Car trailer question

[rocky]

I’ve been renting from U haul this year to tow my 90 with mixed satisfaction. It’s pretty obvious they don’t do any maintenance on them. Ratchets needing lube to work, tires of questionable quality.
Planning longer trips in 24 and going to bite the bullet and buy a trailer.

Because our street is barely wide enough for two cars in certain spots, limiting myself 16 or 18ft lengths. I’ve mastered backing U haul trailers into it.
Seen straight trailers with no dovetail and trailers with dovetails. Will the lack of dovetail cause break over angle problems for the typical car if I have to move one of the family fleet?

 

[Angus]

I looked at both open and enclosed trailers. I eventually bought a 16ft (v front, so 18ft in the center) enclosed to haul my e-type to car shows, and to move my motorcycles when needed. My trailer has a pull down ramp and a duck tail entry. I put e-track on the floor and along the walls to allow me to tie down anything I want to move. I chose the enclosed so I could lock it up if I am on the road overnight. It weights about 2500# empty, so watch your towing capacity. I am pulling it with my RRS, max load in the trailer is also max towing for my SUV. I could probably get my D90 in it except the roll bar B-hoop is too tall.

 

[expanse]

Will the lack of dovetail cause break over angle problems for the typical car if I have to move one of the family fleet?

3 years w/ the Rice 7k. This was about the lowest car I felt comfortable getting on even with a tail. lower and you'll need the drop fenders (or climb out the window) and boards under the ramp ends. Tail drags occasionally but only when I'm going very slow in/out of an angled driveway. Definitely has paid for itself a few times over at this point. rides smooth too.

Gettin

 

[Mirrajumper]

1 BRAND = ALUMINUM TRAILEX. Towed everywhere on the east coast, lightweight and super strong.

 

[rocky]

I’m looking at Mission and Aluma trailers. Mission, made in Maine, just a few miles from the home of Maine Winter Romp, Aluma in Iowa.

 

[pfshoen]

Auto transport trailers typically don't have dovetails. Flatbed equipment trailers do because of the higher deck.
Have always done fine without.
You'll notice in the pic above, the dovetail doesn't change the angle of the ramps or the breakover angle. It just allows the use of shorter ramps. With long enough ramps, there is no prob.
HIgh centering hasn't been a prob for me, but the configuration of the front of the load bed may interfere with the front of the car bumper/spoiler so it can't be placed all the way forward.
Whenever you pick up rental equipment, inspect it and ask them to fix any probs, including changing tires. U-Haul does road service so they're better off fixing things before they leave the lot. Whenever you return rental equipment, report any mechanical issues.
As a practical matter, trailers have infinite life, so a used one may be a good choice.

 

[dkemm]

alot of guys (& girls) that I autocross with use futura trailers...aluminum / lightweight and low entry height for modified cars

 

[donb]

I've used a Big Tex 14ET (Equipment Trailer) the last couple of years. It's a little short (16ft) for some of the things I towed (Ram 1500) but it's done it fine for shorter trips.

I've been tossing around going to an 18' car trailer with a 9,900 capacity. I might go look at 1500 Duramax's soon and the 14,000 weight for my current trailer would be overkill for the 8,800 towing rating for the GMC. And I'm not hauling equipment like I thought I might when I got it.

3 years w/ the Rice 7k. This was about the lowest car I felt comfortable getting on even with a tail. lower and you'll need the drop fenders (or climb out the window) and boards under the ramp ends. Tail drags occasionally but only when I'm going very slow in/out of an angled driveway. Definitely has paid for itself a few times over at this point. rides smooth too.

Love the E30 M3!!

 

[rocky]

@donb I can definitely see the temptation to go with a 10k over a 14k trailer or even a 7k. Most 10ks are 18 or 20ft long. The extra length helps you balance the load on the trailer. A tilt trailer and WDH are somethings to think about to....
I've scaled my F150/Uhaul/90 combination at 12,160lbs including my 250lbs, full tank of gas and tons of stuff I didn't need.... Have been heavier (when the wife came with me to the 75th.) Heads up, GM suspended making any Max tow rated Duramax 1500's back in March 23. That may have changed.

 

[donb]

Thanks for the info @rocky. Agree that an 18' would help balance the load out - even with the 110 there isn't much wiggle room. I can get away with it because it's overall a light load and I'm towing with a Ram 2500 6.7 CTD but if I went a lighter truck I would want the trailer balance dialed.

Do you own a Uhaul auto trailer or rent? I've read they are pretty heavy/stout for how short they are. 12k lbs seems like a great weight for all that.

I'm still very preliminary in the 1500 Dmax search and will definitely see what the tow ratings are before I go to far forward. The 2500 Ram is amazing but I've had it for over 3 years and the back seat room is tight for the dogs to get in and out on trips. And it might be a little overkill for what I use it for but when I do need it, it is really nice to have that torque and room.

 

[WreckITFrank]

Thanks for the info @rocky. Agree that an 18' would help balance the load out - even with the 110 there isn't much wiggle room. I can get away with it because it's overall a light load and I'm towing with a Ram 2500 6.7 CTD but if I went a lighter truck I would want the trailer balance dialed.

Do you own a Uhaul auto trailer or rent? I've read they are pretty heavy/stout for how short they are. 12k lbs seems like a great weight for all that.

I'm still very preliminary in the 1500 Dmax search and will definitely see what the tow ratings are before I go to far forward. The 2500 Ram is amazing but I've had it for over 3 years and the back seat room is tight for the dogs to get in and out on trips. And it might be a little overkill for what I use it for but when I do need it, it is really nice to have that torque and room.

Not to fade off topic, but I think owning a Uhaul trailer is illegal...there was a huge sting in Philly not long ago from a rogue dealer than tried to paint and sell them (which he did). I know someone who was cornered by the state troopers because he bought one, which he thought was legit. They are definitely some of the most stout trailers ive even seen and towed with. The local store told me 25 years is their estimated life span, and they destroy them after. I guess maybe someday we'll see them on some mystery show or something.

 

[Mirrajumper]

 

[rocky]

I’ve rented U hauls. They are very stout as their 2000 to 2200lbs weight shows.
Assuming the truck is 3800-4000lbs, my f150 unladen is 5187lbs, me 250, 36 gallons of fuel and getting to my 12k plus is easy.
Going to aluminum with wood deck is about 1700, aluminum deck 1200. That’s a decent weight savings