Topic: Trailer Thread

I am buying a very used enclosed trailer to haul our "race" car.  It is basically a box with no upgrades or paint inside.  I was suprised to not find a thread hear on trailers.  Seems like a logical topic of discussion as we all have to get to the track some how.



Ours will be a 2008 Pace Arrow.  20'? maybe.  Don't recall off hand. 

Walls are wood with no paint.  I think a coat of oil based white would brighten the interior.  Thinking the front needs some cheap cabinets.  Once I get the trailer, I will post a pic.

So, what have you got and what have you done to it?

Organizer's Choice Award 2011 Heaps in Heart of Texas
IOE 2012 North Dallas Hooptie
2014 ECR Class C WIN;  2015 MSR Class B WIN
Speedy Monzales

Re: Trailer Thread

We wired our 24 footer for 110VAC throughout the inside and made a  short pigtail male plug end coming through the wall at the bottom of the trailer.  When not in use, the pig tail is stored inside a weatherproof sealed electric box.  Added three fluorescent "shop lights" to the ceiling that run off the 110V.  We have four outlets at the front of the trailer just above the work bench, one double outlet mid-ship just behind the side door, and another double outlet at the very back.  We used 10 gauge two conductor (+ground) from the pigtail to the outlets / lights.  Since we are only running one 20A phase off the generator, the breaker will pop long before we reach the capacity of the wire.  We used home wiring for everything, which set us back ~$50 all said and done.

We toss the generator on the tongue of the trailer and connect the trailer to it through the pig tail... BAM!  Profit!  Keeping the generator on the tongue helps keep offensive generator noise to a minimum.  However, it doesn't protect it from the elements.  Additionally, we can easily plug into any 110V shore power / RV hookup that may or may not be available trackside. 

My only complaint is that without 110V, you are reduced to the shitty 12V lights inside the trailer.  I'm investigating a couple deep cycle 12V marine batteries and a ~1KW inverter to run the lights, but that's starting to get up there in price. 

Besides that, take care of your trailer tires.  They have a finite life regardless of how much tread is left.

The Pentastar whisperer

Re: Trailer Thread

I ordered mine with cabinets, lights and aluminum sheet metal on the insides.  I figured I wasn't going to be replacing it very often, so might as well go big.

Since then, the only real modification I've made (intentionally) was to add a roof-top air conditioner in place of the vent.  (I did have it pre-wired from the factory.)

I saw a RV trailer parked at a local junk yard that had been burned down the 'passenger' side.  I had my crew chief go over and take a look at it.  The A/C unit was untouched by fire.  So we paid $180 and got ourselves an air conditioned trailer.

A&D: 2011 Autobahn, 2012 Gingerman, 2012 Road America, 2012 Autobahn II, 2013 Gator-O-Rama (True 24!)
Sir Jackie Stewart's Coin Purse Racing
2013 Chubba Cheddar Enduro - Organizer's Choice, 2014 Doing Time in Joliet
http://www.facebook.com/#!/SirJackieSte … urseRacing

Re: Trailer Thread

Racin_G73 wrote:

I ordered mine with cabinets, lights and aluminum sheet metal on the insides.  I figured I wasn't going to be replacing it very often, so might as well go big.

Since then, the only real modification I've made (intentionally) was to add a roof-top air conditioner in place of the vent.  (I did have it pre-wired from the factory.)

I saw a RV trailer parked at a local junk yard that had been burned down the 'passenger' side.  I had my crew chief go over and take a look at it.  The A/C unit was untouched by fire.  So we paid $180 and got ourselves an air conditioned trailer.

Since you had power to the spot, was there structure to support the unit?  I was thinking A/C, but I don't think the roof would suppor it.

Organizer's Choice Award 2011 Heaps in Heart of Texas
IOE 2012 North Dallas Hooptie
2014 ECR Class C WIN;  2015 MSR Class B WIN
Speedy Monzales

Re: Trailer Thread

Bayley wrote:

We wired our 24 footer for 110VAC throughout the inside and made a  short pigtail male plug end coming through the wall at the bottom of the trailer.  When not in use, the pig tail is stored inside a weatherproof sealed electric box.  Added three fluorescent "shop lights" to the ceiling that run off the 110V.  We have four outlets at the front of the trailer just above the work bench, one double outlet mid-ship just behind the side door, and another double outlet at the very back.  We used 10 gauge two conductor (+ground) from the pigtail to the outlets / lights.  Since we are only running one 20A phase off the generator, the breaker will pop long before we reach the capacity of the wire.  We used home wiring for everything, which set us back ~$50 all said and done.

We toss the generator on the tongue of the trailer and connect the trailer to it through the pig tail... BAM!  Profit!  Keeping the generator on the tongue helps keep offensive generator noise to a minimum.  However, it doesn't protect it from the elements.  Additionally, we can easily plug into any 110V shore power / RV hookup that may or may not be available trackside. 

My only complaint is that without 110V, you are reduced to the shitty 12V lights inside the trailer.  I'm investigating a couple deep cycle 12V marine batteries and a ~1KW inverter to run the lights, but that's starting to get up there in price. 

Besides that, take care of your trailer tires.  They have a finite life regardless of how much tread is left.

What type of cabinets do you have?  Factory?  What is the layout?  What do you like or dislike about the layout?  Probalby going to build my own, but want to get it right the first time.

Pictures if you got them.

Organizer's Choice Award 2011 Heaps in Heart of Texas
IOE 2012 North Dallas Hooptie
2014 ECR Class C WIN;  2015 MSR Class B WIN
Speedy Monzales

Re: Trailer Thread

Picked mine up used.  Same thing...  Figured this one needs to last a while so went big. 

24' enclosed Pace w/cabinets, 120v pre-wired, TV, A/C,  winch w/big 12v battery, powered utility jack, carpeted, sound proofed, e-track on the walls, and for races we bring a PS3.  I bring a 6000W generator to the races so that we can power the A/C, lights, and a welder at the same time.   I have a small 3 gallon compressor mounted with air lines. 

For 120v power in the middle of nowhere, I have a 2000W inverter in my truck.

--Rob Leone Schumacher Taxi Service
We won the IOE at Southern Discomfort.
We got screwed at The Real Hoopties of New Jersey  and we took cars down with us.
We got the curse at Capitol Offense but they wouldn't let us destroy the car.

Re: Trailer Thread

General vague question... what's the minimum barrier of entry to a no-frills enclosed trailer? Used, of course. Would need to fit the car(wagon- 15' long) and any space after that would be packed solid with tools/spares

A cursory search of CL for enclosed car trailers turned up this http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/cto/4032706402.html as one of the more nice/reasonable results. Can something like that be had for much cheaper?

"THE WONDERMENT CONSORTIUM"
Everything dies baby that's a fact,
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back?

Re: Trailer Thread

derekste wrote:

General vague question... what's the minimum barrier of entry to a no-frills enclosed trailer? Used, of course. Would need to fit the car(wagon- 15' long) and any space after that would be packed solid with tools/spares

A cursory search of CL for enclosed car trailers turned up this http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/cto/4032706402.html as one of the more nice/reasonable results. Can something like that be had for much cheaper?

The add is dead, but in DFW area you can get them for about $2500 in rough shape.  Good ones are $3000 to $3500.  They seem to hold their value well.  Somewhere I saw a link for a new one for about $3500, but it was on the west coast.  Picking it up would have been expensive.

Organizer's Choice Award 2011 Heaps in Heart of Texas
IOE 2012 North Dallas Hooptie
2014 ECR Class C WIN;  2015 MSR Class B WIN
Speedy Monzales

Re: Trailer Thread

http://www.racingjunk.com/category/146/ … ilers.html

You can find anything you are looking for there.

--Rob Leone Schumacher Taxi Service
We won the IOE at Southern Discomfort.
We got screwed at The Real Hoopties of New Jersey  and we took cars down with us.
We got the curse at Capitol Offense but they wouldn't let us destroy the car.

Re: Trailer Thread

rcazwillis wrote:
Racin_G73 wrote:

I ordered mine with cabinets, lights and aluminum sheet metal on the insides.  I figured I wasn't going to be replacing it very often, so might as well go big.

Since then, the only real modification I've made (intentionally) was to add a roof-top air conditioner in place of the vent.  (I did have it pre-wired from the factory.)

I saw a RV trailer parked at a local junk yard that had been burned down the 'passenger' side.  I had my crew chief go over and take a look at it.  The A/C unit was untouched by fire.  So we paid $180 and got ourselves an air conditioned trailer.

Since you had power to the spot, was there structure to support the unit?  I was thinking A/C, but I don't think the roof would suppor it.

The option was, simply, "wired for A/C".  And it cost less than $150, I believe.  So I don't think they do anything special with the roof.

The A/C unit has been up there since 2005 without any issues.

A&D: 2011 Autobahn, 2012 Gingerman, 2012 Road America, 2012 Autobahn II, 2013 Gator-O-Rama (True 24!)
Sir Jackie Stewart's Coin Purse Racing
2013 Chubba Cheddar Enduro - Organizer's Choice, 2014 Doing Time in Joliet
http://www.facebook.com/#!/SirJackieSte … urseRacing

Re: Trailer Thread

RobL wrote:

http://www.racingjunk.com/category/146/ … ilers.html

You can find anything you are looking for there.

What he said.  Great site for checking out prices.  If you need to narrow it down to your area, you can try a local dirt track web site where they have a forum.  For example, fairburyspeedway.com

Or there's a website called 4m.net where lots of dirt track racers shoot the breeze and post classifieds.

A&D: 2011 Autobahn, 2012 Gingerman, 2012 Road America, 2012 Autobahn II, 2013 Gator-O-Rama (True 24!)
Sir Jackie Stewart's Coin Purse Racing
2013 Chubba Cheddar Enduro - Organizer's Choice, 2014 Doing Time in Joliet
http://www.facebook.com/#!/SirJackieSte … urseRacing

Re: Trailer Thread

My race-trailer is a 1948 Allstate Single-wheel.

I straightened the frame and added a floor and sides, then decked it out with a canvas roof. The floor is several inches longer than I am tall for good measure.

Inside I added a faux-fur-blanket, a light, iPod stereo and campstove. Or sometimes I take all that out and fill it with spare tires and broken British car-parts.

https://scontent-b-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/30601_1446380964074_7176778_n.jpg
https://scontent-a-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/269826_2226842595127_6289801_n.jpg
https://scontent-a-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/39127_1561986614143_6935241_n.jpg
https://scontent-a-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/38887_1561984894100_7751077_n.jpg
(what, were you expecting something "normal"?)

"Real ZomBees prefer Bacon"
IOE(x2) MGB/SAAB 96, Judge's Choice, Class C Win, & 2011 Hooniverse Car of the Year!
MRolla, Stick Figure/Animal House, Free Range MR2, SAAB Sonett, "The Death Flip"
2008 Exoskeleton Jag Fiasco, Concours d Lemons - Rue Britannia, worse British car.

Re: Trailer Thread

One of the best.  Love that trailer.

Organizer's Choice Award 2011 Heaps in Heart of Texas
IOE 2012 North Dallas Hooptie
2014 ECR Class C WIN;  2015 MSR Class B WIN
Speedy Monzales

14 (edited by rodknox2 2013-09-18 08:54 AM)

Re: Trailer Thread

Here is our 20' Featherlite.  It's the cheapie w/plywood floors.  The black tool box is from Sears.  I took off the wheels and bolted it to the floor.  It has ball bearing drawers.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7211/7328806742_0cfff625c7.jpg
P6030082

On top of the tool box is a nut/bolt/washer cabinet.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8015/7328787012_8a45ec3587.jpg
P6030075

Mounted to the wall above the cabinet is another cabinet from Highway Products.  I keep paperwork, paper plates, gloves, neck ring and crap like that. They had it in the same color as the tool box.

I, also, bought the aluminum Pit Pal fold down cabinet for the liquids.  There is the Pit Pal helmet shelf.
On the wall studs I added stringers for tying down all sorts of stuff...folding chairs, folding tables.
We plumbed the trailer for air with a 12v pump and 1/2" pvc running the length of the trailer. We added 12v and 120v lights.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7089/7328784622_54c4a61013.jpg
P6030087

The Tibetan prayer flags have kept us alive...but haven't brought us any racing luck.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7211/7328785014_f7e55c007e.jpg
P6030085

And because many people use the tool box I added labels to the drawers.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7088/7328786080_031870a5f2.jpg
P6030080

Re: Trailer Thread

rodknox2 wrote:

Here is our 20' Featherlite.  It's the cheapie w/plywood floors.  The black tool box is from Sears.  I took off the wheels and bolted it to the floor.  It has ball bearing drawers.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7211/7328806742_0cfff625c7.jpg
P6030082

On top of the tool box is a nut/bolt/washer cabinet.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8015/7328787012_8a45ec3587.jpg
P6030075

Mounted to the wall above the cabinet is another cabinet from Highway Products.  I keep paperwork, paper plates, gloves, neck ring and crap like that. They had it in the same color as the tool box.

I, also, bought the aluminum Pit Pal fold down cabinet for the liquids.  There is the Pit Pal helmet shelf.
On the wall studs I added stringers for tying down all sorts of stuff...folding chairs, folding tables.
We plumbed the trailer for air with a 12v pump and 1/2" pvc running the length of the trailer. We added 12v and 120v lights.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7089/7328784622_54c4a61013.jpg
P6030087

The Tibetan prayer flags have kept us alive...but haven't brought us any racing luck.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7211/7328785014_f7e55c007e.jpg
P6030085

And because many people use the tool box I added labels to the drawers.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7088/7328786080_031870a5f2.jpg
P6030080

Nice setup.  The PitPal line is extensive.  They have a rack for everything.

Organizer's Choice Award 2011 Heaps in Heart of Texas
IOE 2012 North Dallas Hooptie
2014 ECR Class C WIN;  2015 MSR Class B WIN
Speedy Monzales

16 (edited by Camper Van Someren 2023-04-10 09:24 AM)

Re: Trailer Thread

I'm gonna bring back this very dead thread because I want to share pictures of my trailer mods I just finished. 

My trailer doesn't have any good studs or firmly attached plywood in the front, which complicated my plans to put cabinets up there. I also wanted spare tire storage as well as a workbench, and had to get creative. In the end I settled for E-track with 2x4s so the load is carried by wall studs. The rolling mechanic stool works for a chair for the workbench. I can hold 4-5 tires and keep the work bench, or fold up the bench and have room for another set of tires if that is in my future. Tote bins with spare parts will be strapped to the shelf above. I also wired in a deep cycle battery with a cutoff switch for when its in storage, and a USB charging station with voltmeter - the same that I installed in the racecar.

I wonder, does anybody else finish a project and want to share it? My wife doesn't care, and my teammates are scattered all over. So I decided to send the pictures into the black hole of the internet. Thanks for bearing with me!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ttKS-w-5qRu-4uXMSyr4Ijefmt4JPodDhimXOqbBbhtCS8wIxPJcIsIZFePt5xuKocJygs9cHMV8_7WOuRtCwWQOAfhbxBj62AUxunNFJ70N3ALjNtOyyJPKCUB4P0xF8dkSChEmAGxid8qjt3Ng2044VCqGaRrqLU-TsPLSjMLla0KgYosx41EUqkamZiPy02f9lgGU0JgkhweuwsmCq-87naJj8ccbAN5kmO14s4aibCGG2Jnb1K9bWf5ZmAdFbXqkXueLx6RDpcZIpDPTmMxIutM4MlCTEmIuMlNvpypiDh7YN0ShCo2BzWW4qNqgdyyHGSK2u27Bm_1lKDti66uZgxvzTOCMcsQchbpSagdL_jrv_-hFWjkyXZeODNeCWtvnmtGAkA0Y0pgDrL0xB3VlCrrj3gMPbQsC9BbxbYhLG6FEnY3nwuOuw81rugvno4MlYiqWBVFx7IXertXibuUcFZsv7e6WXry-o1VSsONB-CQ6MliyzXaXxj9axe_yPGIuF70ezxXPK2NDQqVlQsSSTwCFXa00xJWjUsdzuJYveWhgsByWu2lnn7xQPMpyG1gZDKMkwQNdnrumOnsuU10PPeO12kjhakOJhKkb98ZIpbM1H0r3NyKV8_e-mHW0NuDaYqu8Gf2YEEktW4IfIiUDvyDotC7ehuJzRba48L0u3yF1O3WNWudfnDe_QBGOWYHu4MrXlWDFqyZIfWFVZaARAmdg1lJbLbG6NFYs7462wp6IPIVYcb3x8dx02pF-R7ZbBAtaxgl-9sXwWDD0t1Nwe_UAyG9Xivl-8XluBbiGCuVE0OImZIz91EBKs-vGgsEvuoztZ-ycIX9bi5PV8c8sEXD4BSZxfEGuOstU7PpAF-9yjgWFE7amZ7uJPKbc2SuvzAmICDV9ni-MjjmfgGsNN7mWnFXePJFP-dz_P4CpEwx6I_tIxzuFn1GwQ2klsnwQktkZv6YGtx_BEFlMSiTmArTVA5v1XSo3Q1K25zIxd3fmA_CRihzXyw=w1249-h937-s-no?authuser=0

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Y12ET5whlXsHPYhX1zpvYF04g09SGIkXKHVv7DUxYT4KMOeBRq899VwJWdvE-ye6D_-j1NQZWwEg8BjREWXg88rbgIffKNulpfNd655YVuZ8OHu4WGbVDrjKlxP3uiGuGw5MmBTFnI1KmpqpP8m6prx27O6qAfSLn-rMskRn0EuonEAOv8Z_9Y3Td271lk7QS8-bI5U7Sl7-ccfp9j6FmDZ6GAddYr952yH2sL1KoN3Py-4i-19pl6vwZbwHRipBkaerQ2aJBz40fuxlbvrNlUCMKy-mGgNHnz3mAHLuzTV6yxn-uQuDi2lwKpc6Z4jTfr0-fN5YfgnlVp64_J2ZQZ0V1qSQT923NoOAC-OYr9WjjwmTAyvmiCatDfVwarsHxv7ul1qdu1epvLivX-bzYMjrYnoUZl1QZHL2G_4c5V1WoTfyvuzoqy2Yi5rq5CcdnVN0ygeNJ-Z6dvo6u46xSxx-OoQ4Nn940VQ9qxWSA3yjASzlMb7Rq_JS5I4liFuykcZgf8iSblO16wdyDQrdYiisZRCbMpNU7Ql5X3gApjl1AgAvv_yuuaMZqQk01JpvWIkrPXmFpa6uaZG5kepPyZ7STlrtrIsScF3hJ-0sB6huwckpHVF5md4jUlVzufP8AjVJDRSeFfdSb121A1lr2cb7mKQsB5ncrkzo3lkvAASw87ZgfhVLqttMtBb5T27H0oNIlJ-iCutDpdKOubAFBfqiBvJBaDihfdZIKB3DlHrarA2M6xnDUT4c-mKln78LBFF1i8Txb21QfYnPKxB3vtOZCZJr9NRAhJs5TkLZPZpZwp4sl9TcDKfWknOxKwqbto_r_Pa_DW1nHvX03qIezjPhvdS5rG7WLNMPDM5QB40RMnjkIkg2gbs_JHzqAL8Uv2ETLvRF_G4GcfMG-8G7l4TtfoJn1zBT4pHIVXkJbPB0QA0Dw18F_E27_On4iyga6Nb7MVR_dXxuBs1WNnrLrcpe2G5YhIWrcXwKMntGmkdYajGC-trRwPwOew=w1252-h937-s-no?authuser=0

Re: Trailer Thread

I put in a lot of e-track.  I have load bars to hold the tires and bought some door faces from midwest race cabinets.  24 foot box trailer.

https://i.imgur.com/tIGiTZzl.jpg
Just load the tires and drive right in.

https://i.imgur.com/OOXN98Ll.jpg
My toolbox gets strapped down where the scooter is.

Team whatever_racecar #745 Volvo wagon

Re: Trailer Thread

Nice, that is a better use of space, and probably better for weight balance too. I thought about that but decided I still wanted to be able to move through the trailer without ducking.

Do you strap the wheels down at all when towing, or do they sit ok without straps?

Re: Trailer Thread

Camper Van Someren wrote:

Nice, that is a better use of space, and probably better for weight balance too. I thought about that but decided I still wanted to be able to move through the trailer without ducking.

Do you strap the wheels down at all when towing, or do they sit ok without straps?

I strap the wheels down. I could probably get 9 225 width tires on the rack. The trailer spare is now on its own etrack mount.

Usually the spares come out of the trailer to hold the ez-up down and it just takes a few seconds to remove the load bars.

Team whatever_racecar #745 Volvo wagon