My trailer was stolen :(
 

If you see an 18 foot black steal flat deck duck tail hydraulic lift trailer w/ a group of misfits behind the wheel get the license plate and PM me :D

If anyone knows of or has a nice trailer for sale designed for hauling cars please let me know :icon_tup:

would put up a pic if you have one

Wow Fritz! That sucks man!! I hope they didn't get anything else. I think I have a picture of it from VIR if you want me to post it. Now is the time to get that 2 car trailer and come down to Road Atlanta :D On a serious note, let me see what kind of deal I can find on one, I bet I can find a pretty decent deal on an enclosed trailer if you are interested.

That would be awesome both the picture and the look out.

I've been perusing craigslist as time permits but no luck yet.

Dude, that's terrible!

Where was it lifted from? Not from the track I hope.

Good luck, I'll certainly keep eyes peeled. Any distinguishing features (like moles or birth marks) :-)?

I feel you pain, same happen to me and the cops could care less. But I put the pain behind me and got a new Featherlite trailer. Its the best I have ever had, a dream to tow.

Definitely sucks, I'm bummed no doubt :icon_no2: I forgot how much I used it for just BS, like picking up wrecked cars, moving cars etc.....

I'd love to go crazy and get a really nice enclosed trailer but that my not be practical w/o buying another trailer to fool w/ the junk cars.

For the most part the police have a limited function is cases like this these days. It seems sitting on the hwy with radar is more important or more financially prudent than hunting down trailers etc....:lol:

Like I said before BUY AN ENCLOSED TRAILER and be done with it. You can keep all your goodies locked up. I'll check the P-car forums for some used trailers.

Not the best picture, but better than nothing...

BOLO:
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...2/leave279.jpg

Imagine if this was a really nice enclosed trailer w/ all my tools, wheels and tires and track car inside. Now that would hurt.

Whatever trailer I do get will probably not be stored at hospital unless I put up some big flood lights or something and I'll probably insure the next one.

Brent,
Thanks for the pic. It's probably somewhere in Mexico by now but you never know I may get lucky.

Speaking of which. What all do you guys do to your trailers for security? I'm always interested in improving mine. I know ultimately, if a thief wants something, he will get it... but I like to at least be a hard target.

Here's what I do:

I have a lock on the tongue lock(thing you pull back to seat the ball on the tongue... does that sound sexual? haha).

I also have a lock on the tongue when it's not hooked to the truck.

I also have some chains that I put around wheels AND the axle's if I am really concerned.

My trailer hitch also has a lock on it incase someone wants to steal it while I'm hooked up.

When I'm at home, I always put a vehicle in front of the trailer. I think that's a big deterant since someone can't just pull up, hook up, and leave.

After my loss. I insured the new one and rented a shop big enough for my three RX-7's and trailer. As above, in the wilds lock tongue and have cable locks to run though wheels, axle and lift off fenders.

Hey Brent,

I use the same hitch lock for my trailer and I have it insured through Geico. I don't have much faith in the hitch lock though.

Fritz, it may be time to build a fence around that area behind the barn. I'm wondering if it was somebody from that scuzzy building across the street? BTW: Headed to VIR Friday for Chin.

damn that sux, sorry to hear

A friend of mine has a pretty nice two-car open trailer he's getting ready to sell. Has a receiver mount for putting on a winch to drag a broken car up, racks for three sets of tires (four sets if you don't have the winch attached) and eight 5-gal gas cans.

Need to run that fence idea by the landlords hehe :)

Have fun w/ Chin, hopefully the weather will cooperate. I want to see a sub 2.10 vid :icon_tup:

I had the sonofabitch welded to the back of the tow vehicle.

Eyes are out in NoVA Fritz.
Any special thingies on it that you would have put there and nobody else would? (Electrical hookups, etc.)
Got a Manufacturer and serial number or was that a custom one off?
Any interesting features or distinguishing characteristics?

THAT's What you need Fritz. A two-car trailer. Then you'll never have to go home for your back-up car, you can just bring it along :-)

I've got all the locks too and a tire club lock too. But right now, I am installing a paging car alarm to the enclosed trailer. I plan on hooking up the trailer brakes to the alarm too. The alarm will come in handy at the track motels too, not just at home.

-Jack

I doubt with the 40 degree temps I'll be running anywhere near those times. It looks like I'm going to enjoy a little snow Saturday... Rang the first track day of 09 in the snow and it looks like I'm going to end on a White note too.

I hope to be very close to those times with the new suspension upgrades over the winter- taking all the rubber out, full monoballs. Also, I'm going hire a pro coach (Chris Cervelli) to help with car setup and fine tuning the Moton triples. Plus, I could use some higher level coaching :)

We need to get you and Pete to Mid-Ohio this year! I'm sure Brent would join us?

I run a GPS tracker on my enclosed trailer. If someone steals it their screwed.

I have an enclosed and use all the locks you mention as well as a hidden cut off switch for the brake lights. If the switch is not active the brake lights do not work and hopefully highway patrol would notice. I also keep the license plate off the trailer when I am not using it. Again, another reason for the thief to get pulled over.

The pro coach idea will likely shave more time than all the upgrades :)

Wow, I listened to the weather on the way into work, SNOW, man I'm not a cold weather person :(

Hopefully Sunday will be a good day :icon_tup:

I'd love to check out Mid Ohio, Watkins Glenn and RA. If I pick up a trailer that can handle two cars I'll definitely start venturing a little further than VIR or Summit. Morgen's also been doing a little autocross and has some talent and interest so I could see her becoming a track rat as well :)

This is the one device I'm most interested in :D

Can it be hidden well, I was worried you can't enclose it in metal so it would be easily found?

THANKS!

VIN is: 4YZCH182931007035

There's a NASA bumper sticker on it but I'm sure that's been removed lol.

Fritz-

so sad to hear. Our trailer is on our home property.

Do you have any pics, as it could be here in Florida! Make and model ?

I always thought about removing at least one tire and/or putting on a wheel boot!

:-) neil

Brent posted up a pic on the 1st page.

I had a lock on mine and they cut it off in a jiffy w/ a torch. Removing a wheel could work but honestly if someone has scoped out your trailer and decide they want it they'll get a wheel for it and who wants to remove the wheel after each use.

Easy Ride is the make I think.

I don't use a bumper mount trailer for starters :tonque:, when someone can wrap a chain around the tongue and somewhat safely tow it away... that is a LARGE security risk in my mind :tonque:.

The bumper mount utility trailer I have gets a tongue lock that is fairly thick, would take a little effort to cut it off. It also has a lock that keeps the release closed so they would have to cut that off as well and the only thin piece of this lock is covered by the release itself. If someone is going to go to the trouble to get past those things they can have the damn trailer because they are driving away with it one way or another and I'd rather they didn't mess up my property any more than they have to :tonque:.

My car hauler on the other hand is a 5th wheel, which I feel is a damn good security measure right off the bat. It's not something joe blow with a truck can just pull up to, lash a chain around, and drive off with. It requires a heavier duty truck with a special hitch which weeds out a large population of people who could potentially lift it from my possession. On top of that I have a lock that goes on the mount that is 3/4" thick with a very heavy duty locking mechanism. It would take someone quite awhile to cut through it and they would likely end up damaging the mount itself in the process, making it pretty dangerous to tow afterward. I've been meaning to get a locking wheel chock that goes between the two axles but the trailer spends most of it's time out of sight, or attached to my truck :tonque:, so I'm not overly worried about it right now.

On top of being less likely to get stolen it also tows A LOT nicer than any bumper mount I've used in the past, even with all the fancy gadgets they make for them :tonque:. My 25' tandem axle car hauler tows nicer than my 8x12' utility trailer, half the time I forget that it's even there :lol:. So while you're at it I would upgrade to a 5th wheel trailer ;). If you're truck can't handle it, you should upgrade that as well :D.


Sorry to hear about the trailer Fritz. Not that it is likely to make it over this way, but I'll keep an eye out for it regardless, I watch the car/trailer sales pretty closely in this area already anyway.

Good information. Yeah, a 5th wheel would be nice, but I don't want to go through the hassle of selling my current one(which I got a killer deal on) and getting a fifth wheel. I'm content with my current set up and it pulls great. When you say bumper hitch, I'm assuming you mean standard hitch?

I think my truck could tow a goose neck (f350 but not a dually) however like most things it's all about money, time, convenience, use, etc...etc...

My trailer had the massive hitch lock and they cut it off like butter w/ a torch. As previously mentioned someone had scoped out the trailer and knew exactly what they were doing. If someone wants a 5th wheel/gooseneck that's what they'll steal just as easily as they stole mine BUT most folks w/ a 5th wheel setup probably don't steal (please don't make me explain that prejudicial statement) so w/ that being said if I have a 5th wheel it's less likely to be stolen NO DOUBT.

Anyway I've seen lots of decent trailers on craig's list I just have to figure out what I want and what I want to spend.

Not a bad deal but you can buy that trialer new for 4k and any enclosed 20 plus foot trailer selling for that is probably not going to pull too well.

Decent names are Haulmark, carmate, legend, pace, us cargo, ATC, featherlite etc....

I'm hoping to find a decent 24 footer that's finished completely w/ nice cobinets etc.... for under 7k. So far I've seen several but they are all 2 plus hours away.

Damn man... Almost Racing must of picked up some new sponsorship :D Good call on buying a finished one. I'm going to be refinishing the floor in mine and installing some new cabinets and tire racks in mine. After I tore it apart this summer to make everything more sturdy, I never did put it all back in as I didn't like the old configuration. We'll see how it goes...

Speaking of which, I'm guessing there isn't a snowballs chance in hell that you will be at VIR in Feb for the NASA event? If you get one with an AC/Heater in it... you can stay warm :D

I've only been to like 12 events the last two years so the racing wallet is FAT hehe ;)

My baby is currently getting some seriously love and hopefully I'll be ready to roll in February.

Compression was just checked and she's a little tired, well more like taking a knee (approx 80 to 85 psi on all 6) but hey I figure w/ low compression rotors she can safely handle some more boost :D

Yeah it might not be worth getting rid of everything you've already got, but definitely something to look into in the future if you ever upgrade. And yeah I mean standard hitch, I just lump bumper mounted hitches and standard hitches together :tonque:.



An F350 would be more than capable, you could load that sucker up with a 3 car enclosed 5th wheel if you wanted ;). And I agree, there's many reasons 5th wheels would be less likely to be stolen than others. And since you mentioned it, I wouldn't bother with a gooseneck, they don't tow much if any better than a standard hitch in my experiences.

You might be surprised just how cheap 5th wheels can get, I found a couple single car enclosed trailers for *<$7K. My 25' flat bed car hauler (which is actually an equipment trailer, IIRC it has 15Klb tandem axles) with 4 brand new electric trailer brakes, loft storage area with railing, heavy duty ramps, 40K reese hitch, and a heavy duty semi storage bin, ran me $2500. I found quite a few similar set ups in that price range, almost all were *<$5K, but this was a pretty exceptional deal for everything this trailer is capable of hauling. I even find it easier to hook on and unload this 5th wheel than other trailers I've hauled, the hitch is right in the bed so lining it up is effortless. Just some food for thought while you're in the market for a new trailer, personally I'll never go back after owning this car hauler :tonque:.

F350 SRWs can tow a 13k-15k gooseneck depending on the year and trim. I've never heard anyone with a gooseneck claim it's inconvenient. ;)

Dave

That's what I'm talking about! Turn up that boost!! I'll be there trying to keep up in TTS I guess... like you said, have to chase the leader to get faster :D. It'll be a 3 day event for me due to what I was asking about a few weeks ago ;) Bringing the girls down?

Pete, Pat... you guys going to make it?

Don't forget though that standard hitches mount to the frame though. I've pulled stuff with a 5th wheel before and it is better, but I've never had an issue with my standard hitch stuff either. It would be nice to have if they were the same price. I pull my flat front enclosed trailer without a problem though(05 2500 Cummins). I put around 15,000 towed miles on it this summer/fall :D


I'd never go back to an open trailer after owning my enclosed trailer :) It makes things so much more convenient at the track(seems like you have alot of storage as well though). Gas mileage isn't as good as it is with an open trailer, but I still get close to 20mpg when I slow it down a bit. BTW, I picked up my 2004 Haulmark 8x24 enclosed trailer for $2500 as well :) Since you have the truck and trailer, you should try to make it to VIR. It's a 10 hour drive for me. I also hit Putnam Park as well which I don't think it too far from you.

Yeah I don't think there's anything prone to problems about a standard mount trailer, They just don't tow as nicely. It turns the rear axle into a fulcrum point which is going to make the ride a little worse. Where a 5th wheel doesn't have that issue, it's no different than having a loaded bed. My dodge has such a stiff suspension that it actually rides better at times with the trailer on it :tonque:.

My budget was ~$2500 when I got my trailer, otherwise I would have gone with an enclosed, they are MUCH nicer. Although it is very nice having a flat bed at times.

This past year was really all about working out any kinks with the car and seeing exactly what I needed/wanted to upgrade. So next year I'll be more interested in traveling around to do some different events, so VIR is a definite possibility! At the moment I am planning on hitting up one or two of the PA hill climb events :D.

Did you ever try a load leveling hitch? I'm actually interested in other people's experiences - I don't have one currently on my Explorer/open trailer and was thinking of looking into it.

With sides on it mine can serve double-duty hauling mulch. A definite +1 in the Spousal Acceptance Factor. ;-)

-b

For towing anything over 5000lb on a vehicle lighter than a 3/4 ton pickup, I'd go with the load-leveling hitch. It physically cranks out the "fulcrum" factor of a normal bumper pull.

Dave

I have towed with a load leveling hitch before and they do make the ride quality a lot better, but it's still not a comparison to a 5th wheel IMHO. But if I were towing a standard hitch it's something I would definitely use on a car hauler. Like I mentioned I have literally forgotten I was towing the FD before :lol:, nothing like looking in the rear view and freaking out because there's a car RIGHT there :tonque:.

Absolutely. A load leveling hitch with sway control and a brake controller go a long way.

Also look into "Timbrens", one of the best investments if you do a lot of towing.

http://www.truckspring.com/timbren_285.html?affid=5

Anthony

Damn Fritz, sorry to hear this! Where was it stolen from? No leads yet i guess?