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I don't care about the weight, so I went with a Haulmark 24' V-nose. It's inexpensive and does everything I need it to do. I've pulled back and forth to Michigan a couple of times, Louisville and a few trips around Florida.
Enclosed trailers provide nice shelters at the track. They keep you cooler and warmer depending on how miserable the weather is. However, I don't really see the benefit of towing the car with them. They have more wind drag than an open trailer which further limits the capability of your tow vehicle and it is easier to see around an open trailer. Other than that I don't see any advantage in keeping the car out of the weather on its trip to the track when it will be in the weather at the track.
I have never had a security issue with the car on an open trailer even when staying in some questionable hotels.
I towed with an open trailer for a few years but the last straw for me was hauling my 32 Highboy through snow, salt and sleet. That will not happen again. Just look at the front of an enclosed trailer with all the damage that occurs to it from road debris and bugs. Then imagine the front of your car taking that beating. I'll take a beat up trailer nose.
Pulling an enclosed trailer is a piece of cake for me. I have a CDL and have driven semis with 53' trailers all over the country. I'll never be without an enclosed trailer.
Look in Georgia. Douglas. Lots of trailer manufacturers there. I had a triple axle, 7,500# axles, 32', V nose stacker trailer built there for almost $11,000. I haul an off-road truck and Corvette in it along with tools, a dirtbike, Lathe and Mill. Yes, I installed my own lift also.
I went with a Diamond cargo and drop spindles.
Another reason or two for enclosed.
I had MANY occasions where people would almost crash into me on the highway taking pictures of my off-road rig on the trailer while driving right beside it. An enclosed also keeps people from bugging the crap out of you every time you stop somewhere. My off road truck always draws a crowd. Then if you ever drive in an area of snow and mag chloride, salt, it will cover what ever you have unlike an open trailer.
I have owned car haulers in the past, however they have been open and for many of the same reasons you have stated here I decided not to go in that direction again.
Example - I purchased my 1990 ZR1 from a gentleman up in Canada a while back. Made the purchase in March and due to weather, decided to wait to pick it up until the last week in April. Left Mass. for the 9 hour drive to get the car in the dark ,with promises of good weather along the way.
Got up into northern Maine and ran into SNOW. Went through three different snow storms before we got to the point of pickup.
Ok so now to come back...... went through four different snow storms on the way back. Needless to say it was a dangerous drive with the trailer and car, but the worst of it was the car, which was immaculate when it when it went on the trailer was a disaster when we got it home. Nuff said.
Second reason for a enclosed trailer is a safe place for my crew (wife) to spend some of her time and out of the elements as well as a good place for tool storage, extra tires and wheels, etc....
And as already mentioned, it will save the extra aggravation of all of the picture takers who want to snap a shot while you are driving. Took the 2016 Z06 for a ride on the highway shortly after I bought it and almost got hit 3 times on a 50 mile trip while the idjiots wanted to pull up and give us the thumbs up and take pics.
Ok, so back on track. I plan to take the car on several long distance trips to various track venues here in the Northeast and I think that traveling a little more in comfort and privacy is the way to go.
Since posting this I have found a trailer that I think may fit the task. I will try to post some picks when I get a minute.
I don't know if a steel 24' is actually the advertised 3,900lbs. One thing to consider is that many laws change when the trailer is listed at over 4,000lbs. I would guess a 24' ATC would be around 3,000 - an enclosed Trailex is around 2,200.
I went with a Trailex open trailer, 8045 model. Looking forward to it, very light (around 1000lbs with my options).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-2016-8-5-X-24-8-5X24-V-NOSE-ENCLOSED-RACE-CARGO-TOY-CAR-HAULER-TRAILER-/401061461996?hash=item5d61203fec
Not sure if this will open or not, but if it does I would appreciate some feed back.
Looks nice - not sure if you could get WD torsion bars on the tongue - looks short. If not you would need a 1 ton to tow.
That's the nice thing about car trailers. Really no need for a weight distribution hitch. You can adjust tongue weight with car placement. That trailer could be pulled with a half ton with a towing package. It would be nothing for a 3/4 ton to drag down the road. I'm actually looking to swap into a half ton because I really don't need my 3/4 to tow my 24' v-nose.
Edit: Op said 10k budget
24' ATC is 16-26k as well!
My new ATC 405 is a 22', with a shorter 6'6" height to help save weight. Only heavy options are tire rack, winch, and awning and I'm at 3914 lbs.
Quite a bit over your target price, but they do make real nice trailers in the Raven series that are great. Brad @ Becker Custom Trailers was AWESOME to work with to put this totally custom rig together
My new ATC 405 is a 22', with a shorter 6'6" height to help save weight. Only heavy options are tire rack, winch, and awning and I'm at 3914 lbs.
Quite a bit over your target price, but they do make real nice trailers in the Raven series that are great. Brad @ Becker Custom Trailers was AWESOME to work with to put this totally custom rig together
01-27-2016, 10:53 AM
Z06 Enclosed Hauler
