Proj217 Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Hey all, I put this up on locostusa.com a couple of months ago and still don't really have a good lead on answers...wondering if you guys could help out. Basically, I am looking to see what you guys are using for a car trailer to tow the Lotus. In the interest of being cost and space effective I'm looking for the smallest possible trailer I can get a 7 on safetly. Being that the car doesn't weigh too much, and it's shorter than most I personally think a standard 16' open trailer is way overkill. If anyone knows of an ATV or other special use trailer that would work, let's see some pics or links! Bonus points if you can tell me a make/model. I've found a few landscaping trailers that are 7x11...which should be a perfect fit but I'm open to suggestions and what others are using. Thanks! -Ryan PS - Trying to keep this relatively cheap. So no aluminum or enclosed trailer suggestions right now. Thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s2k7 Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 (edited) xxx Edited January 24, 2014 by s2k7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Also you may want to watch the angle of the ramp as clearance is limited as the car enters the trailer. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHKflyer52 Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Hi Ryan, Might I suggest that you drive your 7 to a trailer sales lot and test fit your car on the different models that they have. If you purchase a single axle trailer to carry your 7 I would suggest that you get one with brakes and a load rating of 2000 to 2500 lbs. as that would give you a very good safety margin and the ability to carry a car like a Miata without issue. I personally would look for an enclosed trailer with dual axles as they provide much more security and also an extra garage / storage unit when not being used as a car transporter plus the added security if you should have a tire failure while towing a car or anything else. Other things that I would look for that will help with loading and unloading such as a dovetail ramp area or the ability to tilt the bed for loading ramp if an open trailer, side pockets for 2x4's if an open trailer (lets you add panels to hall all kinds of stuff such as firewood or bark dust, etc.), wood deck (better than a steel deck as you can secure stuff to it easier) with reinforced D-ring tie downs located in deck area not on the sides of the trailer frame if an open trailer. Just my suggestions as there are many thoughts about trailers but I would look for a used enclosed trailer if I were looking for another trailer to carry my 7. :cooldude: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proj217 Posted June 30, 2010 Author Share Posted June 30, 2010 Guys, thanks so much for the suggestions so far. This is the first car I'll ever be trailering so every bit of info helps! Responses below: "I've found a few landscaping trailers that are 7x11...which should be a perfect fit but I'm open to suggestions and what others are using." Most landscaping trailer are use for local transport and most don't have brakes. Some has short reciever and the trailer wander like drunk bummer. That's one of my suggestion.....brakes help. I was actually figuring I won't be using trailer brakes. My SUV can tow 6600lbs, I wouldn't imagine a 1400lb car and 1000lb(?) trailer would be a big issue for stopping? If I can find a trailer with brakes it would be preffered for the safety aspect, but I'm under the impression it's not 100% necessary? Trailer sway is a concern though. Also you may want to watch the angle of the ramp as clearance is limited as the car enters the trailer. Tom Thanks Tom, I didn't think about that. Hi Ryan, Might I suggest that you drive your 7 to a trailer sales lot and test fit your car on the different models that they have. If you purchase a single axle trailer to carry your 7 I would suggest that you get one with brakes and a load rating of 2000 to 2500 lbs. as that would give you a very good safety margin and the ability to carry a car like a Miata without issue. I personally would look for an enclosed trailer with dual axles as they provide much more security and also an extra garage / storage unit when not being used as a car transporter plus the added security if you should have a tire failure while towing a car or anything else. Other things that I would look for that will help with loading and unloading such as a dovetail ramp area or the ability to tilt the bed for loading ramp if an open trailer, side pockets for 2x4's if an open trailer (lets you add panels to hall all kinds of stuff such as firewood or bark dust, etc.), wood deck (better than a steel deck as you can secure stuff to it easier) with reinforced D-ring tie downs located in deck area not on the sides of the trailer frame if an open trailer. Just my suggestions as there are many thoughts about trailers but I would look for a used enclosed trailer if I were looking for another trailer to carry my 7. :cooldude: Hey MHK, An enclosed isn't in the cards right now. Ideally, I would like to be able to store the trailer and the 7 inside my garage. Enclosed just wouldn't work out...plus it's a bit more costly. Also, for at least the first year the 7 won't be road legal...driving it to a trailer shop has it's difficulties. Anyone have any recommendations for a brand/model? Or what they use? If a good enough deal comes along on a standard size open trailer I'll snatch it up. Just looking to add some lightness to my towing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian7 Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 I was actually figuring I won't be using trailer brakes. My SUV can tow 6600lbs, I wouldn't imagine a 1400lb car and 1000lb(?) trailer would be a big issue for stopping? Please be careful, I very much doubt the SUV tow rating of 6600# assumes a "no brakes" trailer. Your SUV probably weighs 4500#, so you're now assuming its brakes are good for 2.5 times that. An additional 2500# for 7+trailer may just be managable, but why risk your toy in a rainy skid to save a few hundred dollars on trailer brakes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proj217 Posted June 30, 2010 Author Share Posted June 30, 2010 Please be careful, I very much doubt the SUV tow rating of 6600# assumes a "no brakes" trailer. Your SUV probably weighs 4500#, so you're now assuming its brakes are good for 2.5 times that. An additional 2500# for 7+trailer may just be managable, but why risk your toy in a rainy skid to save a few hundred dollars on trailer brakes? A good point...trailer brakes will go on the to-do list. Need the trailer first! ...suggestions? :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usher Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 (edited) I had a custom trailer built by Montrose Trailers to pull my Westfield. It's 12' long by (I think) 6' wide. The trailer is all aluminum and has brakes on one axle. The ramps are 10' long and I had them drop the center of the rear part of the trailer to clear the oil pan. I have no clearance issues when I load it up, but the exhaust does come pretty close to the top of the ramp as I drive up. I also had them install jacks on the rear corners of the trailer so I don't need to be attached to the tow vehicle to load and unload. Edit: The extra jacks on the rear of the trailer also come in really handy when you get a flat tire while the trailer is loaded. Here are some pictures of the trailer: http://www.msu.edu/%7Eushernat/trailer.jpg Large picture 1 Large picture 2 Large picture 3 Large picture 4 Large picture 5 http://www.msu.edu/%7Eushernat/IMG_0397.JPG Edited June 30, 2010 by Usher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxologist Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 trailer prices are dirt cheap right now. email quote from a friend from 3 weeks ago: "My hunting has revealed that south Georgia is severely depressed due to the economy right now, and the trailer factories down there are slashing each other's throats trying to make a sale. Believe it or not, a brand new 24' basic enclosed car trailer can be purchased for under $4000 from more than one company. The only gotcha is that you need to pick it up in Georgia, because shipping up here will add $1500 to the cost. I can't even find a used trailer for that price! Anyway, my thought was that since I don't have garage space to build a race car without somebody else moving things around whenever I turn my back, one of these trailers would be cheaper than building a second garage, doesn't require building permits and zoning variances, and best of all can be towed to events without having to load/unload my gear and tools every weekend. I wish that I had thought about it 5 years ago! Of course, the gotcha is that I don't know if I can get a decent-sized trailer out of our side yard and onto the street, since there's a utility pole and bedrock outcropping both blocking the way that I'd need to swing the trailer to get it back out. This is one of the reasons why I wanted to rent an open U-Haul car carrier for 7/24, so that I can see if I can figure out what size enclosed trailer will fit in that spot....." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rnr Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 I had a custom trailer built by Montrose Trailers to pull my Westfield. It's 12' long by (I think) 6' wide. The trailer is all aluminum and has brakes on one axle. The ramps are 10' long and I had them drop the center of the rear part of the trailer to clear the oil pan. I have no clearance issues when I load it up, but the exhaust does come pretty close to the top of the ramp as I drive up. I also had them install jacks on the rear corners of the trailer so I don't need to be attached to the tow vehicle to load and unload. Great setup. Do you happen to know how much the trailer weighs? I've been considering a trailer myself and my GTI is rated to tow 2000 lbs. With a 13XX lbs car that leaves only 5-600 lbs for a trailer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usher Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 I never had my trailer weighed. I had planned to weigh it when I got it, but I never got around to doing it. My best guess would be 700-800 pounds, but I really don't know. My WRX is rated for 2000 pounds towing also, and I've had no problems towing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 might want to search around, this was a good thread http://usa7s.net/vb/showthread.php?t=1697&highlight=custom+trailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Some states are looking at putting electric brakes as a mandate for trailers over a given weight because of problems with vehicals being able to easily pull much more than they can stop. While California hasn't adopted it yet it is more than worth looking into. Surge brakes are cheaper but don't work well and tend to lock up the wheels at the worst possible time. Electric brake controlers are cheap and easy to fit on anything (even a motorcycle) adjustable, deliver only the stopping power you need and work off an inertial chip that in some models can even tell when your sliding sideways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proj217 Posted June 30, 2010 Author Share Posted June 30, 2010 might want to search around, this was a good thread http://usa7s.net/vb/showthread.php?t=1697&highlight=custom+trailer Thanks for the link. Unfortunately 100% of the options in there are well beyond my price range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookwheel Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 (edited) Believe it or not, a brand new 24' basic enclosed car trailer can be purchased for under $4000 from more than one company. Do it!! We bought a used 24 ft enclosed. We save on hotels if we are running somewhere that requires travel. Save on restaurants too. Tools and everything is right there where you park. Roll the car out and you have a 24 ft. living room. AC, hot water, microwave, shower, porta potti, fridg., generator and TV. Great for a night or two. It had almost everything when we bought it. Great price too. Living quarters in front and car in back. Awning for those rainy days comes in handy too. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v640/snookwheel/P1030493.jpg Edited June 30, 2010 by snookwheel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon W. Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 If you want cheap, build your own. I built 3000#capacity, 6' x 12' deck, plus spare tire/wheel, w/o brakes for under $800. Weighs 760#. Have used it for a Miata (couple hundred pounds overloaded), and a Civic donor. Built it in two weekends. All components came on a pallet from TX. I don't need brakes in PA since tow vehicle has GVW = 8600#. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 I purchased an aluminum 12' trailer W/O brakes, but with ramps attached. The E.W. was 585 LBS. After towing it on the open trailer twice I enclosed it and added surge disk brakes. The new weight was 985 LBS. I built it light with 1/16 wall one inch sq. tube and covered it with .020 clear Poly Carb. I tow it with a 2010 V.W. Jetta TDI wagon. It feels good loaded even at max speed. The brakes work great also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian7 Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 How about this one? (no affiliation, etc, just saw it on our race website) http://www.apexspeed.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40743 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnK Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 I purchased an aluminum 12' trailer W/O brakes, but with ramps attached. The E.W. was 585 LBS. After towing it on the open trailer twice I enclosed it and added surge disk brakes. The new weight was 985 LBS. I built it light with 1/16 wall one inch sq. tube and covered it with .020 clear Poly Carb. I tow it with a 2010 V.W. Jetta TDI wagon. It feels good loaded even at max speed. The brakes work great also. Sounds great! How about a source. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proj217 Posted September 14, 2010 Author Share Posted September 14, 2010 I figure I might as well bump this up. I ended up getting an enclosed trailer for a number of reasons: 1. We will be moving cross country in 4 months and I'd like some weather protection for the 7 2. I don't want everyone to see my bright green race car, especially when parked at a hotel overnight. 3. Shelter at a track day from obnoxious heat or rain 4. It doubles as a garage - therefore I'll only have to rent an outdoor spot for the trailer, vs having to rent a indoor spot for the 7 and a outdoor storage space for the trailer. It costs more upfront, but I think the pros make it worth it. It is a 7x12 American Hauler Nighthawk, single axle, brakes and an electric winch to help get the 7 up the VERY TIGHT ramp door opening. http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p26/CityGoat/217/P9030195.jpg http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p26/CityGoat/217/P9030196.jpg http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p26/CityGoat/217/P9030198.jpg Thanks folks! Oh yeah, and my car is done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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