Car haulers
 

How has one, what do you have? Im looking to get an open trailer but have no idea where to start.
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Unless you're gonna use it regularly, just rent one. It's something like 50 bucks for a weekend.

Renting is good for occasional use, but gets tiresome if one needs trailer more than few times a year.

Storing will be an issue, it takes good bit of space.
Single axle works well for smaller loads like Miata, but many want to have dual axles anyway. My single axle is 4000 lbs and tires are 3500 lbs. Single is lighter to pull and easily manouvered by hand to and from storage.
Electric brakes are good, you'll need tow vehicle wired up to 7 point socket.

Size both tow vehicle and trailer appropriately, bigger and heavier means it will be less affected by load it is carrying, but towing Miata can be done safely without having to get overboard with dualies and 5th wheels.

Open trailers are substancially easier to tow than closed ones because of overall weight and area subjected to the crosswinds and frontal area too. Start with good used open trailer and you should be able to recoupe the cost in case you decide to upgrade later, if you take care of it. Tires, wheelbearings, lights and braking system is pretty much all which needs care apart from occasional mishap with accessories like front wheel, toolboxes, tire racks or anything else which can be misplaced and run into.

Load leveling systems are great and inexpensive enough that every combination should have one, if you rent you wont ususally get this benefit.

hrk

Storage isnt an issue, I can keep it at our warehouse when not in use.
How long a trailer do you recommend for the Miata as it is the only vehicle that will ever be on it?

My tow vehicle wont have any issues towing it (04 Expedition 5.2L). I will however need to get it wired for the breaks.

I was deffinately thinking an open trailer and making removable sides for it so I can carry other things.

Can you explain more about the load leveling system.
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Here is the one I have available to me at any given time, definitely cheaper than having to rent or buy one :)

Right after the rod was bent...
Attachment 211090

Dual axle, electric winch (very nice to have!), no brakes though. But never have had a problem with it.

Weight distributing hitch is the main part.
Here is good information, just size yours to match the need, for Miata trailer expect to get one below $300.

http://mrtruck.net/wdh.htm

Other parts for load leveling systems consist of self leveling shocks, air springs etc. More complicated and less effective IMHO.

My trailer is 16', pretty much the minimum needed.

hrk

If you are planing on doing other things, and you have that big truck. Atleast get a 16 ft dual axle. It will come in handy for other things. I personnally like a 18ft. That way if you move or have a truck you need to haul you can do it.

This is the trailer that several of us use and have been happy with price and features. The 18' seems to be perfect. I have trailered a 350z and also a miata w/o issues.
The center is open but wouldn't be hard to put something over it when you want to use it as a hauler for something else.

http://www.econotrailer.com/

For something as light as a miata you don't need trailer brakes, but having them really does make a huge difference in stopping power.

Mark

I have an old trailer which has sticker "Speedwagon" on the sides.

Photo
http://www.russmarshall.com/v/cars/c...geViewsIndex=1

Tow car as it came from factory, loaded with boxes of spares and tools. Towed well as shown, but better once I added the weight distributing hitch.

hrk

If you're looking at buying a trailer get a dual axle aluminum trailer. I wish I had one when I towed my wifes Miata to NC in May. I rented one from U-Haul which would be good for local use, but that thing was so heavy I got terrible gas mileage on the way up. There are those auto-trader type magazines that have them for sale all the time.

Thats actually pretty cool, if you KNEW you were only ever going to tow smaller cars then it seems like a pretty good solution.

Great info guys, thanks. I wont be getting anything until my 00 F-150 sells. Once it does I'll update with what i get.
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I'll back up HRK on this one. Only get the trailer you need- if you're sure you won't need bigger. And IMO single axle trailers are fine for Miatas when the load is set right. Once you figure out the best spot for the car on the trailer, make a line on the trailer to get the car positioned the same every time and there's no worries. I've towed with an Rx300 a bunch of times with a trailer similar to HRK's with no concern. Smaller trailer makes everything easier - driving and on equipment. Also- only use trailer tires on your trailer, not car tires. And I've found some stellar trailer deals on CL.

or you could build one of these
http://www.targamiata.com/images_lrg/img_0057.jpg

I have a 16’ duel axel trailer with no brakes and it works fine but if I had to do over I would get brakes.

Why, if it works fine?
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I haul my tractor sometimes and it is a lot heaver so it would be nice for hauling other items.

It's way easier on the tow vehicle (brakes) and it makes stopping less unnerving in emergency or wet conditions. Basically you don't feel your load pushing the tow vehicle like you do without them.

I will totally agree about stopping in wet conditions. This can be bad even with brakes my boat trailer has brakes (about 4500lbs) it helps but wet conditions still can be hard to stop fast.