Best enclosed trailer?

[ronsdream]

I'll be looking for the best and most convenient enclosed trailer for my roadster. Nothing too fancy and not too expensive. I've seen some pretty wild trailers with Ac and generators etc for around $30K. Thats way out of my range not to mention they are huge 20-28 ft long.

Can anyone recommend a nice compact enclosed trailer that the've had good luck with?

Would appreciate opinions and advice.

Thanks

Ron

[edwardb]

I've had two different Serpent Express trailers. A 14' and now the 16' pictured below. Both the aluminum deck version so quite light and easy to tow. Now a hard side version is offered which looks very interesting. Larry is a pleasure to work with. http://serpentexpress.com/home.php

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/ab234/edwardb123/SE_165_1.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/edwardb123/a/186cc666-68d0-4881-b53c-af005ffe3552/p/48157429-3141-4507-9471-eacb9f225c68)

[ronsdream]

Looks very affordable. How well does it travel at 70?

Ron

[edwardb]

Looks very affordable. How well does it travel at 70?

Ron

Other than blocking the center rear view mirror, don't even know it's there. 70 is fine, but probably about my top speed since it does affect gas mileage. We pull with an SUV and have done multiple pretty long trips. Factory Five, Texas, Ohio, etc.

[GoDadGo]

Paul,

Aren't you pulling it with a Dodge Durango with a 3.6 V6?
Also, the 16'0" hardtop version only weighs 1,650 pounds.
This would be a heck of an upgrade compared to my open-top steel car trailer which is about the same weight.

Steve

http://serpentexpress.com/HARDTOP_DETAILS.php

SERPENT EXPRESS HARDTOP
- Especially for 65 427 S/C Roadster, Type 65 Coupe, & others
- Aerodynamic shape for low wind drag for fuel efficiency
- Hard sides and top for security
- Color choices w alloy trim: White, Black, or Silver Metallic
- Aluminum frame, deck, fenders, doors, & walls: 1625 lbs.
- 4 D-Rings for easy tie down
- 16' length w Tandem Torsion axles for great ride
- 84" or more wide clearance inside --> protect your car
- 2 front side tie-down Doors, each 36" wide
- Driver's exit Door 48" wide
- Rear Door pivots down as a Ramp, spring assist
- All Doors are Lockable for Security
- 4-Wheel Electric Brakes for Safety
- Break-away Safety System w Battery
- Polished Spoke Alloy Wheels with Radial Tires
- LED Exterior Lights
- LED Interior w switch
- Forced air Vents when towing
$8,950 complete w/Deluxe Features

[Francky]

There is also Peter Brock Aerovault, probably more expensive:

https://www.bre2.net/aerovault.info/

[NAZ]

Don't y'all have trucks?

131821

If you only have one car to tow, something like this would work.

[GoDadGo]

Don't y'all have trucks?

Does My Regular Cab Short Box Ram Tradesman Plus Count?

It's got that Big Ole 3.6 V6 somewhere under the hood, but I think it might be Alvin and the Chipmunks on a treadmill because it gets 25-30 miles to the peanut.

[Bob Cowan]

Looks very affordable. How well does it travel at 70?

Ron

I use this trailer about 6-8 weekends a year. Mostly within 100 miles or so. But I did use it to transport my Cobra to MO this year. I drive a Chevy Colorado with a 2.8l turbodiesel. I just set the cruise control at 70 and relax. The only time I use the tow/haul mode is in the mountains so I can use the exhaust brake. I get about 20mpg towing this.

I love this trailer. Just the right size, easy to tow and store. Not a huge behemoth parked in my back yard. Purchase price is about 1/2 the cost of a hard sided trailer; weight is about 1/2 - 2/3.

Unfortunately, the cover doesn't last as long as I'd like it to. It must be covered when not in use, or the sun will destroy it. The red stripes fade out pretty quickly.
And I've broken a couple of zippers that need to be repaired this winter. Life is full of trade offs.

[edwardb]

Paul,

Aren't you pulling it with a Dodge Durango with a 3.6 V6?
Also, the 16'0" hardtop version only weighs 1,650 pounds.
This would be a heck of an upgrade compared to my open-top steel car trailer which is about the same weight.

Steve

Used to. And it worked just fine. Last year we changed to a Lincoln Aviator (nice ride...) also with a V-6. Pulls it effortlessly. But at 400 horsepower and 415 lb.-ft. of torque it should.

[Derald Rice]

There is also Peter Brock Aerovault, probably more expensive:

https://www.bre2.net/aerovault.info/

I saw one of these at the Texas meet a couple of years ago.

It is a nice trailer, the owner told me that he paid 25,000 for it.

[GoDadGo]

I saw one of these at the Texas meet a couple of years ago.

It is a nice trailer, the owner told me that he paid 25,000 for it.

The fact that Peter Brock designed it obviously pushed the price up.

............It Truly Is The Airstream of Car Haulers!

[Derald Rice]

The fact that Peter Brock designed it obviously pushed the price up.

............It Truly Is The Airstream of Car Haulers!

But it is still just a box with wheels. Nice conventional trailers are half of this airstream.

[GoDadGo]

But it is still just a box with wheels. Nice conventional trailers are half of this airstream.

Agreed and that hard side Serpent Express is looking pretty reasonable by comparison.

[ronsdream]

Thanks for all the opinions. I will look at the Serpent option first. It looks very affordable and easy to handle.

Ron

[GoDadGo]

Thanks for all the opinions. I will look at the Serpent option first. It looks very affordable and easy to handle.

Ron

Ron,

I talked to Larry at Serpent Express yesterday and we talked about what we are looking for over here at Camp Go-Dad.
He's a super nice guy who knows his products and options well so now I have a little homework to do and get my finances together.
My biggest concern is to make sure we can use it for Baby Go-Dad's Camaro, my brother's Skunkworks Mecham T/A, and my friend Phil's TOJ-206.
I've got to see exactly how wide the F-Body's are at the hips and if the TOJ will clear the break-over point of the dovetail.

Steve

Baby Go Dad's Catfish Camaro:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5WUZgl6N5Q

Phil's Black & Gold TOJ-206:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm2RdZ-FJmA

[weendoggy]

The idea is nice. Thought about this as well. Even thought of making my flatbed Aluma into a SE retro-fit. The biggest hurdle isn't the Cobra or open cockpit car, it's the hardtops. My '02 Mustang needs to have my trailer fender removed to open the door and get in/out. Climbing out of that car in an enclosed trailer would be nasty. However, I can put a winch and pull it in and push it out with winch control. Kinda' a PITA, but doable. Even with the Brock option you face the same thing. I have a friend with one and getting his Daytona in/out is a chore. Just more to think about.

[NAZ]

Getting in and out of a vehicle in an enclosed trailer is a challenge, especially as we age and become less flexible (and more pear shaped).

What many drag racer do is pull the driver side door and hang it on a bracket inside the trailer. That's how I built my car and I fabricated a bracket that the door hangs on the wall of the trailer while in transport. The same latch that holds the door shut on the car holds the door on the trailer. Takes about two-minutes to pull the door and hang it -- no tools required. Fabricating the door hinge to facilitate removing the door with no tools is simple on the 33HR as it uses the same FFR supplied hinge with pivot posts instead of the supplied shoulder bolts. A pull pin keeps the hinge from separating when in use. Remove the pull pin and lift the door off the hinge to remove it.

[Larry N. Johnson]

For an FFR Roadster, the Serpent Express Hardtop is perfect!

http://serpentexpress.com/images/f757075290022c32ceaed58b6d308134.jpg

http://cache.nebula.phx3.secureserver.net/obj/REQyMEE4QkY5MEJCRUVBN0U3NTA6MTZmN2YwNDQ0YjBmOGFlOT UxOGU0OTU4NWQ3ZDI5NGE=

http://cache.nebula.phx3.secureserver.net/obj/REQyMEE4QkY5MEJCRUVBN0U3NTA6M2IxMmI1MTFjNmY1Njc1Yz ljY2FmOTM2NWM0ZTQ3YTg=

http://cache.nebula.phx3.secureserver.net/obj/REQyMEE4QkY5MEJCRUVBN0U3NTA6NGEwZjVlZDI4YjkyZWU1OT MwM2NiYTcxNDU4NDNkNmM=

[Mark Eaton]

OK, you asked for advice, my advice is get a bigger trailer and a bigger truck. I agree with NAZ. It looks like that Serpent Express is great for your MK4 but what about all your other stuff??

Here's my set up, its a Interstate victory series 8.5 x 20" trailer. I think I paid $8500 new. I have lots room for tools, gear, spare engine, LOL.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=131996&d=1595032974

[TrevorP]

I use a winch to pull the car in. You don't have to drive the car into the trailer and then try to climb out. The winch works perfect.

[hogauto]

Check out a Montrose trailer . The front and back open for ease of strapping. They are made in Michigan.

[ricobrafan]

8.5 x 20 ATC all alumium. X2 on the winch especially for a coupe which is wider and you have to open the door to get out

[Derald Rice]

A drivers side escape door solves the problem of getting in and out of a car in a trailer.

[John Tongish]

Thought I would chime in with another option. In between the price of Larry's Serpent Express and Peter's Aerovault is an enclosed trailer built by Montrose Trailers out of Michigan. All are individually built, all aluminum, and you decide on the size, shape, extras, etc. Mine was custom built in 2010 for my 2006 Cobra. Both have traveled back and forth across the U.S. helping me drive on as many race tracks as I could for the past eight summers. I have since moved on to a Mustang GT for my track days leaving my Montrose to transport my Cobra to and from car events outside California. I have over 100k miles on the trailer and still performs like the first day I towed it. Call Gary at Montrose if you are interested in a customized rig. You can't beat the personalized service, though Larry and Peter offer pretty good service also.

Here is a pic of my Montrose rig with a photo of my car to entertain those I pass. The Cobra tail lights are real and wired into the brakes and turn signals, thanks to Gary's help.

John

132086

[PNWTim]

Reviving an old thread while thinking ahead. I have been looking around for potential trailer options and it looks like things have changed a little bit in the 3 1/2 years since the last post.

Serpent Express still looks like a great option but they are now all hard sided - no more fabric. So slightly heavier and more expensive. Don't know if he was having too many warranty claims or if Covid killed his supply chain but either way, doesn't look like that will ever return as an option.

The Brock is a no go for me simply because of the price, just can't justify it.

Montrose looks like a great option and fully customizable so I guess the sky or your pocketbook is truly the limit.

Fully enclosed larger trailers are always an option but in a little bit different arena than the ones listed previously. Requires more of everything and I'd probably just fill it up with stuff and then have to buy a Duramax to drag it around :p

Curious if there are any others that have cropped up since this thread was last visited?

[David Hodgkins]

Factory Five was selling trailers at one point. I don't know the current status though...

:)

[edwardb]

Reviving an old thread while thinking ahead. I have been looking around for potential trailer options and it looks like things have changed a little bit in the 3 1/2 years since the last post.

Serpent Express still looks like a great option but they are now all hard sided - no more fabric. So slightly heavier and more expensive. Don't know if he was having too many warranty claims or if Covid killed his supply chain but either way, doesn't look like that will ever return as an option.

The Brock is a no go for me simply because of the price, just can't justify it.

Montrose looks like a great option and fully customizable so I guess the sky or your pocketbook is truly the limit.

Fully enclosed larger trailers are always an option but in a little bit different arena than the ones listed previously. Requires more of everything and I'd probably just fill it up with stuff and then have to buy a Duramax to drag it around :p

Curious if there are any others that have cropped up since this thread was last visited?

I've had two of the soft-side Serpent Express trailers. Originally purchased a 14' one, but sold and bought a 16' to fit my Coupe. We still have it. The soft sides combined with the aluminum deck option makes it relatively light weight and pulls easily with our SUV. These come up occasionally for sale, so keep your eye out. I don't know the reason for discontinuing the soft side, but the hard side is probably one of the nicest carriers for these cars you can find. I've seen them in person at the London Cobra Show and recently one of our local club members bought one. So I've had a chance to look it over. I don't know if you can do better. He also pulls with an SUV and works great. The cost was more than the soft side, but still cheaper than a lot of other options. The originator of the Serpent Express offerings, Larry Johnson, passed away earlier this year. His son is keeping the business active.

[PNWTim]

I've had two of the soft-side Serpent Express trailers. Originally purchased a 14' one, but sold and bought a 16' to fit my Coupe. We still have it. The soft sides combined with the aluminum deck option makes it relatively light weight and pulls easily with our SUV. These come up occasionally for sale, so keep your eye out. I don't know the reason for discontinuing the soft side, but the hard side is probably one of the nicest carriers for these cars you can find. I've seen them in person at the London Cobra Show and recently one of our local club members bought one. So I've had a chance to look it over. I don't know if you can do better. He also pulls with an SUV and works great. The cost was more than the soft side, but still cheaper than a lot of other options. The originator of the Serpent Express offerings, Larry Johnson, passed away earlier this year. His son is keeping the business active.

Thanks Paul. I know you purchased the longer one for your coupe so figured you would ring in on this. Sorry to hear about Larry, glad to hear his son is keeping the business going. I am at least a year or two away from needing one so will keep my eyes peeled for something in between. I think they are a great example of a well designed, purpose built tool which appeals to me.

[john42]

I've got a 16 foot USA Cargo Trailer that I like. It has a low roof line which helps it not to be a wall. Also nice is I don't have to worry too much about low bridges. I've done several 1000+ mile trips with it.

205928205929205930

[PNWTim]

I've got a 16 foot USA Cargo Trailer that I like. It has a low roof line which helps it not to be a wall. Also nice is I don't have to worry too much about low bridges. I've done several 1000+ mile trips with it.

205928205929205930

Looks nice. How is getting in and out of it when loading? Do you use a winch?

[john42]

Looks nice. How is getting in and out of it when loading? Do you use a winch?

Easy peasy. Drive right in/out. Side door makes it easy to get to the front but it's also wide enough that moving up and down the side is easy too.