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Posted by: FourBlades Jun 28 2015, 02:44 PM

As the title says, I need to get my blue 914 out of the weather.

I looked in to expanding my garage or building a detached garage and the zoning where I live is prohibitive.

To keep my car on my property but get it out of the weather I am thinking of buying a new 14 or 16 foot enclosed car trailer. I have room to park one in my backyard. I would plan to paint and preserve it with lanolin oil spray. I think I need some kind of ventilation to keep moisture from being trapped inside.

Any advice on what to look for, brands, things to avoid?

Thanks for any tips!

John

Posted by: Mueller Jun 28 2015, 02:47 PM

Not to be a negative nancy here....investment in a Lojack might not be a bad idea!

Posted by: AndyB Jun 28 2015, 03:09 PM

I would go minimum of 16 ft.

Posted by: FourBlades Jun 28 2015, 03:51 PM

The trailer is for weather protection not theft protection.

Lojack is a great idea if you live where theft is a problem.

John

Posted by: Jetsetsurfshop Jun 28 2015, 03:52 PM

Bigger is better. My trailer is 28 feet and I can have the car in there plus lots of parts. Go big!

Posted by: messix Jun 28 2015, 03:55 PM

just get a 20 footer. you wont regret it

Posted by: mepstein Jun 28 2015, 03:57 PM

Why not buy a cheap used one. If it's just storage, it only has to move once to its resting spot.

Posted by: PanelBilly Jun 28 2015, 04:00 PM

You live in Florida? Great one with pontoons

Posted by: bulitt Jun 28 2015, 04:03 PM

Mine fit in a 7x14 with about 2' left. Room in the V for some parts.
Buy a small elec winch to help load and unload.
Make sure you measure the interior space. Sometimes 7' isnt really 7' etc.

Posted by: mepstein Jun 28 2015, 04:07 PM

If john doesn't intend to move it from the back yard, he could cut a door in the side and make it easy to drive in.

Posted by: FourBlades Jun 28 2015, 04:34 PM

Seems like a lot of trailers have a side door which seems to be positioned to let you get in and out of the car. I would like to be able to drive it in and out to make it quick to take it out for a drive then put it away.

I am leaning towards new, steel trailer for around $5K, then paint and oil it so it lasts a few years here. Used ones I have seen are usually already rusty.

I could spend double for all aluminum but somehow the CSOB does not want to do that.

I hear the bigger is better comment. I need to figure out how much room I have lengthwise.

What is the max width of your trailers? I have a 10 foot gate it has to get through...

John

Posted by: FourBlades Jun 28 2015, 04:35 PM

That is a nice looking trailer Bob. That is what I am looking for plus a side door for drive on and off ability.

John

Posted by: RobW Jun 28 2015, 06:42 PM

Get a trailer with a dove tail specifically for car hauling. I always bought my trailers new, because the pass on maintenance for the first few years pays for itself. Get a winch. Get 20+ feet, unless you plan to do nothing inside the trailer. If you do have plans, get an awning, a generator is nice too, as is an air tank. See 20+. Haggle on the price.

Posted by: campbellcj Jun 28 2015, 06:43 PM

Rather than a trailer how about a cargo container? Bigger, I think, probably cheaper, and far harder for someone to steal.

Posted by: FourBlades Jun 28 2015, 07:06 PM

I like the cargo container idea. I will probably use this as a trailer to transport cars to events though.

I am leaning towards 20 footer if it will fit.

John

Posted by: JRust Jun 28 2015, 08:24 PM

The whole drive in is pretty tough. There is not an enclosed trailer I think big enough for you to open your door. So you can crawl out the window or through the roof. Even with an 8'5" width ( I think that is the max allowed) just try it. Different with an open trailer obviously. So the winch is the way to go with it. You also want it big enough as stated. Strapping your car down is hard enough in the enclosed space. Try getting to all 4 corners in a 14ft trailer . Can you make it work? Sure but speed will not be your friend & it will just piss you off you don't have more space. At minimum an 18ft is needed & 20ft is much more easy to find. The metal storage containers are good for storage. But using it to haul to events & any other thing that comes up. Really makes the trailer a better option. The other thing to consider is what do you have to haul it? You get very big or heavy & you better have a serious rig to haul it with

Posted by: ConeDodger Jun 28 2015, 08:58 PM

Top off you can drive in and crawl out... But most winch it in.

Posted by: gms Jun 28 2015, 09:20 PM

I bought a 20'er and have enough room for the car, extra wheels, fuel and a winch up front. This is about as long a trailer as I would buy it is a pain to fit in the driveway. It is like having an extra garage.

Posted by: gms Jun 28 2015, 09:31 PM

the only picture i have

Posted by: Sedonut Jun 28 2015, 09:52 PM

An 8 x 16' at a minimum. I know this because I have a 7 by 16, and I only have a few inches between the car and the door. Get one 8' wide.

Posted by: carr914 Jun 29 2015, 04:51 AM

Lots of used Trailers on racingjunk.com

Posted by: MJHanna Jun 29 2015, 07:39 AM

I would not do smaller than a 20 ft, if it was designed as a car hauler it should be at least 8 ft inside most are 8.5 (outside dimensions) the widest allowed without being a “wide load” trailer. You need space to tie down the car and the tie downs go both forward and aft. As stated racing junk is a good place to look for both new and used trailers. I load our cars by driving them in, if I can get out of a race car with full cages you should be able to get out of your car without the trap door. Watch what height the fenders are, if they are too high you cannot open the door all the way which will make getting in and out of the car hard. I have a winch but it gets used only if I’m loading or unloading a non running car. If you get a winch look at the “fabric cables” it the best upgrade I have done on the winch.

Posted by: Brian Mifsud Jun 29 2015, 10:53 AM

Jobsite trailers are cheaper and roomier.. They typically are 8' wide so you don't need a special permit to move them. If you are really only going to use it for storage, this is better than a car trailer cause it let's you walk around or work on the car.

here's an example.. you'll need to build a ramp in the rear...

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/hvo/5095569017.html

Posted by: carr914 Jun 29 2015, 05:11 PM

$3.5 -5.5k

http://www.racingjunk.com/Cargo-Enclosed/182320237/Enclosed-18-foot-3-foot-V-nose-OBO.html

http://www.racingjunk.com/Cargo-Enclosed/182391080/2015-Lark-20ft-Enclosed-Auto-Hauler.html

Near Tampa
http://www.racingjunk.com/Cargo-Enclosed/182320237/Enclosed-18-foot-3-foot-V-nose-OBO.html

Posted by: sixnotfour Jun 29 2015, 06:20 PM

that last trailer is a lot of nice for the money...too bad its red

Posted by: carr914 Jun 30 2015, 04:41 AM

That's what I was thinking

Posted by: URY914 Jun 30 2015, 11:46 AM

I'd get a used one. You offer a guy cash with his wife standing there and the price will drop.

Posted by: Jetsetsurfshop Jun 30 2015, 06:51 PM

Agreed. Even if it needs something, it looks like a good deal to me.

Posted by: Amphicar770 Jun 30 2015, 09:36 PM

You are better off with a used, late mode,l, name brand trailer.

A lot of the newer, inexpensive units are really poorly built. They will look good for a year and then start falling apart. Likewise, a name brand is going to have MUCH better resale value.

I picked up a 24' Featherlite. It is over 10 years old but is in great condition. I did replace the bearings and brakes when I got it but I could easily sell it a few years from now and get all my money back.

If you will be hauling it, make sure your tow vehicle can handle it. 20+ footers, especially steel and wood, can be very heavy. Torsion axles are almost a must have for towing a vehicle.

Watch for humidity build up in a trailer. You might want to keep a dehumidifier in there.

Definitely go with 8' width. It is now fun inching a vehicle in while worrying about hitting the sides. 20-24 footer will have better resale than something smaller.

Cargo trailers are not the same as car trailers.

Posted by: jasons Jun 30 2015, 09:51 PM

Can you drive in and out of those when they aren't hitched to a hauling vechicle? I have a flat trailer for hauling a RZR and there is no way I could load that unhitched.

Posted by: Ian Stott Jul 1 2015, 05:46 AM

Would putting a dehumidifier in the trailer be a good idea since Florida is so humid?

Ian Stott
Moncton
Canada

Posted by: Amphicar770 Jul 2 2015, 07:36 PM

Trailers, along with all their contents, are frequently stolen. Having one that stands out from all the white / black ones makes it less of a target. Also get a SPOT trace.

Posted by: messix Jul 2 2015, 11:00 PM

if you chock the wheels and jack stand the rear and front of the trailer you can do it.

Posted by: FourBlades Jul 3 2015, 07:19 AM

Wow, lots of good tips here. Dehumidifier sounds like a good idea.

I will have to borrow or rent a tow vehicle because I only have a small SUV (Lexus 350). I have friends with major tow rigs but it would be nice to be able to rent one for longer trips.

What trailer brands do people think are the best quality?

John