|
I've never done the x-country thing, but I rent trailers as well as own. I own a car trailer too.
What I'd do is form a check list of what you need in the trailer.
1. tandem axle (2 axles)
2. brakes. I'd go with electronic brakes, not surge brakes.
3. a brake controller in your Suburban (if you go with electronic brakes). The reason is that you can use the controller to adjust for slippery roads or heavy traffic. You can help the whole rig stop better by adjusting the point at which the brakes engage.
4. new or nearly new tires.
5. a 2" ball or better.
6. enough hauling capacity to safely move the car. Think weight of car x2.
7. good, heavy, and well designed tie down loops. If you don't have these, the car will never be secured tightly.
8. proper wheel tie downs with a ratchet, not an ATV type tie down. You might as well just use a rope.
9. road flares or safety triangles (at least enough to place several hundred feet before your vehicle), air compressor, bottle of green tire sealant goop, conspicuity stickers, working lights, etc.
Then I'd price the rental trailer out (say "car trailer" or "equipment trailer" to the rental yard).
Call Sunbelt, Hertz Equipment Rental, Pape, Uhal, Ryder, etc. United Rentals is a pita. Don't call them.
Then price out used good trailers. Try Search Tempest and dial in a search radius. I bought 2 light towers, a water trailer, forklift, etc because rental prices just got stupid high for the 3 months of the year that I use them. But I still rent a tandem axle trailer to move the forklift because it's only $50 per day.
|