Projects It's a slippery slope, I just bought an enclosed trailer...

I am buying a 20-22' enclosed to move my **** to the new hosue and then for storage.. this is what I am telling the wife... really getting to drag home old tin and hide it... shhh!

 

Do yourself a favor and check the tires out really well. Lots of enclosed trailers dont get pulled very often so the tires have lots of tread left on them. But if the tires are more than 4 or 5 years old, even if they look great, go ahead and change them out. They will bubble up and blow out at the most inconvienient time. I recently sold my 28' enclosed to a buddy, the tires still looked great with lots of thread, they were American made tires too, after about 500 miles of towing he already had one bubble up. Tire shop says its not uncommon. The reason I hear is that the tires ac***ulate moisture in them and if the trailer sits in one place for extended periods of time the mositure pools in one area obviously and the tire deteriorates from it. And no, I was never was a gold chainer, used to be a drag racer. Anyway, just my .02.

 

No love for trailer queens here. If it won't get you there under it's own power it isn't worth owning. Cars are machines and meant to be worked, gotten dirty and appreaciated as working mechanical art. I can see buying a trailer for added storage, but that's it.

 

those locks will keep the half honest guys away, but a portable torch will remove that in 20 seconds

 

I have to agree with rum runner that cars should be driven to car show and not on trailers, but with that said I wouldn't be without mine. I bought Al Budnik's '20 enclosed trailer just before i retired 5 1/2 years ago really not knowing how much i would use it.. since i've retired and moved to Northern Calif. i've made at least 20 trips to So. Cal. picking up cars to bring back North to work on.. and when not on the road i store my cars in the trailer. It's paid for it's self many times over.

 

Well good for you. I'm 55. I've got 5 rods right now, all 100% home built and all but one of them fully capable of pulling the car trailer WITH another one inside it. If I decide to haul the ONLY one of 'em not capable of pulling a 25 foot travel trailer or loaded car trailer to some venue or vacation site with one that will, that's what I'll do.

I guess I've earned the right to be reasonably comfortable traveling (none of my cars have A/C) and haul the "go fast" car in a trailer, that's what I'll do. You sir, will be politely ignored.

Brian

 

Do the really deploy helicopters to look for stolen trailers?

JH

 

Get it stenciled on both sides and the door, "Acme Diaper Service, No Load Is Too Big To Handle". No crook will come within 500' of it.

Bob

 

I have a 9000 lb winch mounted to my open car hauler for get***ng to cars that don't run good. Not every project runs when you pick it up. I want to enclose it to store stuff in to make space in the garage. If you are worried about the Gold Chainner stigma with it then build a Belly Tanker to run at Bonneville and there you go, valid excuse for a Race Car trailer.

 

That-a-boy!

 

I had a 24' a few yrs ago and stupidly sold it. I felt like I was wasting money with it just sitting, what an idiot! My Wife agrees with the idiot part!
As for the 'trailer gueen' bit...whatever. We'd all like to drive our cars everywhere, it's a little expensive running down the interststate with 12 to 1s and 5.38s!

 

The ***le scared me. I thought you borrowed a trailer and lost it on a slippery slope. I make it a habit NOT to borrow things any more. I bought a winch for the last trailer I borrowed, the truck I was hauling rolled off the front of the trailer landing on the winch. Dumb stuff happens to me only when I borrow stuff.

 

could you stamp the trailer i.d. and vin numbers on the rear axle or under the frame? that way if they paint over the roof lettering there will still be a way to id the trailer, and only you will know its there and will know exactly where to look.

 

I love the reply by Crystal Blue..."Paint the licence plate number on the roof". What a great idea. Dum*** thieves probably wouldn't be looking for that but WOW would it ever stand out to anyone in the air. Great idea.

 

A friend of mine built his own race car trailer. Took it to the Indy Nationals in 1965 and it was stolen while he was racing. Five years later he was inline to get into Indy for tech and the trailer that pulled up next to him was his old one. He went and got the sheriff and confronted the guy who claimed he built it. My friend asked the deputy to look at the underside of the runner on the right side. When he built it he used the arcwelder to write his name on the underside of the steel tread plate. BUSTED!!!!

Frank

 

Maybe not but most major citys have traffic cameras as do most hi-ways,it might not be the "bear in the air" but it could be the hiway patrol.....mostly it will be some computer geek workin for the DOT............

 

I'm sure you'll get air support if you tell them someone stole your trailer full of Marijuanna.

 

Well seems like Border Patrol has unlimited funds just not the man power,and they always have aircraft flyin around here.....what they really need are cobra gunships

 

Invest in a wheel lock "boot" they're expensive but effective. My previous boss put one on his trailer as well as a hitch lock. The boot has saved the trailer twice (at least) from being stolen. It's parked in the work parking lot and two different mornings he's come in to find the trailer dragged with a few feet of skid mark from the boot.

Although the trailer was damaged both times the insurance had no issues paying to have it fixed rather than paying to replace it.

 

If I had one I'd put the tag number on the roof but that would probably be the last thing I'd expect to be of any help if it came up missing. It would provide NO peace of mind or hope that I'd ever see my trailer again.

Wheel locks, tongue locks, even removing a wheel or two aren't thief-proof deterrants but I'd sure employ them if I had a trailer - to hopefully prevent ever needing that tag number on the roof.

JH

 

It's never stupid to jump on a bargain on a trailer, especially an enclosed. I'm going to Nebraska to pick up a 24' enclosed that I got for $750. Needs some work after the storms they had, couple panels need to be replaced. I could go the cheap route and put some patches on but I'll restore it to factory finish and still be able to flip it if I wanted/needed to. But I think it'll be handy to have even if it does just sit most of the time.

 

Now you can get volunteered to help people move because you have an enclosed trailer....ask me how I know. Thats the main reason I sold mine...for some reason you become a selfish ***hole when you dont help everyone move their stuff with your equipment.

 

I like your idea of using it as a camper. You can also outfit those things into pretty nice mobile shops and make a lot of friends (if not money!!) taking it on stuff like the Hot Rod Power Tour.
Keep your eye on it, trailer theft has become really popular in the past decade.......

 

Well damn dude, if you can still fit into those jeans I don't have a thing in the world I can say aginst you.

If it makes you happy go for it. With that freed up garage space build yourself a beater to drive around in and keep the pretty one pretty.

 

Brian, I say go for it. All the reasons you cite are good ones. I bought a 7X16 motorcycle size one about 3 years ago. Increase the options for using the track roadster. I added a small slide out A/C unit, a bunk, microwave, roof vent and some cupboards. Has already saved me a ton of motel money and I've taken the car a lot of places I probably wouldn't have given the ergonomics of the car. I just ignore all the **** about trailers and move on. Been paying my dues for 50+ years so that I can do it how I want now. Not planning on switching to tow mode for my other cars as I hope to put many more long road trips under the '40 when it's back together

 

Charliechops your trailer is pretty much what I envisioned doing. Simple, cheap, and useful. Did I see your car at the Charlton Park show?

Brian

 

Yep, I saw ya go by but couldn't get your attention. It was a great roadster day. Plus, I scored a small arbor press in the swap meet for $15.

Charlie

 

Good for you on the arbor press! I tried to get it for $15 and he wouldn't budge. Must be he softened later in the day although I was there after 12 anyway.

 

Once you have a decent enclosed ... you will never want to be without one

I bought 22 foor Pace enclosed new in 1995 for my Fireworks business. I stepped up and bought one with a lay-down rear door ( easier to roll the hand truck load of fireworks into the trailer ). I also used it for storage and the occasional car haul. Upgraded to a V-nose Pace in 2007. I have a 4500 series WARN winch in mine and a electric tonque jack ... @ 62 ... I have gotten LAZY.

I do not plan of ever not having a enclosed trailer ... I also have a smaller enclosed for my HARLEY

One word of advice ... insurance on the enclosed trailer is real inexpensive. It also provides a real sense of security ... about the possible loss or damage in a accident.. I have been told that the POLICE are way more inclined to try and recover a insured trailer ( pressure from the insurance company maybe ??? ).

 

Boo Hoo, if ya dont drive it.........................................................................
Well I'm 54 and I have had a trailer for about 10 years and its one of the top ten best dollars I've spent. I love it and highly reccomend everyone who can, get one. I couldnt get an enclosed but my open has saved countless purchase price many times over. I even picked a lady up when she was way outta luck. I was just happening by after dropping off a friend and saw her. Nothing but grat***ude.
I also have a pressure washer, ya wanna talk about "friends".
I dont recall walking into anybody's house and asking to borrow your 52"flat screen.
Its all what YOU value and how YOU spend YOUR money.