7' 7.5' or 8.5' wide?

[The Fig]

I'm about to take the plunge and buy an enclosed, I'm going to be pulling it with a full-sized gas SUV with a supercharger (1997 Lexus LX450) for the next few years then stepping up to a Tundra with a supercharger.

I'm concerned about the amount of wind a 8.5 wide will displace and how badly it will tow, which I probably cannot tell until it's behind my truck...which will be too late for me to return it or go with something not as wide...sigh.

Anyway, I'm looking for some opinions from guys who have contrasted 7 to 8.5 wide trailers.

I looked at Charmac (that I didn't buy) which was 8.5 x 30ish and he pulled it his Expedition and said it towed pretty well with a weight-distributing hitch.

 

[icr]

450's are awesome, but stock or with a super fuel mileage will be horrible. Its a toss up for you, the 7' will tow better but you'll need a longer trailer to fit the same number of sleds and you already have a short wheel base.

How many sleds are you looking to haul?

 

[The Fig]

Thanks for the response Icr, yep, I know fuel econ will be terrible, it already is deplorable with nothing in it and shockingly low towing my not very large boat.

I will be hauling one sled, one Civic and one KX 500 snowbike and a bunch of my property.

The crux of my dilemma is that I'm moving to Steamboat Springs and I want to be able to fit all my large items into one rig. Mostly the trailer will be a garage-on-wheels.

 

[glmtnapex]

I can't comment on your dilemma, but I can say that your decision to buy an enclosed trailer to not only move your 'stuff', but also have as your 'garage on wheels' is a sound one. I live in Grand Lake (close to Steamboat), and about 12 years ago, not having a garage of my own, I purchased a 28ft Charmac enclosed trailer as my 'garage on wheels', and looking back, it was one of my best investments I've ever made. After countless long cold nights working on my sled in my heated trailer, not to mention the MULTITUDE of times I've used it to move my family and all their stuff around the country, my trusty trailer has paid for itself many times over. Buy the largest trailer you can afford, but also keep in mind you'll have to store/park it someplace when your not using it, and (like your doing now) make sure you have a capable rig to tow it with.

Good luck!

 

[SRXSRULE]

If this is mainly a one time tow at this point I would go with the 8.5ft, and buy a car hauler with a front door added on. You will get WAY more use out of it in years to come.

A weight distribution hitch with sway bars is worth its weight in GOLD. Also make sure you buy a good brake controller and make sure the trailer brakes are all working good.

Take the time to get the hitch set-up correctly, when loaded, for your vehicle. You want the trailer level, but you will also want a fair amount of tongue weight since your wheel base is so short. Eric

 

[turbolover]

I will be hauling one sled, one Civic and one KX 500 snowbike and a bunch of my property.

Will you be getting a deck over the wheels or one that sits between the wheel well fenders?
How wide is your Civic? and how easy is it to crawl out of the window?
I have an 8 1/2 wide trailer built on a car hauler base with the V nose and a front door. It sits lower so the cars are between the wheel wells. When I haul cars for the dealership I have to crawl out of the window, as alot of them do not clear the fenders and I don't want to scratch the paint trying to get out of the door.

Will your civic even fit in a 7 foot wide trailer?

 

[The Fig]

Thanks for all the responses,

* Yep got a brake controller, that thing is GREAT!

* Don't yet, but will be getting a weight-distributing hitch

Will you be getting a deck over the wheels or one that sits between the wheel well fenders?
How wide is your Civic? and how easy is it to crawl out of the window?
I have an 8 1/2 wide trailer built on a car hauler base with the V nose and a front door. It sits lower so the cars are between the wheel wells. When I haul cars for the dealership I have to crawl out of the window, as alot of them do not clear the fenders and I don't want to scratch the paint trying to get out of the door.

Will your civic even fit in a 7 foot wide trailer?

That's the crux of it, wth a 7' wide no way can I get the Civic in it. 7.5 wide seems perfect but they are very difficult to find.

I would like an 8.5 and might just suffer sucking wind pulling it with my LX 450 until it gets replaced with some real horsepower.

The 8.5 I just looked at is NOT a deck over. It's a big trailer, 10k GVWR with what looks like about 6k of cargo capability. I'll probably get it.

Decisions, decisions.

 

[SRXSRULE]

If you can find something with an aluminum frame its well worth the extra money. Not only does it never rust, but you also gain a bunch of payload from the weight savings.

One more tip.... if you really fill it up with stuff, take the time and run it across a scale somewhere before you head out on a trip with it. You might be shocked at how quick it gets VERY heavy. Eric