Trailer advise for the Cobra??? - Page 3

DWRAT · #41 (**permalink**) 08-31-2014, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spookypt

Here's my tow set up. F350 Dually with Featherlite trailer extended and enclosed. works for me.

What size is your trailer and it looks to be low profile, is it?

spookypt · #42 (**permalink**) 08-31-2014, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWRAT

What size is your trailer and it looks to be low profile, is it?

Yeah is fairly low profile. It was originally just a stock featherlite 14 foot flat bed. I have extended the rear to make it a 16 foot bed plus added the extra V nose up the front. Its all aluminium body with torsion axle set up with 4 wheel electric brakes etc etc. Wall and roof are aluminium sandwich. Yep its fairly low. I made the trailer so as it had an overall height pretty much the same as my truck for wind efficiency and so it fits inside a standard garage door opening if needed. It fits all my gear including tool boxes, spare tyre set, fuel and parts for a weekends racing. Has an electric winch and the ramps load in and slide under the trailer.

I used to tow it with a single cab F250 SRW Petrol but the dually diesel V8 with DRW is just awesome for towing. You know the trailers there but it sure doesn't dictate to the tow vehicle which is what you want.

The F Truck gets loaded with all my family gear plus esky and extra cobra parts for a weekend away and we go off cruising to the sound of the turbo whistling and safe travelling. In Oz this rig would cost about $100k to replace. Crazy hey!

Spookypt

RICK LAKE · #43 (**permalink**) 09-01-2014, 04:39 AM

Spookypt Just a thought, add a cap that is flush with you roof of the truck and the trailer will be nicer to tow.
Other side note for guys towing with duallys, add some weight to the bed of the truck. I keep tires (4), spare tool box, spare trans and rearend center section in the bed of the truck. Have learned that the trailer can and does push the truck around in bad weather or high wind conditions. I did jackknife the rig once on an off ramp in Ohio. There was oil dropped on the road going around. Was doing about 30 mph. Truck was turning and the trailer when straight. This happened slow enough for me to hit the trailer brakes and lock up the wheels. Luck with no damage. Running a light rearend Dually truck may cause this kind of accident. Keep 500 pound in the bed. Have safe trips.
Side note to everybody, Everybody is in a hurry to get there. I see guys passing me at 75+ mph. I have seen people died from this high speed driving and I am 100% sure they say this will not happen to me. Slowing down to 65 mph is a good safe speed with good equipment. You will still get there, depending on distance maybe 15 minutes later but still there in 1 piece. I too have lost tires on the trailer and never knew until stopping for gas or someone honking at me on the road. Been lucky with no damage to trailer, truck extension was another issues. Hey guys good luck and drive save. High speed for the tracks, not the interstates.

Rick L.

spookypt · #44 (**permalink**) 09-01-2014, 02:03 PM

Rick what do you mean when you say " add a cap that is flush with you roof of the truck and the trailer will be nicer to tow."

What's a cap? A deflector?

And couldn't agree more about loading the dually bed. More weight in tow vehicle better tow for sure.

Spookypt

RICK LAKE · #45 (**permalink**) 09-01-2014, 04:02 PM

Spookypt Truck cap for the bed. It gives a smooth flow of air. Cap will be even with the roof of the cab. This keeps the air up and cuts down on the air flow that drops into an open bed and hits the front of the trailer. Stops drag. Also feels like the rig is smoother on the road at highway speeds. My tow truck are 15/20 years old. I use both for towing and swap the cap from one truck to the other. 95 is a 2 wheel drive. 2000 is a 4 wheel drive. Use this one for winter towing. Added air locker to front end for better traction. Any way, try and built trucks for towing anywhere or time. Rick L.

spookypt · #46 (**permalink**) 09-01-2014, 04:26 PM

Rick, can you post up a pick of yours.... I think your talking about an air scoop of sorts?

LMH · #47 (**permalink**) 09-01-2014, 04:28 PM

Just an FYI but in AZ, all dual-wheeled trucks, including pickup trucks, must have mud flaps on the rear tires. Also applies to any truck, dual wheel or not, that has had the bumper height modified like some of 4WD guys do with lift kits.
Sure helps on the rocks hitting a car on an open trailer.
Larry

spookypt · #48 (**permalink**) 09-01-2014, 04:41 PM

On review I think you mean like a hood that sits on the bed equal to the roof height.

I've got a hard cover on the ute bed but wouldn't go as far as putting a full roof cover on the bed. That's not for me at all and eliminates the ability to load tall oversize items in the bed. Now I just lift the hardcover off. A full enclosed bed wouldn't work for what I do.

I find with the V nose on the trailer it seems to make it pull straighter like a rudder than if it was a blunt end with a bubble air dam or similar. Its pretty much perfect the set up as it is now.

Although I do toy with the idea of a 5th wheeler with a proper bed, kitchen and shower/toilet.

Dreaming........dreaming....

twobjshelbys · #49 (**permalink**) 09-01-2014, 04:52 PM

I would use an open trailer for local moves when I know the conditions and don't expect them to change. But if most people were doing it they'd drive it so the use would be to move a garage queen / show car. Long distance get covered. We drove back from vegas on Friday and went through two nasty hail storms.