GT40 Trailer Designs...
- Thread starter superflyte
- Start date
Troy
I don't have any photos, but you will need a trailer with the chassis as low as possible. Most trailers will need to have torsion axles to accomplish that. I like them particularly because aside from wheel bearings there are no grease points, and the mounting to the chassis is rather straightforward without shackles, hangers etc.
Most of the trailer manufacturers use these, and they come in a variety of capacities.
If you are contemplating a van, you can get it with a dropped tail (tapered down to the rear), and when the door is opened it forms the loading ramp which will load even the lowest chassis without scraping.
Most guys also spec a hinged flap at the top of the door to overcome the step from the ground to the door surface, usually a piece of plywood or aluminum.
Tie down points, straps, and a small winch mounted up front with a remote cable control and you are on your way. Some winches are available with a wireless remote which is cool, but a hassle if it gets lost
You can get either surge or electric brakes with most of the higher capacity axles..
Of course there are all the amenities such as lighting, storage boxes, etc., but you can always add all that stuff.
Check out Dexter Axle for the available axles, they are the largest manufacturer and pretty good units.
Good Luck
Phil
I don't have any photos, but you will need a trailer with the chassis as low as possible. Most trailers will need to have torsion axles to accomplish that. I like them particularly because aside from wheel bearings there are no grease points, and the mounting to the chassis is rather straightforward without shackles, hangers etc.
Most of the trailer manufacturers use these, and they come in a variety of capacities.
If you are contemplating a van, you can get it with a dropped tail (tapered down to the rear), and when the door is opened it forms the loading ramp which will load even the lowest chassis without scraping.
Most guys also spec a hinged flap at the top of the door to overcome the step from the ground to the door surface, usually a piece of plywood or aluminum.
Tie down points, straps, and a small winch mounted up front with a remote cable control and you are on your way. Some winches are available with a wireless remote which is cool, but a hassle if it gets lost
You can get either surge or electric brakes with most of the higher capacity axles..
Of course there are all the amenities such as lighting, storage boxes, etc., but you can always add all that stuff.
Check out Dexter Axle for the available axles, they are the largest manufacturer and pretty good units.
Good Luck
Phil
Troy,
You are welcome to pop around some time and have a look at my purpose built break-back trailer. It was designed for both the 40 and daytona coupe and has proven to do both well.
I also have drawings in ACAD if you need them along with details of the guy who built it.
I need to catch up with you and see how your car is progressing.
Cheers.
Ricky.
You are welcome to pop around some time and have a look at my purpose built break-back trailer. It was designed for both the 40 and daytona coupe and has proven to do both well.
I also have drawings in ACAD if you need them along with details of the guy who built it.
I need to catch up with you and see how your car is progressing.
Cheers.
Ricky.
Tim Kay
Lifetime Supporter
Suggestion: If your considering an enclosed trailer and and you intend on driving the car in and out then a side access door should be heavily considered. Without the side access you will have to winch the car in and out of the trailer but for the driver door will not open enough to enter or exit the car once inside the trailer.
You can opt to do what I do and that is to hire a young child to drive the car into the trailer, supply them with a box lunch and plastic bottle for the duration of the trip. That worked twice for me until each of my two sons realized what I had done:idea:
You can opt to do what I do and that is to hire a young child to drive the car into the trailer, supply them with a box lunch and plastic bottle for the duration of the trip. That worked twice for me until each of my two sons realized what I had done:idea:
Nice work Tim, you've gotta take advantage of their height!
Ricky, that would be great. I'll give you a call this week sometime, you're more than welcome to come 'round and see the car. Hopefully the coupe is going together without too many issues?
I like those SE trailers Jonathan. Torsion bar suspension seems the logical way to go.
Ricky, that would be great. I'll give you a call this week sometime, you're more than welcome to come 'round and see the car. Hopefully the coupe is going together without too many issues?
I like those SE trailers Jonathan. Torsion bar suspension seems the logical way to go.
I am now on my third trailer in 20 years! Pictures below....
1st couple of p[ictures are of a trailer I made myself. Didn't save much money as I used good new parts but the design is of a slanted bed and long ali ramps so there is no beaver tail angle to speak of. It only weighs 512 kg so also easy to move about by hand. I also used the CoG of the 40 to design the axle positions so it tows like a dream. Can load this one in 10 minutes as I can reverse on. I still have this trailer as it is the most versatile and easy to use one I have ever had.
The enclosed trailer pic is not of my trailer but is of the same model. Agree with comments above about access issues. It was very tight for a 40, super easy for an open car and for the ProSport 3000 I had to dismantle the car and rebuild it in the trailer. A bit of a faff and you needed a second pair of hands to help. This trailer weighs 900kg and was not really very easy to move about by hand. I used my garden tractor to pull it about. when towing an enclosed trailer versus an open trailer side winds really do become more noticeable. Maybe non UK regulation allows for wider trailers than we can have here. Certainly seeing the rigs used at VIR, they just wouldn't work in the UK both legally or practically. Just way too big for our roads. So I sold this trailer and got my latest trailer.
This one is brilliant. Easy to load and you can still walk about the car inside the back no problem. This one weighs 5500 kgs empty but is self propelled. Very pleased with it indeed.
1st couple of p[ictures are of a trailer I made myself. Didn't save much money as I used good new parts but the design is of a slanted bed and long ali ramps so there is no beaver tail angle to speak of. It only weighs 512 kg so also easy to move about by hand. I also used the CoG of the 40 to design the axle positions so it tows like a dream. Can load this one in 10 minutes as I can reverse on. I still have this trailer as it is the most versatile and easy to use one I have ever had.
The enclosed trailer pic is not of my trailer but is of the same model. Agree with comments above about access issues. It was very tight for a 40, super easy for an open car and for the ProSport 3000 I had to dismantle the car and rebuild it in the trailer. A bit of a faff and you needed a second pair of hands to help. This trailer weighs 900kg and was not really very easy to move about by hand. I used my garden tractor to pull it about. when towing an enclosed trailer versus an open trailer side winds really do become more noticeable. Maybe non UK regulation allows for wider trailers than we can have here. Certainly seeing the rigs used at VIR, they just wouldn't work in the UK both legally or practically. Just way too big for our roads. So I sold this trailer and got my latest trailer.
This one is brilliant. Easy to load and you can still walk about the car inside the back no problem. This one weighs 5500 kgs empty but is self propelled. Very pleased with it indeed.
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Jack Houpe
GT40s Supporter
I just bought this trailer 2 weeks ago, its 49 foot long, can put two cars in it easy, also just got home with this GMC5500 Topkick, it has 135 gallon of fuel capacity so I can go 1350 + miles towing without fuel stop, and almost 2000 without the trailer. Leaving this morning for Big Bend Open Road Race in south west Texas. This is the first time I have ever driven a truck trailer combo that is 63 feet long. 
My friend Mike Trusty and I have been doing events for the last 20 years and its great when we can travel together with both cars and wives and there 1000 lbs of luggage. Oh by the way I am selling my F350 dually I had since new, just put 1000 bucks of tires on it, its a perfect truck for a single car trailer if you know of anyone who wants one for a good deal. Its a 2001 with the 7.3 liter diesel, which is a little short on HP for pulling this big trailer.
My friend Mike Trusty and I have been doing events for the last 20 years and its great when we can travel together with both cars and wives and there 1000 lbs of luggage. Oh by the way I am selling my F350 dually I had since new, just put 1000 bucks of tires on it, its a perfect truck for a single car trailer if you know of anyone who wants one for a good deal. Its a 2001 with the 7.3 liter diesel, which is a little short on HP for pulling this big trailer.Attachments
I have an aluminum 18' Texas Rollback trailer that allows my GT40 to drive on and off with no clearance problems. I've had it for two years, and this winter I received a Serpent Express cover to mount on the trailer. I haven't put it on yet, so I can't tell you how it works.
Jim K
Jim K
The Serpent Express that Chuck posted an image of above:
is an all-aluminum and comes in 14, 15, 16, or 18 feet deck length.
65 Serpent Expresses are successfully in service.
Advantages:
- Lightweight (only 1100-1800 lbs
- Easy to tow: Explorer class is acceptable (big F-Rig not needed)
- Aerodynamic - easy on fuel, keep up w traffic.
- Small, easy to park and store
- Custom made for your car.
- Top and frame removable for multi-purpose use of open trailer.
The soft top keeps your car clean and dry on a trip.
Security is better in a hard side but we use alarms for peace of mind at motels, resturants, etc.
6-8 week delivery; Lower Michican FOB point on all-aluminum. Steel in various locations.
A new "Retro Kit" is available for converting existing open car haulers to add the soft top.
is an all-aluminum and comes in 14, 15, 16, or 18 feet deck length.
65 Serpent Expresses are successfully in service.
Advantages:
- Lightweight (only 1100-1800 lbs
- Easy to tow: Explorer class is acceptable (big F-Rig not needed)
- Aerodynamic - easy on fuel, keep up w traffic.
- Small, easy to park and store
- Custom made for your car.
- Top and frame removable for multi-purpose use of open trailer.
The soft top keeps your car clean and dry on a trip.
Security is better in a hard side but we use alarms for peace of mind at motels, resturants, etc.
6-8 week delivery; Lower Michican FOB point on all-aluminum. Steel in various locations.
A new "Retro Kit" is available for converting existing open car haulers to add the soft top.
I use a 16X8 ft. enclosed and wind the GT40 in backwards with a Harbor Freight 5500 lb winch. Instead of a battery box, I use a Sears 1150 portable power station. I don't think I'd want to drive in even if I could get out as it's pretty narrow between the wheel housings. With the winch, it's a piece of cake.
