I was watching Nascar the other day and started thinking about the fancy pit boxes all the teams have. I've been tossing around the idea of getting a small trailer to haul behind my car when I drive to open track days, big car shows, and auto-x events. So now I'm considering building or adapting a small utility (4x6) trailer as a "track day trailer"

4x6 utility trailer
provisions to mount track rims
jack
Tool box
Chairs
EZ up
Cooler/ grill (I have one of those fire and Ice things they sold a couple years ago)
Air tank
etc
etc

I'm also probably looking at selling my truck since It sits 90% of the time at $4.00 per gallon, so the trailer would also see use as the "Home maintenance and Lowe's trip" trailer, and possibly to haul a 4 wheeler.

So has anyone else done something like this? Post descriptions, Pictures, and lessons learned if you have.

Thanks

If you've looked at the values of trucks, you probably may as well keep it. I have a 1 year old truck that I bought for about $7k off sticker. 1 year and 16k miles later, I'm $5,500 negative on it. I'll need to spend $5,500 in cash just to sell it. Trade in value is about half of sticker from a year ago. You can't give them away.

What Kevin said.

I have TWO big block 3/4 ton Suburbans. A '96 and an '04. They are beasts and suit my work/play habits perfectly. I tried to sell the 96 and found out quickly there is NO market for these vehicles --especially with 315k miles on the clock unless you just want to give them away. The older one was worth more to me to spend about $1k on maintenance and plan on keeping it for a spare driver.

The '04 has fallen off 40% in value in 12 months. FWIW, I am seeing the HD vehicles in the 04-05 model years here selling for < $15k here in TX.

Your probably right. Right now all my truck eats is insurance each month. I still think driving the car pulling a trailer would be less expensive than towing the car. (I have to borrow a car trailer, so that adds to the decision)

Many moons ago, I bought a 4x8 trailer from Tractor Supply.

I cut out the floor behind the axle. I set my spare tires down into the space. This lowered the CG of the trailer and got the row of tires low enough for me to use the inside rear view mirror.

I bought a side mount tool box, the kind that attaches to the side rails of a pick up. I put it at the front of the trailer. I put my jack, jack stands, torque wrench, small tool kit, etc in it and locked it up. The weight of the box and gear inside near the tongue, offset the weight of the tires behind the axle.

This left about a 4x4 area in the middle to put coolers, chairs, EZ-ups, whatever ...

What kind of mpg do you get in the car? What do you get pulling your car w/ the truck? I assume you put premium in the car and regular in the truck.

If you get 12 mpg in the truck @ $4.00/gal a 300 mile round trip is $100 in fuel.
If you get 20 mpg in the car @ $4.30/gal a 300 mile round trip is $64.5 in fuel.

I recently did this calculation for myself, but the difference is that the camaro is now getting 15 mpg with a bad tune and no overdrive on premium. Truck/trailer vs car is very close now.

So there is more hassle with the truck / trailer and some more costs up front, but the cost of paying a tow truck to get you home has to weigh into the decision. My daily driver broke down this winter and it was $130 to go about 20 miles.

There is also the chance of your truck breaking down as well, but it has to be much less probable than the car.

This post has been edited by StanIROCZ: Jun 10 2008, 05:58 PM

Slightly old pic now... I have a new truck..

Probably not what you were looking for.. but.. it does everything you need it to... including the ability to sleep in it (with A/C) at tracks like Nashville SS (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)



(IMG:http://www.2000transam.com/temp/toys.jpg)

This post has been edited by CJ-TA: Jun 10 2008, 06:13 PM

Not sure what kind of MPG the car will get with the new LS1 in it, but I got mid 20's with the old L98 and t56 setup. I get 17 around town in the truck, probably 10-12 towing. Last time I towed the car was with Dad's big A$$ diesel, so the last time I used my truck was a couple years ago Back when gas was cheap (under 2.00/gal, boy those were the days!)

Plus, I have AAA and they would tow up to 100 miles no charge, one of the two closest tracks is within, the other isn't.

Now your just bragging! Sure would like one of those though.

The problem is.. I started out looking just like you are... small trailer, etc.

The problem I was having is simply that if something goes really wrong... I pack the car up and I still have a ride home.

I realize that everyone has priorities, etc.. but, I personally find (found) it hard to run my car like I should knowing that it was my only ride home. I'd jump on an open trailer 10x faster than a small 4x6 tagalong. They can be had for $1500 or so (used) all over the place.

This post has been edited by CJ-TA: Jun 10 2008, 08:49 PM

I get 12 mpg empty and as low as 8.2 pulling a 24 foot enclosed. My truck also requires premium. I apparently have too much truck...

Howdy,



You sure that's not 2wd vs. 4wd you're looking at vs. the price of gas?

I assume the price of gas isn't helping, but my experience was that its hard to sell a 2wd truck at anything over "ludicrous" price.

Mark

I have a tiny red HFT trailer that is intended to be a tire trailer (one of these days).

I laid (four not two) eight foot long 2x10's on it a couple of weeks ago, bolted them down, put a short section of 2x4 across the ends of the 2x10's and bolted that on, then brought home a 600 lb Kwiklift on it that was on two pallets.

Towed the little red trailer behind the little red Aveo about 40 miles each way. Took more pedal to accelerate, but didn't notice much difference once I was up to speed since the load was low and tucked behind the car.


It took just a couple of minutes to take the bolts out and put the trailer back to normal when I was done with the oversize load.

The Aveo rear shocks were not up to sway control. The first on-ramp from the freight terminal to the interstate, had a big dip in it about 80% of the way through the turn. Started swaying as I was merging into traffic and took nearly 1/4 mile to get it to settle back down.

In a pickup truck, applying a little gas will often pull out a sway. In the fwd car, applying throttle, letting off, or just coasting made no difference. It swayed, and swayed, an equal (and big) amount for a long time. I just had to coast back down under 60mph and it eventually stopped. Kept it under 70mph after that, less if going around a curve and/or over a bumpy bridge transition.

If the trailer tongue was longer, I could have put a larger percentage of the weight in the front of the trailer, which probably would have helped. I was probably running around 75lb tongue weight.

The economics of towing with a truck vs a small trailer behind the car will never work out. When you start towing far and somewhat often is when a truck with full car trailer begins to make sense and it's not because of economic reasons. I know I tow my car to and from events at least 5k miles a year. I can't imagine driving a Street Prepared car that far full of crap and have any kind of energy left to want to run the event. It also nice to be able to haul a tent, chair, big cooler, etc to the big weekend events. I'm really happy with a 3/4 ton truck and an open trailer, enclosed trailers look like too much hassle. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

It was worth almost 3k more about 3 months ago (give or take). I was seeing prices of a tick under 21k instead of mid 18's.

That's just not possible ...

Last trip I pulled my trailer, I saw 12.5 mpg calculated, to College Station and back
It's a 28' Vintage weighing in at 10Klbs loaded.

Last trip I drove w/o the trailer I saw 21mpg round trip toSan Antonio and back.

But, at $4.75/gallon, it doesn't really matter any more ...

Since January 1st, I have left the lie-o-meter alone to see what kind of fuel mileage I get based upon my driving habits.

I've logged just under 4,000 miles, a 700 mile round trip to Houston, 400 mile round trip to College Station, basic commuting over rural roads and in town driving.
I'm seeing ~16mpg. I could do a lot better if I would run about 65 instead of 75 ...

Mitch,

Mine is 6 liter and gas with factory 31" tires (C3500). It is quite possible.

I meant to have too much truck ... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif)

Hi Phil....I have been running Greg Olsen/Tommy Pulliam's ESP car around the country with one of those 4x8 HF trailers...then again I am still young a stupid.

So far with no issues other than an electrical gremlin blowing Daytime Running Lights/Turn Signal Fuses.

1. Arkansas Pro
2. Atlanta Double X
3. Atlanta Tour

Coming up is:
1. DC Pro (Nancy Confirmed TODAY!!!)
2. Peru Tour
3. Toledo Pro
4. Milwaukee Pro
5. FLR Pro
6. GASS events
7. Nationals....

I would say I am a little stupid but then again I can't afford to run a tow rig/trailer. As another benefit I am averaging 28 mpg toting 2 sets of tires. You should see all the crap that I stick in that thing.