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Enclosed Trailer = Storage?

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 3:44 pm
by y2kdeuce
Just got what I think is a crazy good deal on a race car on eBay, so I'm finally going to live my dream of going racing. First order of business, I need a trailer to get this beast from point A to B. Second order of business, find a place to keep said beast over the Winter. Unless I want a divorce, I have to concede the garage over the Winter. Would it be stupid of me to think I could let the car ride out the Wisconsin off season in an enclosed trailer? Next option would be an unheated garage.

Thanks,

John

Re: Enclosed Trailer = Storage?

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 4:27 pm
by mikeT
Not Crazy at all!!!
I have stored my drag car this way for many winters.
I make sure to put antifreeze in the engine , I pull the batteries, and just put some wood blocks under the 4 link mounts to stop the slicks from going to the rims, The blocks just slide under the mounts with the slicks at racing psi. No way they will hold air all winter.
I have never had one problem from doing this.
Lastly I live in Michigan

Re: Enclosed Trailer = Storage?

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 7:27 pm
by spib
do like he said and if you want put crappy tires on it in trailer and put slicks in bedroom thats what I do, but my wifes slicks are on top of mine!!!!!! :D she races also and my race car it gets the garage, her car is under carport, Thats a idea, buy a good portable carport with enclosed sides put it in front of garage

Re: Enclosed Trailer = Storage?

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:27 am
by ytnova
Actually guys, I would recommend putting the car on jack stands under the frame so the springs do not have pressure on them while in storage. I store my car like this all year, it is only on the tires when I go racing. Most springs will sag over time and this extends their life greatly, yet alone keeping the tires from flat spotting. Kind of a pain, but worth the effort. I also keep ride height measurements for all four corners so I can tell when the springs start going bad.

Re: Enclosed Trailer = Storage?

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 7:19 pm
by chpcamaro
yup i keep my car in the trailer to keep the garage open and i put it on jacks stands in the trailer after every race
just like ytnova

Re: Enclosed Trailer = Storage?

Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:29 am
by y2kdeuce
Thanks guys. Bought a 26' Pace trailer today from a retiring road course racer. Set up pretty nice with a winch, e-track and etc.

Almost jack knifed it driving home though. Had a strong crosswind which was fine until I tried to pass a semi at about 68 mph. The wash coming off the front of his truck got me all out of shape and I had to fight to keep it going down the road. Total nightmare for my wife because she rolled an expedition back in January much the same way. Empty snowmobile trailer tilted on her (pin wasn't in) caught air and took her for a wild ride.

2 questions. Was the sway much worse because it was empty or can I expect that when loaded too? We had the weight distribution bars installed at the setting previous owner normally used. "hang 4 links". Sway bar was installed. Not cranked tight enough?

Did I make things worse by reacting and correcting? Sure felt like if I did nothing it would have taken us over, so I lifted out of the gas and corrected best I could. Truck gave us a wide berth and passed us back. Can't help second guessing it, if my reaction to the initial sway brought on the rest of the swaying. It was pretty bad there for a long 30 seconds.

hmmm according to this, it sounds like I'm lucky to be writing this, and yes I should have just kept the wheel straight.
http://www.thefloridafirm.com/trailer_s ... dents.html

Anyone have similar experience?

Thanks

John

Re: Enclosed Trailer = Storage?

Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:00 pm
by John_Heard
What was you pulling with?

The few times I've had one do that applying the trailer brakes tends to straighten them out pretty quick.

Re: Enclosed Trailer = Storage?

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 5:49 pm
by y2kdeuce
Was pulling with an 06 Expedition without a trailer brake controller. Just ordered one on Amazon.

After researching trailer sway, I know we had too much weight taken off the hitch by the distribution bars. The trailer was unstable to begin with, then the cross wind then truck wash got us started, and I tried to correct which made it worse. Doh!

Re: Enclosed Trailer = Storage?

Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 10:10 pm
by BracketNova
I keep my car in my one car garage in the winter...my wife doesn't mind.