Hey... So yeah, I know... I'm stuck in the 1800's using film, instead of digital, and it took me forever... Oh well. Be thankful I finally got around to it.

Enjoy!

One shot of the trailer empty behind the truck, just before we left for Minnesota to pick up my Formula after Thanksgiving.

A shot in the hotel parking lot in Minneapolis. The trailer is loaded, and you can see (kinda) that the truck doesn't sit much lower, even with a car in there. I really need to get an equalizer hitch, but it does surprisingly well without it. Too bad it had to snow that night.

Here's a view from the rear with my GT inside... (Don't mind the oil spot, I had a few radiators that leaked some tranny fluid in there.) I normally use a pair of ratchet straps on each end of the car, but one is all I need while the car is being stored in the trailer.

More to come...

------------------
Nic

Nice, looks just like mine. Except ,mine is a White Silverado & white 24' Haulmark.

You got good taste.

Archie

More pics...

One large load of parts... A full 24 feet worth, and nearly knee deep the whole way!

Anyway... I have a few more, but I'm getting bored with resizing pics, and I want to get a few up of my Formula.

Thanks for looking!

Nic

quote Originally posted by musicman_L7: I remember seeing yours at Wheatstock. Have you added any upgrades to the truck or trailer? What do you suggest? Nic

I highly recommend the equalizer hitch. Even with a heavy load it pulls like a dream.

I have a solid state brake controler otherwise the truck is stock.

I did put a Wing on the cab to take the air off the front of the trailer. On my trip to the Kbott's show that wing gave me a 1.2MPG improvement.

I've pulled the trailer about 50K miles in the last 2 years. We just did a brake lining replacement job today.

I've had the truck for 3 years and 2 weeks now & I've put 107000 miles on it since I got it. At least 70% of those miles were pulling a trailer. I had a 16' open trailer for the 1st year I had the truck.

Archie

quote Originally posted by Archie: I've pulled the trailer about 50K miles in the last 2 years. We just did a brake lining replacement job today. I've had the truck for 3 years and 2 weeks now & I've put 107000 miles on it since I got it. At least 70% of those miles were pulling a trailer. I had a 16' open trailer for the 1st year I had the truck. Archie

Good to hear... Mine has 105,000+ on it right now, and it handles everything but headwinds well. I do intend to install an equalizer style hitch, and I obviously already have the brake controller. I'm glad to know that others are using the same setup and not having problems.

Nic

Musicman & Archie, I notice you both pull with 1500 trucks. No problems?

Last year I bought a new US Cargo 24x8.5 enclosed trailer and at the same time a new 2500 X-tend cab long bed 6.0 4x4 truck to pull it (what a blow to the wallet that was). Was I a dumb ass for trading my old '97 1500 X-tend cab long bed 5.7 2WD? It was unstoppable pulling my loaded flatbed, but I doubted it would pull a loaded full size enclosed trailer.

I was well read about the towing capacity of the 1500 vs. 2500 and thought I'd need a 2500 for sure.

BTW, what kinda of mileage do you guys get? I get 8-10 mpg. when hauling 10K lbs. I bought a raised truck cap to attempt better air flow over the trailer. That helps nothing!

Weight distributors are a must have. Sway control is another must. I bought the sway control after the first trip, what an improvement.

I have noticed enclosed trailers are a great investment. They never lose value. I was checking used trailers first. they sell for nearly as much as new trailers. (kinda like Harleys).

------------------
3 Indys, 1 is A/C delete
84 Black/Silver T-top custom
85 GT speedster
86 GT Yellow
88 Formula, Red
88 GT White, T-top, 5 speed.

However......
"Time is the most precious and perishable of my possessions."

Buy IRM, again! at www.fierowarehouse.com

007DOUG, an IFCF member. (International Fiero Crime Fighter)

Doug,

I wouldn't say that getting rid of your 1/2 ton pickup was stupid. Next time around, I will go back to a 3/4 ton (I had one before this truck and downsized).

Personally, I was really surprised to see how well this truck pulls the trailer. But, I couldn't/wouldn't go any heavier with it, before upgrading the pickup. My current gross trailer weight is 6350 lbs. Chevy rates my truck's configuration at 7500 lbs, but I'm already a little too close to the limit for my taste. I typically like to have nearly double the capacity that I need, and in this case I don't.

I can stay with traffic on the interstate, although much over 70 MPH, and it's nearly floored, but the truck doesn't seem to mind. Usually, I run about 67-69 MPH on the interstate and am getting around 8-10 MPG depending on road conditions. Hills aren't much of a problem, as the largest one I've found yet, only slowed me to 54 MPH. Typically, I don't try to make it over the hills with the truck working its heart out, but I was curious to see how well it would do. Headwinds are currently my biggest problem, but I can still stay with traffic, yet my mileage will suffer terribly.

The thing I don't like about my truck is that it's underpowered enough, that it loves to downshift... Many times all the way to 2nd gear, and I don't like listening to it run up a hill at 4500 RPM. So, instead of using cruise control, I drive it myself to assure that it won't do that (I let it slow a bit, if it feels like it's ready to downshift).

Nic

Looks very nice, sharp in black.. I see you loaded the Fiero back first. Wonder how much that adds to the tounge weight. I load mine front first, putting the weight over the trailer weels. I may try it your way.

My Suburban 5.3 does okay, I use tow mode & the cruise control @ 65 - 70. When I see large hills that would cause a downshift, I turn off the cc and after the hill, turn it back on. Headwinds aren't a problem due to the low height.

The line you painted on the floor was a good idea.

[This message has been edited by CoolBlue87GT (edited 12-11-2004).]

Thanks for compliments CoolBlue.

For me, to load the car nose-first, it would have to be pulled so far forward to get some tongue weight, it negates the whole reasoning behind such a long trailer... Extra room up front. By backing it in, I get the rear axle of the car, just a few inches ahead of the front axle of the trailer, and this acheives about the best balance. I may have a pic that shows how far back the car stays... Lemme check. Here we go...

The line I added to the floor works really well for knowing where to back up at. With a stock height car in the trailer, I can open the door, and it will clear the inner fender, but only when I'm not sitting in it. I weigh just enough that the door won't clear, so I have to climb out the window. With the line painted, I can get within an inch or two of the roadside trailer fender, and even though the car door doesn't clear the fender, with the window rolled down, I have enough room to squeeze out.

I plan to add a power winch in the future. This would make life much simpler as I'm not a fan of driving into the trailer. There is a large gap between the ramp-door, and the trailer floor, and with a clutched car, it takes quite a bit of throttle to jockey it loose. I know when to expect it, and have never had enough trouble with it to think about adding a flip-out steel cover, but I just don't like it. With a winch, I could just leave the window down, start the winch moving the car inside, and walk beside it, steering the car as needed.

Nic

quote Originally posted by 007DOUG: Musicman & Archie, I notice you both pull with 1500 trucks. No problems? Last year I bought a new US Cargo 24x8.5 enclosed trailer and at the same time a new 2500 X-tend cab long bed 6.0 4x4 truck to pull it (what a blow to the wallet that was). Was I a dumb ass for trading my old '97 1500 X-tend cab long bed 5.7 2WD? It was unstoppable pulling my loaded flatbed, but I doubted it would pull a loaded full size enclosed trailer. I was well read about the towing capacity of the 1500 vs. 2500 and thought I'd need a 2500 for sure. BTW, what kinda of mileage do you guys get? I get 8-10 mpg. when hauling 10K lbs. I bought a raised truck cap to attempt better air flow over the trailer. That helps nothing! Weight distributors are a must have. Sway control is another must. I bought the sway control after the first trip, what an improvement. I have noticed enclosed trailers are a great investment. They never lose value. I was checking used trailers first. they sell for nearly as much as new trailers. (kinda like Harleys).

Mine's a 1500 with Z71 & the GM trailer package & 4WD. It has a 10,000 capacity. Chose this truck because the wife can't get into a taller truck. It drives great pulls a full load just fine. I always use towing mode & hardly ever use cruise. My driving style when towing is to "Take what it will (willingly) give you" & I think that it will last forever. I've been thinging about getting a new truck with the 6.0 & crewcab. But then I know I'd then end up getting a new trailer with 5th wheel & 2 car capacity. You know, it never ends, you get a bigger truck & all of a sudden you need a bigger trailer etc, etc, etc.

I don't like Caps, I figure if I wanted the bed enclosed I'd have bought a Van. Without the wing when I went to the Daytona show last March I got 9.1 MPG. WITH the wing when I went to the Knott's Verry Farm Show I got 11.2 MPG. At that rate the 4500 miles to Knott's & back went a long way towards paying for the wing.

Archie

Archie,

I wish my truck had a 10K trailer capacity. Mine is a 2000 1500 4x4 Z71 ext cab, with the factory trailering package, and according to my owner's manual, rated for 7500 lbs. I'm starting to wonder if that's correct, or if I need to refer to a different manual about my truck.

Nic