Cal Club Autocross Forums

My dad had an open trailer built in 1969. That lasted us literally hundred of thousands of miles, it then got sold to a racer in Oklahoma who is still using the same great steel trailer 40 years later. Yeah axles have been replaced, its been rewired, and sandblasted and painted a couple of times. But same trailer---40 years.

Sounds like the George Washington Cherry Tree Ax story...

One nice thing about aluminum trailers is that they hold their value. Paid $4,200 for my open Featherlite back in 2000 and I had an offer yesterday (its not for sale) for $3,500.

I always wondered what the cherry tree ax, er the steel trailer weighed.

It was a twin ramp style. The ramps were steel plate like 18ft long rolled up in the center and down on the sides. Had to be at least a 1/4 inch think. Probably more. There was zero flex in this deck! Everything was really HD. It wouldn't surprise me if that trailer weighed 4K lbs after he lengthened the tongue and put the box and rack on it. The box was huge, like 54x54x96. I loved that trailers, but it wasn't 1/2 ton friendly!

Are there any fatigue issues with aluminum trailers?

Chad Stubblefield wrote:Im going to have the same issue.
Hey Bob, are yougetting yours built? If so, how long they say it would take.

2-3 weeks she said & I asked her what I should add to that & she said that's a conservative est. With the economy & all I doubt they are running 3 shifts to keep up with orders.

I did not order yet am trying to get a quote on one made in TX like Lisa S & Rita W have.

Forget the name. I emailed for a quote & they have not got back yet.

Steve Ekstrand wrote:Mine is a dovetail and with the 5 ft ramps it worked pretty good. I'd use the electric jack to unload the droopy rear suspension of the durango about 2-3 inches and that was usually enough to clear anything. You could also drive the rear tires of the truck on to something.

But the real key is the dovetail, without that I would have needed 8ft ramps.

What is a split dovetail, I heard of?

Its open in the middle. Nice setup if the deck is closed as it gives you and area to work under the car, yet still keeps the car clean when loaded and traveling.
I've only ever seen a few of this style though. Pretty rare.

Bob Plante wrote: She said 5 ft was the longest for an 18. So how do I carry/store some longer ones?

Thoughts?

I rather like the slide into the hole in the back. The Carson ramps are pretty (make that very) crude looking. Not that it matters much.

If I slide them under car, then it's one more thing to tie down.

So I can get 7ft alum, but how to store them on a carson?

I bought 6' aluminum ramps from Discount Ramps . com, and then had John Coffey (Beta Motorsports) modify the trailer to take one ramp behind the axles, and one in front of the axles. It works pretty well unless I park the wrong direction next to a curb.

I need to see that, will u be at SDR Sunday?

Yes, early. I want to try to run, work, and haul ass up to the banquet.

Sebastian Rios wrote:Yes, early. I want to try to run, work, and haul ass up to the banquet.

Looks like we aren't going, but I'd say work 1st, run X or STX class 2nd and take off unless you're trying to do points down there. Run 1st works 3rd with their rotation.

Sebastian Rios wrote:Yes, early. I want to try to run, work, and haul ass up to the banquet.

I'll be there early. Make sure you have Shauna wax the trailer so it looks nice.

:gpower:

Bob Plante wrote:

Chad Stubblefield wrote:Im going to have the same issue.
Hey Bob, are yougetting yours built? If so, how long they say it would take.

2-3 weeks she said & I asked her what I should add to that & she said that's a conservative est. With the economy & all I doubt they are running 3 shifts to keep up with orders.

I did not order yet am trying to get a quote on one made in TX like Lisa S & Rita W have.

Forget the name. I emailed for a quote & they have not got back yet.

The TX trailer (Diamond C) runs a lot more than the Carson & this price is for factory pick up. Nearest dealer seems to be Santa Maria according to the guy I spoke with in TX.

18 ft wood $2752

steel $3368.

John Coffey wrote:One nice thing about aluminum trailers is that they hold their value. Paid $4,200 for my open Featherlite back in 2000 and I had an offer yesterday (its not for sale) for $3,500.

Its probably worth more than you originally paid.
a new 14' featherlite goes for $7k.

Are there any fatigue issues with aluminum trailers?

Not that I'm aware of. Mike Simanyi had a problem with his aluminum trailer that I repaired, but the issue was a poorly designed welded joint not the underlying material.

John Coffey wrote:

Are there any fatigue issues with aluminum trailers?

Not that I'm aware of. Mike Simanyi had a problem with his aluminum trailer that I repaired, but the issue was a poorly designed welded joint not the underlying material.

Aluminum trailers, probably not but I would think twice about buying a 30 year old aluminum trailer (if there is such a thing).

Aluminum in general, sure but those who use aluminum in a structural application take into consideration its limits and apply appropriate safety factors. I have an uncle who spent many years in airframe design for McDonnell Douglas (before it became part of Boeing) and you'd be surprised just how small the factor of safety is on aircraft parts but they are thoughtfully designed and carefully tested and the cost of airplanes reflect this level of engineering.