[TrakCar]

I was watching Nascar the other day and started thinking about the fancy pit boxes all the teams have. I've been tossing around the idea of getting a small trailer to haul behind my car when I drive to open track days, big car shows, and auto-x events. So now I'm considering building or adapting a small utility (4x6) trailer as a "track day trailer"

4x6 utility trailer
provisions to mount track rims
jack
Tool box
Chairs
EZ up
Cooler/ grill (I have one of those fire and Ice things they sold a couple years ago)
Air tank
etc
etc

I'm also probably looking at selling my truck since It sits 90% of the time at $4.00 per gallon, so the trailer would also see use as the "Home maintenance and Lowe's trip" trailer, and possibly to haul a 4 wheeler.

So has anyone else done something like this? Post descriptions, Pictures, and lessons learned if you have.

Thanks

[StanIROCZ]

What kind of mpg do you get in the car? What do you get pulling your car w/ the truck? I assume you put premium in the car and regular in the truck.

If you get 12 mpg in the truck @ $4.00/gal a 300 mile round trip is $100 in fuel.
If you get 20 mpg in the car @ $4.30/gal a 300 mile round trip is $64.5 in fuel.

I recently did this calculation for myself, but the difference is that the camaro is now getting 15 mpg with a bad tune and no overdrive on premium. Truck/trailer vs car is very close now.

So there is more hassle with the truck / trailer and some more costs up front, but the cost of paying a tow truck to get you home has to weigh into the decision. My daily driver broke down this winter and it was $130 to go about 20 miles.

There is also the chance of your truck breaking down as well, but it has to be much less probable than the car.

This post has been edited by StanIROCZ: Jun 10 2008, 05:58 PM

[pknowles]

What kind of mpg do you get in the car? What do you get pulling your car w/ the truck? I assume you put premium in the car and regular in the truck.

If you get 12 mpg in the truck @ $4.00/gal a 300 mile round trip is $100 in fuel.
If you get 20 mpg in the car @ $4.30/gal a 300 mile round trip is $64.5 in fuel.

I recently did this calculation for myself, but the difference is that the camaro is now getting 15 mpg with a bad tune and no overdrive on premium. Truck/trailer vs car is very close now.

So there is more hassle with the truck / trailer and some more costs up front, but the cost of paying a tow truck to get you home has to weigh into the decision. My daily driver broke down this winter and it was $130 to go about 20 miles.

There is also the chance of your truck breaking down as well, but it has to be much less probable than the car.

The economics of towing with a truck vs a small trailer behind the car will never work out. When you start towing far and somewhat often is when a truck with full car trailer begins to make sense and it's not because of economic reasons. I know I tow my car to and from events at least 5k miles a year. I can't imagine driving a Street Prepared car that far full of crap and have any kind of energy left to want to run the event. It also nice to be able to haul a tent, chair, big cooler, etc to the big weekend events. I'm really happy with a 3/4 ton truck and an open trailer, enclosed trailers look like too much hassle. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Cr0usEEE]

The economics of towing with a truck vs a small trailer behind the car will never work out. When you start towing far and somewhat often is when a truck with full car trailer begins to make sense and it's not because of economic reasons. I know I tow my car to and from events at least 5k miles a year. I can't imagine driving a Street Prepared car that far full of crap and have any kind of energy left to want to run the event. It also nice to be able to haul a tent, chair, big cooler, etc to the big weekend events. I'm really happy with a 3/4 ton truck and an open trailer, enclosed trailers look like too much hassle. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Hi Phil....I have been running Greg Olsen/Tommy Pulliam's ESP car around the country with one of those 4x8 HF trailers...then again I am still young a stupid.

So far with no issues other than an electrical gremlin blowing Daytime Running Lights/Turn Signal Fuses.

1. Arkansas Pro
2. Atlanta Double X
3. Atlanta Tour

Coming up is:
1. DC Pro (Nancy Confirmed TODAY!!!)
2. Peru Tour
3. Toledo Pro
4. Milwaukee Pro
5. FLR Pro
6. GASS events
7. Nationals....

I would say I am a little stupid but then again I can't afford to run a tow rig/trailer. As another benefit I am averaging 28 mpg toting 2 sets of tires. You should see all the crap that I stick in that thing.

[pknowles]

The economics of towing with a truck vs a small trailer behind the car will never work out. When you start towing far and somewhat often is when a truck with full car trailer begins to make sense and it's not because of economic reasons. I know I tow my car to and from events at least 5k miles a year. I can't imagine driving a Street Prepared car that far full of crap and have any kind of energy left to want to run the event. It also nice to be able to haul a tent, chair, big cooler, etc to the big weekend events. I'm really happy with a 3/4 ton truck and an open trailer, enclosed trailers look like too much hassle. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Hi Phil....I have been running Greg Olsen/Tommy Pulliam's ESP car around the country with one of those 4x8 HF trailers...then again I am still young a stupid.

So far with no issues other than an electrical gremlin blowing Daytime Running Lights/Turn Signal Fuses.

1. Arkansas Pro
2. Atlanta Double X
3. Atlanta Tour

Coming up is:
1. DC Pro (Nancy Confirmed TODAY!!!)
2. Peru Tour
3. Toledo Pro
4. Milwaukee Pro
5. FLR Pro
6. GASS events
7. Nationals....

I would say I am a little stupid but then again I can't afford to run a tow rig/trailer. As another benefit I am averaging 28 mpg toting 2 sets of tires. You should see all the crap that I stick in that thing.

I'll see you at the DC Pro. I bought my first tow vehicle and trailer in 2000. The truck was a 68 F250 CS I bought for $1500 and a brand new 16' open trailer for $1700. I sold my Ford Ranger for $1000 to get the F250, so it was only $500 to upgrade to the bigger truck. The truck was great and never left me stranded in the 60k miles I had it, but on the 1100 mile tow to Kansas I was missing some of the features of a newer truck (sound deadening (SP?)). You can get trucks cheap and they make great winter beaters.

(and Phil, I'd say that an enclosed trailer isn't really any more hassle than an open trailer, as long as you have space to store it.

Living this close to DC, storing the trailer has been an issue. The wife and I are looking to buy a house at the end of this year. Finding a house that has ample parking, garage, and spot to put the trailer has been difficult. The house we are renting right now has a single car wide driveway that is 2" wider then the trailer itself. I'm getting real good at backing the trailer into tight spaces!