Open trailers....Angular vs tubular

[Buicksx2]

Hi All,

Went looking at some open trailers to get some prices etc. In talking to the guy he gave me a price for a trailer made from angular/angle iron vs tubular.

He stated the tubular construction was a stronger construction and in his opinion a better trailer than one made with angle iron.

To the guys with open trailers what do you have and how do you like it and if anyone has a tubular constructed one was it worth the extra money.

Thanks for any and all opinions.

 

[Nick Micale]

No opinion on tube vs. angle, mine is angle and fine for our use.

One item very much worth having is a tapered loading area or "beaver tail". If you ever need to load a non-running vehicle, you will appreciate it. It also lowers the loading angle to save spoilers and air dams.

 

[Chuck Leeper]

Angle/box??

Rich, I owned 1 angle iron trlr.. NOT something I'd want to do again. It was too flexible in my opinion.
Also, If you ever want to step up, the trade/resale value on the box tube trlr is going to be better.

Only problem w/ a beavertail, is if the headers are low, once the ft wheels go over the "hump", the chassis gets alot closer to the trlr floor, contact is possible....
If you are into spending some bucks for ALOT of convenience and versatility, get a rollback style. I have a 20' TEXAS Rollback, and really like it. It rolls back and tilts, just like a roll back wrecker bed.
I can pick up low ground clearance cars very easily. AND, I don't have any ramps to mess with...

I can e-mail you some pics, if interested.

CYA!

 

[n20junkie]

i will just pitch in what i know, tubular is stronger than angle, but with the disadvantage of added weight, with most people using a tow vehicle that is already a bit overloaded, the extra 500 lbs could cause the tow vehicle to have some problems, angle is more that strong enough for what a car trailer needs, look at the underside of all the enclosed trailers, only the tongue is box, the rest of the trailer is open faced " C " channel and angle iron, mainley due to weight. i have a 20 ft enclosed and its constructed in the manner i mentioned, and there is absolutly no flex issues. i have used and made a few trailers, the first ones we made we used box tubing, and the trailer weighted a bit too much when done, and the deck could carry more weight that the axles could, most axles are rated at 3,500 lbs, a tandem axle trailer had 7k of axle rating, and a deck made with angle is more than sufficient to handle that. not that flex will be an issue with any trailer, but a littly bit is no big deal, its not a chassis jig, its just a means of getting your car from point a to point b, if i was buying i would go with the angle constructed trailer, save youa few bucks, a few hundred lbs, and i never really buy anything with resale in mind, i buy for what i want and need, thats my 2 cents.
Grant

 

[Chuck Leeper]

Value for the buck?/

Buying A cheap trlr is like buying a cheap helmet... If you have a $10.00 head, then buy a $10 helmet...

Next, there's NOT 500# difference in the angle vs tube trlr..

And that's my $.02 worth!

 

[n20junkie]

it all depends on what you need it for, if you need a trailer to take a car to the local races and mabe one or 2 road trips, then what does a dtiffer trailer really do for you, and sometimes less is indeed more, if i built airplanes with the mentality that more is better , they would never leave the ground, and if box tubing was a requirement, then haulmark would offer it as an option on their trailers, but it is not, i have never seen a trailer deck fail, and if it does fles an inch or 2,its no big deal, cars were ment to drive down roads, even a trip down a drive way is worse than a trailer flexing 2 inches, and the fact of life is that stuff flexes, sometimes its the flexing of metals that keeps joints from failing, but in the end its depends on what you really need it for, someone that uses the trailer only a few weekends a year, has different needs than someone that uses one 3 times a week and for long distances.
grant

 

[ChrisCairns]

Re: Angle/box??

Originally posted by Chuck Leeper
If you are into spending some bucks for ALOT of convenience and versatility, get a rollback style. I have a 20' TEXAS Rollback, and really like it. It rolls back and tilts, just like a roll back wrecker bed.
I can pick up low ground clearance cars very easily. AND, I don't have any ramps to mess with...

I can e-mail you some pics, if interested.

CYA!

Not everyone is as rich as you Chucky-poo....most of us have to earn a living not live off alimony from our past 30 or 40 wives.

In my case I have the angular and am not rich enough to afford a tow vehicle so I just shove the trailer hitch up my errr, aahh, whatchamathingamabob and pull it to the track ala Fred Flintstone.

 

[1ARUNEM]

I have a standard open 18ft dove tail trailer made of angle. I have had it for going on 5 years.. It has a treated wood floor. I have not had the first problem with it (knock on wood).
I tow a car on it every weekend the track is open (around 90 miles round trip.)

It certainly isn't the best looking trailer in the pits, but it damn sure gets the job done....

Cost new.... $750 with treated wood and twin 3500lb axles..
Only thing i've had trouble with is keeping tires on it.. (I use it ALOT)...

 

[REDS HOT AIR]

I gotta 94 kaufman trailer

its open deck in the center and contains 2 c channel rails down each side with diamond plate decking

it is by far the best towing trailer I have ever towed

duel 3500# axles with elec brakes on one axle

btw: it was a flat deck but my buddy I bought it from notched the rails and beaver tailed it

dont forget a nice winch for them not so great times

I gotta warn superwinch 3500 series on there and it rocks

 

[UNGN]

If you can't afford a Texas Roll back, I recommend drop axles and removable fenders (So you can open the doors).

Low profile enough to tow with about anything (I used to use an 100hp 1984 AMC Eagle when the national speed limit was 55 mph- wouldn't do it today though)

Other "must haves" are 3500# axles, electric brakes and a load leveling class IV hitch.

 

[Buicksx2]

Guys,

Thanks for all the replys and keep em coming.

Chuck love to see some pics of what you have.

Thanks again appreciate it.

 

[Buick From Hell]

Tubular

I wouldn't trust tubular steel as far as I could throw it...

One of my go-carts is "tubular steel", the crap breaks in half like glass, check this pic, the rollbar snapped right off in front, and the main engine support broke clean in half just last week (my OTHER go-cart has a front spindle laying in the seat that snapped off...)

A friend of mine had an old boat years ago, and the boat trailer had a 3-1/2" diameter tongue. IT snapped clean in two just as we reached the marina one day...

No experience with SQUARE tube, and I've never seen angle iron snap in half yet!

 

[n20junkie]

BFH has the perfect example of why sometimes it is bette r that metal flex, stiff is not always a good thing, unless the lights are out and your under the sheets, preferably with a soeone of the oppisite sex
Grant

 

[cruzn57]

trailer

I built a tubular (rectangle) trailer about ten yrs ago, It has outer rails of 2x4 .250 wall, and two inner rails of 2x3 .250 wall,, its covered with 3/8 aluminum (solid sheet) aluminum channel ramps w/ 3/8 alum cover, and has 4in dropped axles, removable fenders, recessed lighting, removable tongue ( to keep the honest folks honest), an 8000 lb ramsey winch, and has logged about 40,000 miles, other than wheel bearings, and tires, NO PROBLEMS! been coast to coast at least 8 times!
still got it! and will never get rid of it!
I say ,you get what you pay for!
thanks
cruzn57

 

[bruce]

Originally posted by Buicksx2

Went looking at some open trailers to get some prices etc. In talking to the guy he gave me a price for a trailer made from angular/angle iron vs tubular.
He stated the tubular construction was a stronger construction and in his opinion a better trailer than one made with angle iron.
To the guys with open trailers what do you have and how do you like it and if anyone has a tubular constructed one was it worth the extra money.

Mine's box tubing, beavertail, Built-in theift proof ramps, and the platform is 6" below the top of the fenders so I can open the doors, LED lighting, dual axle, one axle brakes, torsion bar axles, 15 inch tires.

It's a dream, at 75 you don't know the car and trailer is even there.

Spend a few bucks extra and go for the gold, a miserable trailer will wear ya out just towing it.

 

[V6 Beast]

Originally posted by REDS HOT AIR
I gotta 94 kaufman trailer

its open deck in the center and contains 2 c channel rails down each side with diamond plate decking

I just bought a new Kaufman about a month ago. It is all steel, open in the center, dovetail with ramps that pull str8 out the back. Dual 3500 axles with trailer brakes on one axle. Pulls like a dream. Rides nice and str8 even at 75-80. It was $1295(I think it is $75 buck more if you don't live in NC) and came with brand new tires, ramps, lights, break away kit. They installed a brake controller in our tow vehicle for $125 Best deal I found anywhere and may be worth the trip from up north.

Sully

 

[NastyGn]

Re: Angle/box??

Originally posted by Chuck Leeper
If you are into spending some bucks for ALOT of convenience and versatility, get a rollback style. I have a 20' TEXAS Rollback,
CYA!

Chuck don't give Rich ideas like that. The next thing I know Rich and the crew will be running around Texas like a bunch of rug rats.

I do have to admit that the Texas rollbacks are very nice but they do have a nice price tag to match. I'll keep my tubular enclosed

Take Care

 

[Buicksx2]

Re: Re: Angle/box??

Originally posted by NastyGn
Chuck don't give Rich ideas like that. The next thing I know Rich and the crew will be running around Texas like a bunch of rug rats.

>>> And whats so wrong with that Mr. Whyte????..........lol.

Second thought you're probably right.........lol.