Weekend Warrior trailers

[BlackBDR]

Does anyone out there have a Weekend Warrior trailer for their Cobra? Or, other brands of combo travel trailer/car hauler? Any words of wisdom would be appreciated - Thanks, John

[Chuck R]

I am on my second Weekend Warrior, The first was a 26' and in February I took delivery of a FS30 that I had built. Since I got the new trailer I have hauled the car about 6,500 miles, DVSF, Snakes to the Lake, Knotts and numerous autocross and track events. If you order one with the right stuff, proper tie downs and reinforced ramp and floor, they are a great trailer. The only problem with the trailer is that it is a bit heavy and you have to have a serious tow rig. Here is a link to some pictures of my trailer.
2004 Weekend Warrior

[BlackBDR]

Thanks Chuck - after hours of over 100 degrees coming home from Snakes at the Lake, the idea seemed very appealing. Weekend Warrior are the only ones I've seen on line that fit the bill to haul a Cobra, are there other choices? The LE 5th wheel looks interesting. What's your opinion of the 5th wheel models vs. a tag trailer?-John

[Chuck R]

John, I am sure that there is other manufacturers that make a toy hauler capable of hauling a car however I have not seem anything built with the quality of Weekend Warrior. Before I ordered my FS30 I did some shopping. I went to the Ragin dealer here in town and when I told him that I wanted to haul a car, the salesman said that he was not intrested in my business, there trailer was not designed to handle a car. If you get a trailer, have it built for you. Most of the trailers on the lots are set up for four wheelers and do not have the proper reinforcements. As far as tag or fifth wheel it's kind of a coin toss. The fifth wheel I think pulls better but we like to put race tires, jacks, air compressors in the back of the truck so the tag works best for us. When I am fully loaded I weigh about 11,000 lbs and I pull with a chipped F350, Power Stroke that has a Gear Venders overdrive unit. This setup works well, I can pull the Cajon at 55-60. I would not like to pull this with anything less than a 3/4 ton pickup with a turbo diesel.

[Marc Walker]

I have a large (40' gooseneck) toyhauler that we used to haul the Cobra to DVSF last year (couple of pics in our gallary). It has a fully enclosed 16' cargo area that is big enough for the car plus everything else you need to take with you. The living space is 24' and would compare to a class C type RV of that size (7' overhead, full bath/shower, kitchen, dinning, 8'x8' bedroom/queen bed over the hitch).
The advantages of going with a converted race car trailer like this are........ 1... They are considerably lighter and more cross wind friendly than the tall 5th wheel Weekend Warrior type haulers. 2..... It is not designed for off road ground clearance, so if you don't need that, it has a lower CG that is much more stable for towing and good for low vehicle loading (Cobras and Harleys). It is also designed for hauling heavy cars, not ATVs (my axle/tire combo is rated for 22,000 lbs). 3..... The Weekend Warriors cargo space is open and you'll be living with (and smelling) your car with you in your living room.
Having looked at all the RV built toyhaulers, I agree that the Weekend Warrior is the cream of the crop. Most of the others look like they'll fall apart by 10k miles. I particularly liked the big double slide CL model. But reality is...... you can't saftly tow one of those 17,000 lb monsters with a pickup. I was towing mine with a new 03 Dodge Ram heavy duty / deisel. My trailer only weighs about 12,000 lbs fully loaded with the car and everything else. That was still under the legal limit of the truck and it had plenty of power to pull it, but (in my opinion)...... not nearly enough weight,wheelbase or brakes to control it if something bad happened. Heavy crosswinds in New Mexico last year had me on the edge of the seat.
Because I do alot of cross country RVing I got something a little bigger, safer and more comfortable to pull the thing with. I don't think that is absolutly necessary with trailers in the 12,000 lb range but if you don't already have a serious truck (one ton/dullie/deisel), you should factor that into the cost of the total package.
If your budget and towing capability allows you to go with the 5th wheel, I would recommend that over the tag. I've towed both cross country and the 5th is much more stable on the highway plus gives you that added room inside.
There are several race car trailer manufactures that specialize is building custom trailers like this (Stay away from Millinium/Vintage). Cost is comparable to a Weekend warrior. Mine was $38,000.
I think one thing everyone that has any experience with towing stuff like this will agree on is...... they're heavier than you think and if you've ever seen one piled up in a ditch along the highway.... you don't want to go there.

BTW...... if you get something.... Go to DVSF IV and stay at the fairgrounds right there in London. We'll be there.

[Cobranut]

John,

Here's my solution. It's a Monaco Dynasty with 8.3 Liter Cummins and a United Expressline 24' Racers Special.

This gives us plenty of living space as well as the necessary space for the car, tools, spares, and working area.

The trailer is rated for 10K GVW. I wired it for AC and can run everything, including the compressor, from the diesel generator in the coach.

The coach also has much larger water and holding tanks, as well as greater carrying capacity than you're likely to find in a toy trailer. It also drives much better and you have access to the facilities while on the road.

Later,

[Chuck R]

Marc, you have a great looking trailer but if you go to DV this year try and stay out of the mud in the fairgrounds

[Marc Walker]

Hi Chuck........... Yea, that was a learning experiance. I'll be staying on the pavement this year. I don't think that little tow truck winch would be able to pull this new rig outa there.
Will you be going again? Last year was so much fun we just automaticly planned to do it again.

Marc

[Chuck R]

Marc,
Right now we are planning on going but it all depends if my wife has to teach summer session. Last year we didn't know we were going until a week before DV when the wife came home and said that her class was cancelled. I guess thats the nice thing about these trailers, you just throw the car in, hook it up and your on your way. Hope to see you in June.

[BlackBDR]

Thanks everyone,

Chuck - We just looked at a 2005 model Weekend Warrior LE 3105 (which is very different from the 2004 model) and liked it. I've found another mfg that looks similar: Next Level by Holiday Rambler - do you know anything about them?

Marc - Wow, what a "tractor". Could you share some trailer mfg names you talked about? I'll need to stick to something a 3/4 ton PU can handle.

Cobranut - Very nice rig.

Thanks, John and Leeann

[BlackBDR]

Thanks everyone,

Chuck - We just looked at a 2005 model Weekend Warrior LE 3105 (which is very different from the 2004 model) and liked it. I've found another mfg that looks similar: Next Level by Holiday Rambler - do you know anything about them?

Marc - Wow, what a "tractor". Could you share some trailer mfg names you talked about? I'll need to stick to something a 3/4 ton PU can handle.

Cobranut - Very nice rig.

Thanks, John and Leeann

[Chuck R]

John,
The Le3105 is really a nice trailer, I was just looking at the Warrior site and it looks like it has the right stuff. You might want to actually measure the distance from the end of the stove cabinet to the ramp door, the demensions show 16' 1" to the refrigerator and you need full width for at least 14'

Just a few other things to think about. The fiberglass exterior looks great but keep in mind that it adds 1,000 lbs. to the trailer.

Order the trailer with the reinforced ramp and floor option. The dealer may not have it on their price list but have them call Warrior.

4- 5,000 lb tie downs, the included eye bolts a great for ATV's but unsafe for anything else.

A few other things we added were
1. Ceiling Fan
2. 2 110V outlets in the front storge area (basement)
3. Install both gas tanks, one for pumping station, ATV race gas, one for the generator.
4. Escape hatch over Ultra Bed, lets the wife get up on the roof easy.
5. Double eye hooks on Dinettes. Makes them hook up on both sides of the dinette,
6. Second 13.500 BTU air conditioner in Bedroom area, makes it nice and cool for summer weekends in the desert.
7. Outside BBQ, don't leave home without it
8. Extra deep cycle battery
9. The 5.5 Onan gen set, great unit will pull both air conditioner's and everything else at the same time.
10. 2 bay windows and swivel rockers, we really like this setup however their is only two of us. If I had kids again we would go with the dinette.

Just a few more things then I quit. When you go to the dealer ask for an experienced Warrior salesman, Warror will build the trailer any way that you want, and if your salesman does not know that, he is not the right one. SHOP THE DEALERS even if you have to out of state to do so. List price on my trailer was $36,600, transaction price $26,050 plus tax.

I haven't looked at the Holiday Rambler. Who makes the chassis? If it is alot cheaper than the Warrior it probably not the right one.

Good Luck with your selection.