Enclosed trailer questions
 

My brother is looking to buy a used enclosed trailer for his Mustang. He's found a 2005 18" trailer locally. The guy wants $4500 for it. His car is 15" long, so with the back of the car at the rear of the trailer, that leaves 3" in the front. The trailer also has a side door, which will make loading easier.

Any thoughts on this? I don't want him to wind up with something too small, that will be a pain to load. The 18" seems like it won't be too bad. Also, any thoughts on the price?

Thanks!

I would try to find a 20' unit. That is very tight. You may have tie down problems.

Sal,

From vast experience I'm telling you do not buy the 18 footer...Hold out for a 20 footer......Yes, you can fit the Mustang in the 18, but believe me, you don't want to do it..........


Bill S.

No less than a 20-footer...anything less is just too tight, from personal experience. In fact, I'd rather have a 24 footer, if I had to do it all over again. I'd like to be able to carry my Harley V-Rod sometimes when I go out of town with my SPF...

Hope this helps...

3500# axles are marginal at best, make sure you have 4500# ers. ALso an escape door is nice, but also look for a 102" wide. Just MHO.

Have you considered a Serpent Express? You can get it in various lengths. Lighter, cheaper, and more aerodynamic

a mustang will not fit well into a Serpent Express, at least in their standard sizes. Great option for smaller cars however

Unless it's a convertible, I also highly recommend an escape door. I custom ordered my trailer just so the door could be exactly where I wanted it. I had the fuel pump fail pulling my Daytona out of the trailer after the car had rolled back about 2 feet. Took me almost 30 minutes to wiggle my fat *ss out of the car inside the trailer...

Something else to consider.... A Mustang is generally 3000 - 3600 pounds. The trailer is around 3000 pounds. With 2 3500K axles, that doesn't leave a lot of room for tools, etc that all tend to weigh quite a bunch. Personally, I'd look for a 20 footer, escape door, 5K axles.

If you are ever going to have to borrow it in a pinch for a Lightning, go for a 24 and always have a real skinny friend around to help get it out of the trailer. Just ask Vinny T :LOL:

Exactly... Don't be short sighted in looking for a trailer. Consider that sometime in the future, you may very well get rid of whatever toy car(s) you may own now and will want a trailer to haul your new toy in. A Serpent Express works well for Cobras...but, try putting a '32 Vicky in one...I'm not thinkin' you're gonna be a happy camper. Also, you'll probably find a need for the trailer when moving, hauling something to the dump...any number of other uses that for what it was purchased.

Twenty, at the least, twenty-four is better, and 4500# tandem axles, electric brakes, side door, dove tail, ramp door, at least one roof vent.

I'd also opt for a finished floor, too. Even a marine grade 3/4" ply floor will soak up oil drips and over time look terrible. I like Rhinohyde floors, or ATP treadplate. E-track tiedowns are nice, but not mandatory.

We are a dealer for Continental Cargo trailers, and although I'm far from an expert, I do agree with pretty much everything said so far. I think the 18' will be a little tight for a Mustang. A 20' would in my opinion be a bare minumum.
Also don't overlook axles. My spec sheet shows a 20' trailer with 3500# axles has a payload capacity of 3800#. That doesn't leave much room for anything else. A 20' trailer with 5200# axles has a payload capacity of 6470#. I would feel a lot better with that.
I can get a 20' trailer with 5200# axles for about $6200 FOB Indiana.
I also LOVE E-Track! It allows you to tie down anywhere so odd loads are no problem. E-track can also be easily added to a used trailer.
Hope this helps!
Dana

Se
 

Every Serpent Express (SE) is custom made to order.
7000 GVW
SE is 1800 lbs
Leaves 5200 lbs for the Mustang.

A typical Mustang is 15' 2"

A 16 ft SE will fit a Mustang fine.
Tie downs standard easy access externally.

Easy to store afterwards, only 20 feet long.

Specify what year Mustang and it will fit.
The SE is made taller and the driver's side door opening is wider.

Get the 4-wheel brakes option for safety.

No problem.

PS: For SE Owner's comments, see Serpent Express Gallery

Serpent Express is not an option, because my brother also wants to use the trailer to move non-auto related stuff. That means screwing tie downs and Etrack to the walls and floors to secure large heavy items.

Plus, I don't think they make a Serpent Express that's tall enough in the front to clear his engine :).

I have a 18' Cargo Mate Qualifier. 3' side door. 8'-6" wide but upgraded to 5000 lb. axles. Originally bought to pull my SPF around, but recently purchased a '65 Mustang fastback vintage racer. It's doable, but tight. The Mustang has 1" lowering blocks, so the door scrapes on the top of the wheel well. The front overlaps the side door about half way, so it's tight accessing the front of the trailer.

I prefer pulling the 18', but if he can wait for a 20', it's probably a better decision. But, I don't agree with needing longer than 20.

I have an 18' Wells Cargo, and I really like it. I can pull it comfortably with my V8 Mountaineer, and I can park it between my garage and the neighbor's, where it is secure and virtually out of sight.

My ERA FIA, '85 McLaren Capri roadster, '65 Mustang convertible, and '57 T'Bird all fit into it (one at a time) very nicely.

For resale value, and extra tool space, you might want to consider a 20', but I have found the 18' works well for me.

regards,

Jeff

Sal here is a link for a brand new 24FT with 5200lb axles, not sure how good they are but worth checking out $4800 + shipping I think has leaf springs--torqsion axles ride the best though.. There is such a thing as to big also, I have a 28ft which is great when you are moving a lot of stuff but for just taking a car to local track is a tad to big for my taste.

http://www.racingjunk.com/post/11053...R-TRAILER.html

http://www.cruisenewsonline.com/Clas...tCarHauler.jpg
2004 HAULMARK 24 FOOT CAR HAULER
Excellent condition. Interior walls, 2 spares, new tires, electric winch. $5,500. Titusville, FL.
Call 321-385-0023

A 20' trailer is easily doable, especially if you have a "V' nose.

I have a 20' and it worked well for my Cobra and I cary my 68 Camaro with no problems. I agree an 18' would be a little tight.
David

I bought a new 20" Racer with a side door and beaver tale (a must for a low car like a cobra) and payed a little over 5K cash. The regular price was about 6K but there was a cash discount. I would definitely get a 20', and it is a buyers market right now.

If you go with an 18-footer and the car barely fits, how are you going to balance the load? I hope you're not planning on just driving the car in and heading down the road. You should adjust the tongue weight by moving the car forward/backward on the loaded trailer and marking your tie downs so the car can be loaded in the same spot every time. All the "stuff" you add will affect the tongue weight. As the weight of the trailer increases, the ability of the tow vehicle comes into question. You may consider placing the "stuff" in the tow vehicle vs carrying it in the trailer. Once the trailer heavily outweighs the tow vehicle, you will have your hands full in a panic situation, high cross winds, etc.

To tow a trailer any distance requires careful planning and execution. Proper tow vehicle, carefully secured load, weight distributing hitch, at least one spare wheel/tire (I carry two), etc., will lead to happy hours spent towing vs an accident waiting to happen.

How many of you have seen a car trailer going down the road with the tow vehicle's front end pointing skyward? Think about that when you try to tow a 30' enclosed trailer with the car, spares, tools, workbench, generator, spare tires, etc., all packed away in the trailer with a V6 Explorer trying to maintain highway speeds.