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Old 01-19-2009, 06:01 PM
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SSSammy SSSammy is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: McKinney, TX
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA GT #2077, 331 SBF, Webers, Gurney Eagle heads
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Kramer, most of us in TX drive 'em into the trailer nose first. The only time you need a winch is if you're broke down. And there is usually enough help around that you can get a couple guys to push you up in your trailer.

We cross the tie downs in the rear, but not the front, I think due to the steering rack. Use the 2' axle straps and a ratcheting tie down, or a tie down with built in axle strap.

You'll find lots of advice here about tongue weight, but the idea is to play with the fore/aft location of the car to get the right tongue weight on the hitch. If your tongue is too light, the trailer willl sway a lot.

Get a weight distributing hitch and sway control for your SUV. If you have an F250 or equivalent, then these are optional. I had to play with three different "L" shape draw bars to get one that would lower the ball enough from the rather high Escalade (Tahoe) hitch receiver. You want the trailer to be level when hooked to the truck/SUV.

I suggest two 5000# axles instead of the 3500# ones I have on my Pace. That would get the frame height of the trailer up a couple more inches and lessen the tendency to drag the rear end on bumps and dips. And get the 16" wheels, same reason. The risk to this is ramp might be too steep. Some folks have to use boards under the ramp to make the approach angle shallower so the oil cooler scoop doesn't drag.

I got the rear leveling jacks. That way you can drop the trailer at an event and still drive the car up into it without the truck attached. These also act as skid plates in my case. Get some heavy wheel chocks.

I didn't go for all the tool cabinets, so I had some E-track put on the front bulkhead so I can strap my roll around tool chest in there for track days. See below:



If you are going to use your SUV, stay short on the trailer. 20' is fine and will give you plenty room in front for extra wheels/tires, tools, ice chest, etc. You could go down to 18', but that is as short as I would go on an enclosed unless you go to a Serpent. The longer your overall length, the more difficult the thing is to park and maneuver in hotel lots and gas stations.

Sam
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