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Old 07-26-2017, 07:10 PM   #41
trulyvintage
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Lightbulb Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

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Originally Posted by Curly View Post
I'm thinking of getting an aluminum car trailer for use in our Model A club. My closed cab truck is 13 feet long. I suspect most A's are about the same. What size trailer do you recommend?

Curly,

Are you in Alaska ?

I think the biggest limitation you would have is the cost of an aluminum trailer
vs. a steel trailer - if money is not a consideration then weight comes next ...

If you only see hauling a Model A on the trailer - then a tandem axle 7000 pound trailer would do nicely.

How are the roads you are traveling ?

If you have a lot of washboard - potholed - gravel roads to traverse then
you want a trailer that would stand up to the abuse over the long run.

Are you just using the one tow vehicle ?

Consult the manufacturer for the allowable tow capacity for your particular model - working backwards you can deduct the payload weight & what is left will determine the empty curb weight of the trailer you can tow.

Good Luck !


Jim
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Old 07-27-2017, 10:50 PM   #42
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Default Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

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All good suggestions. Tow vehicle will be a half ton extended cab Ram truck.

Carl it's funny you ask about open or enclosed. Heidi just brought up the enclosed idea. It would protect my Model A; but there's the added cost. Would the group suggest open or enclosed?
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Old 07-28-2017, 05:49 AM   #43
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Default Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

I have been looking for a 14' open trailer because if I buy a 16'-20' everyone I know will want to borrow it to haul everything (cars, tractors, farm equipment etc.). I want one I can keep looking nice and in good condition and you can't if everyone uses it. I have access to larger trailers if I need one.

very good point! I lent mine out a few times........... came back with a blown out sidewall once and the handle broken off the jack a 2nd time.
Park it in your yard and say it belongs to someone else....................!

one reason I have no trailer at the moment. nothing to lend.
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Old 07-28-2017, 09:13 AM   #44
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Default Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

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I have been looking for a 14' open trailer because if I buy a 16'-20' everyone I know will want to borrow it to haul everything (cars, tractors, farm equipment etc.). I want one I can keep looking nice and in good condition and you can't if everyone uses it. I have access to larger trailers if I need one.

very good point! I lent mine out a few times........... came back with a blown out sidewall once and the handle broken off the jack a 2nd time.
Park it in your yard and say it belongs to someone else....................!

one reason I have no trailer at the moment. nothing to lend.
My trailer is currently loaned out. Quite frankly, I'd get a new set of friends! Certain irony that the first poster has "access to larger trailer if I need one" yet refuses to loan his out when he fially buys one.
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Old 07-28-2017, 10:19 AM   #45
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Default Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

I lent out my 4 x 8 small utility trailer twice to the same friend, and each time it came back with a flat tire and destroyed rim, and no offer to pay for the damage. You'd think if someone borrows something, they'd take extra good care of it, but the opposite seems to be the rule.
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Old 07-28-2017, 10:22 AM   #46
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Default Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

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I lent out my 4 x 8 small utility trailer twice to the same friend, and each time it came back with a flat tire and destroyed rim, and no offer to pay for the damage. You'd think if someone borrows something, they'd take extra good care of it, but the opposite seems to be the rule.



Yep, and with just about anything. Not just trailers. There are now very few I loan anything to.
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Old 07-28-2017, 10:11 PM   #47
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Default Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

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Certain irony that the first poster has "access to larger trailer if I need one" yet refuses to loan his out when he finally buys one.
I would loan it but it is all family and they all know how picky I am about things coming back in the condition they left, besides they all have their own trailers and all but my son pretty well keep them beat up. I have borrowed a 16' car hauler from my brother-in-law and have cleaned it up and replaced the lights for the trip to Gettysburg. I have a 32' enclosed 5th wheel car hauler but it is overkill for a Model A. My son's gooseneck trailers are usually at my house anyway. :-)
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Old 07-29-2017, 12:05 AM   #48
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Default Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

Neither a lender nor borrower be.

All great trailer suggestions guys. Thank you
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Old 07-29-2017, 07:16 AM   #49
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Default Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

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Neither a lender nor borrower be.

All great trailer suggestions guys. Thank you
True, thats why I'm trying to find a new trailer. Probably have to special order what I want.

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Old 07-30-2017, 08:59 AM   #50
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Default Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

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I lent out my 4 x 8 small utility trailer twice to the same friend, and each time it came back with a flat tire and destroyed rim, and no offer to pay for the damage. You'd think if someone borrows something, they'd take extra good care of it, but the opposite seems to be the rule.
Tom, I would hate to see how your enemies treat you!
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Old 07-30-2017, 09:10 AM   #51
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Default Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

Loaning always have more risks then self use. I loaned my 16 ft. trailer to my best friend to haul bush to the dump. He back it up to unload and low and behold the dump worker ran over it with a bulldozer. Apparently, the driver was on the phone. After much debate the city did give me sufficient funds to replace it (flatbeds run over by bulldozers are not repairable).
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Old 07-30-2017, 01:58 PM   #52
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Default Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

While in the Army I built two adjustable universal tow bars for myself. Shortly after I got home my neighbor asked to borrow one of them. Reluctantly I let him use it, and I warned him that you never back up with a tow bar. Well, the moron backed up and turned my tow bar into a pretzel. He didn't even apologize, much less offer to pay for the damage.
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Old 07-31-2017, 03:35 AM   #53
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Default Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

IMO, you cant have too big of a trailer or tow vehicle.

I currently have a 22' enclosed GXT, V-nose, 5k# axles w/torflex suspension, 4 wheel brakes, towed by a F-150 Crewcab 5.0, 2-wd.

Two things to consider if buying a enclosed, door height to clear sedan and truck models, 4 wheel brakes.

Ken
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Old 08-05-2017, 09:24 AM   #54
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Default Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

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16' Aluminum is plenty for me. Plus it's lighter. 860 lbs. according to Triton with a 5000 lb. gross weight.
I like the weight of that trailer, and it certainly looks big enough.

Last edited by old31; 08-08-2017 at 05:02 PM.
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Old 08-05-2017, 11:58 AM   #55
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Default Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

Quite frankly, I'd get a new set of friends!

well, you can choose your friends, but you cant choose your family!
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Old 08-05-2017, 01:30 PM   #56
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Default Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

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Quite frankly, I'd get a new set of friends!

well, you can choose your friends, but you cant choose your family!
I loan my trailer out frequently and have had no issues. Obviously, I've got nicer friends than some of the posters here! Actually had one guy put a new set of tires on my trailer as he had to store a pizza oven he picked up in Texas for a couple of weeks due to construction delays at his store.
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Old 08-05-2017, 03:41 PM   #57
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Default Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

so denis, I guess you dont have any family...................

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Old 08-06-2017, 08:10 AM   #58
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Default Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

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so denis, I guess you dont have any family...................

My brother returned my trailer in perfect shape right after I posted yesterday. Forgot to mention one guy using my trailer that replaced a tie down strap that had chaffed due to improper use.

One thought here: I had some issues when I loaned out a generic flatbed trailer to people (including my brother). My current trailer is an H&H 20' aluminum with a hydraulic tilt and an 8000# Warn winch. Both the tilt and the winch can be operated with remote controls. Also have two sets of tie down straps in the aluminum lockable tool box. It seems that the nicer the trailer, the fewer problems I've had when loaning it out.
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Old 08-06-2017, 09:23 AM   #59
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Default Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

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Quite frankly, I'd get a new set of friends!

well, you can choose your friends, but you cant choose your family!
dont forget "You can pick your friends, you can pick your nose, but you cant pick your friends nose!"

What are good brands of open aluminum trailers?
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Old 08-06-2017, 02:58 PM   #60
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Default Re: Car trailer size-- 16 foot or 18 foot?

I started with a 16' then went to a 20'. Sold it and went to a 18', perfect. Enclosed trailers are nice , and I have one, but if you can only have one trailer make it an open with a winch.
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