Trailering to Track Days and Race Meetings

[timbarber]

Having just purchased a race prepared SC, I'm now trying to find the right trailer for it (and the 64RS - but not at the same time!). I'm a complete trailer virgin and need to pick the brains of you trailering "old hands", particularly to and from events. What's your advice on the best way to go (without spending a fortune) so it's relatively easy to load and unload yourself:

- tilt bed versus flat and ramps for either
- winch or not
- wheel and fuel carrying: in towing vehicle or on trailer rack
- any other features that you think are especially useful

I borrowed a (four wheel) trailer to pick up the car. I have a non-turbo 2 litre Subaru Forrester. Standing starts and hills were a fair challenge (once could smell burning clutch on an inclined standing start) but the car coped OK although 60mph on the flat seemed about as hard as it would pull or as fast as I felt comfortable to drive. Initially I was getting quite a bit of oscillation above 50mph but moving the car forward by 9 inches or so meant that this was usually OK to about 60mph. Going downhill often seemed to set off the rocking from side to side too. Regarding towing:

- how do you know whether the vehicle is strong enough to tow the loaded trailer?
- is there anything you can do to reduce the oscillation, it feels as though it could go out of control quite easily and that would make a big mess! It's also bloody hard work!
- does reversing and steering the trailers backwards just come with practice? It's not coming naturally to me yet and unfortunately I live in a cul-de-sac and have no in and out drive
- what's the best way to hitch up? Reversing the car up to the trailer it's difficult to get things lined up, particularly as you can't see what you're doing! Are there any good gadgets or suggestions to help with this?

Any tips welcome and if anyone knows of a good suitable second hand trailer, please let me know.

 

[pncarrerars]

I have towed both cars for hillclimbing & horses for wife. She currently has the same as you 2 litre Forester & it is about on the limit with 500kg horse + trailer. Any oscillations are usually due to bad load distribution. Need good nose weight on trailer. In my case 35 years ago low nose weight + strong side wind =15 motorway barrier supports + smashed up tow car, trailer, & hillclimb car!

 

[Laurence Gibbs]

Gawd blimey that sounds expensive[] Great post Tim, i hope you get a lot of replies as i'm thinking of doing the same. The questions your asking are exactly what i am wondering too. Too add to your list of questions here is another:
How easy is it to manouver the trailer without / with a car on it when not hitched i.e can the whole thing be moved a small distance by say two or three people or is this virtually impossible?

 

[pncarrerars]

On tarmac on the flat 1 or 2 people can move a trailer+car a bit to line up the hook etc. In a typical muddy paddock no way! The easiest type of trailer is the type that tips & has a winch to get the car on/off.

Manovering usually comes with practice. Once hitched up look for something that lines up in your rear view & just line up the same next time. Don't forget that those who passed their test in the last few years (can't remember the date) may need to pass an additional towing test depending on what they are towing.

 

[PhilRS]

Melv will have expert knowledge here...

Here is my limited one...

I have rented my Brian James trailers from Indespension. Check them out. There might be one close to you and it is a good way to experiment with different trailers.

http://www.indespension.co.uk/b2c/jsp/home.jsp

I have had tilt beds and flat and ramps trailers. I prefer flat and ramps, though they require more space to load the car. I would ALWAYS winch my car on the trailer (just spare a thought for the clutch!)

Stability at speed: I have rented the same trailer with and without a recent service (including tyre pressures, wheel bearings, brakes and all the electrics). That makes an enormous difference. With a 911, the engine must go first on the trailer so that the weight is firmly on the nose of the trailer. I can tow at 70mph at ease.

Towing vehicle: Was very much chosen with towing in mind (an Audi S8, with the 5-speed Porsche tiptronic). Never had any problem or impression that the towing car was struggling []

Reversing and parking comes with practice. I learned the hard way with reversing the trailer with the RSR on, at 3:00am (thanks Tom Schmidt for a long painful negotiation), on a rainy night, into a narrow driveway, in a narrow street with no electrics on the trailer (thanks indespension for this. Now I always ask that my trailer is serviced when I rent it from them).

Hitch up: align car with trailer then winch it up. Useful to do this with someone who helps.

 

[Melv]

ORIGINAL: timbarber


- tilt bed versus flat and ramps for either

TILT BED ONE HELLOF A LOT EASIER AS YOU DON'T NEED TO HOICK RAMPS AROUND, ALTHOUGH YOU MAY NEED EXTENDER RAMPS IF CAR LOW. LOOKS COOL TOO AS YOU GENTLY DRIVE OFF AND THE BED TILTS (HAVE HAD A FEW CUSTOMERS PANIC WHEN THEY THINK i'M GOING TO FRIVE OFF END WITHOUT RAMPS THOUGH.....[]

- winch or not

GET ONE, YOU NEVER KNOW IF YOUR CAR IS GOING TO DIE....

- wheel and fuel carrying: in towing vehicle or on trailer rack

CAN BE AWKWARD WITH A TILT BED AS COMBINED WEIGHT OF TYRES AND FUEL MAY OVERCOME LEVER EFFECT!!

- any other features that you think are especially useful

CAN'T HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH LIGHTS FOR NIGHT MANOUVRING + I'VE ADDED A COUPLA TRUCK BUMPER WANDS AT THE REAR TO AID VIZ AND NIGHT REVERSING

I borrowed a (four wheel) trailer to pick up the car. Initially I was getting quite a bit of oscillation above 50mph but moving the car forward by 9 inches or so meant that this was usually OK to about 60mph. Going downhill often seemed to set off the rocking from side to side too.

WAS CAR LOADED ENGINE TO THE FRONT?

- how do you know whether the vehicle is strong enough to tow the loaded trailer?

MANUFACTURER SHOULD QUOTE A MAX TOWING WEIGHT -MY SHOGUN PLATED AT 3500kgs, SO NOT MUCH A PROBLEM...BTW, PLATED TRAIN WEIGHT IS 6200kgs!!

- is there anything you can do to reduce the oscillation, it feels as though it could go out of control quite easily and that would make a big mess! It's also bloody hard work!

JUST LOAD IT PROPERLY IN THE FIRST PLACE

- does reversing and steering the trailers backwards just come with practice? It's not coming naturally to me yet and unfortunately I live in a cul-de-sac and have no in and out drive

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE -JUST TWO TIPS -SLOWLY DOES IT.....PLACE HAND AT BOTTOM OF WHEEL WHEN REVERSING AND WHICHEVER WAY YOU WANT TRAILER TO GO, MOVE HAND THAT WAY....

- what's the best way to hitch up? Reversing the car up to the trailer it's difficult to get things lined up, particularly as you can't see what you're doing! Are there any good gadgets or suggestions to help with this?

WING MIRRORS, JUST GET THE TRAILER STRAIGHT AND EQUAL IN THE MIRRORS. OR PUT A BROOM STICK AGAINST THE TRAILER TWO BAR AND LINE UP WITH THAT.

 

[chfs911]

Too much hassle!


Pay Melv to do it! ;O)

 

[Melv]

ORIGINAL: chfs911

Too much hassle!


Pay Melv to do it! ;O)

Can't help but agree -thanx Charles!![]

 

[timbarber]

Thanks for all the really useful advice - I'll let you know how I get on. I'm starting to think it's a lot of hassle and expense to go to, just to have tyre options when I get there!

 

[Laurence Gibbs]

The main reasons i'm thinking about the idea are:
1. I probably will be building a track only car so no choice but to trailer that.And then I won't have to tax mot or insure it either! Other side of coin is cost of trailer and tow vehicle!!!!
2. Reduces mileage of my RS (no bad thing) main use for mine seems to involve track days to Spa and Brands with a few others thrown in(ring, Oulton etc) so a useful saving in road mileage given the distances involved. And a saving in the mileage the track day tyres do.
3. if you do have an off, even a minor one into the gravel, getting the car home is easier . If you start looking into european breakdown cover getting your car home in a timely fashion is not straightforward. Most quote 14 day lead time to repatriate the car (where you gonna leave it in between, at who's risk!!) And many don't cover accidents on track or even accidents!!!
I'd agree though there is an awful lot of reasons not to.

 

[chfs911]

Did you not see the Speedservice trailer at Spa?


Olav is race trained RS mechanic. He has a fully kitted workshop, paint included near Spa.

Why pay more to fix in the UK?

 

[Laurence Gibbs]

he can't beat my zero labour rate[]