flat bed, open trailer
 

Once my Lamplighter project is race-ready I am considering a return to towing with an open trailer. [after having several enclosed trailers] [considering lighter, easier to maneuver, easier access to tie-downs, etc.]

For those of you who tow with an open trailer, let me hear about your trailer, length, equipment, ease of loading, etc.

I am even considering aluminum and a tilt bed design.

Re: flat bed, open trailer
 

I had a C-20 pick up pulling a 20 ft. Big Tex with a Chevelle station Wagon.
White Knuckler most of the time, until I put stabilizer bars ( forgot the name) on it. Towed like a dream after that.
I wouldn't do it without those bars.
MJ

Re: flat bed, open trailer
 

I have an older model Top Hat tilt made in East Texas. It's very low and easy to load my 68 Mustang onto. I added an ATV winch to pull it up without messing with the neighbors and a snatch block to load on the slope of my drive. It was not expensive, around $2000. I creamed the tail light with a tree pulling out but it was repairable/replaceable. Quality of the fender brackets isn't great and the hinges rusted out in two years. Went from tilt down to lift off fenders. Need to fix that. I painted the deck with cheap exterior latex before the rains came in and it is holding up good. Stored outside uncovered. It's pulled by a 2013 F150 base model 4x4 and you need to remind yourself that it's back there. Brakes are good for the price. I'm sure they have better models and they are East Texas made. Good luck.


By the way, all the Ford racers out here seem to use open flatbeds. My friend Brian got a new AlumiLite last Spring and likes it a lot. He also has a 30 foot 2 car rig.

Re: flat bed, open trailer
 

Have over 20,000 miles towing open with this Featherlight aluminum trailer behind a Dodge 2500 or F250. No bars and moving the weight fore and aft didn’t seem to make much difference. Can’t beat a quality aluminum trailer for ease of loading, strapping down and towing. 1000 mile days no sweat. With the 24 foot Pace enclosed behind my 3500 DRW and I was ready to stop after 750 miles. ~30-40% fuel mileage difference as well. Currently looking for a another enclosed so I can go either way depending on where I’m racing. Pros and cons both ways.

Re: flat bed, open trailer
 

My set up is a 1994 Caprice Wagon set up to Tow a Featherlight 3130 17.5 foot trailer with a 1995 Impala SS.

Trailer is 1550 lbs with box and accessories.
At G/PS weight 6000 lbs, F/PS about 5800 lbs probably close to 5700 lbs.

Added an Airlift system with electric pump.
Handles well and does not need the Stabilizer Bars.
Over the years improved the Wagons towing capability.
Especially driving over the Appalachian mountains.

Looking at a Truck and Closed Trailer.
But that brings in drive-ability issues such as wind.
Have zero issues with that now.

D

Re: flat bed, open trailer
 

I just got done building my ramp truck and I also have an aluminum open trailer that I pull behind it. I can take two cars. consider the ramp truck, way cool and very easy to haul. And I also only pay the toll of a car when it’s just the ramp truck!

Re: flat bed, open trailer
 

Open trailers are a great advertisement for drag racing.And I always tell people where the racing is at. And I've seen some of them there!

Re: flat bed, open trailer
 

We use a 32 FT Deck to haul two stockers around Western States with Triple 4000 Dexter Axles (Tagged 9900 to keep DOT away).
I pull with a Ram 1500 Hemi Crew cab.If going out of state = I hook up leverage bars. Pulls Great! It cost about $6,500. last year from my son who builds/sells them.

To haul one we use a 7,000 GVW Diamond Plate Open Center with Electric brakes (Not Surge) with a 16 Ft. Deck and a 5 Ft. triple tongue. Trailer weighs under 1500 lbs and we never uses leverage bars even with a 1500 and my Wagon Stocker. These trailers are about a $2,900. Deal. These are really not much heavier than my Featherlite Aluminum BUT not nearly as fragile to use for me.

Re: flat bed, open trailer
 

I've got a home-made 18' plus 6 feet of tongue. Tool box up front and about half of the tongue. Brakes on both axles. Pulls like a dream and you get lots of friendly waves and thumbs up as you go down the road. Pull it with a 79 one-ton flatbed. Great if your on a day trip.
Pete

Re: flat bed, open trailer
 

Me and a friend bought 2 trailer city gold rush 18' open trailers from Fred Hartman (G/MP fame) with consecutive vin numbers in 1983 I sold mine in 1990 and bought my buddies a couple of years later, I still have it to this day! best towing open trailer I have ever owned or used!