car trailers

**Taily** · 18-04-2012, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by 1BadVan

[MENTION=177]RodneyHZ253[/MENTION] I thought there would be more input as well. My reason for starting the thread is I am contemplating the trip across to Bathurst for GTR and XU1s on the mountain. I have never been to Bathurst before let alone out of WA so it would be a real adventure. I decided it would probably be better to tow my XU1 rather than drive. My cars finished in acrylic lacquer and is prone to stone chips. At the moment I have a car trailer bit sentimental about it as I have had it for 20yrs. But for the trip I would need to put 3 inch dropped axles, new bearings, new brakes at the moment its hydraulic but I think cable is the way to go less problems. Also look at Metal fatigue, lengthen the ramps and try and lighten the old girl as she weighs in at 780kg inc. I ask myself is the time money and money worth it on an old trailer or is it time to move on. I have been offered a trailer to use but I am not much of a borrower. I started looking at all types of trailers whilst expensive the tilt a trailer seems to be a good insurance type trailer well made easy to load. I've seen quite a few cars driven off ramps or into the side of guards or doors opened into guards. Feedback appreciated. If I do make it across I would really love to meet some My Sandman forum family and have chat and a beer. PS I post some pics of my car trailer soon.

Cheers Dave

Pop it (along with yourself) on the Indian Pacific, with instructions you (and only you) are to drive it on and off and must be bottom loaded to keep it out of bugs, sand etc). Ten years ago my father brought my ute up to me while I was working in Kununurra (East Kimberley, WA) and used the Indian Pacific to Adelaide, then the Ghan to Alice (as that was as far as it went in those days) and then took his time driving the rest of the way from Alice - Katherine - Kununurra, sight-seeing as he went along the way. The service on the train was fantastic - for starters you're not driving so get to experience the Nullabor with a (bevvy of choice) in your hand rather than a steering wheel, the scenery around the southern end of the Flinders Ranges is magic, especially if the train is there around sunset etc.... You're not worried about fuel usage (in fact the fuel bill for towing a car across and back would be similar to the whole trip on the train), where you're going to stop for the night - and if some muppet is going to try and relieve you of your Torrie when you are there, or even if you are going to hit another roo in the dark before you do get there coz you're running late, or even where you're going to get that flat tyre on the trailer repaired.... Been there, done that - its got hair and warts on it.

Heaps less stress, from memory (may have changed these days but worth an enquiry) the car travels for b*gger all if you travel in a sleeper cabin.

Make a holiday of it!

Dave

**1BadVan** · 18-04-2012, 01:37 PM

[MENTION=116]Sandman_77[/MENTION]. http://www.mysandman.com.au/forums/s...ans-other-ride. Hi Gene have the offer of an enclosed trailer weighs in at a ton plus car = 2048 kg. Don't really have anything to tow it with. I like the idea of sitting back on a train and will get pricing. I also like the idea of an adventure it could turn out to be one I might like to forget. However good or bad they are the things that shape who you are. Decisions, decisions. No motels for me Gene a swag and under the stars.
Cheers Dave

**thatotherguy** · 18-04-2012, 04:30 PM

maybe go one way on the train and drive back, you can buy good protection for your car now like car bra and vinyl wrap ,i remember reading an article about a guy called chubby driving his show quality VH commodore from east to west and back again using vinyl wrap,also putting it on an open trailer would be worse than driving it .we want to come over for the monaro nats in october but my biggest worry is some lowlife stealing it when we stop over night ,stone chips can be fixed but finding your car stripped and burnt would be heartbreaking. trips like that are supposed to be fun not stressful and if you stopover in SA come and say hi we have a spare room and a spot in the garage for your torrie next to mine

**jennie285** · 18-04-2012, 05:24 PM

The Indian Pacific runs through Parkes and I think you need to get off at Parkes due to low bridges or something I heard this all recently, we are in Parkes and would be able to hook you up with something trailerwise if you wanted to drive for 1.5hours to Bathurst from here in Parkes, to Bathurst.

Cheers Jennie and Rodney

**1BadVan** · 18-04-2012, 06:10 PM

[MENTION=737]thatotherguy[/MENTION] thanks for the offer. If you are worried about an overnight stop in WA you can bunk at my place secure storage for your car etc. I thinkthe nationals are in Busselton thats about 2.5 hrs drive from me. Unfortunately a car bra or wrap arent an option for me as the acrylic lacquer finish wont handle it. I have been told if I make a screen and mount it on the draw bar of the trailer it should do the job of protecting the front of the car dont know what the sides will cop though. Thanks for the offer [MENTION=133]jennie285[/MENTION] of hooking me up with a trailer but I would drive from Parkes if its only 1.5hrs. Good info to know I will have to ring Indian Pacific bookings to find out a price. I guess then its cost Vs adventure of driving the nullabour. Some pics of my trusty old car trailer.

Capture.JPG DSC00970.jpg

**1BadVan** · 18-04-2012, 06:16 PM

Screen similar to this but I think I would make it a bit wider so as to wrap around some of the front guards and a bit higher as well. Don't know if wind would be an issue. Definetly roped through eylets not just cable tied on as in the picture.

trio_1[1].jpg

**thatotherguy** · 18-04-2012, 06:34 PM

what do you plan on using as a tow car ? we have a wake boat that weighs almost 2 ton and i tow it with an SV6 commodore and it tows it ok but struggles up hills a bit and im not sure the transmission would be up to towing all day as the temp gauge sits higher than normal and im sure its because the trans is getting hot . anyway im not trying to put you off but if you plan on sleeping close to your torrie i would be driving it at least one way if you have the time . we took our HQ coupe from adelaide to cairns in the early 90s and had a great time but at the time it wasnt in concourse condition and not worth anywhere near what it is now but still attracted plenty of attention along the way .

**1BadVan** · 18-04-2012, 07:15 PM

Good point about tow car. Mate and I plan on using a 2008 six cylinder BA tray top ute. I think towing capacity is 2300kg. We are looking at towing 1500kg. Feedback on how these tow would be good it might be another deciding factor.

Cheers Dave

**playwme** · 18-04-2012, 09:36 PM

Trailers are only useful if you need to haul more than one car at a time.
Small japanese trucks are what us pro car hoarders use.

Look at renting an enclosed Pantech 3 tonner. Drill some holes in the floor to mount some eyelets for tying down and if the car is too long remove the rear doors. Disconnect the speedo sensor so you don't get slugged the KM surcharge and run a GPS for your speedo. A small Jap truck will use less fuel than a Falcon towing a trailer and the new ones are nice to drive on the highway. Big spacious cab that you can really fill up with roadtrip shit and upright seating position limits fatigue. Some extra cushioning on the seat can't hurt if you'll be doing 8000km.