Best car hauler length?

Jeffncs

Jeffncs

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2017
Location
Wake Forest
I have a 16’ equipment hauler that I rebuilt stem to stern with paint, new wiring, and white oak. I find it about the right length for my CJ7, possibly a hair short. My 65 mustang fits, but has to be backed onto the trailer to fit/balance the load.

Whats your ideal trailer length and design?

Parameters:
7k capacity, don’t want anything larger/heavier
Towing vehicle is a 1/2 ton truck for a while, possibly bump up to a 3/4 ton well down the road

Curious to her opinions…
 
I've got an 18' deck, I like it, fits XJ and CJ5 no problem. Had to put a Silverado 1500 extended cab short bed on it twice it wasn't ideal but I made it work. Depends on what you want to haul. I wish I had 20 or 22 occasionally but 18 works 98% of the time. Also picking up a stick of DOM trailer was a bit short.
 
I think 20 is perfect for a single. I've generally used 16' my whole life. Bought a 20' aluminum trailer and it's was my favorite, hands down. Problem was low capacity of 6k. Now have an 18' and it's much better than the 16', but would still prefer a 20. You may be limited to an 18' with a 7k though.
 
If you can afford a 10K trailer I'd go 10K and not look back, If you eventually want to have a 3/4 ton PU then get a 10K trailer so you don't have to buy another if you get to that point. That's what I did, I was towing with a 1500, and bought a 10K with brakes on both axles for better braking with the 1/2 ton. Also a 10K trailer will only be 250-300lbs more for empty weight depending on the trailer type, manufacturer and lengths.
 
20-22' is the sweet spot to me.

I went heavier last time and bought a 15k trailer 1/2ton pulls it fine. But its rougher-n-hell unloaded with the heavier springs
 
To me, the perfect all around trailer would be a 20ft full tilt. Mine is a "20ft" partial tilt which is awesome for carrying extra skidsteer attachments at the front, but not well suited for vehicles. Total length is something like 21'9" because of the angled stubs at the back of the tilt bed. With a 20ft you can "fit" a full size truck, but its not ridiculously huge when carrying a smaller vehicle either.
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18' minimum...I borrowed a friend's 16' multiple times for years (long bed, regular cab fullsize truck FILLED it up).

I bought an 18' from a member on here & it's been perfect for my needs...I'd love to have a 20', full-tilt, 8-lug axles (but would rarely need it).
 
Been using a 16’ since 2011. Would love to have a 20’. And I 100% agree stepping up to a 10k trailer is worth it on the front end. I’m currently at max capacity (slightly over actually) and need a bigger trailer.
 
16’ and a CJ7 barely fits??? Here is my 124” wheelbase Tacoma on a 16’, I think it’s just about perfect. A little nose heavy in this pic, but only by a few inches.
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83oldyoda4x4 said:
Also if buying new there is hardly any price difference between a 16, 18 and a 20fter. Id vote a 20ft 10k, When pulling with a 1500 it will give you more room to get your weight distributed correctly and a better ride in the truck.
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2nd this on being able to adjust the load for a 1/2 ton.
 
Thanks guys…. I think the things that messes me up is the equipment ramps. They’re fold-up and not easily removed. Maybe that should be my first step…. The other feature is the lack of a dovetail. I may make it work since I own it and rebuilt it…


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Been using a 20' 10k equipment trailer for a few years. It's a great fit for my buggy and other things I pull. With a truck bed full of gear, tools and spare parts, my 2016 F150 pulls this setup great.

I think it's always better to go up to the next capacity beyond what you think you need. In your case, from a 7k to a 10k. I got my trailer for pulling my buggy, but I end up using it for pulling other stuff around more than my buggy. I've towed my suburban with it and didn't even think twice about it before loading it. Probably would have talked myself out of doing it with a 7k car hauler, or a shorter trailer.

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Jeffncs said:
Thanks guys…. I think the things that messes me up is the equipment ramps. They’re fold-up and not easily removed. Maybe that should be my first step…. The other feature is the lack of a dovetail. I may make it work since I own it and rebuilt it…
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Agreed. Love the 10k capacity, despise the equipment ramps... though have little experience with pull-out ramps, aside from folks that never bother with them = drive their offroad rigs on/off and I'd probably get tired of dragging ramps out for vehicles that take the 12" drop...

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Having said that, a bud has a single axle trailer (made from an old spool hauler) that's about 12' long. Handles like butter, very low slung =is just right height wise between dragging and loading a car with a few blocks! However, there is NO room to adjust a rig... 104" WB = it is where it is, BUT can still manage to cram an old Waggy in (rims halfway on at each end) in a pinch AND with the drop axle, absolutely NO way to open a car door once loaded with the fenders so high.
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Jeffncs said:
Thanks guys…. I think the things that messes me up is the equipment ramps. They’re fold-up and not easily removed. Maybe that should be my first step…. The other feature is the lack of a dovetail. I may make it work since I own it and rebuilt it…


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Remove the ramps and add a dove to your current trailer.
Bam you got 3 more ft of usable space and less of an angle.
 
A few yeas ago I ordered my first new trailer, I figured in everything I wanted
Tongue an extra foot longer (same as my old Hudson, because I loved the space and how it handled.
Bed with extended to be as wide as fenders
Space on tongue was used to make a mounting place for my Honda EU3000 IS
Front of trailer has two full width truck tool boxes to hold tools, parts and camping stuff
9K winch on front of trailer
Mount for steps to slide into my receiver
15 gallon fuel cell
Battery box (for winch and electric pump) and space for two large coolers.
Fenders are drive over, but I added 2X's mated to and drilled to mount to inside of fender (2X on 2X12's)
Jeep drives over the top of trailer spare and spare 43SX
Went with 7K axles, (X2 for 14K capacity.
Fold up ramps for ease of use( planned on drilling more holes on my ramp connectors when up and out of use, but yet to need to. (still an option though, that, or weld additional holder studs on ramp.
It's heavy, yes, but the big block handles it just fine.

Over all deck length 20', with Dove, 22"
 
@Chris_Keziah has the setup I want (if he'd just come off it).

20ft (18ft flat + 2ft dove), 14k lowboy, drop down spring assisted ramps.

But for most, @Crunchy trailer would be great...basically same trailer at Chris but 10k and slide in ramps (I personally loathe slide in ramps fwiw)
 
upnover said:
Fold up ramps for ease of use( planned on drilling more holes on my ramp connectors when up and out of use, but yet to need to. (still an option though, that, or weld additional holder studs on ramp.
It's heavy, yes, but the big block handles it just fine.
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This is one thing I did, and would recommend. Add more pins to the trailer/ramp or put more holes in the bar, if possible. This will allow the ramp to be fastened at an angle farther back. Doesnt give more deck room, but does give a little more space.
 
exac
paradisePWoffrd said:
This is one thing I did, and would recommend. Add more pins to the trailer/ramp or put more holes in the bar, if possible. This will allow the ramp to be fastened at an angle farther back. Doesnt give more deck room, but does give a little more space.
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exactly! Full size cars and trucks have more overhang than most esp trail rigs! Do I need to haul longr vehicles, no, but, have I in the past, yes, and this is what I wanted to do, otherwise to get them on and the weight distributed right, you end up using straps to hold them and a different angle. Just too much rigging and time consumption to do that.
 
I love my stand up ramps. I don't have to slide them in and out, or forget/lose them, they're stronger than slide in ramps, the footer keeps the tail of the trailer from dipping without having to use jacks, etc. I love them, right up until I try to load something longer than 18ft, or that needs to back up just a few inches to balance right or be better for tying down. 95% of the time it's not a problem, but that 5% it is, it's a pain in the ass. I did end up putting another pin on the ramps to angle them back some.

If I were to buy another bumper pull it would be 20ft, full width with drive over fenders, 14k rated. I really like the Diamond C trailers with the large tool box up front and their Max Ramps, and they showcased a hideaway winch option at a recent trailer show that looks awesome.

Duane
 
rcalexander105 said:
@Chris_Keziah has the setup I want (if he'd just come off it).

20ft (18ft flat + 2ft dove), 14k lowboy, drop down spring assisted ramps.

But for most, @Crunchy trailer would be great...basically same trailer at Chris but 10k and slide in ramps (I personally loathe slide in ramps fwiw)
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Personally I now think a 20ft is too short, would much rather have a 24ft. If trailers weren't so damn expensive right now I would come off my trailer.
 
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