Open Trailer build questions
 

So I bought a 22ft Tilt for my Miata for NASA/Hallet competition this year. stole it for 3500 OTD. Needs tires. Has dual axle brakes. All flush mount LED lights.

looking for ideas on how to build it out specifically for racing. Tire rack/fuel storage, tool storage, etc.

seen plenty of home builds for dirt car stuff, but curious what you Miata guys are doing

Truck pulling is a 2020 5.3 Silverado on 35s with a decked bed system and century bed cap.

Race weekends are about 4 hours away, all highway from Kansas City to Hallet, OK.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...a9eb5d818.jpeg
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First thing Id do is drive it over the scales to measure weight with your car on it. Then figure out what kind of tongue weight it has like that, and do some math to make sure your truck can handle it, and how much weight you should be adding. All of the weight you'd add would be on the tongue. Most people will suggest some sort of tire rack, wind block, and tool box, but you may be limited with a heavy steel trailer like that. You might free up some tongue weight by flipping the car, although if you ever travel without a bunch of stuff on the front section, you'd want to remember to flip again.

Trailer as it sits is 2010lbs.

and with the car in said position, tows incredibly well. Truck doesn’t even notice it. Very very smooth.

tire rack and fuel jug rack are my biggest thoughts. Tools and such could live in the truck.

but was curious what everyone else is doing and pics of said setup.

The truck seems to be squatting quite a bit in the photo -- maybe some helper airbags?

At a minimum I would add a box for storing trailer-related things -- ratchet straps, axle straps, lug wrench that fits the trailer wheels, stuff like that. That way you have them if you're towing the trailer with another truck. A tongue box is the usual spot for them, but your jack is in the way. Perhaps replace the jack with one that goes through the hole in the tongue?

IMHO the biggest question regarding how fancy you want to make your open trailer is the security of the location in which it's stored. Electric tongue jacks are nice, but theft targets. Winches are nice, but ditto.

--Ian

Trailer is stored at a private gated residence so not worried about theft, unless obviously at the race track.

What transmission do you have in your Silverado? If it's a 6L80 I'd look into adding an external transmission cooler to the truck. I rebuild those 6 speeds all the time due to overheating of fluid. If it is a 6L80 also check the transmission thermostat on the driver's side where the cooler lines go into the transmission. They came out with an updated thermostat which opens at 158F instead of 195F allowing the fluid to start to cooler faster. You'd see the number 70 stamped onto the bottom of the thermostat.

If it's an 8 speed or a 10 speed I'd say you're good. For the most part. They're pretty stout transmissions. 8 speeds have converter shudder and valve body issues but they hold up well. The 10 speeds just have the fluid pump bearing failure which causes a whine noise.

I know your post is about trailers and setting them up for a Miata but as a Chevrolet technician I'm just trying to make sure you don't have issues down the road. Looks like you got a good deal on a trailer.

That's a monster trailer, the car looks lonely!

I went the other way, bought a shortened trailer (bed is 3.7m), frame only, 300kg. Used builders aluminium planks for the wheel tracks, and ramps.

What gear doesn't go in the car, goes in the back of the Falcon wagon towcar.

Place for tires, fuel, winch.
My tires are on a rack above, given the 14 ft length, but you have so much space there is no need to add the extra lever arm.
It carries a Miata or an RX7.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...a631dcfb0.jpeg

It’s the 8 speed. Was definitely worried about that originally but after doing some research, not so much. I’m at 51K miles with zero issues

I’ll check the thermostat though. Appreciate it!

yeah, its squatting a tad. With the loaded Decked system and the canopy.

Been looking at a tongue box. Could move it forward a bit? Not sure on doing a winch since it’s a split tilt deck?

It’s a BIG trailer for sure. But couldn’t turn down the price…..$3500 for it. Plenty of room to build a dedicated race trailer!

Ordered 10ply tires for it today, so that’s a start.

Consider making a platform for a winch that you can mount and dismount on the trailer, with a way to attach on the tilt side of the split when you need to use it.

Gotcha.

Also thinking about doing an electric jack and moving it up the the A frame and leaving room for a tongue box for straps, battery and solar charger and such.

I certainly didn’t intend on this big of a trailer…..but it just kind of fell into my lap. Couldn’t turn it down for the price!