Help picking a tow vehicle and trailer for my Caterham

[JB455]

100% AI. I was looking at the trailer details when I noticed the "Caterham" lettering on the side of the car. 🤣

[Slonie]

On 1/19/2026 at 6:10 AM, Vovchandr said:

 

Just like the OP said, I looked up Serpent Express and wow, they look really trick! I don't want to know the price. https://serpentexpress.com/home

 

It's cool that you can order them with the "escape door" (their term) located for your car. Not that we need the extra clearance to open a door with our cars...

 

Their ordering seems to be very customizable, normally the roof is 72" tall but this orange one is super low, must have been ordered by one of us:

 

 

[pethier]

On 11/29/2025 at 8:44 AM, KnifeySpoony said:

Why not load the car in backwards to increase tongue weight? 

Mostly because putting a car into or onto a trailer backwards is a pain.

[Timothy Keith-Lucas]

Good morning,  savagete2860.

 

Now that you have thoroughly overthought the entire issue, and we've gone down rabbit holes like tongue weight, I'd really like to hear your conclusion. In the meantime, some dimensions:

 

Weight- Steel versus aluminum, with aluminum costing a bunch of money (about twice the price).

Weight- Open versus enclosed, with enclosed weighing more and costing more, but better protection.

Cost- Open is cheapest, and might safe you on the cost of the tow vehicle

Cost- Enclosed steel is cheaper than enclosed aluminum

Cost and weight- Single axle is cheaper and weighs less, and is adequate for a Cat.

 

Those dimensions caused me to settle on a single axle 7x12 enclosed steel when I overthought the issue.

 

Best wishes, --Tim.

 

[IamScotticus]

11 hours ago, Timothy Keith-Lucas said:

Good morning,  savagete2860.

 

Now that you have thoroughly overthought the entire issue, and we've gone down rabbit holes like tongue weight, I'd really like to hear your conclusion. In the meantime, some dimensions:

 

Weight- Steel versus aluminum, with aluminum costing a bunch of money (about twice the price).

Weight- Open versus enclosed, with enclosed weighing more and costing more, but better protection.

Cost- Open is cheapest, and might safe you on the cost of the tow vehicle

Cost- Enclosed steel is cheaper than enclosed aluminum

Cost and weight- Single axle is cheaper and weighs less, and is adequate for a Cat.

 

Those dimensions caused me to settle on a single axle 7x12 enclosed steel when I overthought the issue.

 

Best wishes, --Tim.

 

All I can say is, if I ever saw your trailer and the Mrs' T didn't come out, I would be disappointed. 

[Timothy Keith-Lucas]

Lisa's 1924 Model T is pretty and lots of fun. She's pretty well finished work on it and is moving to renovation of another one.

 

Actually, the enclosed trailer was bought for the T before I bought the 7. It just happens to fit. My usual 7 trailer is a generic 6x12 open utility trailer. Both are the least expensive options in the two classes of trailer, with the down side being having to own a truck to haul the enclosed one. Her Dodge Caravan Soccer Mom minivan will haul the 7 on the open trailer. If we both go to a show too far for me to drive the 7 there, she gets the enclosed trailer and the truck and I take the open trailer and the mini van.

[demoray]

The seller, Brian Garfield, of the trailer from the Facebook screenshot is one of the louder voices pushing for the SCCA's XU class, which is where 7s on Street tires fit.

 

We're planning on building a new garage to store our future trailer (and a few other vehicles), at which point I'm strongly considering buying one of these.