I am looking for a open trailer to haul my 77. No, she is not a trailer queen, I just want one so I can haul her to the Black Hills on occasion. It is about 1000 miles round trip and I dont want to put on those extra miles.

So I have been looking around locally and on ebay. The prices on ebay are abount 800-1000 cheaper than anything I can get locally. The problem is they are all down south (KY, SC, AL, NC,etc) and I am in South Dakota. Why are they so much cheaper down there, close to steel mills ? Any idea how I can get one up here without spending $1000 transportation costs?

This is one I am interested in http://http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-16-FT-UTILITY-CAR-HAULER-FLATBED-TRAILER_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ80770 QQihZ008QQitemZ180208183595QQrdZ1QQsspag enameZWDVW

Anyone know anything about them? They are located in Corbin KY.

 

most of the plants where they are made are in indiana

vc

 

Wait for the swap meets. They usually take them around to all of the swap meets and they usually have special show prices

 

77vetter: you didn't mention a price range and like so much, you have options. I have Featherlite Model 3110 that was priced more than most steel framed units but I sure enjoy the great features it has.
I sprung for the opt. air dam and also invested in an alum box to house the 4500# Superwinch. Too tired to push and pull non-running cars. It's designed with a low profile w/6ft ramps to load-unload my C3 without any hangups or scrapes.
Can't say enough how pleased I am with it.

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Re: Price. My Bad.

Clicked your link and read $1450 for the advertised trailer. The steel framed ones I looked @ 3 yrs ago were priced about same in no. CO. Dang options force price up and I have ~$4K total invested in mine. I mounted air dam/alum box/winch. Purch trailer used in Wheat Ridge, CO from Trailer Source, Inc. Featherlite offers theirs with brakes on both axles (I heard it's DOT mandatory so read if only single axle offered: need more $ to comply in many states). The all-alum construct makes for lighter drag on tow vehicle as opposed to steel/wood config. Mostly, I haul my '72 car but have carried SUV's and my sons land yacht ('68 Buick LeSabre) too w/no prob. Mine is 17ft length.
Hope that helps, if only as comparison.

 

Keep looking on ebay if you aren't in a rush.

I got an almost new, full steel bed, hydraulic tilt, chrome rims, 19 footer with a spare new hydraulic pump for 1800.00. Wasn't looking for a tilter because of the price, but it is really worth it not fooling with ramps.

When searching use the "nearest" search option.

 

Alot of trailers are manufactured in Indiana...
If you are looking to buy new, look for a dealer there....I have purchased enclosed trailers from Wrightway Trailers in Hiawatha...

 

This company is in MO - a little bit closer.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2008-...em310014774586

They also have tilt beds with steel floors.

 

Check for brakes. Some are produced with no brakes and some with only one axle. Be sure it is the front axle with the brakes. It is best to have both axles.

Some states require a break-away on the brakes, so that if the trailer breaks away, the brakes engage.

Utility trailers are frequently a tight fit. Often they are only 72 inches wide on the bed. You are look for around 77 inches wide or more. The upper side rails often interfere with opening your doors.

Buy a real car trailer, not a lawn trailer. Don't buy a used lawn trailer. They have often been overloaded with sod and are bent.

Check the empty weight. In some states, that is how you are taxed or registered.

Check this link. It has been around awhile and I noticed the C6 guys have found it while I was checking their group.
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/D.../trailer3.html

Check that there is enough tongue area to attach equalizer bars. Some cap off the rails with flat stock and you can't put them on.

 

Thats a nice setup you have, I wish I could afford one like that, but the wife would kill me if spent that much!!!

Thanks for the info, I would like to get a alum box for for tiedowns etc, but that is something I could get later and have cutom made.

 

just a suggestion, but if you've not trailered your 'Vette, do you have a "U-Haul" or similar rental outlet in S.D. ?
I'd rent a trailer for a day and spend time loading and unloading, hauling around the block, down the Interstate, etc., to gain a feel for what may be most suitable for your needs.
That particular trailer you listed in the E-bay link, in my opinion, is more of an "equipment" type trailer, and would be a real PITA to load/unload a Corvette on.. the bed sits too high, and would require extremely long ramps, or a process similar to my dilemma:
I have a 20' enclosed, with a 6" drop "beaver-tail" ramp door, and still have to block the door up off the ground, ramp the rear of my truck up on ramps, then jack the tongue jack all the way down,,, to get the trailer's front end up in the air enough to gain the necessary ramp clearance for the Corvette's front air dam to clear. (no problems loading my '69 Camaro, which is what I actually bought the trailer for).
as for trailers in general: they are plentiful around here, don't really know why, but you can set your sights on one particular type of trailer and go to 10 different dealers and get 10 different prices for almost exactly the same thing.

 

I just found another company that makes trailers about 150 miles from me in Omaha NE. The manufacturer is Durand. I spoke with the owner and it is a quality built trailer. They can even do a 4' dovetail which they have done in the past for C3 corvette owners. Everypart of the trailer is top notch - Brakes on both axels, NEW tires, deck is screwed down, electrical run through conduit, 10000lb jack that is set way back and has drop down foot so you dont have to crank so much.

They want $2300 (with the 4' dovetail) 16' total length. By the time I would drive down to MO, or KS and pay the gas,etc, this is a better deal, and it is a better built trailer.

Has anyone heard of them?

http://cgi.ebay.com/20-car-hauler-eq...QQcmdZViewItem

 

Thanks for the info! I tried two times last summer to rent from U-Haul. Each time I had a reserveration and each time when I went to pick up the trailer, they had no trailer to rent. Kind of like the Seinfeld epispode - they know how to Take a reservation, they just don't know how to HOLD a reservation. The first time I tried to use U-haul was for my sons wedding. They wanted the vette there for pictures and to drive away from the wedding with. I get to U-Haul the moring of the wedding Rehersal and they tell me they dont have a trailer, I was so upset. I ended up driving the vette down and back. Luckily for me a guy on the forum here had a garage I could store the vette when we got down there so it didnt have to stay in the hotel parking lot!

UHaul told me they could only guarentee one way rentals, so the next time I tried to rent from them I booked two One way rentals - we were going to take the vette on vacation (500 miles one way) so I thought I would be ok with the two one way rentals -- WRONG, same thing again, no trailer the moringing we were leaving for vacation. I could not drive the vette 500 miles so now I had to scramble and try and find a trailer. My brother in law new a guy who had one and let us use it. It was an 18' low profile trailer and it worked great. Had no problems getting the vette on or off.

So long story short, NEVER use U-Haul!!!!! But I did gain some experience on what I wanted in a trailer, and I think the Durand model will be a good fit. Just wish I knew someone who owned one, they look really well built.

Thanks again for the advice

 

Dustin7T2, I'd sure appreciate any other pictures & information of this trailer, if you don't mind
(feel-free to send them via Private Message, if you'd prefer )
as I intend for my next open-deck car trailer will be a Featherlite.

I have a '91 Econo-Trailer I bought new that year, and had a custom box added to the front for tie-downs, chains, and equipment, as mentioned elsewhere.



My only mistake was I shoulda had another tool-box put on the other-side of the center-beam, too.....

I also bought the trailer with a spare wheel and tire, which I'd strongly suggest anybody who is buying a trailer to do:
the extra $125 you spend now will pay-off down the road when you are GOING down-the-road!

 

I haven't heard of Durand, but from the ad, it does appear to be a well-constructed unit, and the price isn't bad.
I'd call 'em and see if they talk in person the same game they advertise on E-bAy
(they're offering one of the best warranties I've EVER seen on a trailer).

 

I loaded with a 2' dovetail without a problem. The 5' ramps should give you a long enough slope/angle to not cause problems. If so, just carry a couple 2x10 "step ups". What's their price with the 2' dovetail?

The way set back stand is nice but see if they do one mounted slightly forward. The reason is that it is then easy to mount a standard over the bed rail truck tool box without interfering with the crank.

 

Glensgages: be happy to help. After I get home tonite, I'll check HDD to see if I have any angles of what you asked. If not, I can take more images to forward or even post out on photobucket for you (or anyone else interested) to peruse. I keep trailer @home, alongside shop garage.

Bear w/me and I'll be in touch NLT 1-26 with some clear daytime shots. [Usually dark by time I get home from paying job.]

 

No-hurry..... I won't be buying another trailer in the next few days!




My race-car is 1,100 miles away.

 

I just bought an 18' X 83" car trailer with 5 foot long pull out car ramps and the dove tail rear edge. It has 2 axles, brakes, and the break away option. It also came with NEW tires. (Many trailers come with used tires).

Total price was $1400.00 out the door, including tax & title.

They are made right here in Alabama, made to order.

 

great price