[marriard]

For my race days, and also because my business moves vehicles on occasions, attends car shows and events and a nice big 24-28' moving billboard sounds like a damn good investment.

My thoughts were:

- 24'-28' should be able to handle pretty much any car
- 5000lb drop axles w/ brakes
- cabinets in front (up and down)
- side escape door
- vinyl walls/ceiling
- some kind of covering on floor (not the plain plywood)
- AC
- generator box w/ generator
- winch

Any advice? Good trailer dealers in the area? Must have features?

I have been looking in Florida and it looks like rigthtrailer.com up in Lakeland might have what I need. I am thinking new since everything used seems to be not all that much cheaper.

I am willing to travel to pick up the trailer if it is the right deal.

Any help appreciated here.

[Keith Seymore]

Sounds like a good plan to me.

The only thing I would add is - if you want to keep the initial purchase price down - you could buy it "bare" inside and do the interior yourself.

I did that with my 24' foot Haulmark. The sides are .030 aluminum flatstock, and the flooring is household linoleum (in a roll). Cabinet is a cheapie from Home Depot. If I hadn't have done it this way then I wouldn't have been able to (initially) afford such a nice trailer.

Couple other thoughts: If you do the inside real nice then you probably won't want to help people move or move household stuff, because it will ding the insides up. Better to leave it bar plywood if you are going to do that.

Also - I probably would't do the black/white checkerboard flooring again. Keep in mind you are driving a car on this and HALF the floor is white. It's pretty hard to keep clean and new looking. (They have some dark "faux marble" looking patterns that I would probably use).

K

[marriard]

One question - was 24' enough length for everything or is it tight with the car inside?

[Keith Seymore]

It's enough length for me, but admittedly I travel "light"; that is, I don't bring a golf cart or roll around toolbox or extra engine/trans or anything like that. I normally take my small toolbox, ramps, floor jack and a couple 6 gallon gas cans.

(That piece of angle aluminum you can see on the left side (just below the broom) is the stop for the LF wheel. The nose of the car sticks just past the door opening).

Plenty of room around front with an A body, even with the cabinet. A bigger car like the Grand Prix starts to fill it up lengthwise!

K

[marriard]

Thanks Keith,

Advice and your experience very much appreciated... I am not expecting to travel heavy either.

I am REALLY thinking starting to think about just priming, painting and clear coating the plywood myself rather than getting them as part of the trailer.

[60man]

If you want to haul any full size cars I would go for the extra wide 102" width. Actually nice period. I would get at least a 26'-28' to cover your future needs. Spend money on tires and axles..IMO 15" tires are not up to task...get 16" wheels/tires and 7,500 pound axles...at least get the 6 lug 16" wheels/tires. You won't regret it. 15" tires pop like popcorn. Be sure to get a spare tire and mount too....
On a generator....if you can swing it get a Honda/Yamha inverter 3000w. They are super quite and very fuel efficent. ($1,700-$2K)You will need at least 3Kw to run AC.
You know ...the old pay me now pay me later deal..