Open pit vs. full floor
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 185
From: Dedham, MA
Open pit vs. full floor
Hey guys,
I'm getting ready to buy my first trailer to tow my old Volvo racer around. I like the open pit design as there's a good chance I'll need to get under the car to work on it after a day of racing, or during the day, and hopefully not BEFORE the racing. I don't need anything fancy, but was wondering about the following...
Open pit - does it affect gas mileage? I know it will be lighter, but will the drag created by the airflow up through the trailer floor and under the car be a significant disadvantage?
For closed floor - seems like wood is what I'm leaning towards, as the car may leak fluids sometimes and the wood is easier to replace and less slippery when coated with crap.
I'd also rather have stow-away ramps instead of the flip-up design.
Looking at 18' probably. Found a few Big Tex wood floor ones up by me for under $3K.
In my time, I've towed everything from a jet ski, a 19' boat, a camper, and the larger enclosed U-Haul trailer. But since I'm actually buying this trailer and plan to use it a lot, I would like to get the most suitable one.
Thanks in advance.
I'm getting ready to buy my first trailer to tow my old Volvo racer around. I like the open pit design as there's a good chance I'll need to get under the car to work on it after a day of racing, or during the day, and hopefully not BEFORE the racing. I don't need anything fancy, but was wondering about the following...
Open pit - does it affect gas mileage? I know it will be lighter, but will the drag created by the airflow up through the trailer floor and under the car be a significant disadvantage?
For closed floor - seems like wood is what I'm leaning towards, as the car may leak fluids sometimes and the wood is easier to replace and less slippery when coated with crap.
I'd also rather have stow-away ramps instead of the flip-up design.
Looking at 18' probably. Found a few Big Tex wood floor ones up by me for under $3K.
In my time, I've towed everything from a jet ski, a 19' boat, a camper, and the larger enclosed U-Haul trailer. But since I'm actually buying this trailer and plan to use it a lot, I would like to get the most suitable one.
Thanks in advance.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
Hey guys,
I'm getting ready to buy my first trailer to tow my old Volvo racer around. I like the open pit design as there's a good chance I'll need to get under the car to work on it after a day of racing, or during the day, and hopefully not BEFORE the racing. I don't need anything fancy, but was wondering about the following...
Open pit - does it affect gas mileage? I know it will be lighter, but will the drag created by the airflow up through the trailer floor and under the car be a significant disadvantage?
For closed floor - seems like wood is what I'm leaning towards, as the car may leak fluids sometimes and the wood is easier to replace and less slippery when coated with crap.
I'd also rather have stow-away ramps instead of the flip-up design.
Looking at 18' probably. Found a few Big Tex wood floor ones up by me for under $3K.
In my time, I've towed everything from a jet ski, a 19' boat, a camper, and the larger enclosed U-Haul trailer. But since I'm actually buying this trailer and plan to use it a lot, I would like to get the most suitable one.
Thanks in advance.
I'm getting ready to buy my first trailer to tow my old Volvo racer around. I like the open pit design as there's a good chance I'll need to get under the car to work on it after a day of racing, or during the day, and hopefully not BEFORE the racing. I don't need anything fancy, but was wondering about the following...
Open pit - does it affect gas mileage? I know it will be lighter, but will the drag created by the airflow up through the trailer floor and under the car be a significant disadvantage?
For closed floor - seems like wood is what I'm leaning towards, as the car may leak fluids sometimes and the wood is easier to replace and less slippery when coated with crap.
I'd also rather have stow-away ramps instead of the flip-up design.
Looking at 18' probably. Found a few Big Tex wood floor ones up by me for under $3K.
In my time, I've towed everything from a jet ski, a 19' boat, a camper, and the larger enclosed U-Haul trailer. But since I'm actually buying this trailer and plan to use it a lot, I would like to get the most suitable one.
Thanks in advance.
My two cents worth,
Steve
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
If the trailer's sole purpose is to haul the race car then I would go with the open center, because as you said you can work on it if need. It becomes a rough on the go lift. I haul a tricycle farmall so I can't use an open center. Also the wood deck on my trailer seems to be more slick after it gets wet of any kind, but it is a lot easier and cheaper to replace when needed.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 185
From: Dedham, MA
My thoughts exactly. This car will definitely need something done to it trackside or overnight during the longer events during the course of it's life, and the more I think of it, the better the open pit option sounds. And PT wood definitely gets slick when it's wet AND coated in oil or tranny fluid.
Unless I get a really good deal on a full floor, this is probably the way I'll go.
Unless I get a really good deal on a full floor, this is probably the way I'll go.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,006
Likes: 1
From: AL, Reform
you might coat the floor with a nonslip paint to help with the slipping.
i would get the Stow-aways ramps that way if you used the trailer for something other than the car it can hang off it need to, more like a flat bed trailer.
i would get the Stow-aways ramps that way if you used the trailer for something other than the car it can hang off it need to, more like a flat bed trailer.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 185
From: Dedham, MA
Yeah, i'm a fan of the stow aways over the flip-up ramps.
and my only concern with the open pit is if I decide to use the trailer for something else besides the car temporarily.
and my only concern with the open pit is if I decide to use the trailer for something else besides the car temporarily.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
You could always make a panel that would fill in the center and use it for other things. But then you have to store the panel. I've got removable ramps on mine and like it, they hang off the side and are held on by hitch pins but I've also got a deck over so I can do that.
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