WTB - Utility Trailer to haul tires Options

[bruecksteve]

I guess I'm going to have to get a hitch and a trailer. I need something that will haul at least 4 315's and tools.

[00 Trans Ram]

Steve, let me know what you find. By my reckoning, I'd say a 5' wide trailer is wide enough to put them side-by-side. If you had to put them 2-wide, and 2-deep, you'd need one 5' long, but not as deep. But, neither of these take into account a tool box.

I ave access to an 8' trailer that's 4' wide. I think that I'm gong to lay mine flat, and run a bolt from the bottom of the trailer through a lug nut hole (remember how the stock spare tire is secured? like that, sort of) and hold them like that. I will have enough room for my small (3'x2'x2') tool box that I use to be bolted to the front of it. This way, I really won't even have to fabricate any kind of original, custom "rack" to hold them.

Also, let me know what trailer hitch you go with! Like I said, I haven't reached this step, yet, but it's coming within the year.

[trackbird]

I saw an LT1 car here in town with a U-haul hitch under it? I didn't think they did those for our cars, but it looks like they do. You may want to start there.

[mitchntx]

When I pulled a diddy trailer with my car, I bought a Hidden Hitch from www.truckaddons.com

Very quick delivery ....

I picked up a nice metal trailer from Tractor Supply. It was 4x8. It worked out very nice.

I have heard some horror stories about those kit trailers from Harbor Freight. They don't last long and the weight capacity is not that much.

[trackbird]

Mitch,

I looked for the hitch you used on one of the links you posted and never did find it. It sounds like you had the best choice for a hitch from what you said about it. I may have to look again. I think I"m headed for a small trailer myself.

[y5e06]

I have a draw tite (tight?) hitch on my car. bought the hitch, drawbar, ball, and wiring harness locally for $92 brand new. 200lb tongue weight, 2000lb tow rating. It isn't well hidden though, so if thats an issue you may want to check out a hiddenhitch. I have a 4x3.5' trailer. I wish I had a 6x4' trailer, I could then fit two sets of tires and one tool box.

[bruecksteve]

I got this recommendation from Sam (hope you don't mind the quote Sam but it was good info) ...

"I went to Lowe's and bought a 4x8' tilt bed (I just don't tilt it). Added an aluminum box (a big one) and fabbed some brackets to lock the wheels on. I can carry 12 275 sized tires on it with the box. I know I can carry at least 8 315's, but haven't tried. It's made by Carry-On, and I hear Tractor Supply has them for less (we don't have those here). 12" tires the whole bit. I wanted something I could get to Nationals with everything I needed if my truck gave me trouble (or now that gas is so horrendously priced). "

[35th_Anniversary...]

bought Hidden Hitch from etrailer.com

The trailer I am using is 4x4. It has 2 posts in the front & a big plastic storage bin in the back. I think it couls even handle the 17/18 Z06 combo. I can get 6 275/40R17's on it the way it is now.

[PF Flyer]

I've had a Hidden Hitch on my SS since it was new. I bought a Sure-Trac 5'x8' utility tilt trailer at Costco not long after that. It holds four tires and wheels, side by side, with no problem. Tools, chairs, coolers, spares, jacks, it hauls it all, effortlessly.

I've had mine to Indy, Watkins Glen, gatherings in PA, SLP CAD in NJ (several times), VIR, Detroit, Home Depot, the dump (many times). No problems.

I built sides using pressure treated deck lumber and added a cover with supports, covered wagon style, for little money.

(IMG:http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/245000-245999/245657_3_full.jpg)

[bruecksteve]

43lbs... at least it's at the rear of the car I guess. Looks like I need some hollow sway bars after all...! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[sgarnett]

Hidden Hitch is definitely the way to go, but it's not perfect. The Draw-Tite hangs VERY low, and the Reese no-drill model is designed for a V6 single-tailpipe exhaust and did even come close to lining up with the existing holes.

The Hidden Hitch and Draw-Tite both use the two holes at the rear of each subframe and require drilling a third hole on each side.

I used fender washers to shim the front of the hitch down to tuck the receiver up a little closer to the body, but no hitch is truly hidden on a Camaro. They all seem to be designed to clear the optional "aero" kit that a lot of V6 cars were sold with.

My trailer was SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper at Tractor Supply.

Trailers typically run a little wide. I thin my 4x6 is 50" wide, for example, so you might be able to fit in 4 315s if they are really 315s. If they run wide like other race tires, you'll need a 5' model, which you'll probably only find as 5x8.

BTW, I screwed up and placed my tires at the front of the trailer, and posititioned my tool boxes (two of the Walmart/Contico boxes that the Miata guys use one of) at the back to balance them for about 60 lbs tongue weight. However, the first time I unloaded 200 lbs of tire ballast from the front at an event ...(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) At home, I have to ballast the trailer after unloading the tires to keep it from lifting the trailer dolly. Someday I'm moving the tool boxes to the front.

[mitchntx]

I mounted a fender tool box at the front of my little trailer. It locked, so I left my compliment of track necessities inside of it. No longer loaded and unloaded it for track days.

The trailer I bought had about 30" of space between the last cross brace and the very end of the trailer. I cut out the floor between the cross brace and the back brace and the tires stood up, placed down in this "well". It significantly lowered the CG of the trailer and I could just see over the top of the tires in the rear view mirror. I welded a piece of pipe on either side of the trailer and slid a smaller pipe through them and through the wheel spokes. I made tabs to put a combination lock through for security. Then a ratchet strap across the top to kepp them from bouncing around at 100mph ....

Tire placement also balanced out the tool box to about 20lbs of tongue weight. I could then move around things like a cooler, jack, sand bags for the EZ-Up, rotors, etc. for the desired tongue weight. It sure seemed to pull great at 60lbs, +/- 10 lbs ....

[sgarnett]

BTW, I removed the bottom spring leaf on each side. My trailer was rated for 2000 lbs, and I estimate the gross weight when fully loaded to be around 600 lbs. It rides a lot smoother than it did when over-sprung. The longer 4x8 probably rides smoother anyway, but the 4x6 hopped on every bump because the springs were so stiff. I also run the tires at around 35 psi instead of the rated 90 at maximum load, and seem to be getting even wear.

[John_D.]

I also run the tires at around 35 psi instead of the rated 90 at maximum load, and seem to be getting even wear.

Yeah but what camber setting are you running on there? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

That's a good idea on taking a leaf out! Hadn't thought of that before.

[sgarnett]

I also run the tires at around 35 psi instead of the rated 90 at maximum load, and seem to be getting even wear.

Yeah but what camber setting are you running on there? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

That's a good idea on taking a leaf out! Hadn't thought of that before.

It's set as negative as it would go (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) In other words, zero.

It does seem to grip well through the turns, though. I want to try an autocross pulling the tire trailers, and show them stinkin' Miatas what torque is good for (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[00 Trans Ram]

I'm thinking about taking the wheels and "suspension" off my 4x8 trailer and putting some other stuff on there. How's this sound?

16" stock Miata wheels + tires (lug pattern is actually the same!)
Rear coil springs from 2000 Trans Am
Front DeCarbon shocks w/ stock perches
19mm swaybar
poly bushings


Maybe that thing will handle better than my car!

(BTW, just joking, although it would probably work to some degree.)