A Tricked Out Open Race Trailer

[Ron Earp]

I've had a few PM's and comments on my new race rig I put into operation this year. Seems a lot of people like it, or at least think it is weird and comment worthy, so I thought I'd post a few pictures and details.

I designed the trailer and had most of it done for me, that is the welded stuff, while I handled all the paneling, electrical, and interior.

I wanted a small race trailer that would fit in my garage but offer most of the benefits of a full on enclosed race trailer. I wanted a lot of storage for parts, ways to keep tools at hand, power, and "ease of use", that is, a design that would make racing easy.

So what I came up with is built on an 18 ft open trailer with a 7000 lb capacity. It features

• 15 ft car loading area
• 4 water tight under deck storage compartments 6.5 ft x 2.2ft x 1 ft, lockable lids
• A 5 ft x 4 ft x 8 ft box with tools and sleep quarters
• 3000 W power inverter with three marine deep cycle batteries for "self-powering".
• 100 W solar panel for charging with charge controller
• Built in tool cabinet
• Built in stereo/MP3 player W 80W speakers
• Tire rack for 14 tires
• 20 gallon fuel tank with fuel hose for care fueling
• Walk on observation platform
• Hammock supports
• Bike rack for the pit bike
• Fold down aluminum ramps
• Two spare tires
• External 110V hookup
• Internal 12V fluorescent lighting
• Twin bed, full mattress and sheets, pillow
• Fan
• AC unit, 110V for when trailer is hooked to 110V (inverter system wouldn't power it but for a few hours)
• Small 110V 120 psi compressor and 50 ft hose
• Retractable 110V cord on reel, 40 ft
• Ladder
• Window and screen in sleeping quarters
• Electric winch
• Electric lift for tongue

And that is about it. It is an open trailer for the car, but I have plexiglas windows for travel. It gets a lot of looks in the paddock for sure. The best compliment came from Jeff who, while I slaved away on the trailer, said "Man, you need and enclosed trailer, you're going to hate this thing". But after he used it in the paddock he gave it high praise.

You can stretch out in the bed area because the tool box area is elevated about 14" allowing you to put your feet up in that area. The sleep area is about 7.5 ft x 4 ft and works well.

See what you think.

[Ron Earp]

And some more pictures:

[Ron Earp]

And one or two more:



Not everything was done at once, naturally, so there are some pictures that have some items missing. But she is about 100% complete now.

[spawpoet]

Ron, that's pretty trick. You've packed a ton of features in a small package. What would you estimate the weight difference to be between what you have done and a similar sized enclosed trailer?? Also did you build the sleep/tool box from scratch or did you start with a pre-made storage box that you modified?

[Ron Earp]

I had a local welder take a common 18ft open trailer and weld a steel tube box with hinged doors on the front of it. I then took that structure, paneled it, and created the insides.

It is heavy BUT that is also due to the fact that I am carrying every spare for my Z that I own. Those storage boxes have a lot of space and I've got a lot of metal in there - three complete differentials, tranny, lots of drums, four sets of calipers, uprights, springs, etc. and so on. I'd estimate I've got 900 lbs of spares on it. If you need it, I bet I have it.

The AC/DC system also weighs a lot. The three batteries are around 175 lbs, plus another 35 lbs for the inverter and more for the wiring. AC adds another 20-30 lbs. Lots and lots of tools. Two spares ads some weight.

Even so, without all of that it would weigh a bit more than my old 20 ft enclosed. But, it is balanced well and tows great. I kept a spreadsheet and totaled it up and I think it is around the 6500 lbs mark, give or take 300 lbs. The open had to be around 1200 lbs less but it also carried a whole lot less in the way of spares and tires.

[Spinnetti]

Interesting - I've been considering how to do a open trailer to my liking too... Like the RC plane in the Garage... I'm a FW190 fan myself

Are those ROTA wheels? I run the same size/offset and am shopping around for the lightest set I can find (have Panasport ultralights now)

[Ron Earp]

Tongue weight is damn high. Must have airbags and load levelers.

Here are more pictures as promised.