I have a 24' enclosed trailer with Spitfire race car, tools, spares and an ATV
I haul with a 24' motorhome to most races. Motorhome is a '99 Ford chassis with
the V-10 injected engine. I don't even know the trailer is behind me. Typically
cruise at ~75 on the interstates. The newer style motorhomes are way safer to
tow with than the old style GM "bread truck" chassis vehicles. Had one of those
and got rid of it after one too many close calls.
I also tow the trailer at times with an F-250 4x4 with a Powerstroke 7.3 liter
diesel. No problems at all. With the diesel, I get about 18 mpg and with the
motorhome it's about 10mpg.
I can tell the difference in drag with the pickup over the motorhome due to the
front of the trailer. Motorhome, having a longer wheelbase also is more stable
towing at speed than the pickup.
Russ Moore
-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Young <cartravel@pobox.com>
Sent: Mar 18, 2004 10:07 PM
To: fot@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Chevy 5.3 Litre Powered Tow Vehicle
The shape and height are as important as the weight. I pull an 18'
enclosed trailer, which is extra tall to hold my Model T sedan.
However, it has a sloped nose to cut down on drag. It pulls well with a
Ford 5.4 Expedition at usually 65 mph. I also have a lower than stock
rear gear ratio. The stock ratios are insanely high, so they can
advertise higher gas mileage.
Larry Young
Don Marshall wrote:
>Another option to consider is a lighter enclosed trailer... I didn't
>want to buy a huge tow vehicle so I got the smallest, lightest enclosed
>trailer I could find that a TR4 would fit into. It's not as convenient
>as the bigger trailers, in that I can't carry spare engines, trannys,
>etc. like Henry does, but my '99 Tahoe (350 with factory towing package)
>pulls it very easily and it's way more convenient than an open trailer.
>I bought a Featherlite 16' all aluminum (I probably should have bought
>the 20' but the concept is the same) with an empty weight of about 1800
>pounds, not much more than some of the steel open trailers I looked at.
>Cost was about double a comparable steel enclosed trailer but I think it
>probably saved me that much on the cost of the tow vehicle and I might
>even get most of it back when/if I sell it. Don
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