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tizzyfit · 03-24-2018, 03:25 PM

I thought about a tow dolly for the Miata but ended up buying a 16' tandem axil car hauling trailer. Also had a hitch installed on the Miata so the "car" can move the empty trailer to the storage lot if need be. The trailer gross weight is 1650 pounds with 175-pound hitch weight. Believe it or not, the Miata hitch is rated @500 pounds and gross trailer weight of 2,000. I've been working on the set-up so 3 or 4 times I've driven through the campground with the Miata towing the trailer. It's funny seeing the reaction of some of the other campers as I cruise by majestically with the trailer in tow. Oh, the trailer was about $2,300 and when I'm ready to sell it, I'm guessing it will be easy to unload for a fair price.

Charlie 5320 · 03-25-2018, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tizzyfit

I thought about a tow dolly for the Miata but ended up buying a 16' tandem axil car hauling trailer. Also had a hitch installed on the Miata so the "car" can move the empty trailer to the storage lot if need be. The trailer gross weight is 1650 pounds with 175-pound hitch weight. Believe it or not, the Miata hitch is rated @500 pounds and gross trailer weight of 2,000. I've been working on the set-up so 3 or 4 times I've driven through the campground with the Miata towing the trailer. It's funny seeing the reaction of some of the other campers as I cruise by majestically with the trailer in tow. Oh, the trailer was about $2,300 and when I'm ready to sell it, I'm guessing it will be easy to unload for a fair price.

I've been kicking around the idea of buying an aluminum 16 ft trailer and selling my dolly. I can use the trailer around home for other things too. An aluminum trailer can be bought cheaper than the equipment for towing 4 down. My car can't be towed 4 down and I'm not interested in buying another car, plus with a trailer you can back up. I pulled a race car with my golf car on a trailer for 7 years without a problem. An aluminum trailer cost a lot more than a steel trailer, but are 1/2 the weight. I've seen aluminum trailers where the ramps store on the front of the trailer so they double as a rock guard. The plus to a trailer is you don't have to get down on the ground to load.

tizzyfit · 03-25-2018, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie 5320

I've been kicking around the idea of buying an aluminum 16 ft trailer and selling my dolly. I can use the trailer around home for other things too. An aluminum trailer can be bought cheaper than the equipment for towing 4 down. My car can't be towed 4 down and I'm not interested in buying another car, plus with a trailer you can back up. I pulled a race car with my golf car on a trailer for 7 years without a problem. An aluminum trailer cost a lot more than a steel trailer, but are 1/2 the weight. I've seen aluminum trailers where the ramps store on the front of the trailer so they double as a rock guard. The plus to a trailer is you don't have to get down on the ground to load.

Charlie, I would have loved to have an aluminum trailer but the price tag was over twice what I paid for my steel car hauler. Of course, when/if you decide to sell the aluminum trailer, it will demand a much high price than I will get selling the one I have. Hafl the weight and no rust, plus unpainted aluminum trailers look COOL!

cassiesam · 03-25-2018, 06:41 AM

Any recommendations on good aluminum car trailer at fair price?

tizzyfit · 03-25-2018, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassiesam

Any recommendations on good aluminum car trailer at fair price?

A good starting point would be craigslist. That should give you some ideas at least.

BFlinn181 · 03-25-2018, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassiesam

Overall what do you think of the Acme dolly?

I'm not in the market for a tow dolly, so I don't know the features of an Acme or any other brand. A couple of things a tow dolly would have from my experiences:

It should have surge activated disk brakes. That way no need to adjust drum brakes, mess with brake controllers, etc.

Ramps should be permanently in place, I don't want to have to crawl underneath to attach them each time, stow them securely and so on.

The pivoting tongue looks like a feature to have for storage, but not sure it'd be a deal breaker.

Charlie 5320 · 03-25-2018, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tizzyfit

Charlie, I would have loved to have an aluminum trailer but the price tag was over twice what I paid for my steel car hauler. Of course, when/if you decide to sell the aluminum trailer, it will demand a much high price than I will get selling the one I have. Hafl the weight and no rust, plus unpainted aluminum trailers look COOL!

Yea they are over twice as high as a steel trailer, but I have a full size car. I'd be over weight pulling on a steel trailer. There is a place that is about an hour from my place that has a 16+2 ft dove tail for $4400.00 plus tax. They claim it only weighs 1200 lbs, but that seems high. That puts me right at 5000 with my car.