Enclosed car haulers?

[napa68]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tommy Nolen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Trailers....interesting subject. In my opinion there are 3 different levels of trailers. #1 The low level or cheaper trailers mostly made in Ga., #2, the middle trailers like the Haulmark, Wells Cargo etc. and then #3 the high end trailers like the ATC, Intech like Verne has and some other brands in the high end catagory.

I have 2 trailers, one is a Ga. built trailer (I wouldn't recommend buying one of these) my Ga. built trailer is a 36' gooseneck. I bought it in 2007 and its still in service so it wasn't too shabby. It cost 5k less than a Haulmark so I guess you get what you pay for. The downside was extremely poor workmanship plus the economy in 2008 put them under so I was never able to buy any replacement parts.

The other trailer that I have I just purchased last year, it's a 28' Haulmark. Did you know that Haulmark, Wells Cargo, Exiss, Featherlite, Sooner and probably others are all made by the same company? Universal Trailers. I don't know if thats good or bad, just a sign of the times. In talking to Verne when he was ordering his he was telling me how he spec'd it out, when I ordered my Haulmark last year I told the dealer where I wanted my escape door, his response was &quot;they know where to put the door, don't you worry bout it&quot;. The damn door is close but a good 6&quot; from where I would like it to be. Same on the tie downs, I told them where to put the tie downs but they didn't do it so I had to install my own. I would order another Haulmark but this time they would put stuff where I said put it or I would go elsewhere. I previously had a 2005 Haulmark, the workmanship was much better in it than my new one.

I've never had any experience with the high end trailers although I have friends who have them and for the most part they are happy. The one thing I think they all have in common is tires, they all put junk tires on the trailers. I think even Verne told me that he didn't have a choise in tires. My advise to anyone buying a trailer or spec'ing out a trailer is to go with 16&quot; tires. This creates a problem with the escape door because it requires a larger wheel box but to my knowledge there is not a single 15&quot; trailer tire made in America. The Goodyear Matharon was in my opinion the best there was but they are now made in China. My trailers have 16&quot; tires, I run Goodyear G614 tires, they are made in America and they cost over 300 dollars each but if one of those tires blow out its gonna destroy the fender and most likely do damage to side of the trailer. I replace the tires every 4 years, regardless of tread wear or appearance.

As for a tow truck, get something big enough to handle the trailer. Most of my travels are fairly long hauls. My trucks are a F450 diesel, dually and a F350 diesel SRW. I have used a half ton truck but I believe those using half ton trucks, Explorers and other vehicles of that nature are on a path to transmission failure. My little half ton was a Chevy Silverado SS, it had plenty of power, good brakes and the trailer felt stable but the transmission was constantly shifting gears. The other reason for having a diesel, in my opinion is how far I can go on a tank of fuel, it isn't always easy to get in and out of the filling stations, with a gas vehicle you will need to stop every couple of hundred miles. My trucks will run all day without stopping for fuel. The F450 carries 132 gallons and the F350 holds 87 gallons

Just my thoughts, the other thing that I will add (hope I don't step on any toes) I bought my first enclosed trailer over 20 years ago, never had an aluminum framed trailer, don't want one. I think aluminum frames will tend to develop stress cracks down the road, I have heard of guys getting stopped by the DOT and they were checking for frame cracks </div></div>

Great perspective Tommy [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]