Enclosed Trailor
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TECH Junkie
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From: Sandusky, Ohio
Enclosed Trailor How much does the average enclosed trailor weigh?
I'm trying to figure out if my truck will be able to tow my car plus an enclosed trailor.
Truck is good to 6800lbs
I'm trying to figure out if my truck will be able to tow my car plus an enclosed trailor.
Truck is good to 6800lbs
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Illinois, RT 66 dragway area
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Everyone has the weights on their web site.
Don't forget toys. Tools, fuel, chairs ect. Plus air drag, too many people tow over the trucks ability.
End up crawling at 50 & getting no mileage as they beat their truck to death. Good luck.
.
Everyone has the weights on their web site.
Don't forget toys. Tools, fuel, chairs ect. Plus air drag, too many people tow over the trucks ability.
End up crawling at 50 & getting no mileage as they beat their truck to death. Good luck.
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Watch those towing weights, that usually assumes the truck being empty except for the driver and they arent kidding when they say 'max.'
Weights on trailer dealer websites and reality are two different things, my 26' was supposed to weigh 3500lbs, real weight is 4000, add a 3000lb car and you are done.
Weights on trailer dealer websites and reality are two different things, my 26' was supposed to weigh 3500lbs, real weight is 4000, add a 3000lb car and you are done.
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If you can get an enclosed trailer to weigh less then 8500 lbs total with the car, good luck. Only way I see that being even possible is if you went with an all aluminum featherlite, and now you're talking big $ for that. Plus being all alum, you have a serious threat of someone stealing it and chopping it up for scrap, I've actually heard of someone having that happen to an open car alum one.
Open car trailer, pretty much any 1/2 ton V8 truck can tow, that's not a big deal. Trailer with an open center deck weigh'a aboput 1800 for a 18 footer (at least my bri-mar does) and a 16 footer will be about 1700 lbs. Solid deck puts you back to about 2000 to 2200. Then figure the car at 3200 or whatever, that's anywhere from 4900 to 5200 lbs, about as much as I'd want to tow with a 1/2 ton truck.
Personally, I'm opting for a 2wd 3/4 ton diesel next time around, I don't really see a need to have the 4x4, it's just more parts to wear out and worse gas mileage, sure it snows in new england, but way I figure it, if it's so bad I can't get out with the 2wd, I probably should be staying home anyway. That, and the next trailer will be a 26 or 28 foot enclosed.
Open car trailer, pretty much any 1/2 ton V8 truck can tow, that's not a big deal. Trailer with an open center deck weigh'a aboput 1800 for a 18 footer (at least my bri-mar does) and a 16 footer will be about 1700 lbs. Solid deck puts you back to about 2000 to 2200. Then figure the car at 3200 or whatever, that's anywhere from 4900 to 5200 lbs, about as much as I'd want to tow with a 1/2 ton truck.
Personally, I'm opting for a 2wd 3/4 ton diesel next time around, I don't really see a need to have the 4x4, it's just more parts to wear out and worse gas mileage, sure it snows in new england, but way I figure it, if it's so bad I can't get out with the 2wd, I probably should be staying home anyway. That, and the next trailer will be a 26 or 28 foot enclosed.
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Verdad Gallardo Personally, I'm opting for a 2wd 3/4 ton diesel next time around, I don't really see a need to have the 4x4, it's just more parts to wear out and worse gas mileage, sure it snows in new england, but way I figure it, if it's so bad I can't get out with the 2wd, I probably should be staying home anyway. That, and the next trailer will be a 26 or 28 foot enclosed.
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: LT1 land...the "409" of the 90s!
I will give you an idea
My truck is 7,600 with two people and gear. I picked up a trailer with a Twin Turbo C-5 in it and towed it back from Boise over the Blue montains. I hit the scales at 18,000 or so. nothing really inside the 28ft trailer but some gear and the vette.
I sure love my Duramax!
My truck is 7,600 with two people and gear. I picked up a trailer with a Twin Turbo C-5 in it and towed it back from Boise over the Blue montains. I hit the scales at 18,000 or so. nothing really inside the 28ft trailer but some gear and the vette.
I sure love my Duramax!
I've had a 2wd truck before, yeah they get stuck easier, but knowing I have put my truck in 4wd maybe 5 times in the last 2 years, I dunno if I can justify it.
(Of course, I buy a 2wd and we will go back to getting a foot of snow every week all winter, you know that's how that works)
7 Second Club
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From: Gainesville, Florida # of drag strips runs: ?!?!?
Don't forget towing an enclosed vs. an open trailer = drop in mpg. You can get by on a lighter car in a 22-24" aluminum with a 1/2 ton pick-up, but as mentioned much more than that and you'd want a 3/4-ton or 1 ton. I'd think hard about why you want an enclosed and then decide. If you are only towing to a local track not far from you I'd stick open trailer. If you plan to do longer trips or want the ability to haul spares / have a place to get out of the sun or sleep, enclosed starts to look more appealing.
Derek
Derek
I'll never tow the thing anywhere if it's snowing, that I won't do.
I've had a 2wd truck before, yeah they get stuck easier, but knowing I have put my truck in 4wd maybe 5 times in the last 2 years, I dunno if I can justify it.
(Of course, I buy a 2wd and we will go back to getting a foot of snow every week all winter, you know that's how that works)
I've had a 2wd truck before, yeah they get stuck easier, but knowing I have put my truck in 4wd maybe 5 times in the last 2 years, I dunno if I can justify it.
(Of course, I buy a 2wd and we will go back to getting a foot of snow every week all winter, you know that's how that works)
As for an enclosed trailer with 6800lb max... Good luck. Most of our cars are 3000+ lbs so a 3800lb enclosed trailer, and all the other stuff doesnt take long. Not to mention if you have a 6800lb max, youll be killing the truck to tow that much. I had a 99 2500 suburban (454) towing my 28' enclosed, it struggled going up hills to the point it would be floored and slowing down.
From experience, 2wd Diesel in the snow = BAD the torque will have you all over the place before you even know it.
As for an enclosed trailer with 6800lb max... Good luck. Most of our cars are 3000+ lbs so a 3800lb enclosed trailer, and all the other stuff doesnt take long. Not to mention if you have a 6800lb max, youll be killing the truck to tow that much. I had a 99 2500 suburban (454) towing my 28' enclosed, it struggled going up hills to the point it would be floored and slowing down.
As for an enclosed trailer with 6800lb max... Good luck. Most of our cars are 3000+ lbs so a 3800lb enclosed trailer, and all the other stuff doesnt take long. Not to mention if you have a 6800lb max, youll be killing the truck to tow that much. I had a 99 2500 suburban (454) towing my 28' enclosed, it struggled going up hills to the point it would be floored and slowing down.
We tow my trailer w/ my buddy's f350 & you can DEFINITELY tell it's back there.
4 wheel trailer brakes is a MUST!
W/ a 1/2 ton truck, you are putting ALOT of "faith" in the truck brakes.
I've done both.. By far, the 3/4 "Dirtymax" was the best combo.
28' Featherlite, 3600# turbo Buick, gen set, tool cabinets. "Max" got 5mpg less @ 70mph when towing. Was hard to tell the trlr was there at that speed.
I now have a 1/2 T, sb, 5.3... Use it ONLY for the 20' open. Even at that, it's a MUTT!!
W/ a 1/2 ton truck, you are putting ALOT of "faith" in the truck brakes.
I've done both.. By far, the 3/4 "Dirtymax" was the best combo.
28' Featherlite, 3600# turbo Buick, gen set, tool cabinets. "Max" got 5mpg less @ 70mph when towing. Was hard to tell the trlr was there at that speed.
I now have a 1/2 T, sb, 5.3... Use it ONLY for the 20' open. Even at that, it's a MUTT!!
I'll never tow the thing anywhere if it's snowing, that I won't do.
I've had a 2wd truck before, yeah they get stuck easier, but knowing I have put my truck in 4wd maybe 5 times in the last 2 years, I dunno if I can justify it.
(Of course, I buy a 2wd and we will go back to getting a foot of snow every week all winter, you know that's how that works)
I've had a 2wd truck before, yeah they get stuck easier, but knowing I have put my truck in 4wd maybe 5 times in the last 2 years, I dunno if I can justify it.
(Of course, I buy a 2wd and we will go back to getting a foot of snow every week all winter, you know that's how that works)
I really dont WANT a 4wd either but I have got myself stuck a few times at a track with the 2wd. Not to mention if you have a low car and need to put the back tires on ramps at some tracks the way the pits are - good luck doing that in the grass with a 2wd. Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,023
Likes: 6
From: LT1 land...the "409" of the 90s!
X10 on the 4WD.
My new(used) trailer is a Texas Rollback. As mentioned try pulling the slider back up on the axles in wet grass with 2WD
BTW Looking at the site the open trailer is 1,840Lbs with out gear and a car. add tires and gear and even a open trailer is starting to push your target weight
My new(used) trailer is a Texas Rollback. As mentioned try pulling the slider back up on the axles in wet grass with 2WD
BTW Looking at the site the open trailer is 1,840Lbs with out gear and a car. add tires and gear and even a open trailer is starting to push your target weight
Good point with the 2wd and wet grass. Never even really thought of that one.
I'm gonna first look for a 2006 used 3/4 ton mega cab dodge (I'm a dodge truck guy, always have been, and have always had good luck with them) if I can find one that's got low enough miles, if it's 4x4 then I guess it's gonna be 4x4, I'll take what I can find.
If I can't find a used one with the options and mileage I'm looking for A new one will get the nod.
Eventually, I will look for an alum 28 footer. Initially, the truck is getting a cap and I will use that to bring my equipment. (God I must be getting old if I'm seriously goning to put a cap on the back of a truck, although I do find the new caps that are painted to match the truck with no side windows actually look nice)
I'm gonna first look for a 2006 used 3/4 ton mega cab dodge (I'm a dodge truck guy, always have been, and have always had good luck with them) if I can find one that's got low enough miles, if it's 4x4 then I guess it's gonna be 4x4, I'll take what I can find.
If I can't find a used one with the options and mileage I'm looking for A new one will get the nod.
Eventually, I will look for an alum 28 footer. Initially, the truck is getting a cap and I will use that to bring my equipment. (God I must be getting old if I'm seriously goning to put a cap on the back of a truck, although I do find the new caps that are painted to match the truck with no side windows actually look nice)
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
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From: Sandusky, Ohio
okay, looks like an open trailer is for me
how are you slammed race car guys getting onto the trailors without scraping the crap outa everything? Probably use a winch to get the car on.
if i can find a winch to pull up my 3800lb car lol
how are you slammed race car guys getting onto the trailors without scraping the crap outa everything? Probably use a winch to get the car on.
if i can find a winch to pull up my 3800lb car lol