Is 14' trailer just too short?
- Thread starter Wallace
- Start date
John LaVoy
Well-known member
I agree 16' is the minimum you should look at. Scotty uses a 16' and it is tight to do the tie down.
the model a wheel base is 103 inchs, about 8 1/2', give another 3 or 4 feet for bumper over hang, i dont think its long enough, measure the car from bumper to bumper and then measure the inside of the trailer, most trailers include the tongue length in the measurement which means it may not be 14' inside
Marco Tahtaras
Well-known member
I know two people that purchased 16' trailers and regretted that. Also, be sure of width and height (including door opening).
Tom Wesenberg
Well-known member
I only have an open trailer that I built for myself. I wanted it to be as short and light as possible and only intended to use it to move Corvairs and Model A's. I planned on building a 14' trailer, but the used angle iron I bought was 16' long. I'm sure glad it was two feet longer than what I had planned. 16' is perfect for my use.
Follow Don's advice, unless it's a really good deal. Then you could buy it and see what you think, and if you wanted to go longer you could resell the 14' for a profit to help pay for the longer trailer.
Follow Don's advice, unless it's a really good deal. Then you could buy it and see what you think, and if you wanted to go longer you could resell the 14' for a profit to help pay for the longer trailer.
Fred K-OR
Well-known member
Looks like you took some good sound advise from above about size.
And I think you are correct in getting an enclosed trailer. I bought just a flat bed and now I wish I had found an enclosed one. Better for the trips you take and to store it when you stop overnight, etc..
Also have a Merry Christmas and hope you enjoy a new trailer in the New Year.
ryan1929
Senior Member
I have a 20 foot enclosed trailer for my 29 phaeton its just the perfet size...with the car loaded i have about 3 feet of useable space in the front. You will only need the 2500lb axles dont bother with the 5000lb axles for a model a they are a waste of money. also make sure you have enough head room I had to have the factory add another foot to the overall height of the inside.
BRENT in 10-uh-C
Well-known member
I think it is all about what you are after as I have used a 14' Vee nose that is 7' wide numerous times and I love it pulling it behind a mid-sized crossover SUV (2012 Edge). The loading/unloading process does require use of a winch, but that really does not take much longer (--if any), and the agility in traffic with the narrow unit, and the small aero drag makes it pass fueling stations with frequency. Bigger generally requires bigger towing vehicle, ...which diesel is now better than 60 cents a gallon difference. I own all sizes of haulers from a rig that haukls four Model A's, to a 1 car enclosed hauler. The math just does not add up for me on the bigger equipment. Your mileage may vary.
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Tom Wesenberg
Well-known member
I agree with Brent. It sure would be nice to have the luxury of a large enclosed trailer, but with me it always comes down to economy first, so I go for the smallest size that will fit my needs and that's why I made my own strong but light 16 foot open trailer. I can easily pull it with my car, which gets good gas mileage.
Keith True
Well-known member
I like trailers small and low.If I overthink it and build a trailer that will cover most things I can dream up the trailer would be 40 feet long.Pick your primary usage and go for that.If you find it doesn't work for you,you learned what not to do.No trailer does everything.I like a winch in everything.Having owned a few ramp trucks and working by myself all my life I learned to winch everything on.I have a winch on my last car trailer I built,when I load a running car I drive it up to the ramps,hook up the cable and steer it on.No spitting out a ramp or rubbing a fender,I can stand back and see it all.I like dropped axles too,I can't get off the road much,but I can unhook the truck and tow the car out to where I can winch it on.I can pull a 68 Corvette on using 4 foot ramps without rubbing the bottom of the car.It makes it a straight pull for the winch too as I am pulling on more than up.I like a little more tongue weight than is needed,but I also like a little longer tongue so that gives me the little extra I like.Brakes,all four wheels,(non-negotiable) I use the 3500 pound axles just to get the 6 lug wheels.
trulyvintage
Well-known member
It depends ...
The choice depends on several things ...
What is the longest vehicle you will ever load into it ?
What is your tow vehicle rated at ?
How often will you use it ?
Where do you live - where will you be using it - what time of year ?
Where will you be storing it ?
Your needs and budget will determine your purchase
Jim
The choice depends on several things ...
What is the longest vehicle you will ever load into it ?
What is your tow vehicle rated at ?
How often will you use it ?
Where do you live - where will you be using it - what time of year ?
Where will you be storing it ?
Your needs and budget will determine your purchase
Jim
Keith True
Well-known member
I forgot about storing it.We have a lot of nice looking trailers around town being used for sheds.The steel underneath has rotted out,leaving a nice looking aluminum box.They need to be stored on clean ground,paved preferred,in a place where the wind can blow under at all times.Most of these were used for snowmobile trailers that ran in the salt and got parked.If this picture shows up it is the last one I built for myself.It has dropped axles,winch,open center,with the center clear 4 feet in from the rear so I can crawl in easier to tie things down.It has two lights facing upward,one near the front and one near the rear.I can light up the bottom of the car like daylight when I tie down.I built it as a 102 inch wide trailer,but I am using a wider wheel with an outside offset so I am at 104.Technichly I can't run at night,weekends,after noon on Fridays,and after noon the day before any holidays.Two inches too wide.
