Community Forums

cherv · 12-02-2022, 11:50 AM

my bride has a mint 2003 Bmw Z4. thinking of purchasing a trailer and trailering it behind out class c. one concern is the Z4 has very low front nose road clearance, potential for damage loading onto trailer. has anyone had similar concern with vehicles low nose clearance and how did you overcome it.. our other vehicles are not towable 4 down.

dbircky · 12-02-2022, 06:26 PM

Would this work?

https://www.noramp.com/

KenZ71 · 12-02-2022, 07:12 PM

A longer ramp would do the trick.

Why not drive the BMW to trailer dealer and tell them you will buy a trailer as soon as they get a ramp that works.

I think the key is a flip down ramp extension. I'm planning something similar with a SL550.

cherv · 12-02-2022, 07:19 PM

looks like it is a good option. will look at their web site. thanks

RS ODonnell · 12-02-2022, 09:28 PM

We’re in a 5th wheel now but we trailered a Smart car behind our class C. Your biggest issue will be the breakover angle. If we were to do it again we’d go with a tilt bed trailer. In my opinion Aluma makes some of the best lightweight trailers you can buy. It’s what we had and it was a phenomenal trailer. I added disc surge brakes which worked far better than I could have dreamed.

https://youtu.be/U9hiLf9FuZQ

2whlzstan · 12-03-2022, 06:56 AM

I tow a lowered Miata on one of these. Ramps are long enough I have not problems.

https://www.trailex.com/products/pc/...?idCategory=17

doc · 12-03-2022, 02:02 PM

One of my retirement jobs after I left LE was working for BMW hauling autos for them on a rollback Ford truck. Same problem with the steep angle driving the cars on the truck. I used 2x6 blocks under each wheel on the car I was loading to get it started up on to the truck. Many times it was Z3 and Z4s. About 3 feet worked for my truck but you can experiment to find what works best for you. Nervous about the width? A 2X8 or 2x10 would work as well.
Not a lot of room in one of those things, but a lot of fun on the mountain roads in N Georgia

KingKid · 12-07-2022, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doc

One of my retirement jobs after I left LE was working for BMW hauling autos for them on a rollback Ford truck. Same problem with the steep angle driving the cars on the truck. I used 2x6 blocks under each wheel on the car I was loading to get it started up on to the truck. Many times it was Z3 and Z4s. About 3 feet worked for my truck but you can experiment to find what works best for you. Nervous about the width? A 2X8 or 2x10 would work as well.
Not a lot of room in one of those things, but a lot of fun on the mountain roads in N Georgia

This is what I was thinking also.

jerome951 · 12-11-2022, 02:04 PM

Several racer friends have Trailex trailers with extended ramps. Their cars are verrrry low and climb on without issue. All have been happy with their trailers. Trailex costs a bit more but they're light and don't depreciate.

cherv · 12-11-2022, 02:28 PM

thanks, looks like a winner for dw z4. happy holidays....

Crasher · 12-11-2022, 05:34 PM

The torsion type of axle can come in different heights. Standard, which is most of what you see. Then there is the lift one that raises the bed and the lowering one for low clearance vehicles. The lowering one with a beaver tail and 7" ramps would be simple, effective and very reasonably priced. Less than any tilt type of trailer.

Bad Larry · 12-11-2022, 07:50 PM

As you probably already have discovered, there are many options out there for easy-to-load open car trailers for lower ground clearance cars.

I looked at several of the drop bed and tilt bed aluminum trailers, including hydraulic and cable operating systems. Eventually, I decided on a Jimglo gravity operated tilt bed for it’s simplicity and durability (no hydraulics, no batteries- gravity is undefeated on earth). The inventor is a hot rod enthusiast and created a tilt bed with low ground clearance cars in mind.

Ours is an 18’ bed model, 9999gvw, only 1700lbs unladen, and 24’ overall.

Good luck with your search.