Club Cobra

Club Cobra (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/)
-   ALL COBRA TALK (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/all-cobra-talk/)
-   -   Smallest Enclosed Auto trailer that will accommodate a Cobra? (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/all-cobra-talk/119319-smallest-enclosed-auto-trailer-will-accommodate-cobra.html)

Bannon 02-24-2013 07:35 PM

Smallest Enclosed Auto trailer that will accommodate a Cobra?
 
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 02-24-2013 08:25 PM

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 02-24-2013 08:27 PM

Check out Serpent Express - HOME

mrmustang 02-25-2013 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bannon (Post 1232581)
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 02-25-2013 04:49 AM

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 02-25-2013 06:40 AM

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 02-25-2013 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vector1 (Post 1232662)

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 02-25-2013 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A-Snake (Post 1232674)
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:CRY:. just have to make sure it is in far enough, or if tongue weight is a problem try the other way.

Roush #1 02-25-2013 08:35 AM

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 02-25-2013 08:40 AM

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 02-25-2013 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chilibit (Post 1232688)
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 02-25-2013 09:16 AM

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


http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d..._the_track.JPG
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d.../079rotate.JPG

1985 CCX 02-25-2013 09:30 AM

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 02-25-2013 09:54 AM

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.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48...t/36bdaa01.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48...t/9d25b79f.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48...t/1be02402.jpg


Pete

rodneym 02-25-2013 10:00 AM

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 02-25-2013 10:02 AM

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_ 02-25-2013 10:26 AM

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 02-25-2013 11:29 AM

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

DAVID GAGNARD 02-25-2013 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chilibit (Post 1232703)
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 02-25-2013 12:08 PM

Brock Trailer

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/pict...pictureid=9669


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:44 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
The representations expressed are the representations and opinions of the clubcobra.com forum members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and viewpoints of the site owners, moderators, Shelby American, any other replica manufacturer, Ford Motor Company. This website has been planned and developed by clubcobra.com and its forum members and should not be construed as being endorsed by Ford Motor Company, or Shelby American or any other manufacturer unless expressly noted by that entity. "Cobra" and the Cobra logo are registered trademarks for Ford Motor Co., Inc. clubcobra.com forum members agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyrighted material is owned by you. Although we do not and cannot review the messages posted and are not responsible for the content of any of these messages, we reserve the right to delete any message for any reason whatsoever. You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages, and you agree to indemnify and hold us harmless with respect to any claim based upon transmission of your message(s). Thank you for visiting clubcobra.com. For full policy documentation refer to the following link: