At what distance do you decide to trailer vs. drive for ax?

[berettafan]

Car is plenty comfy for short rides and have even done long weekends away with it BUT on a hot summer day autocrossing wears me out and the closest events i go to are 2.5hrs away.

Have been back and forth with the idea of trailering. It seems silly to trailer a completely streetable car to an autocross but darned if i wouldn't enjoy soft seats and a/c on the way home in August. And i kinda like the idea of not worrying about breaking something at the event and then having to find a way to get the car 2.5hrs home.

Also new to the mix will be a second set of race tires (likely V710's) for next season. It looks like i either need to remove the passenger seat (not really a big deal) to stuff 3 wheels in the car and one in the trunk OR i can swap tires in the comfort of my own garage and trailer the car.

Also just picked up a beater miata to autocross and drive on nice weekends when i'm fairly certain noone will see me.

So, at what point would you consider using a trailer for this?

[berettafan]

as it happens a mid rise lift runs about the same $$ and i'm wondering if i won't have buyers remorse on the trailer because of this.

i would treat myself to a nice Ranger low profile jack if i get a trailer.

storage isn't an issue but i am leary of yet another tagged vehicle to insure and register. currently have 4 cars, a motorcycle and a boat/trailer that i have to keep up with.

[racer]

I never trailer to an AX or a DE. I hear you about the hot weather. That was one thing I did like about my Boxster was its great AC. I just figured since I drive the PCar so infrequently to begin with, if I trailered it I'd then almost never be driving it.. and isn't why you own it, to drive it? Just saying...

[enderjetta]

Ive always drove my car but got a trailer cheap and used it this year more for incase i break down i would feel like a fool taking a taxi home to get my own truck and trailer to haul my car home, But i drive the car all the time on the street anyway.

[Patrice911]

I always trailer, even for 45 min. Its so nice, you arrive at the site, take the car off the trailer and you are ready to go. No tires to change and no car to unpack. If you have an enclosed trailer like me you have also a nice shaded area or a rain free one. When I come back home late I just back off in the driveway and leave everything there and unpack later on.
But the other reason for the trailer is that usually the wife and the kids are coming also.
Miata? I used mine everyday.

[rfloz]

Originally Posted by Patrice911

I always trailer, even for 45 min. Its so nice, you arrive at the site, take the car off the trailer and you are ready to go. No tires to change and no car to unpack. If you have an enclosed trailer like me you have also a nice shaded area or a rain free one. When I come back home late I just back off in the driveway and leave everything there and unpack later on.

Yes. Yes. And, yes.

I have two AX venues, both a little over 70 miles from home. I always trailer. The drive to both is all SoCal freeway - not exactly ideal Porsche driving anyway.

Several years ago my old car (not a Porsche) broke at an event. I had to find an open dealer (it was a Saturday), get a tow there and then rent a car to get home. And, of course, drive the rental back in the middle of the week to pick up my car. No thanks.

I bought a used 16' car hauler shortly thereafter for $1,000.00 and have put another $700.00 in for new tires and some upgrades. It was worth every penny.



Better to trailer and not need it than the reverse.[

[thewerxracing]

Originally Posted by berettafan

Also just picked up a beater miata to autocross and drive on nice weekends when i'm fairly certain noone will see me.

So, at what point would you consider using a trailer for this?

You drive a miata?!?! HAHAHAHAH!!!



Why dont you sell that thing and buy a trailer?!










Yes, sell it.
To me...

[ted]

Never regretted taking my trailer to the track.
Bring some chairs for the non trailer guys.

[berettafan]

the miata cost about 1/3 what a steel trailer would. and i JUST got it so not selling it for now.

i know, it's gay and small and supposedly underpowered. but damned if it ain't fun to drive! if i could be that comfortable and have that gearbox and steering in my 911....well i believe i'd actually sleep in it.

i THINK i can score a new steel 16' trailer (open center) w/ dual axles and dual brakes for $1750. it's mighty tempting.

[Emission]

After a decade of driving to events, I just started to trailer. Holy crap, does it make a difference! You arrive rested, you don't scramble to prepare the car at the track, and you go home in comfort.

I rented a U-Haul trailer ($49/day)... much cheaper than owning/storing my own.

Things that affected my decision:

• Excessive wear/cycles on my R-Compound tires
• Potential pothole/street damage to the vehicle en-route
• What if the race car breaks down en-route?
• What if I bend it on the track?
• Ease of preparing the race car at home
• Safety on the roads in my SUV vs race car
• Driving in the rain

[Emission]

Originally Posted by berettafan

"...i know, it's gay and small and supposedly underpowered."

You talking about my Boxster?

- Mike

[SandyI]

Originally Posted by berettafan

i know, it's gay and small and....

...faster on the track than your early 911 at 1/10th the cost?

[porsche4life]

Only problem with a UHaul is surge brakes. If you have a brake controller you can use that to bring the trailer back into line on the Highway. Had a bad rollover near here recently because of that. Would have killed the guy had a HiPo not been right there working traffic...

[Emission]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Only problem with a UHaul is surge brakes. If you have a brake controller you can use that to bring the trailer back into line on the Highway. Had a bad rollover near here recently because of that. Would have killed the guy had a HiPo not been right there working traffic...

Yes, they all have surge brakes, I believe.

How it handles depends a lot on the tow vehicle too. I drove mine through bumper-to-bumper traffic, complete with short stops, and I barely felt it back there under braking (acceleration was slow, obviously). My SUV has oversize (German) brakes and the vehicle electronics "know" when a trailer is connected and will automatically adjust the stability control to limit any rear end "sway" (by applying individual rear brakes on the vehicle).

- Mike

[porsche4life]

Still would be nice to have real brakes that you are in control of...


I trailer some to a/x. It depends if I am going alone or if my dad is going with. He doesn't like to ride in my car and prefers to drive his p/u and tow...

[Emission]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Still would be nice to have real brakes that you are in control of...


I trailer some to a/x. It depends if I am going alone or if my dad is going with. He doesn't like to ride in my car and prefers to drive his p/u and tow...

Agreed. Especially at higher speeds.

Yeah, another benefit to towing is you can bring your family.

- Mike

[berettafan]

So you guys are taking about 'electric brakes' right?

[racer]

yup.. electric brakes.. before then trailers used "surge brakes"- which are mechanically activated. Fans of both are out there.

If you already own a suitable tow vehicle and either want to rent one or have the space to store a cheap steel trailer, then trailering isn't a bad option. Having the room for the family? depends... that can be good or bad . I would consider it more for your Miata than the 911

[Bill Verburg]

I always tow, the car is set up in the relative comfort of my own garage and is ready to go as soon as it is warmed up, you can carry coolers, rain/shade canopy spares & tools w/ room to spare. AC works and there are fewer looks from the gendarmes. You can usually drop it off the evening before, one less thing to worry about lug around.

For decades I towed keelboats on trailers w/ surge brakes, the new Trailex has electrics w/ a Prodigy proportional controller, i'll never go back.

[Chilling in VT]

We used to flat tow one car and drive another to events. We finally broke down and bought a trailer that holds two cars. Enough space now for everything. The trailer is shelter, a comfortable space for lunch and to hang out, and the piece of mind of not worrying about doing something to the car at the track is priceless. It also allows you to bring a bbq for lunch! Bring the trailer.