Quick trailer question.

"Coty" (coty) 04/08/2015 at 20:56 • Filed to: None

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Is 300lbs a doable car trailer weight? Meaning that could a car trailer that can hold a 1700lb car weigh 300lbs? Is that realistic? Tried to do some research and got nowhere.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Coty 04/08/2015 at 20:59

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Depends what it's made of. Extruded Aluminum, steel, wood, etc. Also how big.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Coty 04/08/2015 at 21:00

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well i dont know how will they would be to help you but my town has a scale at the dump. You coulld see if yous has one and if they would allow you to weight your trailer. Thats how I found out my Sport Trac could hold 1,000 lbs.

Coty > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. 04/08/2015 at 21:05

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I mean the car I'm looking to pull has been put on a landscaping trailer before, it's not big. I'd be willing to get an aluminum one but I'm sure steel is cheaper. My requirements are literally:

-Car fits
-Is under 300lbs.

505Turbeaux > Coty 04/08/2015 at 21:07

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so you can tow with the ST?

Let me find out it is because you dont want to pull a certain air cooled motor out of a car...

Coty > OPPOsaurus WRX 04/08/2015 at 21:07

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That would be a great suggestion if I already had the trailer. I'm looking at getting a trailer, and wanting to see what kind I need. The vehicle I'm towing with can do 2000 lbs and the car I'm pulling is 1700 so I need a 300lb trailer.

Thanks for the suggestion though, I appreciate the thought.

Tohru > Coty 04/08/2015 at 21:09

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Are you making it out of carbon fiber?

This car dolly weighs 517 lbs, and has steel construction.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/pro…

Coty > 505Turbeaux 04/08/2015 at 21:10

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-Not the ST
-Not because I don't want to pull the engine

0/2. Bad outing.

HammerheadFistpunch > Coty 04/08/2015 at 21:11

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short answer: not likely. A 2000 lbs axle without wheels has a ship weight of 125 lbs. add in wheels, leaf springs and a frame strong enough to handle 1 ton and you are looking at 500 lbs or so.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Coty 04/08/2015 at 21:12

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I think you'll struggle to find one 300lb or less. Check whether the 2000lb limit on the tow vehicle is braked or unbraked weight. If it's unbraked, the chances are you'll be able to pull a much heavier load with a braked trailer.

Coty > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 04/08/2015 at 21:15

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Considering the vehicle I'm certain it's unbraked.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Coty 04/08/2015 at 21:16

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What's your tow car?

Coty > Tohru 04/08/2015 at 21:17

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And it can't go on a dolly :(

Coty > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 04/08/2015 at 21:19

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1988 Mercedes 300SE. The hitch I found said 2000lbs, that's where I got that #.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Coty 04/08/2015 at 21:25

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So your maximum braked trailer load is 1900kg (4180lbs) leaving you the headroom to afford a 2000lb BRAKED trailer.

The hitch is probably rated for 2000lbs with an unbraked trailer (I am not absolutely sure on this without knowing the exact hitch) therefore leaving you around 500lbs in the safe zone.

So; a twin axle braked car trailer weighing in at no more than 2000lb should be just right. (Most of them come in around the 1000lb mark)

Tohru > Coty 04/08/2015 at 21:30

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The hell are you hauling?

The lightest trailer I found was a 4 foot wide, 8 foot long utility trailer - the Triton XTV. It weighs 200lbs, and can carry 1290lbs. (This one is pictured with optional front rail and 12" tire upgrade - stock tires are 8".)

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The lightest I found that can carry enough weight is a 4' 5" wide, 8' long aluminum utility trailer with ramp - Triton AUT853. It weighs 350lbs, and can carry 1850lbs. (This one is shown with optional Motorcycle Wheel Chock kit, front rail, stoneguard kit, and 13" aluminum wheel upgrade - stock is 13" steelies.)

vwbeamer > Coty 04/08/2015 at 21:45

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what kinda of car are you towing? is possible to flat tow on all four wheels. If it's a manual it's a good chance that you can. I towed my bug with a simple tow bar all over the southeast.

Coty > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 04/08/2015 at 21:49

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Man this is a bigger rabbit hole than I thought.

Coty > Tohru 04/08/2015 at 21:50

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Beetle.

Coty > vwbeamer 04/08/2015 at 21:51

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It's a bug, but I can't.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Coty 04/08/2015 at 21:52

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Could you use an a-frame?

Coty > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 04/08/2015 at 21:55

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I have a tow bar for the car but it's too low now.

Coty > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 04/08/2015 at 21:58

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How I used to tow it.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Coty 04/08/2015 at 21:58

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Oh dear. If it's too low for the towbar, do you think you'll even get it on a trailer?

Coty > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 04/08/2015 at 22:00

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Oh I've had it on 4 or 5 different trailers. It's pretty easy, just takes work. Ramps and boards, or you drop the ramps on this small hill I have in my yard, and then the ramps are flat.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Coty 04/08/2015 at 22:01

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Whereabouts are you in the US? And are you looking to hire or buy?

Coty > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 04/08/2015 at 22:12

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I'm in Northern New England. I was playing with the idea of buying but I didn't realize I needed such a big trailer.

And I mean, it's not that low, I've seen lower:

Tohru > Coty 04/08/2015 at 22:13

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You can't put the Beetle butt-first on a dolly and lock the column?

Jcarr > Coty 04/08/2015 at 22:16

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How far are you towing? If it's not too far you might consider just renting a pickup and flatbed car trailer from UHaul. I don't think it's terrible expensive. Then you'd have peace of mind knowing that it's all well within the limits.

Coty > Tohru 04/08/2015 at 22:17

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Nope.

Coty > Jcarr 04/08/2015 at 22:18

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Well the issue is I'm going to do this so many times, you know?

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Coty 04/08/2015 at 22:19

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It doesn't have to be that big, it just has to be a braked trailer. I was only suggesting a car trailer because they tend to have quite a low deck, low centre of gravity and a wide track. A general utility trailer would probably be fine, as long as it's rated for 2000lb+ and it has brakes!

Jcarr > Coty 04/08/2015 at 22:20

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Oh I see, for track days or something? I was thinking you were just moving it from one location to another.

Coty > Jcarr 04/08/2015 at 22:21

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Car shows actually but same idea.

Coty > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 04/08/2015 at 22:22

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Can I ask you some questions about brake controllers?

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Coty 04/08/2015 at 22:23

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Sure

Coty > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 04/08/2015 at 22:26

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So I'm a Ford salesman and I see them all the times on the trucks we have, but I'm not really sure how they work.

Also, is there a way to mount them so it's either kind of hidden or easily removable when not in use?

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Coty 04/08/2015 at 22:36

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For the size of trailer you're looking to pull you don't require a seperate brake controller. A braked trailer suitable for under 3.5 tons normally has a braking system built in, and works by using the force generated on the hitch under deceleration to apply pressure to a lever mechanism which pulls the trailer brake cables.

The braking force applied is dependant on the gross weight of the trailer and its cargo, so it always applies the correct braking force for the weight carried.

Coty > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 04/08/2015 at 22:38

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Whoa.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Coty 04/08/2015 at 22:52

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BTW I've just had a look at the different hitche specs for the Merc, and the 2000lb hitch would not be suitable. You'll have to find one that is rated for 5000lb+, or find a different tow vehicle :( back to square one.

Also BTW, for the type of trailer you want, you're looking at $55 + $8 insurance from U-Haul. Add $25 if you want their towing 'starter kit', which includes a 7500lb towball which will fit onto any 2" square receiver hitch (I don't know what the Merc uses..?)

Coty > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 04/09/2015 at 09:18

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It doesn't have a hitch at the moment. The first one I found was the 2k lb one.

RacinBob > Coty 04/09/2015 at 19:02

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I would not shy away from a trailer just because of the mfr tow rating. I towed a 2800 pound chevy citation X11 race car on a 1100 pound trailer behind another Citation X11 for four years. The trailer had surge brakes. The X11 was a stick. The key to success was a class 3 receiver hitch and air list air bags in the rear coil springs.

Later I did the same with a pontiac transport. Either would tow at 70 mph all day getting high teens mpg. With an automatic the only thing you want to make sure is that the engine stays locked into high gear. If its in passing too long it will overheat the transmission.