Well I'm building an HC car and I was really looking into the hauler part of it this weekend, but I'm having scores of issues at the moment.

Currently me dad has been helping me move the car is trailer. He has a F150 Lariot and a tilt-bed. The idea of using his trailer would be the best, but I have a Tacoma with a tow limit of 5000. With the car weighing 2250 and the trailer weighing close to 3000 it's a no-go.

So I called several places to get quotes, but I could not find a car hauler with a 5000 GVWR and for a price I could afford. As long as the price is around 1400 my father said he would buy it as a business expense.

The biggest issue seems to be finding a light weight trailer. I'm considering building one, but I don't know how much of a hassle it will be to get it registered.

/End Rant

What I would like to know from those of you who have or have had open trailers what you would recomend?

 

an open steel trailer with brakes on both axles should run you $2000-$2500 new.

If thats over your budget, then you will have to wait for a used one to come up in your area.

personally I just bought a very well built closed deck trailer with all the fixin's for $2200 down in NC

 

Iggy, I've towed cars with both a trailer and dolly with my 03 tacoma both times SF to LA. Toyota corolla GTS on trailer and Mitsu Eclipse turbo on dolly and the trailer was one of those really heavy U-haul ones. Truck towed ok both times without any problems, but I definitely would not recommend doing frequent long hauls.

I was looking at some "light weight looking" trailers at the Sears Point event this weekend. There are some out there. Some of the Big-Tex single axles look fairly light weight - I have no experience with these. http://www.bigtextrailers.com/....html

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JamesS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Iggy, I've towed cars with both a trailer and dolly with my 03 tacoma both times SF to LA. Toyota corolla GTS on trailer and Mitsu Eclipse turbo on dolly and the trailer was one of those really heavy U-haul ones. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Unfortunately in CA if the car is not registered all 4 wheels must be off the ground..

You could get an old boat trailer and modify it to hold a car. I don't think they are that heavy and i'm sure you could find one pretty cheap..

 

Most open deck steel 16' trailers will weigh under 1,500lbs.

My trailer with an H2 ITR and all of my crap weighs under 4,400.

 

I can only speak for the state of Virginia, but titling a home-made trailer wasn't very difficult (both for a car trailer and for a canoe trailer).

My goal was for my tandem axle trailer to weigh 800 lbs., so that a 2200 lb. car would come in under 3000 lb. total.

Keith, who now tows a sub-1800 lb. race car on it...

 

If you have somewhere to store a trailer, you probably also have somewhere to store a tow vehicle. If you have somewhere to store a tow vehicle, why not sell the Tacoma and buy one of these and a sporty commuter of some sort?

By tow-vehicle, I mean something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...wItem

Easy, safe towing for cheap ($6k).

Just food for thought.

-- Jon

EDIT: FWIW I have a Big Tex 14' open trailer and I tow it w/ my Tundra. The assembly quality on the Big Tex trailers varies CONSIDERABLY -- mine's an utter POS.

 

If you can afford it now the best option is to get an enclosed trailer. I am glad I didn't get an open trailer (no offense to anyone the board who has an open trailer).

I just picked my Pace Rallye up a couple of weeks ago for about $6500. I opted for the smooth sides instead of the rivet look on the outside. That was an extra $500. You can probably get out for just under $6000.00 for a good trailer that you can absolutely customize yourself to your specifications (what I opted to do). I will probably have around $7000 wrapped up in it by the time it's all said and done. That is primed/painted white on the inside, tire racks, toolbox mounted, enclosed area for the floorjack + stands and tools.

Oh, and if you dad has it as a business expense you can write it off and also don't have to pay sales tax if you are a dealer (we opted this route). That saves a bundle of cash as well.

 

Well I thought about getting a tow vehicle, but that's out of the question with getting additional insurance and gas prices. My Tacoma is an 05 so I would loose quite a bit of money as well if I decided to trade in for a Tundra.

I thought about a enclosed trailer, but those are just too heavy. The best way to go in my option though.

I was thinking about what BrianZ said and getting a boat trailer and putting tracks on it. I have been looking on craigs list to find something that would work. Nothing yet and I will still keep looking.

I called a local place and asked for prices. I was looking for an 7' or 8.5' by 16'. I was told between 2000 to 4500. I like the 2000 one, but it really doesn't have anything. D rings or e-track are optional. Do trailer dealers work just like car dealers where you can work on the price?

 

What open trailer weighs 3,000lbs? My enclosed trailer weighs that much, and my open decker came in at 1,800lbs.

Plenty of people tow their racecars at under 5,000lbs...hell, I did that with a caprice.

As for finding one cheap, look around all the racing boards, they always pop-up for sale.

 

Keep shopping. Find a trailer place with *multiple* open trailers on site.

They will be negotiable.

I bought an 18 ft wood deck trailer, brakes on both axles, breakaway brake, $1750, just last year. 1700 lbs.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by El Pollo Diablo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What open trailer weighs 3,000lbs? My enclosed trailer weighs that much, and my open decker came in at 1,800lbs.</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's a tilt bed with a GVWR of 9250. It's for tractors.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris F &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Keep shopping. Find a trailer place with *multiple* open trailers on site.

They will be negotiable.

I bought an 18 ft wood deck trailer, brakes on both axles, breakaway brake, $1750, just last year. 1700 lbs.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That would be perfect!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris F &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I bought an 18 ft wood deck trailer, brakes on both axles, breakaway brake, $1750, just last year. 1700 lbs.
</TD></TR></TABLE>


Steel has gone up quite a bit since then though kinda like gas.

 

A couple more things:

1) My $1600 trailer cost about $2k out the door. Tax title blah blah. Keep some extra space in the budget for that stuff.

2) Harbor Freight sells a cheap welder -- might be handy for attaching things like D-rings and could potentially save some $.

-- Jon

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by prkiller &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Steel has gone up quite a bit since then though kinda like gas. </TD></TR></TABLE>

It had already gone up by then, September-ish, but I don't doubt it's higher still. Sucks!

Yeah, tax/title/license/fees/etc will add to the bottom line.

Also-- ebay. Lots of trailer builders of questionable quality there.

(for instance, I didn't mention that my trailer had new tires and new axles, but you better watch for that on ebay.)

 

Trailers out here is Cali are just damn expensive.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civicrr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Trailers out here is Cali are just damn expensive. </TD></TR></TABLE>

you aint kidding... why do you think i was borrowing trailers for so long...

 

I will have a 18' Steel open trailer for sale in the next two weeks. Electric brakes, dovtailed, D-rings... will have price and pictures next week

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MarkosMotorsports &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I will have a 18' Steel open trailer for sale in the next two weeks. Electric brakes, dovtailed, D-rings... will have price and pictures next week </TD></TR></TABLE>

Hey great shoot me a PM

 

Any open trailers lowered car friendly? I dont want to have to change the height or remove bumpers to drive on/off every time.

 

you need to get one with a 2ft dove tail, and 6ft ramps, then they are race car friendly.

 

.... or standard deck height with really long ramps. I use 10' ramps to get my car on and off. They're a pain in the *** though, so if you can swing the dovetail do it.

Iggy - If your budget really needs to stay under $2k, wait for a used trailer to pop up. They go really fast here too, so you have to stay on top of it, but you can find a decent car hauler used in good condition for $1500 if you're patient. I tow my H4 integra (2400 lbs empty) on a Carson 16' open deck trailer (~1700 lbs) with my SR5 4Runner. It works, but I wouldn't want to go any heavier than that. The truck tows ok, but once it's loaded with all the gear, it's tough to get it up to freeway speed on on-ramps and stuff and it struggles on hills. Flat freeway towing is a breeze though and braking actually isn't too bad with the trailer brakes.

- Scott

 

Registering a trailer isn't hard. I did it for my Harbor Freight tire trailer.
You do have to spend a bit of time there (appointment) etc. But the
inspection is typical to a Uhaul road check before leaving.

Trailers have gone up. When I was shopping 1.5 years ago, it was upper
1700s for a 18footer open car hauler. (Steal frame, wood deck)
Alumn were nearly $4-5k. Woof. Even on ebay, 2nd hand ones go for
nearly $2k.

I bought a Big Tex 14'. Well made. But expensive and didnt come with all
the bells and whistles. But it was the only 14' ready to go.

 

where are you located?if you're in the VA area,shoot me a PM.
we sell 18' all steel(diamond tread floor,either full or open tunnel)dovetail,dual axle car haulers for $1900.the price may have gone up or down slightly-i'm not in sales,and it's been a couple months since i last checked.
i believe our full floor model weighs in right at 1500lbs.
we have plenty of customers that pull these trailers with lighter cars using six cylinder light duty trucks.of course,you'll want a brake controller.you'll also need a tranny cooler.usually you can load the car to get the tongue weight right so that the truck doesn't sag and drives well.if you do have a problem,a company called Super Springs makes helper springs that are nonfunctional when unloaded,and level the truck automatically when loaded.
Chris