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View Full Version : Day 18 of 20: Factory Five Applies 20 Years of Trailer Experience



Dave Smith
06-11-2015, 12:24 PM
We are experts in trailers. Since 1995, we figure we have purchased and used twelve different trailers. Our business takes us to car shows, races, special events, and we even use the trailers for transporting raw materials and composite parts. We’ve decided to apply this knowledge and expertise, and use the strength of the Factory Five brand to work with and develop a new line of custom car trailers for our community.

At Open House, we will be showing two prototype trailers, a 24′ enclosed all aluminum model and an 18′ open aluminum single car hauler. We’ve put our best ideas into these two trailers and have a third model on the way (20′ all aluminum enclosed). We want your feedback and we want to launch our trailer line this summer.

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Chris, Jim, and Jesper inspect the 24′ aluminum prototype.

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Factory Five’s good friend and business partner Jeremy Luchini from Luchini Designs (and formerly SolidWorks Software) has been helping Factory Five with trailer design and configuration for more than a year.

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As part of the development process, Jeremy visited manufacturers in the US and benchmarked the best trailers out there.

Below: Our prototype 24′ trailer was manufactured by Wells Cargo in the USA, and every specification, option, and part was selected specifically for Factory Five’s intended customer use.

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We put features into the premium 24′ unit that we’ve learned are important after 20 years of using trailers that weren’t perfectly set-up! On the outside, we have high output exterior lighting, retractable awning, small step going into side door, nice aluminum wheels, beaver tail and extended ramp, and all aluminum construction.

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On the inside is a finished interior with painted walls and carpeted lowers (protect those painted doors!). Rubber floor inside and on the ramp and super bright wall mounted lighting with light switches at the front door and in the back.

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The extended aluminum ramp and rubber flooring make loading easy.

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We pull our 36′ enclosed trailers with Ford F-350 diesel trucks, but we knew most customers will be using smaller trucks, and the all aluminum construction keeps the weight down and prevents corrosion.

Dave Smith
06-11-2015, 12:26 PM
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Above and Below: Trailers are noted for less than premium construction, and we wanted a a trailer that would have the best quality and construction so that it would do the job right and last a long time.

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We’re also working on offering an 18′ open all aluminum trailer, and speced out this unit which will be on display at Open House to gather customer feedback. We are also developing a small 20′ enclosed aluminum trailer to compliment the 18′ open and larger 24′ enclosed trailers.

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Our goal is to provide our customers with PERFECT trailer solutions for their Factory Fives. 20 years of using trailers has taught us how important the smallest details are in a proper trailer. We want to apply that experience and offer our customers the benefit of our experience (and frustrations!). We should have our final line-up launched this summer with specifications, pricing, and availability.

68GT500MAN
06-11-2015, 01:14 PM
That 24 foot trailer is sweet! When you get the pricing worked out let me know.
Doug

ehansen007
06-11-2015, 02:08 PM
Love it. For us Left Coasters, the irony of buying a kit and hauling it back on your own trailer would be so sweet. I mean, it costs almost 2K to ship it, why not put that towards a trailer? :) Good job Smitty.

ben1272
06-11-2015, 02:43 PM
Great idea! You guys are so great with kit design and configuration, why dont you apply that know-how to the trailer market and provide us a trailer we can build ourselves and grow with? Maybe buy an open trailer that can be converted into closed with optional kit? We build our cars, why not build our trailers from a quality FFR kit as well?

You guys are a blast to watch. I read someone say you guys are constantly out-doing yourselves. It is so true! Your reach IS beyond your grasp, and everytime you grab something new the reach goes further. Keep it up! I am thrilled to be a tiny itty part of it all!

-Ben
818S #352

Jeff Kleiner
06-11-2015, 03:10 PM
Just one question; can we get those new 18" Halibrand style wheels on the trailers ;)

Jeff

JL1958
06-11-2015, 06:20 PM
This is great news. I have been wanting a trailer and finding a quality trailer is more difficult than you would think.

michael everson
06-12-2015, 04:15 AM
Dave. I have been looking for an open aluminum trailer. I am literally wanting to buy now. Can you tell me when the trailer will be available. I would rather give my money to you.
Mike

wallace18
06-12-2015, 06:50 AM
Very interested. Could you publish all the specs for the 24' unit.

myjones
06-15-2015, 11:09 AM
After seeing the inside of those beautiful trailers the only improvement that comes to mind would be to have elevated runners (with sides) inside the trailer.

As you drive in the runners climb enough that you can easily open the car door over those wheelhouses. The dual benefit would be a store floor up front and enough room
to shimmy under the car once it's in the trailer to make minor adjustments and repairs at the track. Tie down would also be much easier as well with plenty of room
to reach under and install the straps. Leaving the floor low outside and between the ramps lets you keep the headroom for walking around in the trailer when empty.
Dale
Hemi33

erlihemi
06-23-2015, 08:14 PM
Dave,
I gotta chime in on optional runners for the enclosed trailer. Nice to work on out of the rain at night. I like a front fairing for the open trailer to keep the worst stone chips and rodent chunks off the car. Gotta have the hitch mounted tool box to match. Need a package price for trailer and kit with drive up and hook up Saturday special. :)

erlihemi
06-23-2015, 08:17 PM
And tie downs. Lots of anchor points needed.

mrmustang
06-24-2015, 05:08 AM
And tie downs. Lots of anchor points needed.

E-Track should be the only way to go

R Thomas
06-26-2015, 01:06 PM
Would be great if that open trailer were a tilt deck. Drive on and drive off is just so sweet with them.

ncbuilder
06-26-2015, 01:08 PM
I will be watching this thread for Pricing and availability ! they look great

Zach34
06-26-2015, 09:19 PM
I'm also extremely interested in the 24' enclosed. I'm looking for something in the ballpark of 20-24 feet that can be towed with a half-ton truck (with a big engine and trailer brake controller). For most of the aluminum brands out there, 22 feet seems to be the break point. Below that you get 3500-pound axles and an empty weight that a half-ton truck can probably handle. Above that length and you usually get 5200-pound axles and an empty weight that is probably more advisable for a full-ton or larger truck. Empty weights of aluminum trailers also vary a lot depending on brand.

Features that I think are most critical to me:
- ramps that will load a 818R with the front splitter installed
- good lights
- exterior awning
- winch

Things that would be nice to have, but aren't as critical:
- small amount of storage / small workbench (not too heavy)
- tire rack
- power outlets/circuits
- air conditioning