Trailer Specs for a Mark II

[TulsaMarkII]

I searched around and didn't find anything precisely covering this topic so here goes:

I'm looking to purchase a trailer to transport my Mark II on. Ideally it would be enclosed, but because I don't intend to show the car this trailer probably (hopefully?) won't be used frequently or for hauls farther than a couple of hundred mile radius.

For the trailer experts out there, what are the recommended lengths, widths, weight capacity, etc. for such a trailer? I'm afraid I've never purchased a trailer before for any purpose and am somewhat out of my depth.

PS:
Mr. Wolk, I have seen your trailer and it's just a teensy bit North of what I'm looking for in both labor and expense! Maybe one day. :)

Jason

For the benefit of the conversation the car's base specifications:

Length: 218" (18' 2")
Width: 77.5" (6' 5.5")
Wheelbase: 126" (10' 6")
Weight: 4,830 lbs

[Barry Wolk]

It is for sale.:D I'm thinking about running it through one of the auctions.

I would get something capable of a minimum of 7,000# capacity Twin axles are a must. The next step up is 10,000#. I would go there. My trailer has 3 8,000# axles with hydraulic disc brakes. Of course, the trailer weighs 10,200# empty.:eek:

Don't cut corners on your trailer. Having survived a horrendous meeting with a guard rail I can attest that the trailer brakes were all that saved us from crashing through the guard rail and off a 60-foot drop.

Buy the very best you can afford. You do not want to be stuck along a highway in a cheap POS.

I would go with hydraulic disc brakes. Those trailers come equipped with an on-board 12-volt pump that puts out 1600 psi, much more than you can exert. The onboard battery can be charged off the toad, but that's not normally necessary for short trips.

Try all the models rear doors. At 8 feet wide they can be a bit much if not sprung properly. Speaking of 8 feet wide, that's barely enough. Since the car is 6 1/2 feet wide and the that only leaves you with 9" on either side. That doesn't sound bad until you realize that the door is 10" thick. You really can't pull all the way to one side to make more room as the wheel wells will not let you as the typical distance between them is usually 6 1/2 feet on an 8-foot trailer. Plus, you really shouldn't load any car off center as it changes the tow dynamics.

You are now allowed to go 8 1/2 feet wide. That would gain you some distance between the wheel wells, but you'd still only be able to open the door 2 inches. That wouldn't do me much good.

The solution is a side entrance hatch, as big as they can install. If top hinged it also makes a great refuge from the sun and rain. Equip the trailer with a winch and stabilization legs all around. You'l need those for proper loading, anyway. Never depend on just the hitch connection.

Exterior materials are important if you're going to park it outdoors. I like shiny, but shiny only stays shiny indoors. Painted aluminum works. You should also diamond-plate the front of the trailer as it will take some abuse. Road scars barely show up on the pattern.

Buy the very best trailer tires you can get. That's not something you want to cheap out on. Your best bet is to find something well loved than take the hit on a new one. There are plenty of them out there.

What's your tow vehicle?

[TulsaMarkII]

Tow vehicle is probably my Ford Expedition with 5.4L engine, and I'd have the car professionally towed before I bought a POS trailer.

The trailer your describe is pretty much what I was looking at. 10,000+# units with two or three axles and disc brakes. I've found a couple 8' wide (but no 8.5') enclosed trailers on craigslist here in the Tulsa/OKC area being sold by racers in a tough economy. They're tempting.

Thanks for reminding me that I will need to actually get out of the trailer once the car's in - I'm bigger than you are. I'll take another look at the ads, but perhaps the solution is simply an open trailer since I don't plan on using it but a couple of times a year.

Have to get it painted to match the car of course...

Jason

[Barry Wolk]

I galvanized mine. In fact I've hot dipped galvanized all my trailers. I'll never have to paint them again.