Performance Events: Camping & Towing Rigs

[jaudette3]

I going to try to participate in a number of performance events this season: hill climbs, track days and auto-crosses. I plan on using my SWB Coupe.

While I do enjoy every opportunity to drive my SWB, I'm thinking it might make more sense to trailer it as it will be set up for the event ahead of time, i.e. soft rubber tires, straight-through muffler and the like. Plus a trailer would give me room to take tools, extra parts, extra tires, high octane fuel and the like.

Plus, it would be great to have some kind of RV as a tow vehicle which would give me a place to stay. I'm hoping to do this inexpensively as my wife won't be going with me so I don't need any special comfort or luxury. Trips will be around the Pacific Northwest, so not too long - and not in wintry weather. I know many on this list have setups like this and I would really value your input.

o Do I need an enclosed trailer? For security reasons? Or to save wear and tear on the car? Could I have an open trailer with some kind of wind buffer on the front and gain almost as much as protection?

o Since Porsches are so light it doesn't seem like I need a heavy duty tow vehicle. How about some kind of van with a camper conversion?

Also, this is a little off the topic, but what tools and spare parts would you recommend to bring along?

Thanks - I really appreciate the help.

Cheers,
JohnA

[pu911rsr]

John,
You might get a better responce on the Rennlist. It really depends on the kinds of roads you will tow on. If you are running up and down mountain roads it's different than towing something across Kansas. Buy a good light trailer and a vehicle with a decent tow rating and you should be good to go.
Enjoy!
Phil

[Soterik]

I've got an enclosed 16 foot trailer, which is the smallest that will work. It does allow security, plus additional storage, and it also provides me with another garage during the winter for car storage. You will probably need a good sized vehicle to tow this, as the combination is pretty close to 5000 lbs, and I use a suburban.

I had originally bought an open trailer, which I do still use, and it now sports a buffer for vehicle protection (thanks to Randy Wells...). Randy uses the open trailer and tows it behind his VW Eurovan, which has gone pretty well according to him. So this combination may be close to what you're talking about. Note that my open trailer is steel, so it's pretty heavy. You may consider a lighter aluminum trailer (the name escapes me), and then you'll have a little breathing room on the tow capacity.

Also post to Pelican...lot's of guys who tow on that board.

e

[Paul Schooley]

Consider the other uses your trailer might have and your decision will be a lot easier. While I would prefer an enclosed trailer myself, I use an open tandem 16' trailer for my business and occasional car hauling. I use a Ford extended cargo van for towing and it works great. BTW, using a van for towing puts the front wheels almost under you which makes maneuvering (backing up) quite easy.

[Gburner]

If you have a lighter truck you can get away with a lighter tandem axle flatbed open trailer.
These work great and tow well up/down hills and cruise the speed limit or better with little effort.

Sure with an enclosed trailer you'll be able to store rims & tires/tools/fuel/generator out of sight. It can also provide shelter at the track, a place where you can control your environment. A toy box trailer/camper/enclosed car hauler is a great rig to have at the track. I like the big RVs but for a few reasons I'd rather have a turbo diesel pick up with a toy box trailer. With a toy box style trailer you can camp in the trailer and disconnect the truck if needed. You'll need a powerful truck, pulling an enclosed trailer with an undersized truck can make towing even more dangerous. I big RV with an enclosed trailer is the ultimate but you might find you'll still need a truck to tow/move the trailer/car around town.

With any trailer consider a load leveler/sway control hitch, it will give you much better control/straight line projection with crosswinds and turbulence from the other bigger rigs.
Pelican AX forum has had some good threads on track trailers.

Photo of my entry level 20' trailer.
Started with a basic trailer and added windows/AC/tire rack.....

Here's my overnight track support list.
Luggage
Straw hat
Ball cap
Video camera, tape, remote., charger
Remote microphone
Bottled water
Gator aid
Trailer tongue lock
truck Club
Porsche Club

Helmet bag
Gloves
Neck brace

Driving bag
Suit
Cool shirt
Shoes
chatter box

Directions
Tech sheet/documents
Sunglasses
Reading glasses
Sun tan lotion
Vitamins
CD
Hand wipes
Ear plugs
Phone
Luna bars
Porsche fuses

Tools
Aluminum jack
Jack stands
10 chairs
Ice chest with block ice only.
Ice chest with Gator Aid/water.
Air bottle
Plastic box with parts.
Gallon of filtered water
Power pack
Cordless impact gun/charger.
Jack side pad
Work gloves
Torque wrench
Brake drain bottle
Power bleeder
Micro towels
Bungies
Wing adjustment plate
Protractor
Gaffers Tape for side of trailer.
Fan belt

Bed
Heater
TV
VCR
Microwave
4 17 rims
3 trailer spare
Un-mounted race tires
Other race tires.
911 hood prop
Hydraulic jack
Trailer lug wrench
Bike

Air gauge
Wheel spacers
Tape, duct/electrical
Paper towels
Simple green
Windex
Final inspection
Oil
Brake fluid
Pyrometer
Clock
Rain X
Tie wraps

Keys
Cutoff switch
Cool shirt ice chest

charge
cordless impact gun
Power pack / Hot lap battery
Video camera/ Remote Mic battery

[sezme]

Never - Ever - underbuy a tow rig. Always buy more than what you think you'll need.

Open trailers are fine for moving a car locally - but enclosed is the way to go. Security, wear and tear, and weather protection are the three most obvious reasons to go enclosed.

[endo911rs]

Search on craigslist for a used enclosed 20' trailer and a used Excursion. Both can be had pretty cheap in this economy. I have an employee that tows with the v10 version and they love it. I would personally hold out for the diesel but they are much more money. I used to have a decked out dodge cummins which was an awesome tow vehicle but they like to eat trannys and fuel injection pumps.

Many brands of trailers but if you choose to go with an open one, go with a featherlite. They are a beautifully constructed aluminum trailer. Open trailer tow much easier and are less likely to be affected by crosswinds. Then again, they do not offer the weather protection and storage so you have to determine your personal needs. I have had both and wish I could still have both. I would say in the NW, go with the 20' enclosed.

BUT...for ultimate towing capacity, you might look at something like this

[berettafan]

Been tossing this idea around myself as i absolutely hate the thought of having to pay big bucks for a flatbed from lord knows where. The closest autocross for me is around 3hrs so the fee would be a bit sharp.

Al. trailers are a LOT more expensive than steel but the weight advantage is pretty big. I see enclosed trailers on Craigslist for awful cheap but have yet to see Al. open trailers take a serious drop in price. If anything they hold their value quite well.

[berettafan]

BTW the nice part of trailering would be that i could bring my wife and son with me and they can wander off to go shopping if they get bored.

[sweetE]

JohnA,

It's a slippery slope.

I believe you will be much happier with an "enclosed trailer".

I have a Haulmark, which is a little on the heavy side.

However I am able to tow with my F -150 ,a 5.4 V8 automatic.

If I were going to be towing a lot I would have opted for a diesel.

Tools, wheels & tires and cabinets are very helpful. A 20' trailer will give you plenty of room for a SWB 911, mine is a 67S.

A "beaver tail" is nice for a low 911(loading & unloading) and "diamond plate" runners in the box keep the floor tile from "lifting" due to the movement of the car on your trips. Tie-downs for all four wheels also keep the car in place on your journey.

Good luck with your quest.