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New trailer performance

Yahoo Message Number: 23211
Just some comments on our new trailer which we picked up in Elkhart, IN in April. It is a Team Spirit brand, 20' inside length with an extended 60" tongue. It has the 10000 lb capacity. We have a vintage race car, an MGB which we tow in it along with all the tools and spares one needs for this sport. Trailer empty weight is about 3000 lbs and the car and other stuff we take weigh another 3000 lbs. We towed to Hallett, OK for an event this past weekend, a total of 1400 miles. It towed beautifully and I could hardly tell it was back there. We averaged 8.6 mpg and kept it at a steady 60 mph. We will be taking it south with us this fall for the winter but not with the race car in it. We will use it to garage our Chev Tracker and haul all the extra stuff that we take for the winter. Having flat towed, towed with an open trailer and now with this we are really happy with the capabilities and convenience of this method. We are using no special towing apparatus except trailer brake hookup and the additional braking of the trailer really feels good. We live at 9000 ft asl so braking is a real concern but it works superbly. Just thought I'd share this info in case someone else is considering this type of set up.
Ron 98 Allure 30185

Re: New trailer performance

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23243
I often do the same so far as hauling my toad in my 20ft enclosed car hauler trailer. We have a VW Cabriolet convertible which leaves about 1/3 of the trailer for other things we like to carry. It is a great way to travel. I have e-track installed on the sides of the tailer and stap wire shelving (from Costco and Sam's Club) to the e- track in the front and then use strapped in rubbermaid containers on the wire racks. The only problem I sometimes have is at rally's.
They generally are unable to deal with the trailer as a tow vehicle.
This summer I hope to have the trailer painted in the same scheme as my coach.

My fuel consumption is also 8.6 - 8.9 mpg pulling the trailer at 60 mph (my normal speed). I think the van body on the trailer helps with the wind resistance and the electric trailer brakes are a godsend.

Joey & Debi

1998 40' Intrigue w/VW Cabriolet toad.

Quote from: schonny_2000
>

Just some comments on our new trailer which we picked up in

Elkhart, IN

Quote
in April. It is a Team Spirit brand, 20' inside length with an > extended 60" tongue. It has the 10000 lb capacity. We have a

vintage

Quote
race car, an MGB which we tow in it along with all the tools and > spares one needs for this sport. Trailer empty weight is about

3000

Quote
lbs and the car and other stuff we take weigh another 3000 lbs. We > towed to Hallett, OK for an event this past weekend, a total of

1400

Quote
miles. It towed beautifully and I could hardly tell it was back > there. We averaged 8.6 mpg and kept it at a steady 60 mph. We

will

Quote
be taking it south with us this fall for the winter but not with

the

Quote
race car in it. We will use it to garage our Chev Tracker and haul > all the extra stuff that we take for the winter. Having flat

towed,

Quote
towed with an open trailer and now with this we are really happy

with

Quote
the capabilities and convenience of this method. We are using no > special towing apparatus except trailer brake hookup and the > additional braking of the trailer really feels good. We live at

9000

Quote
ft asl so braking is a real concern but it works superbly. Just > thought I'd share this info in case someone else is considering

this

Re: New trailer performance

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 27457
Hi Ron,

I was just going through the archive reading posts of interests and came to your trailer experience post. Many thanks since it re- enforced our decision to purchase a fully enclosed trailer for our Ultima GTR.

Like you, we have a sports car that, when arriving on site, cannot be used to tow the trailer to any overflow parking. How has this worked out for in the meantime?

We ordered a custom 19' box to be on the safe side with the over all 65' limit: 40' Concept, 7" stinger, 60" tongue, plus the 19' box.

In the end we selected the optional (on these) dual 5,200 lbs. torsion drop axles with electric brakes, upgraded radials, winch plate (Ultima GTR has a tow eye in the air dam), "slippery when wet" alu diamond floor and ramp and stabiliser jacks.

I apprehensive on the "arriving there" part with a sports car and would appreciate knowing how you have faired.

Warm regards,

Robert and Dian
'92 Concept #4880

Re: New trailer performance

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 27466
We would be interested in the answer too.

We just began the RV lifestyle, but we started with a 36ft Country Coach Magna, and outfitted ourselves with an enclosed trailer for towing our Austin Healey which we use for "local" transportation.

Our plan is to see the country "with the top down"...:-)

Anyway, we have a Pace Aerosport trailer (with wedge nose) and I added a winch inside (in-case the Healey needs help getting home).
The trailer weighs around 3300 lbs, and the Healey weighs about 2500 lbs. We've taken the rig on a couple of trips and it seems to run very nicely. There is no problem backing up with the trailer. As anyone with an automobile toad knows, there is no backing at all with a car on 4 wheels behind a coach. But with the trailer, one can maneuver the assembly without too much difficulty.

We had the rig at the FMCA rally in Charlotte this past year, and they had excellent provisions for coaches towing trailers there.
We were on blacktop surface, and suffered none of the problems others had with the rain and wet (muddy) campgrounds. We've been told that not all rally's are so well equipped, but the CCI "pre- rally" in Charleston, SC was likewise not a problem. So far we are 100% no problem (if you believe 2 is a significant sample size.)

One of the most difficult places we deal with is our own home. We don't have a lot of maneuver space around the house. So, I bought a "PowerTouch" wheel drive unit from Power Wheel USA. It uses an internal 12 volt battery to drive 2 12 volt DC motors that can be clamped onto two of the trailer wheels. The result is slow but a capable maneuvering facility for the trailer. On its own, with me walking beside the trailer, it can be moved on level ground to a decent parking configuration. The trick is to get an oversized and well gimballed front castor wheel for the jack screw. I use a solar panel on the trailer to keep the internal 12 volt batter charged.

So, based on our limited experience, I would believe others might find trailering a car in an enclosed trailer an acceptable strategy too.

As you hint, the "arriving there" situation can be a concern...especially in eastern campsites where they rarely have provisions for a large pull through. So far, we've been able to find a reasonable spot for the trailer. But if there were a list of trailer-friendly campsites, we might be happier still.

Thanks
-skip-

Quote from: Robert
Hi Ron,

I was just going through the archive reading posts of interests

and

Quote
came to your trailer experience post. Many thanks since it re- > enforced our decision to purchase a fully enclosed trailer for our > Ultima GTR.

Like you, we have a sports car that, when arriving on site, cannot > be used to tow the trailer to any overflow parking. How has this > worked out for in the meantime?

We ordered a custom 19' box to be on the safe side with the over

all

Quote
65' limit: 40' Concept, 7" stinger, 60" tongue, plus the 19' box.

In the end we selected the optional (on these) dual 5,200 lbs.
torsion drop axles with electric brakes, upgraded radials, winch > plate (Ultima GTR has a tow eye in the air dam), "slippery when

wet"

Re: New trailer performance

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 27521
Sounds like you have the perfect trailer ordered. We have used are for several years in a variety of ways during our trips. We vintage race and so we use it to haul our MGB race car to events in the summer months. In the winter we put our Saturn Vue in it and travel like that. It gives us a good deal of extra storage space for such things as a moped and bikes which we like to take along. We have never had a problem at the many RV parks we have used as they always have a pick up that they can park our trailer with if site doesn't work for the overall length. Of course we can move it around with the Vue if that works better too. Any other questions just ask and best of luck.
Ron 98 Allure 30185