Tow vehicles and Trailers, share your setups!

[Muligan]

I’ll be damned. Is that your custom design? I have never seen one.

Nope - started with my trailer and added their cover retro-fit kit.

They also sell complete trailers using aluminum units as the basis.

Gotta say, though, that they nailed the sizing of mine just from my measurements and pictures.

http://www.serpentexpress.com/

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[tlisotta]

Anyone using smaller SUV's

I am looking to get an SUV - compact - and wanted to see what you guys were using. I will primarily be driving the 350R to my local track in Dallas. However, I am going to do COTA in May and want to get an SUV and a very light open trailer to take the car. I may do one or 2 other events a year where it would require the trailer. I would like to get a Ford Explorer but it says max towing is 5K. That is cutting it close - anyone using an Explorer? Other suggestions? 4 Runner or? Not interested in a pick up truck, etc. Budget considerations as well. $35K ish for the car.

 

[Zitrosounds]

I am looking to get an SUV - compact - and wanted to see what you guys were using. I will primarily be driving the 350R to my local track in Dallas. However, I am going to do COTA in May and want to get an SUV and a very light open trailer to take the car. I may do one or 2 other events a year where it would require the trailer. I would like to get a Ford Explorer but it says max towing is 5K. That is cutting it close - anyone using an Explorer? Other suggestions? 4 Runner or? Not interested in a pick up truck, etc. Budget considerations as well. $35K ish for the car.

I doubt you will find a compact midsize SUV that is capable of properly and effectively towing a 350 and a trailer.

 

[Gilby]

I agree with [MENTION=19262]Zitrosounds[/MENTION]

 

[tlisotta]

I doubt you will find a compact midsize SUV that is capable of properly and effectively towing a 350 and a trailer.

Thx. Slowly realizing this...:(

 

[Tank]

@tlisotta

Here are the numbers I crunched for my '15 Tacoma (4x4, 4.0 w tow package) hypothetically towing a GT350.

Towing worksheet

'15 Tacoma
Curb weight 4140
GVWR 5350
Max tow wgt 6500
Max tongue 650
GCWR 11,100


Shelby
Curb weight 3760 (6500-3760=2740)

2740

4140+3760= 7900 11100-7900=3200

I added the curb weight of both vehicles and subtracted that from the Combined weight and found I had 3,200 lbs to possibly play with. However I took the 6,500 lbs tow limit and subtracted the 3670 lbs of the GT350 and that came to 2,830. The trailer, gear, fluids, mods, people and anything else in or on the vehicles would need to come in under this number. And also come in under the other numbers for tongue weight.... Although I think it might be doable, it would be at the max capabilities or beyond of the truck. A full size pick up or SUV might make more sense than a mid size. Confirming what you know I guess..

Good Luck

 

[tlisotta]

[MENTION=32635]tlisotta[/MENTION],

Here are the numbers I crunched for my '15 Tacoma (4x4, 4.0 w tow package) hypothetically towing a GT350.

Towing worksheet

'15 Tacoma
Curb weight 4140
GVWR 5350
Max tow wgt 6500
Max tongue 650
GCWR 11,100


Shelby
Curb weight 3760 (6500-3760=2740) (Need to account for fluids, mods...)

2740

4140+3760= 7900 11100-7900=3200

I added the curb weight of both vehicles and subtracted that from the Combined weight and found I had 3,200 lbs to play with. The trailer, gear, fluids, mods, people and anything else in or on the vehicles would need to come in under this number. Although I think it might be doable, it would be at the max capabilities or beyond of the truck. A full size pick up or SUV might make more sense than a mid size.

Good Luck :cheers:

Thank you! We have a Ranger Rover Sport HSE under lease. Since I will only need to pull a trailer a few times a year - may outfit this with a towing package. Rated at 7,716 Towing Capacity.

 

[Tank]

Thank you! We have a Ranger Rover Sport HSE under lease. Since I will only need to pull a trailer a few times a year - may outfit this with a towing package. Rated at 7,716 Towing Capacity.

You bet! Good Luck. I revised my original post, the number is revised down a bit. If you haven't already, google "Towing basics" all sorts of info out there. :cheers:

 

[JAJ]

I ran into a guy at the track last year who'd brought his Ferrari 458 on a rented U-Haul car trailer. He towed it with a BMW X5. The Ferrari might be a few pounds lighter than the GT350, but it clearly worked for him.

You could probably do it with a full-sized SUV with a towing package like a Explorer or something in that size range. If you're using your own trailer, that's great, but if you're getting one from U-Haul, they won't rent to Explorer owners. They were banned some years ago after some problems, and while it was the previous generation of Explorer, the ban lingers on.

 

[tracktardicus]

I'm interested in how you anchor your 350R to your trailer floor eyelets...what do you use, and what do you connect to on the car?
Thanks,
Steve

I usually pull 2 at a time. I use the long Race Ramps designed for the trailer door flip-out. Keep in mind that these cars are very wide. They are also low to the ground and difficult to tie down.

 

[firestarter2]

I ran into a guy at the track last year who'd brought his Ferrari 458 on a rented U-Haul car trailer. He towed it with a BMW X5. The Ferrari might be a few pounds lighter than the GT350, but it clearly worked for him.

You could probably do it with a full-sized SUV with a towing package like a Explorer or something in that size range. If you're using your own trailer, that's great, but if you're getting one from U-Haul, they won't rent to Explorer owners. They were banned some years ago after some problems, and while it was the previous generation of Explorer, the ban lingers on.

Explorers can't tow enough. Most of the SUVs see rated to tow 5k or less.

I was looking at a Grand Cherokee deisel or a cayanne deisel. I think the Durango is also a option as well as the x5 and ml350

 

[ShadowBlackR]

I'm interested in how you anchor your 350R to your trailer floor eyelets...what do you use, and what do you connect to on the car?
Thanks,
Steve

In the front I use an over the tire type strap that then ratchets towards the front (anchors at the rear of the front tire, has a pivot point at the front of the tire and then the ratchet is about 6" in front of the car pulling it tight). I have recessed E Track running the entire length of the trailer that these clip into. I've attached the Cobra Jet tie down brackets to the R. They are a simple bolt on. In the rear I use those by attaching a ratchet straps that has an open hook on them. I use a self made "broomstick" to attach the hook on the strap to the tie down hook from the rear of the car. A skinnier person could go from the side but it's really tight. This picture is in a different trailer of mine but the theory is the same for how I strap the front.

 

[oldbmwfan]

I have towed with an E53 X5. Rated at 6k lbs, aluminum trailer (Featherlite 3110, empty weight ~1600 lbs, dual 3500-lb axles, braked). 2800-lb track car plus tires and tools.

The X5 tows very well, and IMO better than many pickups that have long rear overhangs. The super-short hitch to axle distance on the X5 gives the trailer a small lever arm to act on the tow vehicle. I'd be comfortable putting a 3800-lb Shelby and pulling it ... but just barely, and not if the vehicle was heavily loaded otherwise, and I wouldn't be keen to go over mountains. Our cars are pretty heavy.

 

[VoodooStang]

Ford F-350 and a 17’-6” Featherlite trailer

 

[Docscurlock]

Ram diesel 3/4 ton

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