Enclosed VS. Open

[Nolimits]

What is going to pull easier? I have heard both ways. An enclosed is going to weigh more obviously but have heard an open has alot of wind drag. What about and open with a Snocap/Protecktor, they look like to best of both worlds. I want a 4 place trailer before next season but not sure what to get.

Thanks!

 

[Vertical-Extreme]

What is going to pull easier? I have heard both ways. An enclosed is going to weigh more obviously but have heard an open has alot of wind drag. What about and open with a Snocap/Protecktor, they look like to best of both worlds. I want a 4 place trailer before next season but not sure what to get.

Thanks!

get an enclosed, throw a big buddy propane heater in and never look back. it is so nice after a day of riding having somewhere warm to change out of your gear and get your bag all packed. it is also nice if you pull into the hotel for a weekend trip, flip the heater on low and have warm sleds in the morning.

 

[MORSNO]

What is going to pull easier? I have heard both ways. An enclosed is going to weigh more obviously but have heard an open has alot of wind drag. What about and open with a Snocap/Protecktor, they look like to best of both worlds. I want a 4 place trailer before next season but not sure what to get.

Thanks!

Enclosed is nice for security, but I am still a fan of open trailers. They are way easier to tow and do not kill your gas milage as bad. They are easier to see around and behind especially when changing lanes and making tight turns.

 

[PalousePoo]

go enclosed

No way an open pulls harder than enclosed! The enclosed has alot of wind resistance! I had a 4 place 27 ft and went to a two place that weighed 1200 lbs less, but still didn't pull much easier. I blame it on the wind drag. I have pulled a friends triton with a cap and they pull really sweet. You don't even know it's there. But you can't stand in it and change clothes, or work on your sled inside at a motel, or mount cabinets to keep tools and parts in for out of town trips. Fully enclosed is the way to go. Open two place is nice if you have to drive up a mtn and the turn around is iffy. You can always unhook, unload sleds, and turn it around by hand. My .02

 

[Dogmeat]

Enclosed trailers are a ***** to pull, especially in unplowed parking lots ... they kill your miledge, are more expensive to buy, are a pain to back in and out, etc .... but...

It's a lot better for the sleds to be kept out of the elements. It's nice to put racks on the walls and have things organized without just throwing **** in the back of your truck. It's nice to be able to put your gear on out of the wind.

Personally, if I could afford it, I'd have a 4-place enclosed with a lot of storage racks and a heater for the long-haul trips and a sled deck for the short day trips

 

[rockdog2112]

I've got a two place enclosed drive on/drive off V nose and I love it. It protects my investment and stores them in the summer. I hate letting anything sit outside here in windy Wyo(cover's or not) and I don't like taking up shop space. They cost more all the way around but their just like little portable garages....lol. It comes down to what suits your budget, style, and needs. If you do go with the open, get a drive on/drive off type. My old sleds didn't have reverse and I hated dragging those bastards off of my old tilt.. I'm just getting too old and lazy. My two cents. Good luck.

 

[Nolimits]

I have seen a couple of 4 place open trailers with "Snocap" canvas enclosure on them, does anyone have experience with them? How do they hold up?

Thanks for the info!

 

[storeytellin]

If you can afford it, go with the enclosed. I just sold my open 4 and bought an enclosed. I will never go back. I have shelves, heater, and happy family. Does pull harder, no doubt, but only up hill, ride home is no problem.......We park and ride to the cabin for weekend trips. If it snows, no shoveling off the trailer or digging in the back of the truck to find covers etc. Gas and oil will not get stolen and the cab of the truck is free of clutter cause you just put everything in the trailer and leave it. Coat and bib hooks, helmet racks, shoe racks....its great. When we get home I just fire up the heater for a couple of hours and everything inside dries out, no need to haul it into the house. If you look you can find nice older trailers that are very affordable.

 

[Nolimits]

So if a person goes with an enclosed do you get a 8.5ft wide or 7.5ft. The narrow trailer won't stick out past the truck, but would have to be longer in order to fit 4 sleds.

 

[storeytellin]

IMO, the more space you have the better. You will already be pulling the weight, might as well enjoy the space. Mine is a 25ft charmac. It has the man door right in the center so I dont need fuel doors. The bigger trailers may need to have some more access so if you buy a used one, look for that type of issue. I also see people adding windows now, I think thats a great idea.

 

[Gone Sleddin]

if you are pulling out west from minnesota i would get the narrow trailer. low and narrow will pull much easier and be more stable in case you run into iffy roads, and wind going across the dakotas, well thats just a given. we're pullin open trailers right now but i think the next one will be a 29'x7'.

 

[afrank3594]

For my use I have a 2500HD Duramax that will pull a open trailer with two blown tires no problem. I have a 2 place open that I use for hauling hot tubs and such. I also have a 27'x8.5 interstate closed traile with shelves racks and heaters. I like being able to change in the trailer , keep wet cloths out of the cab and have a safe parking place for the sled in the summer. The differance in towing mpg is not that much, and the wind is not a problem since the truck is stock size . Make my vote for a closed trailer .

 

[IdahoMike]

Enclosed all the way. I also think a sled deck would be the way to go for spring riding, but I sure like my Triton 147 Prestige.

 

[ndmtnsledder]

The inlines pull a lot easier then the 8.5 wides I think the biggest difference is the inlines sit closer to the ground so they don't stick above as high or have as much drag underneath being they sit between the wheels. I've seen a few 8ft wides were the wheels sit partially in the trailer partially out. Enclosed do pull harder then opens like said above but having someplace dry to keep the sleds and gear is worth it. The biggest downfall is on icy roads with a cross wind. Hopefully I'll get the sway bars on by next year that should help some. We watched the trailer try and pass the pickup at on a glare ice road road with 40 mph side gusts and the pickup behind us with a open had no problems. I still prefer my enclosed. 7x25 holds for long tracks been pulling it with a 1/2 ton or friends 3/4 tons just got a F250 6.4L so I should be set now.

 

[MtnDoo]

Both have their advantages.

If you're willing to pull a larger trailer and have an appropriate tow vehicle, once you have an enclosed unit you'll never go back. Being able to get in out of the wind and snow to change in/out of riding gear or work on a sled is a luxury (sometimes a necessity). Not having expensive machinery being pummeled with road grime and mag chloride isn't bad either. I have a 16' Triton Lowboy with a 7' tall box, and if I had to do it again, I'd add another 5' of bed. Whatever you do, be sure to get a double-axle model if you go this route.

Having a small 1 place open, or 2 place open trailer makes quick work of short nearby dry-road trips, or other utility/hauling needs. They're easy to tow, cheap and versatile. Lots of good deals on used ones every spring.

Either way - just make sure your Tow Vehicle has more cajones than the sleds it's towing!

Good Luck!

MtnDoo

 

[Nolimits]

Either way - just make sure your Tow Vehicle has more cajones than the sleds it's towing!


MtnDoo

I see this all summer long with minivans pulling 22 ft boat w/a 200hp outboard on the back. It sure is a good laugh watching them at the boat ramp!

 

[SLDHVN]

Trailering

well lets look at it this way, when you have a Duramax Diesel you will just pull whatever the f you feel like and still have the ride of a cadillac...
O wait... is there a trailer back there!
Enclosed all the way!

 

[MtnDoo]

Speaking of tow vehicles: funny photo....

 

[ndmtnsledder]

Great picture MtnDoo

 

[dooadew]

Both have their advantages.


Either way - just make sure your Tow Vehicle has more cajones than the sleds it's towing!

Good Luck!

MtnDoo

brakes, brakes , brakes.
i started with a 2 place open , the kids grew so i got a 4 place open, i was driving a toyota tacoma. i could get it rollin no problem but stopping was a different story. now i have a powerstroke and a 27 foot enclosed. wish i could have afforded them earlier and skipped all the hassle of covers and mud and etc.