Fold Up Car Trailer

[Travel'n Man]

Fold up Car Trailer, who would of thunk it??

http://www.kendonusa.com/folding-car-trailer-demo.htm

[Jeff G 78]

Interesting idea, but it doesn't look very long and I don't think I'd want to use it in the rust belt. I'd also want to check all the joints before every use.

I could see it working well for some people, but it isn't for everybody.

[Carl Beck]

I want something between the fold-up and the 8.5'x20' enclosed car hauler that I now have.

To carry a Z I want an "enclose'able" trailer that is about 16' long, by 7' wide, that has front opening access panels so you can tie the front of the car down from outside the trailer. Low ride height and low load angle with a fold down rear ramp door. I want it to be just a few inches taller on the interior than the Z... and I want it for about $3695.00.

Maybe if we designed a custom Classic Z Hauler, and had several of them built - we could get that.

I don't need to stand up in the trailer, so I don't need to drag a 6'6" tall trailer though the air. The Z is only 13' long so allowing a couple feet for the tie down's in front and rear it only needs to be about 16 or 17' long. It it were build for the Z - using wheel tie downs like the U-Haul trailers use - you'd only need a trailer about 15' long.

next project perhaps....

FWIW,

Carl B.

[zbane]

Something like this Carl?

You've seen the tractor trailers that have cloth/vinyl sides, right? The tarp-like material is lighter than aluminum, can allow access from the side, and is durable. I would think that with a solid nose on a trailer (to avoid rocks and other projectiles, perhaps also to provide a lockable area for tools, etc.), the rest could be made of this same heavy duty material. There would need to be a support cage of some sort to hold up the material, but it probably wouldn't need to be welded if it could be bolted or pinned together securely.

By having soft walls, you could drive in and get out of the trailer easily (unlike some enclosed trailers) .

Just a thought.

I realize that my attached rendition is of a very poor quality, but I hope you get the idea.

[Jeff G 78]

That's a great idea. I don't think I've ever seen a car trailer designed like that. Like you said, it works for semi trailers, so why not light weight car trailers. Some simple aluminum bowes would work as support. The semi trailers use drop-in sides with aluminum bowes and canvas above them. The same system would work on a smaller scale.

[carguyinok]

I will pass on that thank you.

I do ALOT of car hauling with my trailer and have spent most of my life doing so. One of the major things I see wrong here is thats a trailer thats only good on sunny days!!

The whole thing is made of round tubes with the car being driven on on round tubes.

Let me go grab the hose and spray that trailer down with water. Now, lets see if he can make that hot rod go up those tubes without a good run at it. Then if it had enough speed to make it up the ramps I would love to see it stop on the tubes with out sliding off the front of the trailer and into the truck thats towing it.

I just see that being VERY VERY slick when wet. Thats not a good thing for a car hauler......

I would say it's another thought that looked real good on paper.

Just my .02 about that.

Edited March 8, 2009 by carguyinok

[Carl Beck]

Hi David:

The concept drawing is pretty much on target related to size and shape. I would want hard sides however because of security. While it isn't much more secure - it's a good feeling to know the car is locked inside the trailer when you have to park at a motel for the night. Canvas sides are to easy to cut through without making much noise...

Make the nose out of carbon fiber - and put a hinge on it so it folds up enough to work under.. and we're in business. Might have to make a ramp door that double folds.. so it is long enough when down to keep the load angle low..

Ideal would be an aluminum trailer... to keep the total weight down, but that might drive the cost too high. Nonetheless a small single purpose trailer like that shouldn't weight much more than 2000 lbs even if built with steel/plywood. Perhaps just make the nose out of aluminum to make it light enough to lift up easily.

After I get back from Amelia - I might talk to a local trailer manufacturer to see if it is economically feasible..... Might be a great trailer for all small sports/gt's that are growing in popularity as Classic's today...

It would also have the advantage of being able to be hidden from view by the typical 6' fence around most homes today...

FWIW,

Carl B.

[cunniwj]

Carl, How are you getting the Baja up to Amelia Island?

[Carl Beck]

I bought an 8.5'x20' enclosed car hauler.... it's HUGE!! I'll be looking for people with trailer backing skills - once I get there...:stupid:

Tomorrow I'll be out shopping for a wireless rear view camera/display as well.

Which reminds me - I need to call Bill Coffey to see if I can take him alongLOL

I just pray for good weather this year - ie. no strong winds...

FWIW,

Carl B.

[Travel'n Man]

Carl,

What brand did you end up buying. I've got an event at "Tail of the Dragon" I want to go to but I really don't want to have my car on the road for 3 hours driving over to the western most part of my state. I am looking..........

[zbane]

Mitchell, you do want to drive over there...trust me on this!

[Travel'n Man]

Zbane-

I've been there before, one hell of a road. Car clubs from all over the nation travel days just to drive on it. My sister lives in Cullowhee and part of my job takes me there monthly. I would much rather trailer the Zcar to the event and then enjoy the twisty's. My X5 is much more enjoyable on the interstate for 3 hours from the Boone area than to have all those loose pebbles eating up my paint on the front of the car after the 12" of snow we had last week. It will take months to get all that crap off the roads,.........you know what I mean.