes and my Cutlass and allow me to get in and out but not nearly as tall as most of the trailers out there. I'm never going to haul anything tall enough to use all the space, and if I would then I'd borrow an open trailer. So, think about chopping 2-3 feet from the height of the trailer to help your gas mileage and towability. Or, of course, buy a Trailex. They're built shorter to start with.Patrick

Neat looking trailer. The problem I see with it is. No side door for getting in and out of the car and they don't offer one. Assess door is a must.

I guess I'll have to be a bit of a contrarian here. I have a trailer similar to Greg's and I really like it.

I like how tall they are because I can completely open the hood in the trailer. It's nice to be able to easily inspect things under the hood without having to remove the car, and/or in bad weather.

Also, while I know I'm in the minority, the lack of a side access door does not bother me. I have just enough room to get in and out, and the money I saved was worth not having it to me (mine did offer one). JMHO

[Patrick H.]

Re: those who have enclosed trailers-question for you

I guess I'll have to be a bit of a contrarian here. I have a trailer similar to Greg's and I really like it.

I like how tall they are because I can completely open the hood in the trailer. It's nice to be able to easily inspect things under the hood without having to remove the car, and/or in bad weather.

Also, while I know I'm in the minority, the lack of a side access door does not bother me. I have just enough room to get in and out, and the money I saved was worth not having it to me (mine did offer one). JMHO

Try getting out of a C6 in an enclosed trailer with no access door. You have to go out the roof. This would be one of those "ask me how I know" stories.

Never thought about the ability to open the hood - good thought. But, I'd meaaure that height and try and not get one much taller.

Patrick

[Pat M.]

Re: those who have enclosed trailers-question for you

Try getting out of a C6 in an enclosed trailer with no access door. You have to go out the roof. This would be one of those "ask me how I know" stories.
Patrick

Interesting. I have no problem with my C4, but then again I imagine a C6 is probably wider and/or lower. Good to know.

[William L.]

Re: those who have enclosed trailers-question for you

I guess I'll have to be a bit of a contrarian here. I have a trailer similar to Greg's and I really like it.

I like how tall they are because I can completely open the hood in the trailer. It's nice to be able to easily inspect things under the hood without having to remove the car, and/or in bad weather.

Also, while I know I'm in the minority, the lack of a side access door does not bother me. I have just enough room to get in and out, and the money I saved was worth not having it to me (mine did offer one). JMHO

Pat when I was 43 I could do a lot of thing's then that I need an access door to do now!!!!!!!!
Bill

[Terry M.]

Re: those who have enclosed trailers-question for you

Try getting out of a C6 in an enclosed trailer with no access door. You have to go out the roof. This would be one of those "ask me how I know" stories.

Never thought about the ability to open the hood - good thought. But, I'd meaaure that height and try and not get one much taller.

Patrick

Going out through the roof only works on some cars -- on some the roof is NOT removable.

I do like the idea of a winch -- that way one never has to get in the car, so there is no egress issues. That is how we hauled the Z06 back from the Museum.

[Pat M.]

Re: those who have enclosed trailers-question for you

Pat when I was 43 I could do a lot of thing's then that I need an access door to do now!!!!!!!!
Bill

Touche'!

[John S.]

Re: those who have enclosed trailers-question for you

Pete Brock

http://www.bre2.net/mm5/merchant.mvc...e=car_trailers

In my view this new one by Brock is really the perfect unit, doors on both sides and light and aerodynamic. Aluminum is the only way to go, steel is so heavy, and the full bottom cover has to be a good addition for towing.
Thanks for posting this one, all should check out the specs and compare it to others.

[Patrick H.]

Re: those who have enclosed trailers-question for you

Going out through the roof only works on some cars -- on some the roof is NOT removable.

I do like the idea of a winch -- that way one never has to get in the car, so there is no egress issues. That is how we hauled the Z06 back from the Museum.

Yes, that would work too. How did you ever get a winch on without ruining the spoiler?

Drove my 08 into the trailer at the museum and then found out that I was "stuck" since the door wouldn't open far enough. Tried backing in - no better. Lowered the window and removed the roof to get out. Thankfully I hadn't been using that same trailer to bring my 72 to Boston a few months prior.

Patrick

[Pat M.]

Re: those who have enclosed trailers-question for you

Patrick, was your 08's door hitting the side of the trailer or the wheel wells?

Initially my cars' doors hit the wheel wells, which did allow me to get out but not easily. Then I installed 2 2x12s on the floor to drive on so that both my cars' doors would rise above the wheel wells. This gave me a much better opening so I can get in and out of both my cars pretty easily now.

It's a little more work, but still cost a lot less than the getting one with the side access from the get-go.

[John D.]

Re: those who have enclosed trailers-question for you

Michael, whatever trailer you buy, make sure the side door opening sill height will permit not only your current Corvette's door to open so you can easily get in and out of your Corvette inside the trailer, but also a C4/5/6. JMTCW, Gary....

Sorry but I am not going to read all the trailer posts but I do like Gary's comment.
I see a ton of enclosed car trailers with NO side door. That kind of trailer is just about worthless unless you are one skinny old dude. Then you have to worry about scratching the car getting out,etc.

I have had a few trailers in my days to haul my trailer queens around. ALL of them had the same issues as what Gary said. The door in the Corvette wouldn't open far enough as hit the trailer fender. So we did a bubba job and put some 2 X 10's or some kind of planks (forget) on the trailer floor to raise the car up so it would clear the fender. Now that's uncalled for if you do your homework.

If $$$ aren't as issue then a Featherlite is the cats's "meow". Very light weight and a work of art.
Most of the trailers are all made in Elkhart, IN and the name brands are all very good albeit some of them are extremely heavy to lug around.

If you plan on pulling a lot of hills like in WV and VA you better have a huge tow vehicle or a light weight trailer. JD

[Pat M.]

Re: those who have enclosed trailers-question for you

So we did a bubba job and put some 2 X 10's or some kind of planks (forget) on the trailer floor to raise the car up so it would clear the fender.

I resemble that remark.