23 replies to this topic

[BimmerSchnitzel]

Hey all!

  I'm aspiring to get into SM racing this season and been looking to source a trailer that is light enough to trailer behind a 2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (3500lb capacity). That being said, I found this open deck trailer on CL and am worried that the center opening between the runners will be too wide. I crunched some numbers and came up with 46.5in being the maximum width that could be achieved with a miata. Sure as $h!t, I asked the owner how wide the opening was and he said 46.5in. So now I need some real world advise, will this work or am I cutting it too close?

 

Listing:

http://quincy.craigs...4336822556.html

 

[BimmerSchnitzel]

Oh, and if anyone cares to measure the width between the inside of their tires on their spec miata, you'd be my hero!

[fotostars]

The car is on stands right now so the wheels are hanging. But I measured 48" inside to inside on my rear wheels (with 25mm offset wheels and RA1). It guess it would be a little more once on the ground.

[Alberto]

What about the height of the center channels?  Will the control arms and body clear that?

[BimmerSchnitzel]

Thanks Fotostars!

 

Good point Alberto, does any one have an estimation of the clearance under the control arms? I cant imagine those center channels being any higher than 5 or so inches. I'll confirm with the owner. 

[James York]

Does that trailer have trailer brakes? It doesn't look like it. What are your state regulations about such things? If the trailer doesn't have brakes, can your Jeep stop that load safely or will it be white knuckle tows hoping for no emergency stops?

One of the worst things you can do is overload your tow vehicle.

[Mike Collins]

 

[fotostars]

James has a very good point though. When I started to think about racing, I contemplated towing "at the limit" with my wife's FX35 (3500# rating).

I ultimately decided it wasn't a good idea and got myself a tow vehicle rated at 7700# (VW Touareg) and installed brakes on both axles on my open trailer and a nice brake controller with the OEM tow package on the Treg.

S***t happens really fast on the road, I didn't feel like risking it.

[Mike Collins]

The most dangerous part of racing is not the on track experience.  Its the tow to and from.

[BimmerSchnitzel]

Thanks for the diagram!

 

Totally get where you guys are coming from. The only reason I'm choosing this route is because I don't know if I'm even going to like SM racing and want to do things with out as much financial commitment as possible. I feel a small light weight trailer with a SM on the back is well within the safety margins of what that jeep can tow. All the tools, spares and extra tires will be in another vehicle. I'm only planning on going to the 3 SCCA events at my local track this year which is located less than 10 miles from me. I'm in St. Louis so there are no elevation changes to contend with either. If I decide I like this club racing stuff, a larger trailer with a dedicated tow truck will most defiantly happen. 

 

Thanks for the input so far.

[dbednarz]

As the others say,  the tow can be scarier than the on-track experience, and working trailer brakes are a must!  

 

I have used an open trailer with my Spec Miata for 10 racing seasons! Started with a 95 Chevy S10, with a 4.3L engine, and was just under the tow rating for the truck. Borrowed a friend's trailer for the first event, one without brakes - what a nightmare! I was very lucky that other people stopped as I rolled through an intersection.  Borrowed another with trailer brakes - and it was a huge difference. This trailer's dimensions and shape seemed to fit the Miata better too, so I bought the same model.  It is a Dively Econo-trailer, open trailer - weighs ~1400 pounds - and I am not affiliated with them at all, but have had 10 good seasons with it.  You can compare their dimensions to what you are looking at.

 

Also recommended - a weight jacking hitch.  The S10 towing experience was constant work, needing huge following distances, and prepping for every intersection, but it can be done..... yet I switched to an F150 after three years.

 

You are smart to be concerned about not over-investing, and cash-flow, I was there too when I started. So please confirm the trailer brakes are working, and have the right connector to work with your Jeep, and good luck to you!  Welcome to Spec Miata!

 

-DavidB

[BimmerSchnitzel]

I was cross shopping the open deck Dively as well. Great price point! David, did you do the 8' foot width option or the standard width? If standard, do you think the 8' wide open deck would be a better fit for the Miata?

[dbednarz]

The trailer was purchased from a dealer's lot, and I believe it was the standard width. It was not ordered, I called Dively, and they located a dealer about 2 hours away that had what I wanted.  The Miata has about 3" on each side before the inside edge of the tire starts to be over the edge of the ramp.

 

The trailer is at an outdoor storage unit, probably buried in snow, but I will try to get there in the next few days to get a measurement.

 

David Bednarz

Spec Miata #68

[BimmerSchnitzel]

So the trailer in the first post does not have trailer brakes. Do you guys think this is too risky to be pulling behind a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited?

[James York]

I looked it up and Missouri is one of the rare states that does not require trailer brakes except for 5th wheels or trailers using a kingpin.

 

Most states mandate brakes on at least 1 axle on a Gross weight of >3000 lbs.  Which means a car trailers.

 

Why not just get a trailer with brakes?  How much is your safety worth?

[svvs]

So the trailer in the first post does not have trailer brakes. Do you guys think this is too risky to be pulling behind a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited?

my first trailer was a single axle, wood deck, no brakes.  i was barely under the 3K limit for new york.

 

I towed with a 1997 1500 series tahoe...heavier and with bigger brakes than your wrangler I think.

 

There was a few times when I literally said to myself "ohh, this may hurt" when I had to get on the brakes because someone cut me off or a light suddenly changed.

 

do yourself a favor and get brakes.  even if you rent a uhaul trailer, they have a braking system.

 

I know you are towing short distances and all....but a heavy tow vehicle and a trailer with good brakes takes a lot of the nonsense out of it.

 

I know this is a long shot, but could you drive the car to the track and your "chase vehicle" take all the tools and spares? 

[htron435]

So the trailer in the first post does not have trailer brakes. Do you guys think this is too risky to be pulling behind a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited?

 

Absolutely! ! !   It's not the towing capacity per se, but the braking ability.  It takes only ONE miscalculation to wreck and destroy your entire rig -- and God forbid you kill somebody.  Don't let saving a few bucks put you in that situation.

[davew]

I have an experienced Sm trailer available. Former Harry Manning trailer. Selling for his widow.

I am out of town for a couple days. Contact me at the end of the week.

Dave

[mdavis]

my first trailer was a single axle, wood deck, no brakes.  i was barely under the 3K limit for new york.

 

I towed with a 1997 1500 series tahoe...heavier and with bigger brakes than your wrangler I think.

 

There was a few times when I literally said to myself "ohh, this may hurt" when I had to get on the brakes because someone cut me off or a light suddenly changed.

 

do yourself a favor and get brakes.  even if you rent a uhaul trailer, they have a braking system.

 

I know you are towing short distances and all....but a heavy tow vehicle and a trailer with good brakes takes a lot of the nonsense out of it.

 

I know this is a long shot, but could you drive the car to the track and your "chase vehicle" take all the tools and spares? 

Probably a good point.  If you're just using it a couple of times a year and want to see if you like SM racing, a u-haul trailer with brakes might be easier/safer.

[Mark McCallister]

I'd be fine pulling a trailer with no brakes under 25mph or so.  Much over that too little margin for error on that light a tow vehicle.  Youtube "jackknife".  This is a good one:  http://www.youtube.c...h?v=kwOqARlw1EI (wind issue not weight, but it's telling how easily it whips a very heavy dually around).  

 

Only downside of the Uhaul trailers is they weigh a ton...literally they are like 2200 lbs. empty, so that puts you over weight with a 3500 lb capacity.  That and their ramps are too short so you have to park creatively (or back the rear wheels of the truck up ramps, not that I've ever done that) to get the back of the trailer low.