Hey everyone. So I'm looking for an enclosed car hauler and came across one I wanted some advice on. So other tha being ugly, what's your thoughts on this? Thought maybe it was decent for the price.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/3995720119.html


Thanks!

 

Way too heavy. Once you get a vehicle in it, you will probably be way over one or more of your limits. Plus, a homemade trailer? Is it even register-able?

 

Any enclosed car hauler once you put a car and equipment in it will probably be too heavy for your truck. Those are designed to be towed by a 3/4 ton truck minimum.

 

lol thats an excellent question. I assumed it was. What does a 20-25ft enclosed usually weigh? I though 3650 was about right. Regardless thanks for the responses.

 

too much, too heavy, no go. i live in the oly area as well and see weay better stuff on the side of the road, craigslist, and on lots. take your time and shop around

 

Looking online, I found them starting at 2800 and going up. Only the 20' ones seem to be close to the limits of your truck, but will require a WD hitch in all cases. Honestly, you would be far better off with a super duty if towing something like that.

 

It will kill your truck to tow it empty and is way over priced. My 18ft enclosed weighed 2950 and towed like a brick. Sold it to my son and it killed his 2010 1500 Hemi Ram he bought a F250 Diesel to tow it. Then it was stolen off the army base while he was deployed. Still not sure how anyone can take a 18ft by 8ft6in box thru a gate at a Army base and no one notice it. Could of carried enough stuff to outfit a small army.

 

I must have missed that memo.



I just want to make sure Ive got something straight here. We routinely discuss people strapping a 7k+ camper behind their F150 around these parts, when said camper has:
1. Worse weight distribution
2. Higher center of gravity
3. Less robust frame construction

Yet a car hauler of the same weight, lower center of gravity, better frame construction and the ability to adjust the weight distribution/tongue weight by moving the vehicle around in the trailer is a no go?

 

7k+ campers are also designed to go behind 3/4 ton trucks.

 

So an 8-11k towing capacity is irrelevant?

 

If it puts you over GVWR or GAWR, yes.

 

Actually you don't have a car hauler. You have an enclosed cargo trailer with a ramp door. See those 5 lug hubs on the trailer? That means you have 3.5k axles for a 7k GVWR rating. If you had a true car hauler you would have a minimum of 6 lug nuts of those wheels showing that you had 5.2k or heavier axles making it a true car hauler. BTW that means you actually have a light duty frame also similar in strength to a camper.

By all means you can sure tow an enclosed cargo trailer. Even put a race car or similar inside. You will be as seen in your picture just fine.

BUT, take a true car hauler, loaded with a car/truck and you will be way over ratings for an F150. A true enclosed car hauler with 5.2k-7k axles with a 10.5-14k GVWR weighs close to 3500-4k empty. Some of the bigger ones are over 6k empty.

As GLC mentioned car haulers are for a minimum 3/4 ton trucks and bigger.