Car hauler trailers

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kjjz28

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Anybody out there own a car hauler trailer (20, 22 or 24 foot)? There are several companies out there (Featherlite, Pace, Haulmark, etc.) Any comments on quality and price? Any to stay away from? Thanks!
 
kjjz28 said:
Anybody out there own a car hauler trailer (20, 22 or 24 foot)? There are several companies out there (Featherlite, Pace, Haulmark, etc.) Any comments on quality and price? Any to stay away from? Thanks!
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Over the last 7 years, I have pulled Pace Featherlite and Exiss trailers.

The Pace was a 24' and a 26" tag-a-long which is fine if you are on a limited budget and that is all you can afford. But be prepared to replace brakes at least once a year depending on how many miles you put on it. The tag-a-longs have a tendency to sway and I don't much like towing them at higher speeds. They can be a pain to hook up if you haven't done much towing. Backing up to the trailer and getting the hitch ball right on target takes practice.

Because they are a cheaper made trailer, be prepared to fix some things that may break or leak over a period of years. The floors will start to wear out over a period of time. Of course, it all depends on how well you maintain and treat the unit.

Most of my towing has been done with gooseneck trailers by Exiss or Featherlite. Much more stable ride and if you have a good truck to pull with, they are steady on the road and you don't even feel them behind you. Right now I am driving a GMC Sierra 3500 with the 8.1 ltr. gas motor but in the past I have driven Fords with the 7.3 and the 6.0 diesel. All the trucks pulled the goose necks well but since we aren't evaluating trucks right now, I can leave that for another time.

I have pulled the goose necks in 26' 32' and 38' lenghts. The Exiss is a good all around trailer and someone once told me that the company was started by the family that once owned Featherlite. Don't know how true that story is but just thought I would mention it.

I have towed an Exiss over 50,000 miles in one year. If you are easy on the trailer brakes and use your tranny to slow you down, you can usually get a season out of a set a brakes. But I have seen them go much sooner too. When they do, be prepared to spend several hundred dollars for linings, magnets and labor unless you do the work yourself.
I have noticed a lot of uneven tire wear on the Exiss trailers but of course when you run over a lot of curbs in tight locations, that doesn't help the axels or tires.

This is my first season with a Featherlite. It is a 32' and I have about 24,000 on it so far. The tires that came with it are cheap Chineese will-pops so be prepared to replace them because they will probably blow. Once I blew the first one, the boss had me replace all of them. It has happend to one of the other guys too. Blew one at 8,000 miles.

I do notice that the tires are wearing just fine, not like on the Exiss but this trailer is brand new so we will have to see after a couple of seasons.

Both brand goosenecks have been relativly trouble free but I have had a few occasional leaks on the roof of the Exiss but they have a new patch out now that seems to have taken care of that problem.

Whatever trailer you buy, invest in a good deadbolt lock for the side door and if the back door takes padlocks, get the ones that are the half moon style made by Buffo or Brinks. Much harder to cut off. Believe me, I know what I am talking about through experience. Don't drive around without any graphics on your trailer and park it at a motel at night. If you do, be prepared to find it ransacked. The midnight tool suppliers think that they are construction trailers if you don't label them.

Overall, you can't go too wrong with either the of these last two manufacturers. They have lots of service dealers around the country and many others carry their parts.
Whatever you buy, I would stay away from wood floor trailers if you can. They just don't last and require more care.

If I can be of any other assistance, shoot me an IM.
 
Thanks for the info Guido! I'm going to send you a PM. with an add'l ?
 
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