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| − | Steel rusts, and wood rots.
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| − | On wood, things won't slide around as much. Be cautious, because some wood trailers are not pressure-treated wood, and won't last long.
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| − | Wood can loosen, crack, and warp. Fluids soak in, leaving a mess.
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| − | With a wood trailer, you can screw something down to secure it.
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| − | Steel can get oily and slippery, especially when hauling project cars leaking fluids. Diamond-plate decks help with slipping.
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| − | Trailers that are open in the middle (open-pit trailers) can be useful. Less weight, oil leaks onto the ground, and the open part can be useful for working under the car.
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| − | A box on the tongue is useful for holding jacks, chocks, tie-down straps, hand tools, etc.
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| − | Look for trailers to buy at race tracks. There are people there with a trailer and no car.
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| − | Wood decks will have to be replaced periodically. Factor in the time to remove the old wood and fasteners, and then buy, cut, and install new wood.
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| − | Steel decks need to be coated. Epoxy, bedliner, etc. Over and under is best.
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| − | ==Types of decking==
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| − | *Steel diamond plate
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| − | *Aluminum diamond plate
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| − | *Heavy steel expanded metal (?)
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| − | *Pressure-treated wood
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| − | *Non pressure-treated wood, coated with something.
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| − | ==Trailer suppliers==
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| − | *Dargo
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| − | *Long Haul
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| − | *Trailtech
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| − | *Sloan
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| − | *Fleet (?)
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| − | *Kings Trailer
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| − | *ABU Trailers
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| − | ==Trailer winches==
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| − | Good features: free-wheel option to let the cable out, reel speed that isn't very slow.
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| − | When examining ratings: drag weight and rolling weight are two different things.
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| − | Can be hooked up to battery, or powered through a 20 amp cigarette lighter plug.
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| − | A snatch block can be used to double the power of the winch.
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| − | Use high-quality, high-rated straps for securing your load. Where a strap will be rubbing against steel, use a piece of cardboard as a buffer.
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| − | ==Enclosed trailers==
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| − | Keep nosy people and thieves wondering. Makes for better piece of mind when you are stopped to eat or rest. They work good as storage too.
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| − | Tie-down loops or rails can be used for extra support. Rebar makes a decent tie-down rail, and the ridges on it provide traction for tie-down straps and rope.
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| − | Removable fenders are helpful for towing lower cars.
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| − | Torsion axles are recommended.
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| − | If tongue weight is too much, load the car backwards, or move it back on the trailer. Careful with this, with the weight in the rear, the load can weave.
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| − | States have different requirements for brakes on axles.
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| − | Electric brake controller recommended.
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| − | Be wary of the tongue weight. It should only be about 10% of the towing weight.
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| − | Cross the tie-down straps.
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| − | ==When towing==
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| − | Always remember that you need more room to stop, so leave a good gap in front of you when driving. One car length per 10 mph has been recommended.
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| − | Practice driving with the trailer with no load on it, to see how it handles and brakes.
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| − | Electronic proportional brake controller recommended. This brand especially: http://www.tekonsha.com/prodig.html .
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| − | If the trailer is not level, it can hit a slight bump and "bounce" for a while.
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| − | Chains and binders may be best, but sometimes can't be used if the paint will be damaged.
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| − | Check your straps and chains frequently as you stop.
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| − | http://www.rumber.com/ has been recommended. It's "lumber" made from recycled tire rubber and plastics. Manuf says: Durable, non-slip, easy to clean, impervious to water, UV-resistant. Will not crack, rot, or slip.
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| − | Use a coupler that is rated for AT LEAST the load of a fully loaded trailer.
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| − | Brakes on all trailer wheels.
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| − | Make sure your trailer tire gross load ratings add up to the weight of the total load. Trailer-rated rims too.
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| − | Tongue jack should be fixed at the top AND the bottom.
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| − | Wood, steel, tilt, ramps, beavertail, straight axle, dropped axle -- it's all up to personal preference.
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| − | "Farmer Fix" for painting a trailer: change your tow car's oil, and save the oil. Add 1 quart of aluminum paint and one gallon of thinner, diesel, or any oil-based liquid. Brush it on with a shop broom, and let it sit in the sun for several days. Also, used motor oil and diesel fuel, half-and-half.
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