Why don't more DP's use enclosed trailers?

[2Labs]

Originally Posted by Curtisgeiger

Dennis

Can you tell me what kind of trailer you have and how much might cost to get one?

Curt

Hi Curt,

We purchased an open, wood topped flatbed trailer 2 summers ago for - I think, it was $2,200. While we don't have a choice with towing our car - our VW Tiguan can't be towed 4-down - I don't think that I would want to tow any other way.

While I tow the VW on the trailer, I also tow the trailer behind the Tiguan when I need to make trips to the dump, the Big Orange store, etc.

I've gotten pretty good at getting the Tiguan loaded up on the trailer and have the process down to about 10 minutes. It's not much more time than towing a vehicle 4-down.

If I had the towing capacity for an enclosed trailer, that would be the way we would go. Although that's going to have to wait until we can afford to move from our gasser to a diesel with more towing capacity.

This is what we look like when we're travelling.

[Curtisgeiger]

Originally Posted by 2Labs

Hi Curt,

We purchased an open, wood topped flatbed trailer 2 summers ago for - I think, it was $2,200. While we don't have a choice with towing our car - our VW Tiguan can't be towed 4-down - I don't think that I would want to tow any other way.

While I tow the VW on the trailer, I also tow the trailer behind the Tiguan when I need to make trips to the dump, the Big Orange store, etc.

I've gotten pretty good at getting the Tiguan loaded up on the trailer and have the process down to about 10 minutes. It's not much more time than towing a vehicle 4-down.

If I had the towing capacity for an enclosed trailer, that would be the way we would go. Although that's going to have to wait until we can afford to move from our gasser to a diesel with more towing capacity.

This is what we look like when we're travelling.

Those yellow tie down straps in the picture -- are they specially made to secure your vehicle to the trailer or are they simply 10,000 lbs cargo straps from a home improvement store?

[2Labs]

Originally Posted by Curtisgeiger

Those yellow tie down straps in the picture -- are they specially made to secure your vehicle to the trailer or are they simply 10,000 lbs cargo straps from a home improvement store?

They are "standard" 10,000lb straps with an appropriate 10,000lb rachet tie-down. I purchased them from the trailer dealer when I bought the trailer. I hook them onto pockets that are on the side of the trailer. I use these same pockets to place the wooden "fences" I made when I pull the trailer behind the Tiguan.



I've also considered using tire nets that strap around the top of the tire, but I've been happy with the way I strap through the wheel - and strapping through/around the wheel does not bind the suspension down, allowing the car to move up and down on the trailer if it needs to.

I'll typically tighten the car down on the initial load up, then stop just before getting on the highway to give a "pull check" to each strap. If we make any stops along the way, I'll get out and give a "pull check" to each strap again.

I looked at getting a flatbed aluminum trailer when I was researching trailers, but at an average cost of $1,000 more with a weight savings of only about 600lbs on average, I decided to put the $1,000 into the fuel tank on the motorhome.

We tow the car and trailer behind our 32' 2005 National RV Sea Breeze. For the most part, the motorhome drives about the same towing or not. Sure, we're a little quicker on takeoff when we're not towing, but once we're up to speed, I don't really notice the difference. The fuel mileage is nearly identical when we're towing or not and the speed dropoff on uphill climbs is not really that different either.

[2Labs]

And when I say I get other uses out of the trailer, I mean it!

Today one of my friends broke down with his Chevy S10 pickup. He was in a bind and needed to be towed about 5 miles. Tiguan and the trailer to the rescue!

... and yes, for those of you that may notice, the Tiguan's are different. The earlier pictures are of our 2010, this one from today shows our replacement 2012 Tiguan towing the trailer.

[Dennis_K]

Originally Posted by Curtisgeiger

Dennis

Can you tell me what kind of trailer you have and how much might cost to get one?

Curt

Curt,
My current trailer is just a "cheap" Arizona Brand (same as Carson) 7000 lb GVWR, 16' wood deck trailer that I paid $1900 for in 2007. I saw a 9990 CVWR one near me on sale for $ 3059 (Carry-On Equipment Trailer Located at TrailersPlus Kingman - 4YMUE182XDT026458) But this may not suit you, as it has a dove tail and that may not be what you want. There should be similar ones in your area.

Note that it is normal to show a GVRW slightly less that the actual GVWR because some states charge more for a license if it say 10,000 lbs. so the manufactures show a lower number.