Needing to pick a few brains here...
Super short version - I want to build a custom trailer which is capable of periodically hauling cars and trucks (not it's primary use at all, few times per year max) but due to needing to be stored in a small garage space area has to be smaller than normal. Renting will not normally be an economic or perhaps even possible option with many short notice weekend opportunities.
An 8.5 foot wide 24 foot long car only hauler is just too big. Ideal width is probably from 5.5 to 6.5 feet wide - length somewhere from 16 to 21 feet long. Yet it WILL have to haul vehicles up to 22 feet long (1976 Cadilacc Fleetwood project once found already planned) both the biggest/heaviest cars as well as up to 1 ton crew cab (possibly duallie) pickups.
So my thinking is if I use special ramps or even side jacks to get the car/truck up and over the wheels in the middle only to lower it back down again to get the center of gravity as low as possible. Literally laying car frame on trailer frame (with some rubber blocks between maybe) not quite as low as a car hauler but i'm hoping pretty low. Just high enough so that the door sills of the car being over the trailer wheel points are practically touching afterwards.
For some vehicles there will be overhang - i'm hoping this is not an inherent problem as the trailer will basically be a flatbed. Having at worst an extra long toungue in front to give some extra space and possibly even having the rear of the trailer at least 'visually extend' (not really a weight supporting position) so that the trailer lights, license plate and such are still behind the car regardless of length.
What i'm not sure is whether the couple inches higher CoG makes a big deal, or whether the overhang would be unsafe in some way. What i'm trying to avoid is the equivalent of a "flatbed over the top of the wheels driving onto that" which would be even higher yet.
I'm not sure if it's needed or not but having one (or even both) trailer axles adjustable fore/aft for position to help better distribute the load is okay as well. Something I may want to option for other non-car loads.
I am aware this creates potentially alot of inconvenience to jack things up and place carefully instead of just driving on and driving off. But that doesn't bother me if it will be done very infrequently and for long range hauling - i'm only concerned about the safety hazards of such a trailer and hauling method. Can someone with better experience than me enlighten me on how doable it is?
Super short version - I want to build a custom trailer which is capable of periodically hauling cars and trucks (not it's primary use at all, few times per year max) but due to needing to be stored in a small garage space area has to be smaller than normal. Renting will not normally be an economic or perhaps even possible option with many short notice weekend opportunities.
An 8.5 foot wide 24 foot long car only hauler is just too big. Ideal width is probably from 5.5 to 6.5 feet wide - length somewhere from 16 to 21 feet long. Yet it WILL have to haul vehicles up to 22 feet long (1976 Cadilacc Fleetwood project once found already planned) both the biggest/heaviest cars as well as up to 1 ton crew cab (possibly duallie) pickups.
So my thinking is if I use special ramps or even side jacks to get the car/truck up and over the wheels in the middle only to lower it back down again to get the center of gravity as low as possible. Literally laying car frame on trailer frame (with some rubber blocks between maybe) not quite as low as a car hauler but i'm hoping pretty low. Just high enough so that the door sills of the car being over the trailer wheel points are practically touching afterwards.
For some vehicles there will be overhang - i'm hoping this is not an inherent problem as the trailer will basically be a flatbed. Having at worst an extra long toungue in front to give some extra space and possibly even having the rear of the trailer at least 'visually extend' (not really a weight supporting position) so that the trailer lights, license plate and such are still behind the car regardless of length.
What i'm not sure is whether the couple inches higher CoG makes a big deal, or whether the overhang would be unsafe in some way. What i'm trying to avoid is the equivalent of a "flatbed over the top of the wheels driving onto that" which would be even higher yet.
I'm not sure if it's needed or not but having one (or even both) trailer axles adjustable fore/aft for position to help better distribute the load is okay as well. Something I may want to option for other non-car loads.
I am aware this creates potentially alot of inconvenience to jack things up and place carefully instead of just driving on and driving off. But that doesn't bother me if it will be done very infrequently and for long range hauling - i'm only concerned about the safety hazards of such a trailer and hauling method. Can someone with better experience than me enlighten me on how doable it is?
The cost of an extra storage garage alone over the 8 years I plan to still be stuck living where I am is $10,000. That buys alot of trailer!
