Trailer options. Options

[Charles Freeborn]

Curious what others are using for their race car trailer.
My tracks are all within one days drive so an open trailer is fine - and preferred. It looks to me like a 6 x 12 is plenty. I need it to be able to go through a standard 9' wide garage door and weigh less than 1800ish pounds. My car is capable of pulling 5k #'s.
Aluminum, steel tandem, single axle? Those sorts of questions.
For this season I can use a tow dolly for our local track (8 miles away) and a U-haul for out of town, but eventually that'll get tiresome.
Thx.

[wndsrfr]

I lucked into a Featherlite open...aluminum...1500 lbs. Has a custom box at the front that fits set of wheels has more. Tows like a dream at 75-80.

[BillJ]

Two axle only. Aluminum is your best bet

[brant]

Two axle only. Aluminum is your best bet

Agreed
Twin axle for safety

[infraredcalvin]

Dream trailer… (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif)

https://www.futuratrailers.com/product/supe...=43995839398041

[stownsen914]

I went enclosed years ago as it works better for me to carry and store my stuff.

Re: open trailers, I’ve seen a Futura in action, and it sure looked nice.

Agreed on dual axle for safety.

[sixnotfour]

older Trailex ,, lite , Great trailer..

[Charles Freeborn]

older Trailex ,, lite , Great trailer..

Oh yeah. That's the one to get. I'll have to keep an eye out. Maybe in the dead of winter one will turn up.
Thx.

[brant]

I know a big trailer needs a big tow vehicle.

But once I switched to included from open
The ability to haul tools/tires/ parts/etc was a huge help
I’ll never go back to open. Ever. Enclosed is a pain and expensive

But well worth it.

[friethmiller]

I'm currently researching trailers to haul my 914, as well. I only have two requirements: 1) dual axles; 2) trailer weight less than 1300 lbs. It's a tall order but my 2023 Bronco has a very limited tow capacity. Looking at Alumna at the moment.

[brant]

I found out I needed a specific tow vehicle when I went in closed

Back then I had two weeks to buy another tow vehicle In order to make a race in California that I had committed to.

It’s a huge expense
But like the trailer decision.

I would never go back
There is safety incolved
Running a vehicle anywhere near max capacity opens you up to danger in unexpected situation. 10,000 lb tow capacity is oh so much better for towing long distances. And being able to handle the unexpected idiot who does stupid things in front of of you

It’s mine and my family’s safety at risk

[Charles Freeborn]

Aluma is also nice, so are Mission,which a local dealer carries. A friend has one - much bigger than I need, but he likes it.

[Craigers17]

Not sure if you use facebook or not, but Ric Birks, a member here, has a 20 footer for sale. Here:

https://www.facebook.com/commerce/listing/7...ent&__cft__[0]=AZXwxGYn-fwEefli1EsudKUhjy_u1liZfNh2h8SGS5S3UOXPqOknto- qFO0IS0j_JCQltHKMlj7XIAymcvfboV8Ee2HI_aN8HYqU6MAcKciaIkO3g5QOMSvxT3IqrVlxl5mFukC
yUw_YsPxb0ICo7kfVAGyiwU1q11CV3TgB50rz4w&__tn__=*WH-R

[Charles Freeborn]

Not sure if you use facebook or not, but Ric Birks, a member here, has a 20 footer for sale. Here:

https://www.facebook.com/commerce/listing/7...ent&__cft__[0]=AZXwxGYn-fwEefli1EsudKUhjy_u1liZfNh2h8SGS5S3UOXPqOknto- qFO0IS0j_JCQltHKMlj7XIAymcvfboV8Ee2HI_aN8HYqU6MAcKciaIkO3g5QOMSvxT3IqrVlxl5mFukC
yUw_YsPxb0ICo7kfVAGyiwU1q11CV3TgB50rz4w&__tn__=*WH-R

Very cool, but way too big. I'm wanting a maxuimum 14'

[Michael N]

This is my trailer that I purchased here years ago (the one with the bumblebee). I think it is about as small as you can go. It was made by a local 914 racer years ago before I purchased it. I could barely feel it behind the Expedition when towing. The bummer was that the trailers fenders prevent you from opening the door once pulled on the trailer if you are inside you have to climb out the window and roll window as much as you can from outside. It does have an electric winch on it so it can be pulled on the trailer and strapped without opening the doors.

[Charles Freeborn]

This is my trailer that I purchased here years ago (the one with the bumblebee). I think it is about as small as you can go. It was made by a local 914 racer years ago before I purchased it. I could barely feel it behind the Expedition when towing. The bummer was that the trailers fenders prevent you from opening the door once pulled on the trailer if you are inside you have to climb out the window and roll window as much as you can from outside. It does have an electric winch on it so it can be pulled on the trailer and strapped without opening the doors.

Wow, that is compact. My car has no roof so getting in wouldn't be any harder than usual. Food for thought.

[lalee914]

The guy I crew for had an open trailer for many years, towed it with a big SUV. It worked OK. We put spare tires & parts in the back of the SUV and filled up all available space. We brought tools & other stuff in our cars. Years ago, he got a very nice 34 foot enclosed trailer with a big GMC Diesel dually crew cab to pull it. Huge improvement. Very expensive. We are never going back to open trailers. The enclosed trailer gets you out of the rain, out of the sun, keeps the car out of the weather when not in use or being towed. Its a lot of work to load/unload everything but it is so nice having that trailer for a weekend race.

[GregAmy]

Class A bus chassis motorhome with a 32' enclosed, of course. and a stocked fridge.

(Pick your budget first, then fill that. If you do it the other way around then there is no end to the game...)

[carr914]

Another thing to think about with Trailers - do you have a place to store it?

[Charles Freeborn]

Excellent points all 'round. In a perfect world I'd have a 6 bay shop, with lift, a couple of acres with covered pad parking for an HD RV, 20something foot enclosed and a full second set of tools to live in the trailer.... a fella can dream...
In my less than perfect world I'll be towing with my Acura MDX (capacity 5k #) and if I'm staying overnight I'll be sleeping in a nearby budget motel or in a tent at the track. Them's the realities of my budget. This season I'm hoping to make it to 2 races at my local track (8.6 miles from my house) using a UHaul - maybe even a Uhaul Tow Dolly, which I've used before with a 914 and worked well. My previous 914 I could flat-tow but this one is too low in the front so that's not really an option. There are 2 other tracks that I frequent, both 2 ½ hours drive from my house. Pulling a trailer closer to 3. When I go to those, generally I'm part of a group of friends. We all look out for each other and a few have spare trailers, trucks, etc so I very well may be able to bum a ride or rig. The operative there will be to have a very organized system of tubs or bins to keep bits and pieces and tools for easy "chuck it in the truck" transport.
In the next 3ish years, and only if my wife is on board, I'll swap out the Acura for a van of some sort (E250, Transit, etc) that will double as my track truck but that I can also trick out as a camper that we can go adventuring in. It'll have to be dual duty in order for me to maintain my peaceful domestic bliss.
Over the winter I'll put on a hard search for an aluminum trailer - it's going to be used, and possibly one that I modify to fit the car, convert to tandem etc. By my measure a 6 x 12 will hold the car. I'll build a lightweight Tire rack over the front and call it all done. Budget is $3k max so I predict some sweat equity will be involved. It must fit through a standard 9'wide garage door for storage purposes.
Again, many thanks for the input. It's helped me narrow my search to a tandem aluminum framed model. Now I just have to find one in my budget.