quote Originally posted by musicman_L7: Ok... I broke down and ordered one... 2005 Haulmark Thrifty Hauler 24', in Charcoal Grey to match my pickup. Nic

Did you get them to put dents in it to match your "Moon Truck", too?

Seriously....congrats, Nic! I'm jealous!

If you have slick ramps, go to an RV or boat accessory store. Get a roll of the self sticking 'pad' like they use on aluminum running boards. Its not very expensive at all and your tires wont slip on them. You can also put ' wing walk ' paint on them like they brush on the wing panels of planes so that you can walk on them without slipping. You should be able to find it at most airports at a pilot shop or maintanence shop there. If your not too picky about the inside floor you could paint some strips on both edges so you wont slip after you have your car loaded while its wet. Last resort is making your own by adding sand to regular enamel paint. We did that in my garage floor so we could set up a nice grippy race course for our RC cars in the winter time.

Thanks guys for the congrats, and the suggestions... I should post what I picked out for the options list, as you'll see that I thought of a lot of this already. Also, Roger, I appreciate the suggestions, but it's an enclosed trailer, with a ramp door, so I won't be too worried about it getting slippery.

The options are:

4 D-Rings in floor

1 Roof vent

4 Sidewall vents (2 each side, 1 fore, 1 aft)

12V Flood light over ramp, for loading

1pr. Backup lights

1pr. Amber turn-signals at wheelwells/fenders

12" square steel winch plate under the floor

48" side door, instead of 36"

Front and Rear Chrome corner caps, and Rear Chrome cap

2 12 Volt interior lights

24" Aluminum Stoneguard on Front

Then, I plan to add items to it, myself, as they were too expensive at the factory... Such as:

WarnWorks 12v winch

LED Exterior lighting (never have to replace bulbs again)

Aluminum wheels

16' long aluminum diamondplate runners under the tires (in rear portion of trailer)

16' checkerboard (white/black) linoleum between aluminum runners (in rear portion of trailer, as well as in entry-way of walk in door)

36" high Grey carpeting on all sidewalls (added insulation, as well as a door protector)

8' Grey carpeting in front of trailer (added insulation)

30A 110v service, with flourescent (sp?) lighting, wall sockets, baseboard heaters in front of trailer

Cabinetry and counterspace at front wall of trailer

Whatever else I think of...

Of course, this won't be done by next year, my budget will only allow slow progress, but it should be well equipped when I get it all done.

If anyone has suggestions on what equipment is worthwhile for a trailer... Let me know.

BTW... Mike, the factory said they could add the dents for $25 a piece... I figure I can do that myself too, if I want them.

Nic

oh.... you luckly dog.

that's exactly what i'm looking for a black trailer.
this trailer wasn't on ebay?
there was one in IA that is black but it didn't get the reserve.

can't wait to see pics of it.

quote Originally posted by musicman_L7: But, I no longer have to make a 1000 mile roundtrip to pick it up, wait nearly a month, all for $1500 less than the wholesale price on a new one. I think I can learn to love black!

Bring it on over. I've got a bat...I'll put the matching dents in it for free...

Nice find, Nic. Once again, I'm jealous....can't wait to see it...

Let us know how it turned out. I know how excided you are. I remember when I picked mine up.

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More photos, http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=278279

I picked it up Sunday morning, and brought it home. I LOVE IT!!! I was slightly worried pulling that size of trailer behind my 2000 Chevy 1500 4x4, as I figured that a 3/4 ton would be more appropriate, but even with a 25 MPH side wind, it handled the hills of Iowa with no problems.

Yes Tom, it was on eBay. I never did bid on it, because I'd been in contact with the guy, and found out what the reserve was. I didn't pay anything close to his reserve price. It never would have sold that high.

Now... It's time to start ordering upgrades for it, slap some plates on it, and I'll be ready to roll.

Mike, if you ever want your car to ride in this, you'd better think twice about taking a bat to it.

Nic

quote Originally posted by musicman_L7: I picked it up Sunday morning, and brought it home. I LOVE IT!!! I was slightly worried pulling that size of trailer behind my 2000 Chevy 1500 4x4, as I figured that a 3/4 ton would be more appropriate, but even with a 25 MPH side wind, it handled the hills of Iowa with no problems. Yes Tom, it was on eBay. I never did bid on it, because I'd been in contact with the guy, and found out what the reserve was. I didn't pay anything close to his reserve price. It never would have sold that high. Now... It's time to start ordering upgrades for it, slap some plates on it, and I'll be ready to roll. Mike, if you ever want your car to ride in this, you'd better think twice about taking a bat to it. Nic

I think you'll love your trailer. I have a '00 Silverado 1500 Z71 & I've been pulling a 24' Haulmark for 2 years now. I figure I've pulled that trailer over 35K miles in those 2 years & it pulls great.

I bought my trailer a lot like you got yours. I had driven over to Elkhart, IN with cash in hand to buy a 20' - 7000# from Haulmark. The sales woman was too busy answering the phone to take the time to close the sale with me. I left, went home and bought a much nicer almost new 24' 10000# off EBay for about $1200.00 less than I was going to spend.

Congrats on your purchase, enjoy.

Archie

[This message has been edited by Archie (edited 10-25-2004).]

Just picked up a 1999 model 18' car hauler last night. Has brakes, good tires and stake pockets. Needs some boards replaced and has a dented fender. $600. I think I did pretty good.

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1986 SE 350 V8

[This message has been edited by tesmith66 (edited 10-25-2004).]

quote Originally posted by Archie: I think you'll love your trailer. I have a '00 Silverado 1500 Z71 & I've been pulling a 24' Haulmark for 2 years now. I figure I've pulled that trailer over 35K miles in those 2 years & it pulls great. I bought my trailer a lot like you got yours. I had driven over to Elkhart, IN with cash in hand to buy a 20' - 7000# from Haulmark. The sales woman was too busy answering the phone to take the time to close the sale with me. I left, went home and bought a much nicer almost new 24' 10000# off EBay for about $1200.00 less than I was going to spend. Congrats on your purchase, enjoy. Archie

Archie,

At first I wasn't sure about being able to pull this size of trailer with my truck, but then I remembered seeing your rig at Wheatstock, and figured if you made it that far, I'll be fine around here. Do you use an equalizer hitch, or helper springs on the truck? Any particular towing upgrades? Let me know... I want to make pulling my trailer pain-free.

Nic

hey coolblue,

i know this is a little bit off topic, but i see you had a jeep cherokee. i was wondering how well that pulled the car. i know it isnt as good as the suburban, but how did it do? im lookin gat getting one, so im kind of interested. thanks!

Joel

"now, back to your regular thread"

quote Originally posted by musicman_L7: Archie, At first I wasn't sure about being able to pull this size of trailer with my truck, but then I remembered seeing your rig at Wheatstock, and figured if you made it that far, I'll be fine around here. Do you use an equalizer hitch, or helper springs on the truck? Any particular towing upgrades? Let me know... I want to make pulling my trailer pain-free. Nic

It pulls much better than I thought it would. I've been resisting the urge to buy a bigger truck, but then I'd figure I'd need to buy a bigger trailer. I've had this truck for just less than 3 years & have put 96K miles on it in that time. I'd say at least 50% of those miles are pulling a trailer. My Truck has the GM trailering package with Z71 suspension. I have an equalizer hitch but no helper springs or anything else.

Archie

quote Originally posted by musicman_L7: Do you use an equalizer hitch, or helper springs on the truck? Any particular towing upgrades? Let me know... I want to make pulling my trailer pain-free. Nic

Nic, I'm also using an equalizer hitch, and Dual cam anti sway system. I'll post a few photo's. The Dual Cam setup makes the towing so nice. Used to have that "white knuckle" grip on the wheel when trucks would blow by, or with cross winds. Now, there is no sway and the setup makes it feel so solid. I keep looking in the mirror to make sure it's still there !!

(following copied from Open Roads fourm, Posted: 11/19/2003)

Okay, just got home from the dealer. Were having some 10 - 15 mph winds & rain, on the way down, I barely went over 55, the trailer was swaying a bit when the wind hit it.

Along the way back home, I kept trying to put into words how the truck felt with the new dual cam sway control installed. It did feel different.

As I was watching another trailer in front of me, that was swaying , I then realized the words I was looking for. HOLY COW !!!! What a difference.

My vehicle wasn’t swaying at all. The wind would blow across the highway and the guy in front would go all over the place. When there were trees blocking the wind, he had no problem.

If felt as if was driving a one piece unit instead of a truck towing a trailer. I was able to relax and not have that white knuckle grip on the wheel. The ride was as if I was only driving the Suburban !

It really surprized me how sturdy/secure it felt. Boy, what I've been missing !!! I'm glad the wind was blowing across the road, it really was a good test. A few trucks passed me, I could still feel there wind push a little, but it no longer felt as if I was out of control.

The dealer showed me a way to hook up the W/D bars that was diferent than the way I usually do. He said to back up to the trailer with the tongue right above the ball, then hook the spring bars up, tighten with the chains, this would push the hitch/ball up into the tongue. Then lower the jack.

He called it preloading the weight.

I used to just back up, plop it down on the ball, then tighten the spring bars with the chain. He said this way would not do as good a job.

Here’s the before & after shots. We swapped the spring bars.
(the final adustments were not done as this photo was taken)

[This message has been edited by CoolBlue87GT (edited 10-26-2004).]

quote Originally posted by musicman_L7: Slight change of plans... (go figure!) I found a 2004, same model, similar equipment, being sold 30 miles away, I'm picking it up tomorrow, and hopefully, I can get some pics within the week! Stay tuned. Nic

Any photo's yet ???

Actually yes...

Here's one from this thread...
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/047650.html

Sorry that it's so dirty in that photo... We had just come home from Minnesota the evening before, and had driven through 2-3 inches of snow most of the way. I've taken a few more since I bought it, and they were taken while it was clean, but I haven't loaded them into the computer yet. Maybe I'll get that done here this weekend.

Nic

Oooo man I'm laughing so hard right now, for a second I thought that the fiero was actually hooked up and pulling that trailer lmao........ I should get some sleep shouldn't I lol.

Hmmm, very nice. Tell us about it's 1st loaded trip.

Was it hard to find the correct balance ? How'd the truck do ? Have any shots with the truck hooked up ?

Um, err, you were using a truck, right ? lol

I am glad to see that you settled on an enclosed trailer. I would never recommend an open trailer for car hauling.

On an open trailer, the towed car is subject to every bird, rock, hailstone, tree branch, tire carcass (called "gators" by truckers), tar spatter, or oil/antifreeze/trans fluid leak out there - in spite of the deflector John suggested (although a deflector will minimize exposure to a great extent). Not to mention the elements. Just think what a car would have looked like on an open trailer in a haul similar to the one you made when you picked the trailer up, for example.

Take a look at the front of my 1996 Pace enclosed trailer. The angle on the front is very helpful with mileage, my Dodge Cummins gets about 14-15 npg under tow at 70-75mph. I have pulled enclosed trailers without that angle, and my mileage dropped to 11-12mpg under the same circumstances (I get 21-22mpg without a trailer, for comparison).

This trailer has about 250,000 miles on it - as a lot of people on this forum know, I haul cars as a sideline. I have hauled Fieros coast-to coast and border-to-border with this trailer. Also to/from Canada, and even have a request to take a car from Gualajara, Mexico to Archie's next month.

In this trailer I have a carpeted floor (so much for the slick floor discussion) and vinyl walls. It also has a winch, tire rack, jug rack, 12v lighting throughout, and a Craftsman roll-away tool box bolted to the floor and wall (all from when I used it solely as a race trailer).

You can see some of the interior in this photo loading up in San Antonio for a haul to Illinois.

The biggest thing that I need to point out is that my trailer is just 18'!! The Fiero is exactly 14' bumper-to-bumper, and that 4' in front of the car is more than enough room - at least most of the time - for my needs. I carry spare engines and trannies on the space in front of the car, plus customers often have spare parts that I haul with their cars. All in that 4' x 102" space (in addition to all the other "stuff" I mentioned earlier that is already permanently mounted in the trailer).

An 18' trailer is so much handier maneuvering and parking - both in the 'hood and in parking lots/restaurants/etc. It fits readily into a double parking spot - the same space as occupied by two cars nose to tail. That is why I made the 18' choice so many years ago - and I don't regret it.

Like so many others have mentioned, I also have an equalizer hitch and double sway bar setup. I highly endorse double sway bars, BTW. I have had trailer tires blow out completely, and didn't even know or feel it. I got Ancaster's attention when he was following me to the 20th. A trailer tire let go, and it took my fiberglass fender with it - Max was very busy dodging both the fender and rubber debris for a couple seconds before he keyed the FRS radio to tell me about it. I never would have known about any of it without him calling me on the radio, there was no trailer sway or any other adverse action with those double swaybars.

Another towing tip - don't run the chains straight from trailer to tow vehicle, cross the chains under your trailer tongue. Much safer that way - - if the trailer ever comes unhitched the crossed chains will keep your tongue from digging in to the pavement as the trailer drags along behind you.

Hope this helps, and welcome to the haulin' community!

G

[This message has been edited by cadero2dmax (edited 12-09-2004).]

quote Originally posted by CoolBlue87GT: Hmmm, very nice. Tell us about it's 1st loaded trip. Was it hard to find the correct balance ? How'd the truck do ? Have any shots with the truck hooked up ? Um, err, you were using a truck, right ? lol

Thanks!

The first loaded trip was interesting. I've hauled several cars before when I worked for a large car dealership, and delivered top-end cars in our enclosed trailers. I never thought of the fact that they all had the engine in the front, and the Fiero has it in the back. So, within about 8 miles of highway driving, I was turning the car around.

The first serious loaded trip went well... The weekend after Thanksgiving we went to Elk River, MN to pick up my Formula I bought from Darrell Morse. Once we got through the Friday evening traffic/construction in Minneapolis that night to our hotel, in was a decent trip. We drove the 300+ miles on Saturday; never had any bad luck except a few inches of snow, and wet roads. I'm pulling it with 2000 Chevy 1500 4x4, with the 5300 V-8. It does fine around town, and even with hills and interstate speeds (70 MPH); but headwinds really hurt my ability to keep with traffic. Loaded with a light breeze, and interstate speeds, my mileage was around 8.5 to 9 MPG. This was right where I expected it... But, once we turned west and drove into the wind, with some good sized hills for about 50 miles, it dropped to almost 7! If I had utilized some patience, and let the truck slow on the hills, or just drive slower altogether I'm sure I could have kept the mileage up a little higher. Instead, I kept it at 60+MPH, and wanted to find out just how bad it could really get. Now I know.

Once I get around to finishing up my roll of film (I know, I'm living in the 1800's), I'll get the pics I have put up here... I took some while it was clean, and hitched to my truck, as well as some with the car(s) inside.

(Trying new sig, wish me luck!)

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Nic

quote Originally posted by CoolBlue87GT:

Oohhhhh yeah baby!

quote Originally posted by CoolBlue87GT:

LMAO - now that may be overkill

i like the indoor/outdoor carpet idea tho

[This message has been edited by Kohburn (edited 12-09-2004).]

George,

I too am glad I opted for an enclosed... It serves as a nice spare garage from time to time.

I would have liked to get a V-nose or an angled front trailer, but this one sort of fell into my lap, and was enough of a good deal, that I didn't want to pass it up. Although, I may trade sometime down the road... We'll see.

The interior of my trailer was only plywood when I bought it. I was considering carpet (and still may put it in), but am a little unsure if it would suit my needs, so I simply sealed the floor, then painted it. I used a specific paint for floors, and added one pound of gritty sand to each gallon of paint so there is no slippery spot anywhere. I also painted a bright red line so I know where to drive in at, and have the car where I want it. I back mine in, so that I can get the amount of tongue weight I need, yet still have my 8' of spare space ahead of the car (I do leave 2' behind it, so I can close the door if it's cold out, and still strap the car down).

I expected and have found that a 24' trailer is by far, more than enough for a Fiero. As stated above, I have to back in, otherwise to get any weight ahead of the axles, I negate the use of the extra room ahead of the car. But, I don't always haul Fieros, and I may not always have Fieros... And, your trailer has several hundred thousand miles on it, and is still going strong, so I expect that I'll own this trailer for quite some time. Consequently, I want to be prepared for whatever I would want to haul. As you said, anything larger than a 18' can be a challenge in the local McDonald's, but we stick to the interstates primarily, or at least main highways, which many times has parking lots that accomodate large trucks, so we've had no troubles, yet.

I'm still looking into an equalizer hitch and swaybars... I haven't found what I want for the price I want to pay, and shockingly, my pickup doesn't squat terribly with the trailer, and KEV said that he didn't notice any sway the entire trip back, while he followed us. I do want both, as I would feel much more comfortable with it... If a tire were to blow out on this rig, without sway control, it wouldn't go unnoticed.

Thanks for all the tips and pointers... I'll try to get a few more pics up within the next couple of days.

Nic

Finally... Pics available of the trailer and my pickup.

View here:

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/047923.html

Nic