Enclosed trailer for hellcat

[firedude]

I am going to be in the market for a enclosed trailer soon. I currently have a open, dove tail but want enclosed for this car. I am hoping to get some feedback from those who have them. I will not be using it very often. Maybe 6 times a year or so. I need it to get my car to Drag strips. To far to drive to. Looking at 20' or 24' I would really like to go with a 20' but not sure if the car will fit. Obviously the 24 would be just fine. Those with 20's, would you do it again or go bigger? The weight thing is also cutting it close as most 20's are maxed plus a little with the weight of our cars.
Thanks for any input.

 

[BULL]

20' is definitely too small. While the car will physically fit, you can't get the right CG with the car/trailer relationship, at least with a "standard" 20' trailer.

24' is minimum in my opinion, which is what I had. This is big enough to get the car in correctly, and then you have room up front for some fuel, tires, etc.



.02

 

[firedude]

Thanks Bull. Pretty much what I thought. I may just upgrade to a nicer open trailer also.

 

[Marc W]

Depends on a number of factors starting with the truck. I had a 20’ enclosed cargo/car hauler and it did the job ok. I didn’t have any issues towing that with a 5.7L 1500. When things started getting serious I decided I wanted a larger/optioned trailer and started looking at loaded 24’ models. The weight with the car and race car related cargo pushed the towing limit on that truck past it’s rated limit so I decided I needed a more capable truck and stepped up to the 2500 Cummins. Now the weight of the trailer wasn’t a issue any more so why not go with a 28’ instead! I’m happy now. Except those 32’s look really nice. 😂

 

[firedude]

That is one sweet trailer. I do have a Dodge 2500 diesel so pulling will not be a problem.

 

[Marc W]

Then it’s all about how much you want to invest in a trailer and what kind of storage options you have concerning size. I can’t store anything at my house so I have to use a storage facility regardless of what kind or size of trailer it is. That being the case for me... size doesn’t matter. One of the things I have seen is..... good luck in finding a nice used race car hauler at a decent price. If a well optioned new one is well maintained and taken care of, you can expect to get a good percentage of your money back when it’s time to sell. I decided on the 28’ because it didn’t cost but $1000 more than the 24’ and it not only gives me a lot more room in front of the car to work with but the resale will be better when the time comes. If all you’re doing is hauling the car to the track and back for open test and tune stuff then all you need is transportation. If you plan on racing where you are at the track all day and the trailer becomes your pit, then that’s another thing. I optioned mine with a generator/air cond. and a awning. If you go to race and experience spending all day at the track in the sun..... good luck in getting the wife or anybody else to go with you more than once. Here’s mine....

 

[firedude]

That is a very nice setup. The trailer will mostly just be used to transport to track for test and tune stuff. Really wont be used much. Kind of hard to justify to wifey. Trying the "we can use it for storage" argument right now. I am having a new garage built so I am already walking on thin ice...

 

[BULL]

Start out slow...

"I think we need a trailer..."

Then...
"I think having a generator will let me run fans and and a cooler for you."

"An awning will be nice for shade."

"Lights so we can see better while loading."

Slow and easy, not all at once. Those wives can be smart sometimes! They start hearing all these options at once and they start adding in their heads. Get her to like each thing one at a time.

 

[Marc W]

Haha. I’ve taken a different approach. I’m getting on in years and when the wife questioned the cost of what I’m doing and the danger involved.... I told her that in the years ahead, I can either sit crapping in my recliner in front of the TV while she takes care of me, or I can get out there and risk my neck in the car. She said.... “ get out there in that race car!” 😂

 

[firedude]

Lol. After 35 years she knows me pretty well. First thing she always asks is “ Did you already buy it ?” I have been a “ Ask for forgiveness “ vs permission guy.

 

[BULL]

Lol. After 35 years she knows me pretty well. First thing she always asks is “ Did you already buy it ?” I have been a “ Ask for forgiveness “ vs permission guy.

I can't tell you how many times I've bought the same tool twice.

And she's caught me too!

 

[Hellcat Cuda]

Start out slow...

"I think we need a trailer..."

Then...
"I think having a generator will let me run fans and and a cooler for you."

"An awning will be nice for shade."

"Lights so we can see better while loading."

Slow and easy, not all at once. Those wives can be smart sometimes! They start hearing all these options at once and they start adding in their heads. Get her to like each thing one at a time.

Exactly! I look at it as planting seeds. You plant each one individually, then water and nurture them slowly but surely. I "threatened" to buy a used, Magnum SRT8 (she HATES Magnums) and let her "talk me into" a new Challenger R/T. The next seed was for a Scat Pack. Had that for a couple years and planted the seed for a Hell Cat, then let her "talk me into" a Red Eye. For my Cuda, I planted the seed for a new Mopar Performance 5.7 Hemi. Then the 6.1 came out; time for another seed. Then the stroker kits came out; time for a stroker build seed. Then the ultimate, the HellCrate came out. Guess what's sitting in the garage now? lololol

 

[Hemiride]

I have a question about in closed trailers.

Why don't they make them with a door on the left side so you can open the drivers door to get in and out of the car without having to climb in and out of the window?

 

[Hemiride]

Never seen one

 

[Marc W]

I have a question about in closed trailers.

Why don't they make them with a door on the left side so you can open the drivers door to get in and out of the car without having to climb in and out of the window?

They do make them with that. For low cars like ours, they need to also have a removable wheel well to get the door open. It just adds to the cost. The more expensive trailers do offer that as a option. I don’t have one in mine and have found that loading the car with the winch is so easy (and safer) that I don’t bother to drive it in any more even though getting in and out is something that I can still do.

 

[Marc W]

Never seen one

 

[Hemiride]

Now I've seen one

 

[Markp]

I have a question about in closed trailers.

Why don't they make them with a door on the left side so you can open the drivers door to get in and out of the car without having to climb in and out of the window?

I am frankenstiening my trailer right now.

 

[firedude]

Is that a 26’? Look forward to seeing it finished.

 

[TrackDay]

I also have a 24 ft enclosed. I either use a winch to pull my car in or my very skinny son drives the car in.
I may be adding an escape door before winter but I'll still need about a 4in high set of boards or Race Ramps to get the car high enough to open the driver's door over the trailer fender.