car trailer

Ren Ching

Active member
I’m in the market for a car trailer. Aluminum would be preferable but willing to consider other options. Anyone have one and looking to upgrade or have any leads on one? Located in Northern Virginia and willing to travel a bit for the right deal. Let me know, thanks!
 

jymmiejamz

Founding Member
Callsign: KN4JHI
Just my $.02, but used trailers often aren’t much cheaper than new ones. Trailers often tend to get abused. I’d consider new. I bought mine from Kaufman and have been very happy with it.
 

rocky

NAS-ROW Addict
Just my $.02, but used trailers often aren’t much cheaper than new ones. Trailers often tend to get abused. I’d consider new. I bought mine from Kaufman and have been very happy with it.

Spot on. Comment. I’m working towards a good tow vehicle and trailer for my 90 primarily.

If you have something like a 1500 pickup/Suburban/Expedition you can afford the extra weight of steel. Kaufman, Suretrac and a few other names worth considering. Aluminum, Aluma. Featherlight, High Country.

Used trailers I’ve seen made the decision to go new easy.
 

jymmiejamz

Founding Member
Callsign: KN4JHI
Spot on. Comment. I’m working towards a good tow vehicle and trailer for my 90 primarily.

If you have something like a 1500 pickup/Suburban/Expedition you can afford the extra weight of steel. Kaufman, Suretrac and a few other names worth considering. Aluminum, Aluma. Featherlight, High Country.

Used trailers I’ve seen made the decision to go new easy.
I tow with my 2005 suburban 1500 a lot, and it is a terrible tow vehicle. Mine doesn’t have the rear air suspension, so it really can’t handle any tongue weight. I have to use a weight distribution hitch for it to have enough tongue weight but not squat. It can be scary to to with compared to a L322 Range Rover, for example.

My trailer is a Kaufman 8k with a wood deck. I got the “deluxe” version that has upgraded wiring and radial tires. I’ve been very happy with it. About $3,500 or so out the door.
6B0AA95C-D9CF-4ADC-8192-A00BA0C46E2B.jpeg
 

pfshoen

Well-known member
Good rule of thumb is that the tow vehicle outweighs the loaded trailer. Duallys are ideal imho, but certainly not necessary. How a rig is driven makes more diff than anything else.
Trailer should have surge or electric brakes. Some prefer one over the other. Either way, they need to work.
A 90 will leave a lot of room on most auto trans trailers.
I wouldn't rule out used trailers. Lot easier to judge condition than a Rover or any motor vehicle, few moving parts. Usually not hard to fix whatever's wrong. Downside is almost no one garages trailers, so they get weathered even if otherwise well cared for.
 

WreckITFrank

Technical Excellence Contributor
I tow with my 2005 suburban 1500 a lot, and it is a terrible tow vehicle. Mine doesn’t have the rear air suspension, so it really can’t handle any tongue weight. I have to use a weight distribution hitch for it to have enough tongue weight but not squat. It can be scary to to with compared to a L322 Range Rover, for example.

My trailer is a Kaufman 8k with a wood deck. I got the “deluxe” version that has upgraded wiring and radial tires. I’ve been very happy with it. About $3,500 or so out the door. View attachment 21766
Get some Air Lift 5000 series springs for that burban, helps tremendously.
 

rocky

NAS-ROW Addict
It still is way underpowered, over geared, and the hydro boost brakes are garbage. I can’t wait to sell it haha

I recently had my first Suburban driving experience. 2200 miles to SC and back. It’s a very unstressed all highway driving experience, but I wasn’t towing and loved it.
 

jymmiejamz

Founding Member
Callsign: KN4JHI
I recently had my first Suburban driving experience. 2200 miles to SC and back. It’s a very unstressed all highway driving experience, but I wasn’t towing and loved it.
Mine is pretty old and is totally the wrong spec. I think a z71 has lower gears in the diffs, they had optional air helper springs in the rear, Also could have got the 2500. The four speed transmission isn’t a good fit for it
 

WeBeCinYa

Well-known member
There are deals but they go within minutes. I almost bought new but recently found a 16’ with steel floor like new for $2400. Just by luck I was the first to message.
 

rocky

NAS-ROW Addict
Mine is pretty old and is totally the wrong spec. I think a z71 has lower gears in the diffs, they had optional air helper springs in the rear, Also could have got the 2500. The four speed transmission isn’t a good fit for it
It was a 2011 z71. I couldn't find the sticker but it had a LC9, six speed, and either 3.08 or 3.42.
 

Ren Ching

Active member
One thing I have noticed is that prices are currently considerably higher than what people report having paid even just a couple years ago. I plan to tow with the RRS. It tows very well and with an aluminum trailer is pretty close to a weight match for the loaded rig. Yeah a dedicated tow setup and so on would be great but my suburban property doesn’t have room for all that. Thanks for all the helpful suggestions. Still looking.
 
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