Thoughts on a trailer

Kramer · #1 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008, 09:50 AM

Wondering about some comments on a trailer. I don't have enought money to have two vehicles with the family so I am left with my big a$$ SUV that is rated at 10K lbs towing capacity(this was one of the reasons I bought it). (oh it is a infiniti QX56)...only that and the Sequoia were rated this high. My infiniti also came with a tow package and some button setttings to manage the transmission while towing.

My question is given my comments below...should I be looking at any other brand besides those listed before I make a final selection. I have looked at all the usual trailer companys....pace, haulmark..even serpent express and really want something enclosed, as lightweight as possible and able to pull the cobra, some tools and my harley for trips like Run and Gun).

My local Cobra mentor has given me some great advice and I am currently looking at the used market, but just wanted to check with some of you as well.

Kramer

mrmustang · #2 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008, 10:17 AM

http://www.fthr.com/

and

http://www.trailex.com/

SP01715 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008, 02:46 PM

I have a Racer 20' enclosed trailer. It is made by Carson trailers. I am very happy with it. I also have a friend that is towing a 32' boat with twins with the same vehicle you have with no problem. I will take my 2500 HD diesel truck over an SUV, but you won't have a problem with an enclosed car trailer with a Cobra in it.

davidlee · #4 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008, 03:49 PM

I have a 20' enclosed Pace that I used to haul my Cobra. I pulled it with a F150 Ford 5.4 gas burner It seemed to do fine other than it loved fuel while pulling the tralier[ prox 10 MPG} OUCH

David

Kramer · #5 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008, 05:57 PM

Thanks guys....I actually went and looked at the carson trailers last night as there is a dealer right by the house....appreciate the suggestion on the trailex...very light trailer!!

RICK LAKE · #6 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008, 06:04 PM

Kramer Haulmark sells a low hauler for bikes. They come in a 20" length. They are only 6' 3" tall. They will ride behind your truck with out that big brick feeling. You can put the whole trailer in your garage. It will carry 7,500 lbs. and you will have room for tools, tires, a few spare parts and the harley. They are not the cheapest and not the most expensive. What ever trailer you get make sure you get the next load wieght tire up from the stock ones it comes with. There should only be about a 50-70 dollar differents. Your gas mileage will go down between 1-1.5 mpg has compared to a 8' trailer which is about 2-3 mpg. Have you looked into a soft top trailer? I use an open trailer and cover the car with multi padding and covers. There was a low hauler on e-bay in red about 4 months ago. It went for about 5,800.00. New it was 8,200.00. I am saving for my trailer. After you buy the trailer, have it undercoated to get a longer life out of it.

Rick Ps you will pay big bucks for the aluminium trailer. They are nice but the 8' height still catches the wind.

SSSammy · #7 (**permalink**) 08-20-2008, 11:57 AM

Tom, I have a 8.5' x 20' PACE with 7500# axle cap. See my gallery. I pull it with a short Escalade, 403 HP, 6.2 gasser. Plenty of power, but 9 mpg at 65 mph .. 6 mpg at 75 mph

Going faster than 65 just means extra fuel stops, so you don't save any time. It is a real barn in the windstream, but I love it at the track and away Cobra events.

Regardless of which enclosed trailer you choose, I would not go longer than 20' with that tow vehicle. Maneuvering in parking lots gets trickier as your overall length increases. At some point, you're a semi

Whichever way you go, have a weight distributing hitch installed. Your QX will handle MUCH better, with the short wheelbase compared to a 4dr truck and heavy (800#) tongue weight.

You'll need some towing mirrors for the QX so you can see behind the 8.5' wide box.

Sam

Badger · #8 (**permalink**) 08-20-2008, 01:00 PM

Check out the ORCA aerodynamic lightweight by Peter Brock, designer of the Daytona Cobras. www.BRE2.net

Three Peaks · #9 (**permalink**) 08-20-2008, 02:07 PM

Just a FYI, but try to keep the trailer as short as you can to meet your needs. I have towed my travel trailer with my Blazer and had plenty of power, but towing a long trailer with a short wheel based SUV is a recipe for white knuckle driving and possible disaster. The longer trailer will try to drive the tow vehicle so you have to stay on top of it every minute. In a windy situation you will be worn out in 50 miles of trying to control it. This is the reason I quickly went to a pick up for towing. It made a night-and-day difference with the extra wheel base and small additional weight.
This is especially a problem if you haul up an down mountains or on interstates with heavy trucks around you a lot. Downhill is the worst as the trailer will try to pass you when you try to slow down.
Get a quality brake unit like a Tekonsha Prodigy and get it set properly before heading out and teach yourself how to use it manually to slow the trailer without braking with the tow vehicle for those long downhill sections where you just need to straighten out the trailer without upsetting the whole rig. You'll understand the first time you get into this situation...

IMHO, you would be best off with a very lightweight, low trailer in around a 16' length if it will handle everything you will need to haul . I definitely wouldn't go over 20' in length with that tow vehicle. The Serpent express is a perfect fit for what you are doing, IMHO.

Bob