Custom buggy hauler

Bear with me......
I've searched well beyond what any sane person would & never could find exactly what I wanted. All buggy haulers these days are 102" wide & I've regretted selling my 96" wide gooseneck for years. With all the narrow backroads & construction zones I encounter I can definitely tell the difference & don't need or want a 102" wide trailer again. Current buggy hauler is actually a 22.5' x 102" enclosed & I'm done doing it this way.
I've come across a small trailer builder here in Ohio that is actually willing to build what I want for a very fair price. Having never owned a car hauler I'd thought it might be a good idea to ask here what to consider & what to avoid.

I was quoted $4250..... $500 deposit starts the build with remainder due on pickup.
10k - 96" wide x 18' long buggy hauler
77" between drive over fenders
Straight deck (dovetail optional)
6" channel frame & full wrapped tongue
3" channel crossmembers 24" OC
Stand up ramps with supports
4 wheel brakes & breakaway
LED with sealed wiring
Adjustable 2-5/16 coupler
Sandblasted & powdercoated
2x10 pressure treated floor
225/75r15 load D

He described the powdercoat as a bitch to remove & more akin to plastic. That's exactly how I feel regarding the pc on my buggy so that's a good thing. $100 more for 16" oc crossmembers. He's confident this will end up just shy of 3000lbs.

Any suggestions? Thoughts?

Deck height is 24". I'm going back & forth whether a dovetail is even necessary here. IDK

Buggy is 4400lbs, 89" wide, 120"wb on 43's. Might have another 200lbs of firewood loaded between the fenders but that's it.

I'd go with no dovetail, steel floor and a big jack in order to be able to unhook with a load still on it.

I don't see what axles you plan on using, but the tires seem small. I'd go 16" load range E for peace of mind.

The 10k verson uses 5.2k axles with 6lug 225/75r15 load D. Same thing on my 22.5' 10k Haulmark enclosed that I currently use. I did upgrade mine last summer to load E Goodyear Endurance for peace of mind.

He has a 12k drop leg jack option for another $100. That does sound like a good idea!

My 2 cents. Personally I like a wooden trailered floor, Load Range E tires, and no dovetail.

Personally I don't like a dovetail trailer since it tends to drag-ass at various off-road parks and off-level situations. If you have standup ramps with supports then the dovetail is not needed in my opinion.

Second the idea of a bigger jack then you think is really necessary and same can be said about tires. Would rather over do the tires on the front end than go with D now and wish you had E's later.

All that said, it's a cool looking trailer and seems reasonably priced.

definitely wood deck. i can't stand a metal deck trailer. What are you going to do with your enclosed?

I just talked to him so I could clear up some confusion on my part.

10k version uses 6k 6lug axles with 225/75r15 load D. Another $60 for E rated tires.

12k version uses 6k 8lug axles with 235/75r16 load E & costs $600 more. The $400 extra listed on the website is old & needing updated. ☹

Suspension is eye to eye spring. Fenders are 1/8" diamond with supports.

I'm selling the enclosed. I had planned on putting in aluminum cabinets & a workstation with fold down bed, but never touched it in 5yrs & realize I never will. I'm going back to my roots and plan on making it easier for me to travel further south & hit all the parks down there. A lighter & smaller trailer holding less gear helps me imho.

shoot me some info on the enclosed. i've wanted one for a while. but i'm afraid i'll also be like you and wont do what i need to do.

jeeptj99 said:

shoot me some info on the enclosed. i've wanted one for a while. but i'm afraid i'll also be like you and wont do what i need to do.

Click to expand...

Off the top of my head..... its 22.5'
2015 Haulmark Transport Auto V-nose dlx
10k with 5.2lb torsion ez-lube drop axles
New Goodyear Endurance load E 225/15
94" wide ramp door
48" wide side door with flush locks
16" oc crossmembers & roof bows
.030 aluminum White exterior
White vinyl lined wall & ceiling
REXTHANE coated floor in black
Led lights
Diamond sheet stone guard
Chrome center caps, rings & corners

PS: Rexthane is the **** if you roll it on a new wood floor. It's the same moisture cure polyurethane used to topcoat custom epoxy garage floors. Unaffected by gas, oil or tire pickup. Best $250 I ever spent!

I would go 7k axles and 20-22ft, just for the options. If the buggy is what its going to carry 90% of the time, that might be overkill.

I like the wood deck as well. Load Range E tires for the win. No dove as long as the ramps will stop the trailer from hitting the ground during load up. I would see if he can add a built in plate to mount a winch in the front and you absolutely cannot have enough d rings welded to it.

The buggy is the only thing this will carry, which is why 18' is all I want or need. The total combined weight of buggy + trailer + firewood should be 7500lbs.

I definitely prefer wood & I'll add 2 d-rings up front & 2 at the back, spaced according to my needs of course. Winch plate is a good idea!

I just bought this. If you want his number pm me.

Waffle said:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://haulmark.com/trailers/19-trailers/car-trailers/transport-auto/38-model-passport-4-wide-34&ved=2ahUKEwj1qYaFi87tAhWEzVkKHYHWBJkQFjAKegQIGxAB&usg=AOvVaw2M2FeeuxwQDoChDfFv3F8n

Off the top of my head..... its 22.5'
2015 Haulmark Transport Auto V-nose dlx
10k with 5.2lb torsion ez-lube drop axles
New Goodyear Endurance load E 225/15
94" wide ramp door
48" wide side door with flush locks
16" oc crossmembers & roof bows
.030 aluminum White exterior
White vinyl lined wall & ceiling
REXTHANE coated floor in black
Led lights
Diamond sheet stone guard
Chrome center caps, rings & corners

PS: Rexthane is the **** if you roll it on a new wood floor. It's the same moisture cure polyurethane used to topcoat custom epoxy garage floors. Unaffected by gas, oil or tire pickup. Best $250 I ever spent!

Click to expand...

sent you a pmn

I always here about dragging ass with low trailers & dovetails, but I've never had an issue where I go with a 22.5' enclosed with 4" drop axles & a dovetail. To me it would be reasonable to assume that if my 22.5' works just fine then an 18' would work even better. That's just me though.
He said I could do drop axles if I want, for another $200 ea axle. Seems steep.

PS: I'm trying to keep this significantly less than $5200, because the closer I get to that price the more likely I am to say screw the whole idea & just deal with the width.

PSS: If you do want a name brand trailer right now, the way you want it, good luck! Manufacturers are waaaaay behind & some are refusing to mess with individual orders. Sure-Trac for example is 50 weeks out if you order today, so I'm told. Load Trail flat out refused to build me a car hauler with the options I wanted (options they offer).
Expect a price increase in early 2021 too.

Waffle said:

I always here about dragging ass with low trailers & dovetails, but I've never had an issue where I go with a 22.5' enclosed with 4" drop axles & a dovetail. To me it would be reasonable to assume that if my 22.5' works just fine then an 18' would work even better. That's just me though.
He said I could do drop axles if I want, for another $200 ea axle. Seems steep.

PS: I'm trying to keep this significantly less than $5200, because the closer I get to that price the more likely I am to say screw the whole idea & just deal with the width.

PSS: If you do want a name brand trailer right now, the way you want it, good luck! Manufacturers are waaaaay behind & some are refusing to mess with individual orders. Sure-Trac for example is 50 weeks out if you order today, so I'm told. Load Trail flat out refused to build me a car hauler with the options I wanted (options they offer).
Expect a price increase in early 2021 too.

Click to expand...

I hear them constantly dragging at Adventure Off-road Park and Hawk Pride in the gravel driveways in the parking area and at Hale in the parking areas too, which is why I mentioned it earlier.

ridered3 said:

I hear them constantly dragging at Adventure Off-road Park and Hawk Pride in the gravel driveways in the parking area and at Hale in the parking areas too, which is why I mentioned it earlier.

Click to expand...

Ha! Those are the places I've never been but plan to.

Waffle said:

Ha! Those are the places I've never been but plan to.

Click to expand...

Get ya a new trailer and seats and then come on down!

Seats are ordered!