Need trailer for 911

mossguy · 11-10-2009, 06:20 PM

To carry the 911, not to pull with it. I am no longer comfortable making 1000 mile round trips in my 71 non-air-conditioned 911 Targa in the summertime in the desert. I'm afraid one of us will break down, as has happened in the recent past.

I'm thinking an enclosed trailer would be best for my purposes. What is the minimum size that can be used? To be pulled by my '96 F-150 with AT. My 911 is supposed to weigh 2440#.

Thanks!

Tom

Dueller · 11-10-2009, 06:37 PM

You could squeeze a 911 in a 16' but for balance an 18' is aboult the smallest i've seen used. Will be a lot of weight for an f150..especiallt if you encounter any grades.

Dueller · 11-10-2009, 06:52 PM

Discussiojn here: Is a 16 foot enclosed car hauler too short?

Search "enclosed trailer" in autoX/race section...lots of opinions.

David · David's Garage

As a half-ton driver myself, I'd recommend an open trailer for that distance.

I've towed tall and wide 16' and 24' trailers with a half-ton and it's doable but not much fun especially for the distance you're talking about.

mossguy · 11-10-2009, 07:29 PM

Jim and David,
Thanks for the information. I will be travelling throught the mountains of Washington and British Columbia. David: in what way, would it not be fun? For the truck? for the driver? both?

Thanks,
Tom

David · David's Garage

Both truck and driver.

With a large enclosed trailer, you'll probably have to run your truck in 3rd gear (not OD) and no cruise control. You'll feel the trailer in wind especially.

With an open trailer you can almost forget it's back there.

If you can handle cruising slow to have the enclosed space, add a tranny cooler and temp gauge if you don't have them.

Dueller · 11-10-2009, 07:52 PM

An open aliminum trailer woild be my suggestion with a 1/2 ton. Does your truck have a tow package?

donporfi · 11-10-2009, 07:57 PM

I asked about trailers to haul a 911 and these are the answers I received.
Smallest Trailer to haul a 911

Kevin Stewart · 11-10-2009, 08:49 PM

call my buddy Chris Nash at Nashcartrailers.com he builds aluminum and steel and can help you with what you neesd, Kevin

mossguy · 11-10-2009, 09:43 PM

Thanks, everyone for the information and the links! It looks like an open 18'-20' dual axle trailer is the minimum requirement. I would hope for aluminum, but that will be budget-dependent. I bought the truck new and don't remember if the hitch etc., came with it or if I had it installed later. Not sure about the "towing package". I've been towing single-axle utility trailers for years with it with no difficulty, and installing a transmission cooler shouldn't be a big deal, and a larger radiator, and this paddle ball game, that's all I need!

I know I can't afford a larger truck, but a proper trailer is doable. Thanks for all your help!

Best,
Tom

mossguy · 11-10-2009, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 125shifter

As a half-ton driver myself, I'd recommend an open trailer for that distance.

I've towed tall and wide 16' and 24' trailers with a half-ton and it's doable but not much fun especially for the distance you're talking about.

David,
We break up the 1000 miles into 4 days, and make a double vacation out of that trip from Lakewood WA to Sun Peaks BC for the Canada West Weekend. Half the vacation is the trip and the overnight B&B (both directions) stay in Osooyos BC, and the other half is the PCA/CWR event itself. Maybe it wouldn't be as bad as I first made it out to be.

Best,
Tom

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

I'd want an aluminum trailer no matter what. Enclosed are great but they are also very expensive. Open are at least affordable

this is the smallest I'm comfortable w/

19'6" Trailex(12'9" bed), 850# empty, 3550# w/ car, you can move the empty trailer around by hand fairly eaily

real550A · real550A's Garage

I've hauled several 911's on my 12' skidsteer trailer. Loaded with engine forward, it pulls like
a dream, and w/electric brakes you don't even feel like it's back there.

dad911 · 11-11-2009, 05:38 AM

Aluminum may be expensive to purchase, but maintenance is less, they always look nice(no rust) and it is much easier to tow. You will get most of your money back when you sell.

berettafan · 11-11-2009, 05:55 AM

Bill your length quoted is overall length correct?

Might be confusing to mossguy if he's missing that.

175K911 · 11-11-2009, 06:24 AM

I don't think I'd pull an enclosed trailer with an F150. First, an empty steel enclosed trailer is going to be in the 3500-4000# range. Add the weight of the car and misc other things that you'll throw in the trailer and you've got 6500-7000# back there. I'd bet that's pushing the max tow capability of the F150. Then instead of having a 911 that can't handle the heat of the summer drive, you'll have an overheating tow vehicle that can't handle the heat.

Been down this road in the past and found that you really need a properly set up 3/4 ton (F250) or full size SUV with sufficient tow rating and equipment. I'd love to pull an enclosed trailer with my current X5 but can't justify it in spite of a 340hp V8, big trans cooler, and a 6600# tow rating. It would still be the tail wagging the dog. So I continue to tow my aluminum R&R open trailer, 16' full deck (19'8" overall length) which weighs just 1100# with the tire rack and a full aluminum deck.

175K911 · 11-11-2009, 06:36 AM

I know this is clear across the country, but how about this trailer? The ATC trailers are some of the best you can buy, and everyone I know who owns one has never had a day's worth of problems with it. And they tow like a dream. Have a local friend with a twin to this trailer who tows his Audi S4 track car on the trailer with his Audi allroad wagon. When we head to track events, we'll regularly run 75-80 on the interstate and neither his nor my trailer will bobble or weave at all.

For Sale - 2007 Motiv/ATC Aluminum 18’ Open Trailer

Roc Doc · 07:01 AM

...then there is the BRE trailer. For a single car, I've never seen a nicer trailer.

Me? I have a F250 Powerstroke diesel and an open Texas Brag 7k trailer.

gumba · 11-11-2009, 06:59 AM

We've been towing with a Trailex CT7160 with our '03 Eurovan for years. The Eurovan has 200 h.p. It tows great, I forget the trailer is back there. Trailer weighs 850 lb. and the race car weighs 2350. Though the trailer will handle 3000 lbs. I noticed the back moving around when I had the turbo at 2800 lbs back there. I will be putting the trailer up for sale in the next few weeks if your still interested. Also has the tire carrier which I took off since we carry the tires in the van. I've done a few mods to the trailer, electric winch and deep cell battery, storage box.

Kevin Stewart · 11-11-2009, 08:45 AM

Again call my buddy chris at nashcar trailers he was the originl designer at atc, he builds all aluminum at a great price and can locate the axles where you need them so you dont have to load the car backwards, Kevin