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trailer question

Mine's a 14', and just large enough for the MGB and the TR8. If you have room, 16' is probably a better choice.
 
Larry:

I have an '18 foot steel deck car hauler that I bought here: https://www.usa-trailers.com
Unfortunately a little far for you to drive!

Certainly not the smallest you can buy, but for reference, it weighs about 1500# empty and I could tow it loaded with my F150 pickup. GVW is 7000# which means you could carry a 5500# vehicle on it.

Good luck and let us know what you end up with.

Matt
 
hows bout'

harley7.jpg
 
I have an AlumaKLM Model #64133 aluminum flat-bed. GVW is 2990 - 620 trailer weights allows it to haul 2370lbs and has a 3000 rated axle. It's just the right size for lbc's and is very nicely made. I use ramp extensions directly on the tailgate for additional ground clearance.

https://www.alumaklm.com/sections/products/template_new.php?product_id=15&product_category=5

My requirement was also for a trailer that I could use around the house for utility, firewood, mulch etc. And this one is only 620 lbs so I can easily move aroudn the yard it by hand.

I considered a steel/wood dual axle typical car hauler for about the same price. But it would sit unused much of the time and be a burden to move because of the weight.

I have hauled the TR3 on this and is smooth as silk. I a considering adding brakes (drum or disc) as an add-on but so far I have not felt the need.

If I would do it again, I probably would buy the same trailer, maybe add brakes.
 
SCguy said:
I own a RV and a small truck (towing capacity 6000 lbs). What is the <u>smallest</u> car trailer (suggestions and links welcome)that can safely carry my growing fleet of LBCs?


Larry, small truck? Like how small? It is not advisable to tow a car with most small trucks. In fact, U-Haul won't even rent a auto-transport trailer to anyone with less than a full-sized SUV or pickup. Are you planning on getting a trailer with brakes? (recommended) Are you planning on long hauls? So many questions. Safety is paramount.
 
Two more cents Larry ... I agree with Bill on the trailer brakes issue. I would <u>definitely</u> recommend them.

I pulled my trailer one time lightly loaded (just carrying the rolling chassis of my Model A) without hooking up the trailer brakes. After only a ~100 mile trip, the brakes on my pickup were toast and needed to be replaced.

Matt
 
I've towed hundreds of miles with two different trucks and no brakes on the trailer, both race cars and LBCs. Never had problems with my trucks brakes but still I agree that brakes are a very good thing to have. Expecially if you drive in a hilly or mountainous area but also for unavoidable sudden stops.

I think a simple surge brake setup (like the U-Haul trailers) is sufficient for occasional pulls. But some people hate surge brakes. They're the kind that the trailer tongue contains a special m/c pushes on the m/c to apply the brakes.
 
I've got a 6x12 open trailer for short jaunts, and it so far has handled the Sprite and the Spit well. Single axle, no brakes. As I said, it's only for short jaunts, ie, to the blasters, or the like.
You asked for the smallest trailer, right? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
For anything serious, I have a 32' Wells Cargo enclosed. Hauls two LBC's with no problem.
Jeff
 
Smallest trailer?

I borrowed a trailer to pick up the TR3 racecar when I bought it. The trailer was built for a Formula Ford, but my friend used it to haul a Sprite. Single axle, no brakes, little tires. A Formula Ford weighs maybe 900 lbs.? The trailer may have worked O.K. for the Sprite, but the TR3 hung over on the front and back and was way too heavy for this rig. Since a FF is rear-engined, I had to back the TR3 on. The tongue weight wasn't right. I towed it with my old SAAB from Indiana to Maryland.

I DO NOT recommend this to anyone. Descending the hills on I-68 outside Cumberland was very scary!

I recommend a tandem axle and brakes. And a full-size truck.
 
True story. A friend, of sorts, came down here to Louisiana a few years ago to pick up a TR6 from the estate of his deceased wife (very sad, died young). He was driving a very old Suburban with lotsa miles (not a bad thing) but chose to purchase one of those welded-pipe utility trailers with wooden floor and single axle, no brakes, to haul the TR back to Connecticut. I tried mightily to talk him out of it. Those things are great for going to Home Depot or the dump, but not much else. To make it even scarier, it had no chocks and he only had it tied down with a group of AutoZone Chinese tie straps. Even scarier.

Yep, it launched somewhere around Tennessee, right into the back of his Suburban, only after he jackknifed it.

I know, many of you have hauled cars all over creation with utility trailers and have never had a problem. I am just too much a scaredy-cat to attempt that. Having rented a U-Haul auto transporter enough, I can trail those things at 70 mph and never look back.
 
TR6BILL said:
In fact, U-Haul won't even rent a auto-transport trailer to anyone with less than a full-sized SUV or pickup.
Sure they do. Rent dollies and trailers routinely with my old Toyota truck.
 
foxtrapper said:
TR6BILL said:
In fact, U-Haul won't even rent a auto-transport trailer to anyone with less than a full-sized SUV or pickup.
Sure they do. Rent dollies and trailers routinely with my old Toyota truck.

Dollies, maybe.
But <u>auto transports</u>, not around here they won't
 
Well at 12 feet 9 inches, my TR3A hanges over the front of the 12 foot 5 inch trailer in the front. I use chocks up front, axles straps tied to 6000 lb. rings in the floor in the rear, and dolly straps over the tires in the front to ratchet handles. I also check the straps after the first couple of miles and at every stop.

Weight placement is very important. Too much weight behind the axle and the trailer will develop a wag that increaess until it flips itself. Every once in a while I'll see a comper that the family has loaded all their gear all the way in the back that develops this wag. And each summer I see trailers on the news that take their tow vehicles with them as the roll over on the highway.

My single axle doesn't have brakes. But I will fit disc brakes on it in the next month just to be safer when I haul the TRs.

I still like my smallish aluminum trailer for the weight and convenience and would recommend my model to anyone for 500 miles or less. For big stuff or cross country hauling though, get a two axle steel hauler.
 
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