Track Car Towing Options

[jrclem]

Bob:
That 5 inch problem is only your own!

[mubezzi]

What about horse power and torque for a gasoline fueled motor? What is sufficient...

[alfabender]

I have another question to add. I'd like a tow vehicle that's nicer to drive than my current Jeep Cherokee (which is already rather marginal--lousy brakes, and not really heavy enough).

I'm thinking of getting an aluminum trailer, which should save 500 lbs or so of weight, and together with the GTV (2000 lbs) I'd probably be towing between 3000 and 3500 lbs.

I'm thinking of a Mercedes 300E or E320 station wagon, the big one with the reliable straight-six engine they made up to 1995, as a tow vehicle. Brakes should be better than the Jeep, it's probably about as heavy, and much nicer to drive when not towing. It would have about 200 horsepower vs the Jeep's 250. Volume for stowing parts, helmets and tools is about the same but considerably lower--the floor of the stowage compartment is knee high instead of waist high so there would be a lot more stooping to load and unload stuff.

Anyway what do people think?

Doug Bender

[Alfaowner]

Doug:

Are you looking for open or enclosed aluminum trailer?

Norm

[alfabender]

It'd be an open trailer. I probably need to get one custom made because my goal is to be able to park it, with the race car on it, inside my garage.

[bjwhite]

I bought my 98 BMW 540i 6-speed to tow my Spec Miata. It has a 4400lb tow capacity with a braked trailer. My towing is the same weight as yours..alum trailer and 2000lb car. Well under 4400. Plus the BMW has lots of motor and big brakes.

[Alfaowner]

You may not need a custom-made one. Check dimensions of the Trailex.

I towed my MGB for 6 years on an open Trailex. I pulled this package with a Saab 95 SE - Turbo 6. Frankly, it was like I had nothing back there. I was even able to accelerate up steep hills. It did effect fuel consumption. Whereas I normally get 30 mpg at 75 - 80 on the highway, towing dropped that to 19 mpg at 70.

I think you will be pleased with the way the Merc tows. HOWEVER - a caveat. I just went through hell trying to rig electric brakes on my BMW X3. Seems BMW NA doesn't want you to have electric brakes on a trailer when towed by one of their vehicles. Of course, the stupidity is that their trailer hitch hookup has a terminal for activating the electric brakes. And, it does a very good job of LOCKING THEM UP! Their only option is to disconnect the wiring for the electric brakes so you have no trailer brakes. Really dumb!

BTW, when I was shopping for a hitch, all dealers I called were ready to make a deal until they heard the make - BMW. Then, they said goodbye. NONE of them would touch it.

In order to install electric brakes with a controller, I had to install a brake light switch from a '70's Chevy truck that rides on the brake pedal arm. And, I have wiring all over the damn truck.

Draw-Tite tells me they have sent numerous controllers to BMW NA for testing with the aim of having the X-series set up so electric brake controllers are easily installed. But, BMW NA hasn't even aknowleged receipt of the controllers.

Now, MBNA MAY not be so backward. However, with them being within walking distance of each other in Montvale, I would check first before buying a Merc.

Good luck.

Norm

[Alfaowner]

Brian:

How are you controlling the trailer brakes on the BMW? Did BMW not screw up the wiring in '98 as they did on 2004?

I notice you also have an All Road. I came real close to buying one of those instead of the X3. Do you tow with that?

Norm

[alfabender]

Norm

Thanks for the tip on Trailex. I've been browsing through the web for some time and they never came up before. The closest match I could find was Featherlite, and their trailers are a bit larger than I would like. I've looked at the Trailex website and their stuff looks pretty good.

Doug Bender

[Alfapwr]

Hi Guys,

I'm lucky enough ( or unlucky when it's time to fill up ) to have a v10 Excursion as my tow vehicle. But I also have a 1982 MBZ 300D turbodiesel sedan daily beater. This thing is a torque monster . I wonder Doug if it may be worth considering one of the 1982-1985 300TD wagons ? Lots of room, very heavy ( about 3800lbs ) great ride, and that strong engine. I have no idea how the MPG would be towing but I average 26 and half of my total daily drive is uphill to Palmdale.

I'm going to check out the Trailex trailer too !

Later,

Dan

[Alfapwr]

Hi again,

Just looked at the Trailex site. They look nice.

Here's my problem. I have no place to keep a trailer, that's why my race Super will remain barely street legal for a while. I like the idea of getting a trailer small enough to store in the garage, but my garage isn't that deep. # cars wide though, but too many cars to put anything in sideways. Plus I have work benches, storage cabinets, freezer, etc. The shortest Trailex is 19.5 feet long. Does anyone know of a trailer with a folding front or rear section that would reduce the length to around 15 feet? I know I could use a dolly but that issue has been discussed already.

Just wonderin'

Dan

[alfabender]

Dan

I've been looking at these for a while now. My constraint on overall length is about 17'.

The Trailex trailers have a "V" at the front of the trailer like all trailers, about 4' long, then a tongue in front of that, and their overall length is about 7' longer than the deck length.

Other trailers can be found that are about 4'6" longer than the deck length. Also, most trailermakers can customize to some extent. For example, my current trailer is a steel job from Carson Trailers. It's about the right size for an Alfa 105/115: deck is 13' long by 6'5' wide, and overall is 17'6" long by 8' wide. It could be a bit narrower, an Alfa GTV is a little less than 6' wide. Lengthwise, you could shorten it some more by having it made with a removable tongue but the people at Carson Trailers strongly discouraged me from doing this because it's not nearly as strong. That's what you'd have to do to get down to a 15' length.

I once carried a BMW 3.0 CS that I used to have on this trailer, so a 13' deck should be long enough for most of the cars we drive. It might be possible to go down to 12' but the back of your car would overhang the back of the trailer and you'd have trouble finding a place to tie down the rear end of the car.

When I get serious, early next year, about upgrading to an Aluminum trailer, I am going to go for quotes on one the size I need to a few vendors: Heacock, Featherlite, H&H, Trailer World, R&R, and Trailex.

Incidentally, if I do get the Aluminum trailer I'd have the Carson steel one for sale.

Doug Bender

[dan farmer]

Doug-

Please keep us informed about the quotes you get. I'm sure several BBers, including me, would be appreciative of the info.

-df

[Alfapwr]

Hi Doug,

Thanks for the info. See ya sunday !

Dan

[Wil Painter]

Doug:
With respect to the 12 ft length & tie downs, here's what I did last September when in a crisis mode I borrowed a trailer to go to the Glen and had to make do with the short 12 deck length. I reversed the direction of the straps, hooking the axle straps forward and ratcheting the front backwards to develop tension at both ends.
I am a fan of the Trailex, it is unique in design & construction, is very, very light compared to others, which is important at the 3500 pound total weight that many smaller tow vehicles are limited to. I know people who have towed tens of thousands of miles over a decade, who have sold their Trailexes for close to what they paid; they do hold their value.
Has anyone called Trailex to get some direct feedback on how to shorten the tongue for storage, remember they are a bolted construction, and there may be a do-able solution
Good Luck
Wil Painter