VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION Hauling or Trailering Need enclosed trailer advice from the experts!

Helping my dad finish his 46 Woodie Wagon in time for Flint. Need some enclosed trailer advice from anyone who trailers a 46-48 Wagon. What opening and trailer height is recommended? Specs say car's overall height is 70". Looking at 24' with beavertail. Tow vehicle is Chev 2500HD diesel w/Allison 6-sp. Any other tips we need to look for?
Thanks, Tim

Tim

I would check with some of the larger trailer companies. IE Featherlite. They should be able to advise.

i'd suggest a 5th wheel trailer. mine is a featherlite. had it since 1992 and its not given me any problems. definitly check that the roof on whatever you get is a one piece roof.water leaks at joints on roof trailers extremely common and leads to interior deterioration. won't happen with a one piece roof unless its punctured. mike PS: our 39 chevy woody fits the featherlite with ease and i'd predict the 39 is a tad higher than a 47 woody.

A fifth wheel trailer may be fine with someone that always uses a pickup as a tow vehicle. I am partial to the bumper pull models and can use either a pickup or a Surburban (with a load equalizer hitch)or a Tahoe for a tow vehicle. I have a 5th wheel Travel Trailer and I would trade it even for the same condition bumper pull. The problem of having the 5th wheel hitch in my truck makes it useless for hauling cargo, and it is a pain to take out and then remount it any time I need the pickup. A goose neck is much better for me, than a 5th wheel, as it only needs a ball mounted in the center of the bed, and the ball is easy to move in and out. I have that setup on my GMC 3/4 ton long bed extended cab. I guess that is why there are different ones sold, different strokes for different folks..

mack: i always thought 5th wheel and goose neck were synonomous. anyway, my pickup's bed's ball rotates down out of sight for hauling plywood etc. i've owned tag trailers prior to the 5th wheel and the 5th wheel is considerably more stable, at speed, than tag trailers. i can see you not wanting a 5th wheel attached to your suburban----the sub's roof would need some hot wrench attention to utilize a 5th wheel trailer in that situation.mike

The fifth wheel is used primarily on travel trailers and over the road trucks (aka 18 wheelers). It is plate with a slot for a pin on the extension of the trailer to fit into. A goose neck trailer has a socket on the trailer extension that fits over a ball on the truck. Most equipment hauling trailers (cars, farm, small construction equipment) use goose necks. They look basically the same so most people think there is no difference.

Tim,
There have been many discussions on ChatII about car hauling trailers. A search may find a few of them.

Basically the standard trailers are cheaply made and don't have sufficient capacity to safely handle any but the smallest and lightest cars. Also most first owners buy a trailer with inside length only a couple of feet longer than the car they are going to haul. It limits the placement of the towed vehicle which can affect the balance and stability of the combination.

I have a '24 foot trailer with 5200 lb axles (not the standard 3500 lb) which I consider the minimum. Since a '24 foot trailer weighs ~3500-3800 lbs that leaves only 3200-3500 lbs (if you have the standard axles) for the vehicle, spare parts, spare tire, tools, etc. In addition you have smaller brakes and tires.

You want the trailer to have enough brake capacity so it helps stop the entire rug. It is particularly important in inclement weather or slippery roads. Just remember that the heaviest end of a moving object (or truck trailer combination) wants to go ahead. Just think about an arrow! So on slippery roads the trailer wants to go first when slowing down.

There needs to be enough room so the top of the vehicle does not scrape the top when loading. Also be aware that the vehicle (particularly the part at the back of the trailer) moves up and down more severely than the front. It can be as much as a foot or more.

If you purchase a goose neck trailer just remember that the trailer tracks on a shorter arc when turning than the tow vehicle and also bumper pull (or tag) trailers. On a turn the goose neck trailer begins to turn the same direction as the truck immediately. The tag trailer actually begins a turn moving in the opposite direction for a short while before following the tow vehicle. Most people don't understand that fact.

learned something today. thanks chip.mike

Mike,
A 5th wheel has been investigated since the truck is set up for that. Dad hauls a 31' 5th wheel RV around. What is your opening height? I think you are right that the 39 is taller than 46-48. Thanks for the tips. Hey, which meet are you attending this summer? NCRS in Novi or VCCA in Flint?? I'm doing Flint to help Dad out but will drive down to Novi for a day. Tim

Thanks Chip for the pointers. I'll do a search. I'm hoping to find a trailer we can borrow or rent for this first time out. But first things first...need to get the car done! Doesn't help that Dad is hiding from winter in southern TX. Tim

Tim,
Deep South Texas is not too bad today but we are expected to top out at a balmy 44 today. That is really cold for SE Texas.

If you have questions about trailers, I have experience towing trailers of various sizes and types of over 50 years. Don't pretend to know everything but have made enough mistakes to have learned a bunch.

There are adapters available to be able to tow a goose neck with fifth wheel setup. The problem may be the height of the hitch so it is something to check.

I'd take 44 today! Thanks for the help.