Looking to buy an enclosed trailer. I am not real pleased with the net weight to gross weight ratios that the steel framed trailers have. EG: Haulmark Steelframe 24 foot tare weight Aprox. 4500 lbs. gvw 10,000lbs Net weight 5500lbs. Feaththerlite aluminum 24 foot Tare 3000 lbs. Gross 9600lbs. Net 6600 lbs. These are approximations but you get the idea. My questions are does the Aluminum trailer have the structural integrity to haul the Buick around. Does the Aluminums lighter tare wt. make up for price difference in fuel economy and Tow vehicle cost (One can tow with a lesser vehicle) and resale value. Your thoughts.
call Joe Elmer he just bought a brand new 28 foot and new price is $5800 plus tax i know the feather lites are more than that as well he picked his up in michigan the trailer was completly finished off inside as well ready to load with hold downs let him know Greg told you to call him 1-920-980-4869 is his number Greg
I have a Featherlite. They are the the Caddy of the open trailers. They make towing with a 1500 Silverado easy. No more than I tow the fuel saving is not such a huge factor but not having to buy a bigger tow vehicle is.
If you are going enclosed, don't cheat yourself and try to go with a 1/2 ton truck. You are asking for disaster if you are going to haul for any distance. Look at the price difference in the trailers, you might be able to buy a lot of gas for the difference in price of trailer. Depends on how frequently you are going to haul, but you may be money ahead to try and find a 'slightly used' trailer. Check out Racingjunk.com for some trailer (and truck) options. I just purchased an H&H trailer 24' V nose and I am extremely happy with what I got. Reserch, research, and research some more. Find out what is standard and what is 'optional'. If you go with an enclosed, get a 48" curbside door. Also consider an escape door on the drivers side over the fender. Mine is wide enough to get out of my car with no issue. You are definately on the right path looking for 5200# axles.
trailers Thanks for your input guys. I am going trailer shopping this morning. Hopefully I'll find what I'm looking for. I have towed the Buick around alot on an open trailer but I am tired of having to do the big wash job everytime I get to where I'm going. Not to mention the damage from errant road debris. Figure it's time to treat the Buick to an enclosed.
featherlite it is Drove to my nearest Featherlite dealer ( only 200 miles from home. Next nearest one is 1000 miles away) :laugh: and after much agonizing debate came away with a 24 foot enclosed. Not too many options. Interior is lined and insulated. Cabinets, 16 inch wheels. Now sit down when I tell you the price. $19000.00. Yes, this is not a typing error. I priced out good quality Steel structured. Wells Cargo and Haulmark and they were in the $15,000 range. Canadian dollars of course. I think this is where the supply and deamnd thing comes into play. When they're selling like hot cakes to the oilfield boom and there is a three month wait, you pay the price or haul your poor Buick on an open trailer. Oh well hopefully it will hold it's value well. I believe it to be well constructed and light enough that my 3/4 ton will pull it and all the trimmings and still be within Manufacturers spec on GCVW. I won't even mind hooking it to my wife's Envoy XL for short hops around town or the odd furniture move.(The KIDS are always going somewhere) :laugh:. I was also threatened with the classic line of a huge price increase on the next batch coming in. Not your bargain but we will be keeping the Buick clean and protected. There you have it.Tom
trailer tom, can you please let me know what you like and dont like about the trailer? im also thinking of trading in my open trailer and going to an enclosed one. when im towing my GSX im always paranoid about the weather. my biggest concern is running into a hail storm, ive seen what hail can do to cars.
featherlite John. Yes my sentiments exactly on the weather issue. Last year at the Nationals there was a huge threat of hail. I took all the towels and blankets I could find and laid them on the car. Then put my car cover over that and duct taped around the car so it wouldn't blow off. :laugh: :laugh:. I figure we were good to about marble size hail. Also every day after traveling was inspection time to see what new pits there were in paint and windshield. I'm sure the piece of mind will compensate for the exorbitant cost. Although I'll probably be looking for chips and marks on my new trailer now ou: Of course the big bonus is more beer time since I don't have to wash the car as much :beer . Pros and cons as I see them (without using it yet) Pros: 1) I can tow with my existing vehicles 2) Consenses is the aluminum is 1500lbs lighter than comparable steel 3) some fuel savings. Although as Smallhurst pointed out these are eaten up quickly by initial purcahase price. 4) Ease of trailer entry. The door being the ramp and the rear 4feet of floor is sloped as well to make angle of entry favourable. Looks like the front spoiler won't hit getting on the ramp. 5) Ample room for spare parts tools etc all under cover and lock and key. 6) Easy to tie down with the Large D rings in the foor. 7) Looks like quality door latches and locks for ease of use and security. 8) Wiring is all in a harness with no connections to worry about coming apart. The wiring is also all in the ceiling rather than running underneath the trailer (As in an open trailer) so there won't be the damagefrom road debris or salt ( if you happen to tow in the northern winters 9) Resale value should be good Cons: 1) Expense!!! 2) Because the trailer deck is low profile the wheel well which protrudes on the inside of the trailer inhibits car door opening. (This can be avoided by purchasing the the higher deck trailer. Downside being higher center of gravity 3) Did I say expense?!!! I won't actually be using the trailer for another couple of weeks but when I do I can post some more opinions here. I'll get a couple of pics as well Tom
Looks great! From the photo's it looks like you have a V-nose, is this correct? If you do, add in some (slightly) better fuel economy. 16" wheels are a big bonus. You can get some serious league trailer tires that will wear like iron! One of the first things I can think of is some carpet or padding on the wheel wells. The boxes in mine are low enough that the door opens right over the top. Word to the wise, get a spare for the trailer. Better to be down for 20 minutes changing a flat than spending half a day searching for a tire to go on the rim!
Thanks guys. Its not classified as a V nose but it certainly isn't flat either. Kind of somewhere in between. I was a little miffed that it didn't come with a spare. An oversight on my part. My open trailer had come with one and I thought they all did. Oh well live and learn. I'm just too big to worry about that little space to get the door open a crack and squeeze in so I'm winching it in. Opted for the low profile trailer instead of the door opening over the wheel well. you have a little more control that way of putting it in just the right spot IMO. Featherlite makes a 20ft. enclosed
Hey guy while we are talking trailer I'm looking to move up to an enclosed trailer and get rid of my open. My question is 5th wheel on tag any opinons? I'm towing with a 2006 1ton 4x4 dodge megacab cummings power.
