Need Enclosed Hauler Advice.

[FLATOUT]

Hi Guys,

I am looking at a 2005 Cargomate, 18' enclosed hauler for sale locally. I am trying to pic up a hauler either open or enclosed for a couple trips to the track a year, and so I can take the car to more national events and not have to worry about breaking and towing home.

I am on a really tight budget and am looking at roughly $2,800.00 or less. The hauler I am looking at is owned by a local Lotus Esprit guy and he's making me a great deal on it. Before anyone metions needing a 30 footer for hauling a much of extra stuff, i'm not interested in taking extra wheels/tires, or anything else. Just want to know if the Viper will fit in an 18 footer.

Would an 18 footer work for a Gen IV ACR? Anyone here have experience with Cargomate?

Thanks for any and all help.

Andy

[RPM9000]

Andy,

I bet it would be a really tight fit. I measured my Gen.1 and it is around 15 feet long. My trailer is a 28 footer. Does it have a side door for getting in and out of the car?

Paul

[FLATOUT]

Andy,

I bet it would be a really tight fit. I measured my Gen.1 and it is around 15 feet long. My trailer is a 28 footer. Does it have a side door for getting in and out of the car?

Paul

It does have a side door, I need to go a take a look at it but just wanted to do some quick research to see what you guys thought.

Thanks Paul!

[XSnake]

It will fit as long as it it WIDE enough. Measure between the wheel wells before committing.

[jwolf]

I have had several trailers and hauled them all over the country. I would much rather haul and open trailer. much easier to tow, easier to back, . better visibility while driving, and people will let you pull out to see what you got on the trailer. So unless you want to used the enclosed as storage get an open. I have a 7 foot wide enclosed and I would 10 times rather haul it then the 8.5 foot wide enclosed I had.

I would question and 18 foot for a Viper, I had a 20 and it was tight most people use 24's

[XSnake]

My only advice would be to make sure you are getting the 5200lb version vs. the 3500lb. You'll be darn close to the limit with the 3500lb, which is not something the Lotus guy would be concerned with and not a trailer I would want to pull my Viper in. Lengthwise it will be tight but it should fit (your viper is about 176" stock). I don't know about centering the load though. I use a United 20' trailer and all the extra space is at the front due to the weight distribution of the Viper (mostly in the front). Maybe someone else will have more experience with an 18' trailer. Even with the 5200lb version I'd confirm you can center the load appropriately.

If you are getting the higher rated unit at/under your target amount that is doing pretty well.

If you are talking about axle rating he should be fine even with the 3.5k rated axles as there would be two of them for a total of 7k

[FLATOUT]

Guys,

Thanks so much for the info, and I am trying to decide on the open vs enclosed route. Seems like a lot of enclosed guys I know that have used them for light duty have all gone back to open haulers.

I will have him measure the width and find out what rating it is.

[FLATOUT]

Would really like to pick up a Sloan, or Texas roll back, but they are mostly out of my price range and not readily available on the used market.

[FLATOUT]

OK so he has been hauling an 02 esprit in it behind his RV:

Ok quick google:

Width: Lotus Esprit Viper ACR

73.5” 75.2”

Length: 172” 175.6”


Weight: 2,850 3,379

[Bill Pemberton]

Keep in mind you need room for your straps and the front splitter is hard to work around. At 18 feet you are leaving only around a foot and a half to work with on each end and , considering that you will not be able to have hooks at the very front of the trailer or the very back , you might be lucky to be working with one foot on each end for straps. I had a 20 ft. trailer for my first Viper and it was a pain even at that, and at present I am looking for a new enclosed - am looking for a 22 -24 ft and suggest you do the same. Best of luck.

[XSnake]

OK so he has been hauling an 02 esprit in it behind his RV:

Ok quick google:

Width: Lotus Esprit Viper ACR

73.5” 75.2”

Length: 172” 175.6”


Weight: 2,850 3,379

I was gonna say I didn't think it would be 3,500lbs for the trailer. 2,800 seems more like it. Width doesn't seem right to me but I guess it depends on your rear wheels and offset. Mine was 78" from outside tire to outside tire. Go physically measure your car.

I would suggest an open if you are trying to stay that small. I got my Triple Crown for $2k new at my local trailer place. It was wide enough for the car and my doors would open over the fenders even though I was lowered.

[FLATOUT]

I think I'll pass on this hauler, and start looking into open haulers.

[FLATOUT]

For those of you that don't use a tilt style open hauler, how do you get your ACR's on to a 4" dove tail unit? Race ramps/boards?

[Ohiotj]

If you use long enough boards you can make it up. You just have to measure it out and cut some 12" wide boards to accommodate your ride height. Also I have drilled a hole into the wooden ramps and drop a retaining pin in through the metal ramps. This will stop the wood boards from sliding while loading and unloading. Put a few bricks or any other type block under the wood ramps and you are good to go. Keep in mind that the height and angle of the ramps while shift as the weight is being put onto the trailer. Don't assume your ball height is the same distance from the ground if you tow with different trucks. These are some things that caused others to get hung up.

[slitherv10]

Here's an add in Niagara Falls, if your willing to take the trip.looks like a good deal.

http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehi...AdIdZ546953703

[RedTanRT/10]

For those of you that don't use a tilt style open hauler, how do you get your ACR's on to a 4" dove tail unit? Race ramps/boards?

Race ramps with my Featherlite. If you go open their great trailers, my 18' weights 1500#. You can find a nice one for about $3500-$4000, strong resale if you decide to go enclosed later

[slitherv10]

http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehi...AdIdZ546953703

[FLATOUT]

Thanks for the leads guys. I think I'll spend between $2500 & $3,000 when the time comes (between now and mid January). Been following racing junk and some of the other trailer sites.

If anyone has something they are looking to get rid of shoot me a PM.

[chesapeake07]

For those of you that don't use a tilt style open hauler, how do you get your ACR's on to a 4" dove tail unit? Race ramps/boards?

Race ramps all the way.

[jwolf]

Best open trailer I ever had was a Trailex, I bought it used for $2500 It got hit twice, both times the other guy's insurance was more than fair, since it is a bolt together trailer I just ordered replacement aluminum parts from Trailex and ended up having free trailer and making so money on the deal. Make sure you get the one for low profile cars. The trailer is modular so you can easily customize it to your needs. I wish I had it back but I sold it to buy my 8.5 foot wide enclosed that I hated and it towed like a open parachute.

[FLATOUT]

Best open trailer I ever had was a Trailex, I bought it used for $2500 It got hit twice, both times the other guy's insurance was more than fair, since it is a bolt together trailer I just ordered replacement aluminum parts from Trailex and ended up having free trailer and making so money on the deal. Make sure you get the one for low profile cars. The trailer is modular so you can easily customize it to your needs. I wish I had it back but I sold it to buy my 8.5 foot wide enclosed that I hated and it towed like a open parachute.

Damn those are a bit out of my price range but I'll keep my eye out for a used one, any idea what model you had?

[jwolf]

I did not haul a Viper on the one I had, it was called the "Early Vette Hauler". it was a 18 foot flat trailer, most of the time I hauler an Amphicar on it.

covered.jpg

[Joel]

The only problem with an open trailer is that it is open. That might sound like Mr. Obvious has shown up but I have an 18+ foot Featherlite that I use haul my race car with. It is easier to tow than an enclosed trailer but all that open air is full of debris that will sandblast your car (especially out west) and pelt it with rain. Not a problem for a race car that already has some bruises but you may feel differently about your Viper. And yes, you can try to cover it but most times the cover just beats the hell out of the car too! You may get lots of stares at what you are hauling but it is also open for those who don't just want to look. I love the Featherlite trailer but I am looking for a 24 foot enclosed. Granted, I haul lots of stuff to the racetrack besides the car, but chances are, you will too. And, while there is no tamper proof trailer, out of sight is out of mind. A more practical concern is what do you tow with? As others have said, it takes a lot of power to pull an enclosed trailer - and good brakes to stop it. If you don't have a 3/4 ton truck, maybe an open trailer is best.

[jwolf]

The only problem with an open trailer is that it is open. That might sound like Mr. Obvious has shown up but I have an 18+ foot Featherlite that I use haul my race car with. It is easier to tow than an enclosed trailer but all that open air is full of debris that will sandblast your car (especially out west) and pelt it with rain. Not a problem for a race car that already has some bruises but you may feel differently about your Viper. And yes, you can try to cover it but most times the cover just beats the hell out of the car too! You may get lots of stares at what you are hauling but it is also open for those who don't just want to look. I love the Featherlite trailer but I am looking for a 24 foot enclosed. Granted, I haul lots of stuff to the racetrack besides the car, but chances are, you will too. And, while there is no tamper proof trailer, out of sight is out of mind. A more practical concern is what do you tow with? As others have said, it takes a lot of power to pull an enclosed trailer - and good brakes to stop it. If you don't have a 3/4 ton truck, maybe an open trailer is best.

I agree 100% but if you looking at 24+ foot long 8.5 foot wide I would bump it up to a 1 ton truck. Plus, if you are like me you will fill 100% of available trailer space full of stuff you think you might need or needed once before and add another 1000 LBs to the weight of the trailer.

I pulled my Trailex with my Amphicar on it over 10,000 miles with a 4 cylinder Ranger pickup. With it behind the B300 Mortohome it never knew it was there, no effect on gas mileage. With 8,5 with 7 foot tall (12 inches over stock) enclosed trail the gas mileage went for 12 mpg to 8 mpg and you knew it was there and on long steep hills you had to watch to temp gauge. (it has a 360 4V with a 727 -411 rear gears). Speed limits we 55 mph back then so I never pulled it fast. So Joel's comment on what you tow with is right on.

[FLATOUT]

I will be towing with a 2007 Tahoe LTZ with an upgraded trans cooler. I have decided to most likely go with an 18 or 20 foot Kearny open steel deck hauler with a 4' dove tail, rock shield, & bull dog coupler. I think for what I will use it for it should be a great fit. 3K or less and it will do what I will need it to do.