Page 31 - Issue 39
P. 31
GEOFF JOHNSONOFF JOHNSONOFF JOHNSON
WITH
WITH
WITH
WITH
WITH
WITH GE GE
The trailer may be the most borrowed piece They work slick as long as you can get your
of equipment a rodder owns. If you have one vehicle up the short ramps. Even though I have
yourself, you know exactly what I am talking seen it a thousand times, I would never trust
about. Having a trailer is like sitting on the worst this to tow a project with rotted tires that just
kept secret on the planet. This can be great happen to hold air. Maybe something a little
when you have a tight circle of rodders who are bigger is what you need.
happy to pay back what they owe, but it can Next, we have the traditional car trailer,
lead to you having your trailer out on almost maybe a 7000 pound gross unit with room
a permanent loan, bouncing from driveway to for 16-18 feet of car on the bed. This will move
driveway. How are you going to fi nd it when you almost anything you need, just be careful of
need to use it? anything too big or too heavy where you can
If you own a yard full of projects hauled with jump past the GVW very quickly. Buy some new
the help of others, you also get what I am saying. heavy duty ratchet straps, bolt on a winch, and
Borrowing one in a pinch is one thing, like when you are ready for almost any automotive failure.
your water pump grinds its own innards forty Then, we have the overkill trailer, the “let’s
miles from your shop, but borrowing one all the see if I can break it” trailer, the implement
time is pushing it with your friends if you ask me. trailer. This will be over 20 feet long with
Maybe you need to consider buying one instead double the capacity of your traditional
of borrowing again? car trailer and held up by two axles both
sporting 8-lug wheels. This is the
kind of unit you really don’t want to
They c see leaving your driveway without
They come in many ome in many
direct supervision. Friends, or more
shapes and sizes where
shapes and sizes where direct supervision. Friends, or more
r r
realistically friends of friends, will try ealistically friends of friends, will try ealistically friends of friends, will try
realistically friends of friends, will try
to see how much scrap they can really
each will fi t your needs to see how much scrap they can really
each will fi t your needs
fi t on it before the tires start to squat.
fi t on it before the tires start to squat.
better than others. It takes more than the average truck
better than others.
to pull since the empty weight on one
of these can be more than what most
cars weigh.
Trailers can be some of the most abused railers can be some of the most abused Finally, perhaps the rarest of the rarest friend
Trailers can be some of the most abused
T
will have a fl atbed truck ready to lend. If you
pieces of equipment, so tread lightly if you
pieces of equipment, so tread lightly if you will have a fl atbed truck ready to lend. If you
are looking at something used, yet, deals can
are looking at something used, yet, deals can don’t have one good axle able to roll, the dolly
be found if you take your time to shop. They is out. If you don’t have a full-size truck to pull
come in many shapes and sizes where each a full-size trailer, then those are out, too. The
will fi t your needs better than others. There fl atbed car hauler can do it all with ease: retrieve
really isn’t a perfect fi t for every job, so here your broken down ride as well as haul home
are some ideas for what to look for when your next project. The problem of course is how
needing to borrow or buy. horribly impractical they are for the average user.
First, we have the two-wheel dolly. This little Do you really need another vehicle to maintain,
half-trailer will get you out of 99% of the jams pay for tabs/insurance each year, and store when
you are in--all you need is the truck to pull it. not in use? I would love to have one, but I need
These units can be pretty light depending on the space to park it. Can someone tell my wife a
how much aluminum is used in the construction. new pole shed is a need and not a want?
RATRODMAGAZINE.COM RAT ROD MAGAZINE 31
30x31 Downshifting.indd 31 8/10/16 1:36 PM