Thoughts on utility vs car hauler trailers

[33 IMP]

I have a rail trailer, like the bare bones one in the middle, (the one with the pathetic tongue).
But mine has about five times stronger tongue, dexter axles, 9000lb winch in a box, and an added filler panel in the rear, for a narrow car with WIDE tires. Oh, and six added tie-down locations.
And it still doesn't qualify as a utility trailer, cars only.

 

[Virg464]

The only issue with surge brakes is backing up. I had to back up a hill with surge brakes many years ago and it was a PITA!

One other feature to perhaps look into is a shield on the front to protect your car. If you are towing a beater it doesn't matter, but if you tow something nice you want to protect the car from stone chips, etc.
The picture below isn't the greatest, but hopefully it gives an idea about the shield.
View attachment 1995224

I've heard that, the sys on my boat trailer can be pinned when backing up, never had to backup going up hill though

 

[Curiousyellow71]

I've pulled quite a few trailers. I don't know that I'd worry about rusting out the channel iron frame on a steel trailer. In most states it would take lot of years of use to rust one out. Especially w a wood deck. We have a 20' bumper hitch trailer that has a beaver tail on the back with ramps, pull it with 1/2 and 3/4 ton.. Its rated at 14k. The 8 lug wheels and 16" tired are a huge upgrade..I really have no desire to go back to a trailer with a 15" tire. We have several low cars that are real close we usually crank the jack up, requires some long ramps to work well. Only complaint ours is spring ride and rides rough empty.
I'm not a big fan of the trailer that the rear portion tilts, they are meant more for skid steers. I last used that style of trailer on a rear engine sports car that had to be driven on. I had to use a floor jack to get it to tilt. Boards didn't work.

Trailers either have torsion suspension or leaf springs. Torsion bar trailers are nice to pull. They pull better empty. Especially on the heavier trailers like what we pull. Usually torsion bars suspension ride lower as well and cost more.
I'd have to be towing a lot of miles to justify an aluminum trailer, unless the tow rig required it.
First trailer we built was a rail trailer tilt bed it was nice at the race track to work under. the car 2nd was a 18' tilt bed w a wood deck, 18' was still a pretty steep angle loading. Really needed to be longer.

 

[hawkeyestoob]

I've pulled quite a few trailers. I don't know that I'd worry about rusting out the channel iron frame on a steel trailer. In most states it would take lot of years of use to rust one out. Especially w a wood deck. We have a 20' bumper hitch trailer that has a beaver tail on the back with ramps, pull it with 1/2 and 3/4 ton.. Its rated at 14k. The 8 lug wheels and 16" tired are a huge upgrade..I really have no desire to go back to a trailer with a 15" tire. We have several low cars that are real close we usually crank the jack up, requires some long ramps to work well. Only complaint ours is spring ride and rides rough empty.
I'm not a big fan of the trailer that the rear portion tilts, they are meant more for skid steers. I last used that style of trailer on a rear engine sports car that had to be driven on. I had to use a floor jack to get it to tilt. Boards didn't work.

Trailers either have torsion suspension or leaf springs. Torsion bar trailers are nice to pull. They pull better empty. Especially on the heavier trailers like what we pull. Usually torsion bars suspension ride lower as well and cost more.
I'd have to be towing a lot of miles to justify an aluminum trailer, unless the tow rig required it.
First trailer we built was a rail trailer tilt bed it was nice at the race track to work under. the car 2nd was a 18' tilt bed w a wood deck, 18' was still a pretty steep angle loading. Really needed to be longer.

You make some really good points on the length of time it would take for a good steel framed trailer to rust out. It is probably mostly cosmetic as long as you do not overload it and do dumb **** with it.

What part of Nebraska are you from? My wife is from east central NE and we lived in Lincoln before we moved to Iowa.

 

[Curiousyellow71]

I live in Auburn, about a hr from Lincoln and Omaha. I have a lot of family in East Central Nebraska. I lived in Waukee, IA for a few years. I bought my dodge diesel from Newton, IA back then. Been all over Iowa.

 

[hawkeyestoob]

I live in Auburn, about a hr from Lincoln and Omaha. I have a lot of family in East Central Nebraska. I lived in Waukee, IA for a few years. I bought my dodge diesel from Newton, IA back then. Been all over Iowa.

I have been down your way several times. We used to camp down at Indian Cave State Park when we lived in Lincoln.

 

[6PKRTSE]

I have found utility trailers are narrower than official car haulers trailers in most cases. My open car haulers trailer was bought from a local trailer supply dealer back in like 1994 and still going strong. It has hauled literally hundreds of vehicles and ten of thousands of miles.

 

[493 Mike]

I ordered a tilt bed with removable fenders, solid steel diamond plate deck, torsion axles, and electric brakes in 2005 from Indiana (of course). Needs a paint job but, works well. I have pulled big boat Chryslers, pickups, several B bodies, and a few compact sized cars, plus my B-2920 Kubota with brush hog on the trailer.
Mike

 

[Curiousyellow71]

I have been down your way several times. We used to camp down at Indian Cave State Park when we lived in Lincoln.

My cousin Elmer (RIP) owned Indian cave before it was state park. When I helped him farm we drove through it with semi's and farm equipment on this one lane road shown to get to his farm on the North side. Its a beautiful park. This fall we did a car cruise and going through the park was part of it. My brother does a youtube channel I'm part of. Above is us last September going through Indian cave on the car cruise.

The trailer we built years ago was like 493 Mike's. We did 18'(needed to be 20' to decrease the ramp angle) and we didn't do removable fenders. We got by, but removable fenders would be nice. We can't see the fenders from the tracked skid loader cab we have and we drive on top of the fenders all the time..which crushes them unless they are built really heavy. A skid steer w tracks only has a little room to clear the inside of the fenders.

 

[ynst]

 

[JackR]

I am liking the way these Nordtek trailers look. The aluminum frame with wood deck keep the weight down and the size should be good for my intended use. My biggest concern is if the car door will clear the fender. View attachment 1995217

That is nice. And the fenders need to be hinged so they can get out of the way when clearance is needed.

 

[Black_Sheep]

I would avoid a gooseneck because it would be harder to sell, although fewer people would ask to borrow it…

 

[33 IMP]

View attachment 1998055

B.S. I'm not driving my nine second car to a race 300 miles away. (Tho it's being done, I'M not doin it!)

...or my 93 year old car with 4.68 gears.

 

[6PKRTSE]

B.S. I'm not driving my nine second car to a race 300 miles away. (Tho it's being done, I'M not doin it!)

It's always nice to have the trailer just in case something breaks. If you are having fun eventually you are going to break something.

 

[Milo]

My neighbor bought a U-Haul trailer They sell them time to time

 

[33 IMP]

My neighbor bought a U-Haul trailer They sell them time to time

I understand that u-haul NEVER sells trailers. Sure it's not stolen?
(U-hauls website says they flat out Do NOT sell trailers. They cut em up at end of life).

 

[dadsbee]

U-Haul generally does not sell their rental trailers to the public, opting instead to dismantle and scrap them at the end of their service life to manage liability and ensure they own all active equipment. While they do sell used moving trucks, they do not offer used utility or cargo trailers for sale.
U-Haul +4
Key Details Regarding U-Haul Trailers:

• No Used Sales: Old trailers are taken to maintenance facilities where they are cut into pieces.
• Liability Issues: Because U-Haul manufactures their own trailers, they refuse to sell them to avoid potential liability from accidents.
• Exception: Some older, specific models (like older tilt-deck tow dollies) might have been sold in the past, but current, modern equipment is almost never sold.
• Alternatives: If you are looking for a trailer, you would need to buy a similar trailer from another manufacturer.
  Reddit +4

You can check U-Haul's truck sales site for used trucks, but not for trailers.
U Haul Truck Sales +1

 

[stillrunners]

You guys laugh at my old home made.....first haul was a 1956 Imperial back about 1992....and first ticket......and you don't want to hear what those 5 lug hubs are.....

 

[hawkeyestoob]

I would avoid a gooseneck because it would be harder to sell, although fewer people would ask to borrow it…I

I am fine pulling anything and would be very comfortable with a gooseneck personally. I also keep looking for someone who has a smaller gooseneck that they are looking to unload hoping to get myself a deal. ;)

 

[hawkeyestoob]

I understand that u-haul NEVER sells trailers. Sure it's not stolen?
(U-hauls website says they flat out Do NOT sell trailers. They cut em up at end of life).

This is what I have heard and always believed as well. I am in a position where I do not want to buy a project so spending a little extra on something that I know will be good for years to come with only routine maintenance.