Noobs guide to buying a car trailer... those with experience please reply

[TROLL]

So... what does a noob need to know when shopping for a trailer?

Something used, affordable, but half decent. Brakes and taillights needed, any pros/cons in going with a solid bottom or open bottom (or whatever the term is)? Won't be used often but will be here for the handful of times a year that it would really help out. Open trailer so prices stay reasonable, but feel free to contribute info in general here.

And what is the deal with title, registration, and insurance? How does that work with trailers and is there anything else to be concerned with when buying?

Thanks...

[phate1229]

get the same kind uhaul uses, I've had to use those 15+ times and with some metal plates to extend the ramp for lowered cars it works perfectly, doesn't weigh too much, but doesn't weigh too little so it won't bounce around too much while empty.

[GmFwd]

Make sure it has surge brakes! Electric brakes are okay too but more problematic and you also need a unit installed into your tow vehicle to utalize them.

Trailers are registered with the dmv. Im pretty sure the vehicle insurance covers the trailer... Yes, they do have a title IIRC.

Just curious of what your tow vehicle is?

[Oakes]

He's gonna tow the Supra with the Subaru.

I'm in because I'm interested in this as well...

[polarexpress17]

FAWK i hit back after i typed out all the ****!!!!! here goes again

I have a fair amount of experience with car trailers (i do drive a probe LOL). I've used U-haul trailers a few times without any issues, they are good for what they are. However they are heavy and besides the braking system i wouldn't want to own one.

I'd prefer an "Open bottom" trailer for two reasons, one is that its lighter (due to less material being used) The downside to this is that your trailer will bounce alot more and you'll be able to feel it in the tow vehicle. but you'll be saving fuel and putting less work on the vehicle towing it cause of the weight savings

Two is that instead of the air staying under the trailer, trying to pick it up; it goes through it instead. this REALLY helps when it is empty because your trailer won't be gliding side to side; trying to make the ass end of your tow vehicle follow it (potentially pushing the back end out and losing traction, its happened once to me) the other advantages are that you have less work to clean off snow and such, and its easy to keep an eye on the springs/axles/etc for wear and/or cracks/etc.

in your situation (most of the people on here as well) a trailer with the back end angled down. this is very convenient for lowered vehicles as well as the ramps are not as steep, and are at less of an incline than a standard flat trailer. my probe drug on the back of the U-haul trailer when i loaded it and it was only dropped 1.2" then.

Something like this would be perfect:


mount a tool box on the middle of the tongue, and store your trailer's ratcheting straps, tie downs, tools, etc in there as well. If you'd prefer you can even store some extra lights and/or a flare or two in there in case you need one.

Electric brakes do work fine (usually) But i do have to give U-haul the props on their braking system as its a self contained system that uses fluid. the tongue slides forward on itself and pushes the fluid into the brakes just like when you press a car's brake pedal. Generally car trailer's use a 5 or 6 prong plug that has all the light functions as well as brake functions on one plug (looks almost similar to a tractor trailer's light plug for the trailer.) i would recommend a brake controller as well for the trailer brakes, its electronic meaning you wire it into your electric brake wires. pretty much all it is is a big ass resistor system that controls the current to your brakes.

As far as the legal side of it goes. you do need to register the trailer. However when you register it you must register it under the loaded weight, and not the empty weight. Insurance is covered by the towing vehicle. you typically need two brake/tail lights, a light on each corner, and 3 smaller lights in the middle of the trailer on the rear crossmember. IIRC its $12 annually to register a trailer from 3,000 to 10,000 lbs (your class). and you can register it for 1 year or 5 years at a time.

GL with your search!

ALSO: if you are towing with an SUV, be prepared to have alot of side to side swaying, the longer the towing vehicle, the less effect the trailer's swaying will have

[DriftCrash]

one thing I seen that no one mentioned is that when you do get a trailer make sure that it has brakes on all axles(its required in pa)

In my opinion I would look for an 18ft open deck with a gvw of either 7000-10000lbs

Also I seen someone mention about getting the same trailer that u-haul uses because they are a good weight and would prefer surge brakes over electric, 1. U-haul trailers are really heavy over 2000lbs (if i remember correctly) that takes away alot from the load you can haul 2. the brake system on those trailers are set up so anyone with a 4 wire light hook up can tow them.

It is much better to tow with electric brakes you can adjust just how much braking power the trailer is using, also most controllers have a manual switch that lets you apply trailer brakes separately(this has saved my ass a few times in bad situations) and unlike surge brakes which don't apply until the trailer basically rear ends you then its at almost full braking pulling it back and then repeating the process, electric brakes have a slight delay then apply the brakes gradually. For long hauls you WILL notice the difference.

I have 6 years of experience towing trailers for work, I have pulled many different trailers from U-hauls to tow-able boom lifts, so if you need any other advice/info I can probably help ya out.

[underpressure02]

Check around on racingjunk.com that is where I got my truck and trailer combo used and cheap.

You need to register it and have it inspected. I like electric brakes over surge brakes but I am towing a fairly large 34 foot enclosed trailer. I have my trailer insured also incase something happens to it when it is not attached to the tow vehicle.

[OMGz Turbo]

My pops has a haulmark v-nose car trailer. Its nice and well equiped for the track, has electric brakes which honestly arent that bad i kinda prefer them. We got this after we sold our full deck trailer, This is MUCH nicer if it decides to monsoon from sun in 30 seconds

[Nick Merrone]

Make sure you get electric brakes. they save lives.

[EBBS_03_Cobra]

Get one with a winch, you'll be thankful later on. I watched my old car (mustang) slide off the trailer, while it was being picked up in the middle of a ice storm. Had I known the guy had a winch on his trailer, I would have never tried helping them load the car by driving it right on, but it was night, and I was anxious to get back inside.

[Nick 95 6sp]

Bryan,
Did you buy one already? I saw a "well used" one just like the one in polarexpress' pic on a flatbed tow truck this morning, heading eastbound on the PA Trnpk between Ft. Washington and Willow Grove. Maybe heading to you?

[CleanNeon98]

I'll type something nice up for ya when I get home.

edit: misread, thought you were looking for a used car, not a trailer. I'm now useless.

[TROLL]

Ha no I haven't bought yet... wish that one was on the way to me but its just something I wanted to start getting info on for a sometime-in-the-future purchase. Thanks for the responses so far... its all been incredibly helpful. <3 TST

[Vr-4-Life]

You have two street legal cars.... why do you need one?

[Oakes]

because he doesn't wanna drive it after I detail it.

[turboman808]

All kinda seem the same to me. I had one with a tire rack on it and electric brakes back when I did some SCCA racing. I got it with the car for an extra $1000.

Now I just get a Uhaul trailer when I need one.

They all get the job done.

[HickRocket1258]

When a tractor trailer is passing you, be careful and hold on especially with an enclosed trailer. They will suck you in sometimes.

Open trailers are not that heavy if aluminum. I have a 24' trailer that is wood on the inside. My dad also has a 30' aluminum enclosed trailer and that's lighter than the 24'. Oh and my dad brought up a good point. We got pulled over one day with our open trailer. It's cheaper to pay the ticket for a trailer being out of inspection than getting it inspected. We have 3 trailers and have only gotten one of them inspected once. They can't see the inspection sticker that well compared to a car. Just make sure all the lights work.

[TROLL]

After really needing a trailer 2x this past week, I am now back to looking for a trailer, more seriously this time around.
I checked out RacingJunk and even registered, but all of the trailers I see listed in their classified section are enclosed/huge/expensive... am I missing something or is that primarily what is listed for sale there?
I'm going to check out Craigslist as well, any other suggestions on where to shop for a used trailer, or maybe where to shop for a new one if its not too expensive? Probably looking to buy used since it'll see infrequent use though.
Honestly just looking for something solid thats in decent shape that will get the job done. It won't be used too often, but when I need it I need it.
Thanks again for all the info posted so far... and if anyone knows of a good buy on an open trailer for sale, let me know! Thanks...

[11secdsm]

It's just bad timing Bryan. Racingjunk is probably the best place to find one. Check Craigslist and ebay as well. Keep checking back... A couple local trailer places sell used as well but at a premium. Definitely get one with electric brakes...surge brakes are touchy and suck.

[TROLL]

Thanks Chris, and what was the name of the place you suggested that sells new? I'll look into them, maybe take a ride out just to see what new options are to compare to what used options I come across...