Car Hauler Trailer

[Tumbleweed]

Just curious - any of you out there that have a car hauler trailer with wood flooring. I am looking at both wood and diamond plate (about $1000 higher).

If I rent for 8 days for FCT it will run about $500 at UHAUL.

Not sure if the diamond plate option is much better than wood floor - I need to make a decision really soon - Just looking for some input from my CJ3A friends.

Thanks,

George

[RICKG]

I used 2x6 and 2x8 lumber. A coat of linseed oil 1x year and good to go. An advantage to wood is you can position tire cleats anywhere temporarily spiked down and reposition as needed. You'll see this trailer @ FCT. I'll wager you'll see 10 wood deck trailers for every one in steel.

[macrisel]

x2 on the wood floor.  If you are going to keep the trailer indoors or under roof it will be a loooong time (15-20 years) before you have to replace the floor.  I just helped my dad re-floor an 18 foot trailer with treated 2x8 and the lumber was under $200.  Metal floors look great until they get scratched/dented and start rusting.

Also, like Rick said, it is easy to put tempory cleats/stops on wood vs metal.  It is also easier to put numerous tie downs in the wood floor (you can never have too many tie downs....)

My one exeption would be if you were hauling heavy equipment like tractors or backhoes.  In that case, I might lean more towards metal floors.

Congrats and good luck with your new trailer!

[athawk11]

X3.  I have an 18' flat bed with wood floors.

My dream trailer...Aluminum, dual axle, enclosed, 20'.

At this length, I could easily carry 2 Willys.  The problem is, the trailer would cost more and have a greater value than it's contents.  Just doesn't seem to make sense. :-/

Tim

[Oilleaker1]

X 4. I have a dovetail 18 footer and love it. If you plan to haul 2 Willys, then 20 is the minimum. Enclosed trailers ( I have a 14 footer) are like hauling a sailboat with the sail up!!!!! Bigger the trailer, the bigger the truck to haul it. John

[Tumbleweed]

Thanks guys looks like everyone is happy with the wood floors - also there is a definate cost savings!

If I had unlimited funds I would go with Tim's dream hauler!

[macrisel]

Forgot to mention the dovetail like Oilleaker said.  If you are buying a new trailer, I would HIGHLY recommend you get a 2-3 foot dovetail on the back.  While it won't make much difference loading the Willys up with or without it, if you use the trailer to haul about any car around you will probably not be able to load it up without a dovetail.

Take the money you saved on the metal floor and have them add a dovetail and a reinforced metal plate in front for a winch plate (like Garage Gnome did on his trailer he has a thread on...) and weld on 6-8 tie down rings on the sides.  You will be a happy hauler down the road!

[Tumbleweed]

I have actually been looking into a dovetail version since I would like to tow my wifes BMW one day as well.  I didn't know what it was called until now! Also 5' ramps were recommended.

[Oilleaker1]

The trailer I bought had ramps with a problem. Thought I'd warn you to be on the lookout. They simply have a downward angle that sits in a channel that is all the ways accross the rear. But-----------------Where the ramp touched the ground there was a 45  right there. Like a point that touched first. The front wheels went up and on fine, but when the rear started up the ramp, it was like a tetter totter. The front of the ramp slapped the bottom of the Jeep as it came up. Not good! I scribed the grounds profile at the "point area" and cut it off to match the ground. Problem solved. A nice show car-------very not good.  Make sure the ramp storage area will not lose it's hairpin , rod, and then dump your ramps out on the highway. Ask me how I know this. Signed ramp Leaker!

[Tumbleweed]

Good information and since I have not had experience in the past hauling/trailering a vehicle I really appreciate all of this good advise. I hate going through learning curves when there is so much help out there. For the first haul I'm renting a UHAUL unless they screw me around again! I was and I still am looking into my own trailer before FCT but time is getting short and I have trips out of town scheduled up to the 16th. Not much time left for shopping but I will have a trailer. Again, if UHAUL jacks me around again I will have one the week of the 14th.

[Ryan_M]

Try and get one of the older model UHAUL trailers if you can. The ramp tracks are closer together and your 3A will fit better. The new shiny trailers have slightly wider track spacing and it can be pretty nerve wracking try to load your rig with only about an inch of clearance before a tire falls in the gap.

[Tumbleweed]

Thanks Ryan, I was actually going to go to UHAUL to make sure my trailer will be there. I'll take a tape measure with me!

I have had 3 bad experiences with UHAUL reservation as well as Budget. Guess I'm a marked man!

[Lee]

I rented a U-Haul to move my GPW from Montana to MN. $425 one way. After all was said and done, I find out you can rent an enclosed tandem axel trailer for $100 and some change and do the same thing. The U-Haul car trailer worked ok but comes with fixed tie downs that for a flat fender put wayyyyyyyyyyy to much tounge weight on the tow vehicle. I ended up moving the jeep back on the trailer and purchasing 4 ratchet straps from a truck stop and doing it my way and worked perfect!.

Lee

[Tumbleweed]

Lee
How do you secure the jeep to keep it from rolling forward and backwards?
Does the enclosed trailer have some rings in the floor for securing the. jeep in case you have a hard stop?

That would save me some buck Stops!

[johnrb3b]

If you're hauling a 3A, you don't need UHaul's expensive car carrier.
I've used this one with great results.
http://www.uhaul.com/Trailers/6x12-Utility-Trailer-Rental/RO/
It has more than enough room for a flat fender.
Max payload 2,600 lbs - plenty of extra capacity for stuff.
I've had excellent service from two different UHauls in my area and so-so from a third. I won't use that place again.
This trailer has no ramps, but you can drive a flat fender up the tailgate with no problems. Set the tailgate chains at max extension and drive on.