Is there a good enclosed trailer you can OPEN Corvette doors in/out

[Corvette95]

I want to get an inexpensive enclosed trailer (18ft?) for local use. I want one that the Vette wont scrub the nose loading and unloading and also one that I can get in / out of the car with (dont want to winch it in). Anyone have any ideas?

[RICKYRJ1]

Not going to be inexpensive for what you want. Pace , Haulmark, and Car-Mate are some quality trailers. You can customize them to fit your needs. Is it for the new Z? I have a Car-Mate 7x14 that I use for my track bikes but it is to small to fit my ZR1. I believe the smallest you can go is a 8x18. Good Luck keep us posted

[Corvette95]

What about this one? Any thoughts?
http://www.trailershowroom.com/8_5X20.htm

[Meanmyz]

I have a Pace American enclosed trailer that I love. I had it made specifically for my own needs a few years ago. It isn't the cheapest, but you get what you pay for. IMO Pace is one of the best in the industry.

When I get a chance, I will try and post some pictures. I also have to learn how to post them.

My trailer is a 2003 Pace Aire, which is built from the Cargo Sport models. It's front end is angled (NOT the V front). From about half way up in front, it is angled. Very stylish. My trailer is a 22 footer. It really doesn't seem that long, but gives me all the space I need.

Perfect for hauling my 8000 mile '94 ZR-1 or 24,000 mile '85 to shows. I will post pics when I get a chance.

Meanmyz

[Corvette95]

thanks, what is the width, do you drive your car in and out and can OPEN the doors?

[Z Factor]

Meanmyz

Hello, and welcome to the forum. :handshak:

:cheers:

[wolverinemw]

Most trailers I have seen use a built up floor with a drivers side trailer door. You either must have a trailer with a high center of gravity, or removeable wheel houses, or a built up floor as there is no way of escaping the tires on the trailer. Low floor height means high inner wheel houses. High floor height means lower wheel houses. Buy what you want and modify it to your needs. Laying down two 10 ft 2x6's per side will give you 4 mores inches of door clearance, it will also raise your center of gravity, which is the rub here, there is no way to cheat the design physics that I know of besides removeable wheel houses, short trailer tires, or moving the wheel spread on the trailer outboard. Sorry I don't know of a trailer to do this right now.

[Meanmyz]

Thanks, I am glad to be a part of the forum. I usually check this site out daily, which has been for the better part of 5 years now. - about time I start contributing.

Anyway, how do I post pictures? If it is quite extensive to do, is there someone who can post some pics for me short term. If you are interested, I will get up some pics of the trailer.

On my trailer, I do have a full 48" escape door to fully open my driver's side (Corvette) door. Also, with my ZR-1, it has never scraped the spoiler when driving in. On my '85, with the older style front end and lower spoiler, the bottom of the middle spoiler will only touch the ramp in one area, but it never marks up the spoiler. And let me tell you, I am VERY picky.

I will give full specs of the trailer after I post pics.

Sorry about any delays, but I am at the office, where my time for this is limited. Later.

Meanmyz

[Z Factor]

Posting pictures is really simple once you get the hang of it. You can sign up for a free account on this site www.putfile.com and it will allow you to upload the photos you have stored on your computer. Then all you typically need to do is post the image info/addy here with in front, and at the end of it.

:cheers:

[Meanmyz]

http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=2/5115462259.jpg&s=x10
http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=2/511543319.jpg&s=x11
http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=2/5115482963.jpg&s=x10

Here are a few pics of my trailer. When it was built, the only thing I didn't have Pace do was finish the walls or the floor for cost reasons at the time. I plan on doing that myself in the next couple years. I will probably use white aluminum for the walls and I am looking at options for the floor. Maybe checkerboard or marble look vinyl, or just painting it. Or, I may have the floor sprayed with Line-X for ultimate durability.

The trailer is as wide as can be legally made..my specs are at home..I believe it is 102" or about 8.6'. The trailer has a beaver tail (ramped floor), but once parked inside I must be about 2 feet past that. As I said, the ceiling is finished and it has 4' flourescent lighting which needs an outside power source plugged into the trailer, to work. It also has lights in the front and rear (inside) in which power is supplied by the tow vehicle through the brake lights.

Instead of D-rings for tie-downs, I used E-track on the floor and sidewalls. This gives the ability to tie things down anywhere in the trailer.

There is a 3' extended flap attached to the ramp door. This along with the beavertail gives me the clearance to easily get into the trailer with the cars. (I need to fix the aluminum trim on the flap and will do so by putting diamond plate on it).

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

[Meanmyz]

I forgot to add: The trailer works great for getting cars to shows all prepped and ready to show, and in keeping mileage on the cars low. But... the biggest reason I needed a trailer is because I live on two miles of gravel road!!!:mad:

When I bought the Z, I decided that I was NOT going to drive this car on gravel.

You guys that live on tar got it easy:) . Things are never as easy as just hopping in and going for a ride. And, I just can't get the county to pave this lil ol' road for me!:rolleyes:

[Corvette95]

THANK YOU! That was EXACTLY the information I was looking for. I WANT YOUR TRAILER. What do I ask for when I want a drivers side door like you have (specs) also what length is your trailer? Dont answer if you dont want to but what is a good price for a trailer like yours? With the Etrack how long does it take to tie it down?
Thanks Again!
Chris
Corvette95bham

[Corvette95]

Also, do I need a special option for the drivers door to clear the fender wells? You say something about a curved shape? Sorry, I am trailer illiterate (but learning fast)
thanks!

[Meanmyz]

Corvette95, I would go to Pace American's website. I did a search of dealers in your area and I see that there is a dealer real close to you in Moody, AL.

I went through a lot of trouble to get the trailer I wanted. This wasn't Pace's fault, but the distributorship location that was closest to me. The salespeople I dealt with were rookies. I had to educate myself alot from the brochures, and my own researching. I knew more about the trailer than my salesman did.

The salesman's error resulted in my having to re-order another trailer after I recieved the first one. The problem was just that-they failed to take my instructions about the floor height and the wheel boxes vs. the escape door opening-I couldn't open my door. After my first trailer arrived, which wasn't correct, the head salesman from the headquarters of the distributorship (in another state) got involved and made sure my trailer was right. Again, it wasn't Pace's fault, but the distributorship's in making sure their salespeople were adequately equipped to sell trailers.

I found out on my second (correct) trailer, that before Pace even started production on the trailer, that I was supposed to have signed off on an overhead and sideview of the prints of my trailer. I had only been given an overhead view of the first trailer plus my own drawing of what I needed for door height. Apparently the salesperson never forwarded this.

Anyway, in the end I got exactly the trailer I was looking for. It is a show trailer that now only needs the finishing touches to the interior. One thing I like about the Pace (vs other trailers that I have seen) is great attention to detail, good materials, and corrosion resistance. I know there are other great makes of trailers out there too, but this is what I went with.

As far as price, well, those inexperienced sales people I told you about, when they got the quote back from the factory, those dummies gave me THEIR PRICE, which led to more discussion when it was time to pay for the trailer:icon_scra . In the end, I gave them $500 over THEIR price because as the head honcho from the headquarters said "we don't like to do business for free". After all the grief, that was probably too much. He said "I got a "cattle trailer" for a "pony trailer" price".

Corvette95, if you are truly interested, I can send you Pace's print of my trailer, that way, you will only have to go get a quote from your nearest dealer. The escape door is actually 54" wide and everything is set up, as far as placement for a Corvette. The dealer can take you through my options and then you can see if there are any changes you would make for your needs/budget. Price is probably going to be around $10,000 +/-.

[Bell Curve]

Sweet trailer dude

[Meanmyz]

Sweet trailer dude

Thanks!

[Corvette95]

I found the place I am going to order the trailer from. Help me with options? I am going to get two 60' inch door over both wheels wells, ramp dove tail door, what about vents,axels, tie downs, I dont want anything for show, but for best function. I may leave car in there for long periods of time so vents are needed...what else?
www.trailershowroom.com (http://www.trailershowroom.com)
I am getting the 8.5 x 20ft.

[RICKYRJ1]

Plan out how your car is going to sit in the trailer then design it from there. i.e. tie downs. Is the standard lighting going to be enough for you? I like it bright inside so I can easily see what I am doing . Standard axels will be fine but if they offer others, I would consider it. I did wall coverings, floor(b/w tile),and cabinets myself (less expensive) You can always keep the white Z at my house parked next to my black one. Good Luck, Rick

[TommyL]

I found the place I am going to order the trailer from. Help me with options? I am going to get two 60' inch door over both wheels wells, ramp dove tail door, what about vents,axels, tie downs, I dont want anything for show, but for best function. I may leave car in there for long periods of time so vents are needed...what else?
www.trailershowroom.com (http://www.trailershowroom.com)
I am getting the 8.5 x 20ft.

Personally, I would want the 60" door on the drivers side, but a 36' man door on the passenger side to allow me to crawl in, tie the car down, and make use of all the extra space in front of the car.

[Corvette95]

Should I spend the extra money for the E track or just use the four supplied tie downs? (not familiar with e track)

[Corvette95]

Well, with everyone input I just got my new trailer in . Now the stupid question of the day is "How do I tie my car down with the E-Track?" Never used it before...thanks!
corvette95