Help: Buy Truck & Trailer, vs. Ship

[Andrew2KRT10]

Can't decide. Do I get rid of my Dakota, which is not strong enough to tow my car on a trailer (Planning for next year in Detroit),and get a larger truck, say a 1500, in which case the whole senario will cost me about 8K & my Dakota + the cost of a trailer..........for what amounts to only a couple of long range driving events a year?
OR............do I save all that money, put it towards upgrades for my car if so desired, and when the events come along such as Detroit, I just ship my car.

So,what do you think guys?

Thanks,
Andrew

 

[John Stuttle]

IMO - You can't beet your own rig - you will use it more than you think. I have a 2000 Chev 2500HD 4X4 with a 24' Haulmark Edge enclosed trailer - both black. Sharp looking setup and I use it all the time - not only for my car but for freinds and family - Get your own rig if you can afford it, you will be glad you did! - - john

 

[Andrew2KRT10]

John:
Hummmm. That is a real good reason not to go with the new truck and trailer. Then everyone imaginable will be asking me to move something for them. Thanks for the opinion. I think I made up my mind to stay with what I have and not go for the whole rig. I'll ship next year to detroit. It worked for many other people last year at St. Louis.
Thanks,
Andrew

 

[GTS Bruce]

If you get a PU.Go for at least the 3/4 ton.You won't regret it.If you get a 1/2 ton there will be times you wish you had the 3/4 or 1 ton for sure.People that get the v-10 are thrilled when they break into doubble digit gas mileage.The diesel Will handle more,easier than the gas rig.Lower fuel costs.Higher initial investment.HIgher return at trade in.And yes,trailering can be a Pain. Bruce

 

[Andrew2KRT10]

Thanks guys!
All great advice, and it all leaned towards what I thought would be best for me. I only have a 3 car garage and only about an acre of land, 1/3 of which is a part of a lake. To own, and store a huge trailer, and they are huge, would create havoc, especially when the wife has to look outside and make sarcastic remarks as to "how big IS that thing". If the remarks were directed to me, fine, but towrds the trailer taking up a good portion of the yard, I don't need the headache. I only would be using it 2-3 MAYBE 4 times a year? And besides I like to drive my car, and now I have a friend to follow in my Dakota with the spare wheels & tools. So, I'll save the money and put it towards upgrades in the car. Plus, even a 1500 Dodge truck would barely fit in my garage and I'd have to rip out half my workbench.
Thanks again, can't wait till New Jersey Englishtown event!
Andrew

 

[Supercharged Vipermad]

I hate to be that guy but why dont you drive it?

You must be registered for see images

I plan to drive the crap out of mine. I put 300 miles on it the first day I had.. . . You may have parts/racing gear to bring. If so I would opt for this . . . If you want to spend as much on towing gear as you did on the thing you are towing it with..

You must be registered for see images

http://www.fordvehicles.com/common/outside.asp?url=http://www.commtruck.ford.com/

Customize it... thats what Im talking about

Keith

 

[Serious Eric]

In my experience the trailer was more of a pain than it was worth. I (like you) contemplated getting it to haul my car to VOI4. Bought an expedition with full 10,000 lb towing capacity and then began investigating trailers. It was then that I heard about Reliable's $800 round-trip charge to ship my viper from Austin to Orlando ... HA! That was a no-brainer. They were outstanding in every respect - service, treatment of the car, punctuality, etc.

Since then, I continued to lust for a trailer (I take my car to 3-4 track events per year). Finally bought a nice low mileage Magnum trailer specially designed for a viper. My justification was "I can mount the track wheels/tires at home, don't need to drive the viper the 100 miles to the track, I can go alone to the track - won't need my wife and family to drive the chase car containing tools/tires etc." I've used it about three times now and found it to be mostly a big pain in the a$$. The major downsides as I see them are:

1. It's huge! (23' x 9') Where do you store it? I've got a five car garage and I COULD store it there, but it eats up too much of my workshop space so I've ended up leaving it out at my farm 90 miles out of town.

2. Turns out I don't go alone to the track after all. My pit crew (family) likes to go with me, so I could really get away with using the expedition to haul wheels/tires/tools.

3. The viper NEVER breaks down. As I've posted before here, it's never let me down at the track - these things are just about bulletproof.

4. The trailer is a pain to drive fully loaded. I sure wouldn't want to haul the car long distances.

I'll probably keep it for now but in hindsight I could have EASILY done without it and the aggravation of storing it, cost, lack of maneuverability etc. Unless you're a super ******** track rat, I'd recommend against it. Save your money and ship the thing to Detroit. Reliable is a bargain.

 

[Steve 00RT/10]

I agree with the 'drive it' post. We have a 6 month viper season where we live, in which I plan to get anywhere from 8-12K miles/yr. To us, the 'journey' is an equally important part the 'event.' Got in 8K last year. Just got back this week end from a 1000 mile jaunt to a club event. If you need to take more than the car can hold--UPS will take care of it.

Steve