Smallest Enclosed Auto trailer that will accommodate a Cobra?

[Bannon]

Hey Folks,

I am interested in what is the smallest enclosed auto hauler that can be used for a Cobra. I am kind of limited by the fact that my 4Runner will only haul 5k lbs. Went shopping the other day and have some questions. How the hell do you get out of the car once you have pulled it in? 7ft wide trailer has no wheel wells but is skinny but the 8.5 wide trailer has wheel wells inside. Not sure how I can pull the car into either and get out of it. Or not asphyxiate myself once pulling it inside the trailer. Interested in what brand and size you haul your Cobra in!

Thanks!

JB

[PurpleVenom]

A 16' trailer is about as small as you want length wise. Not sure if it would even fit in to a 14'. A couple of our club members have 16' trailers. One is 7' 6" wide, one is 8' 6" wide. The 7'6" wide one only fits a 289 slabside Cobra, and he has a floor winch to get it in. He doesn't drive it in. The 8' 6" wide one is wide enough to drive in. Mine is 8' 6" wide x 20' long. Plenty of room width wise to drive in. Once in, I don't open the door, I step out over it. I could open it, but not far enough to get out of without it hitting the fender wells. Just my experience.

[bwcobra15]

Check out Serpent Express - HOME

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by Bannon

Hey Folks,

I am interested in what is the smallest enclosed auto hauler that can be used for a Cobra. I am kind of limited by the fact that my 4Runner will only haul 5k lbs. Went shopping the other day and have some questions. How the hell do you get out of the car once you have pulled it in? 7ft wide trailer has no wheel wells but is skinny but the 8.5 wide trailer has wheel wells inside. Not sure how I can pull the car into either and get out of it. Or not asphyxiate myself once pulling it inside the trailer. Interested in what brand and size you haul your Cobra in!

Thanks!

JB

Regardless of what your towing capacity may be rated at, I would not tow an enclosed trailer with your vehicles. Safety reasons being the first one.

If you insist on a trailer for your Cobra though, you really only have one option and enclosed won't be it.

Trailex Home Page


Bill S.

[Fordzilla]

I agree with mrmustang. Safety must always be first. A vehicle may be able to pull, but stopping & controlling on the road are different issues. For example, A Tractor Trailer can really push a vehicle around when passing it at speed on the open highway & a windy day can really make it even worse. A tow vehicle should have the towing ability along with braking & controlling ability. It's not only for your safety but for the safety of everyone else on the road. You would feel horrible if someone got hurt & even worse if children were involved. I recommend a 3/4 ton pick-up as it has heavier running gear & larger brakes.
Just my .02

[vector1]

i use a 20' enclosed and it imo would be the smallest i would go, leaves some room at the front for misc. like purple venom says, step over the door onto the fender sill and you are good to go. 16'er would work also i imagine but you might want to consider resale value.

i also have a winch in mine, makes loading easy. hook a tow strap to the roll bar and pull it into the trailer backwards, unloading is easier.

pulling loaded with my f250 truck i do get moved around on the highway by the big trucks, but if you go easy and don't drive like your are in a hurry to die you should be alright. enclosed is nice for overnighters, or storing stuff also. loaded my trailer is still under 5k lbs.

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by vector1

i also have a winch in mine, makes loading easy. hook a tow strap to the roll bar and pull it into the trailer backwards, unloading is easier.

Loading backwards might not be the best idea if that does not provide the proper tongue weight. You want about 10% of the total weight of the load on the tongue. That can be hard to do with the weight of the engine behind the axles.

[vector1]

Originally Posted by A-Snake

Loading backwards might not be the best idea if that does not provide the proper tongue weight. You want about 10% of the total weight of the load on the tongue. That can be hard to do with the weight of the engine behind the axles.

that is a good point, i did make that mistake once. just have to make sure it is in far enough, or if tongue weight is a problem try the other way.

[Roush #1]

My Serpent Express was towed (not by me) behind a GMC Envoy from Michigan to Houston,Texas. A good portion of the trip was with an ERA inside. I understand there were no problems on the trip.
Maybe the driver of the GMC will comment about his experiences on his trip.

[Chilibit]

If the weight distribution is about 50/50 fore and aft then it is really the longer rear overhang that causes the balance issue when loading. IMHO. I load nose first.

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by Chilibit

If the weight distribution is about 50/50 fore and aft then it is really the longer rear overhang that causes the balance issue when loading. IMHO. I load nose first.

Even a 6" difference fore or aft of the car on the trailer can make a noticeable difference in tongue weight.
One element that may be overlooked by some is having the correct height receiver (drop) on the tow vehicle that allows the trailer to set level.

[FWB]

x-treme trailers..all aluminum, i love mine....the side door lines up with the car door you can step out of the car and out of the trailer

[1985 CCX]

Used the Peter Brock trailer for Amelia last year with CSX3021. Very light, rigid and easy to pull with 1500 rwd GMC. Claimed to be low drag so pulling was effortless, it was.

They are a little pricy though.....

[PSB]

I've got a 16x7 v-nose trailer that I tow with my 2001 Dodge Dakota. I'm very happy with it, and yes I DRIVE IT IN.








Pete

[rodneym]

I've got a Serpent Express on a Featherlite 3110 and I'm pretty happy with it.
It's very stable and has better suspension (Torsion) than the Trailex leaf springs, IMO.

[Chilibit]

Something simple I learned from Dennis Olthoff was to merely feel the tire temps when towing. The rear axle tires will run ever so slightly warmer than the front axle. And if the fronts are warmer, they are carrying more load and I would need to raise my hitch. The rears run slight warmer because the air flow to them is blocked by the front axle tires. Measuring the height of my frame to set the loaded distribution matched his advice perfectly. My Serpent Express is 14 feet. That is about as short as you can go. More is better.

[dallas_]

Not to turn this into a trailer safety thread, but please get a tongue weight scale if you are pulling a trailer with a car in it.

Sherline Trailer Tongue Weight Scale - 2,000-lb Capacity Sherline Tools 5780

[vector1]

nice sounding aluminum open trailer just came up for sale on the ffr forum, in illinois.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Originally Posted by Chilibit

Something simple I learned from Dennis Olthoff was to merely feel the tire temps when towing. The rear axle tires will run ever so slightly warmer than the front axle. And if the fronts are warmer, they are carrying more load and I would need to raise my hitch. The rears run slight warmer because the air flow to them is blocked by the front axle tires. Measuring the height of my frame to set the loaded distribution matched his advice perfectly. My Serpent Express is 14 feet. That is about as short as you can go. More is better.

Also trailer tire pressure is very important........I tow a 2800 pound race car on a 16 foot tantem open trailer,with my setup,if I have 32 or less psi in the trailer tires,it will sway like crazy from 55 mph on up,upping the air pressure to 36 to 38 psi and I have hit 80mph passing other vehicles and it will tow straight with no sway to it, tire temps are better at the higher psi in the trailer tires.......

another rule of thumb is to hook the trailer to the tow vehicle,on a level hard surface,measure the heigth of the trailer tongue at the hitch,then load your car, you want the tongue heigth to be about 1 to 1.5 inches lower than before the trailer was loaded,no matter what the load is....this will give you the approximate correct tongue weight, you may need to adjust slighty,but it'll get you in the ball park.......

David

[1985 CCX]

Brock Trailer