Trailering!

[darsinewman]

I know you "drive it, drive it, drive it" people will chastise me and/or make fun of me for this, but thankfully I'm pretty thick-skinned and fairly good at making fun of myself, too: Yesterday I bought a REALLY nice enclosed car hauler for the Bird for a REALLY nice price. I love driving the Bird on day trips in new locations (good top-down backroads), but hate the thought of the interstate miles (complete with rock chips, etc.) it sometimes takes to get to those locations. So now I can have the best of both worlds, and the Bird will get to see some parts of the country she wouldn't have otherwise seen! I have also solved the packing/trunk space dilemma!

So...I assume there'll be plenty of room to park truck and trailer at the Dearborn Ritz in June?

[dearborntbird]

Re: Trailering!

I suppose I can answer that question. The Ritz-Carlton does have parking to the rear of the hotel. I believe there is space at the Ford Credit Parking lot on display day to the right of the semi-circle that is our display area.

[acar]

Re: Trailering!

anybody tell me the price range of those small trailers like the motorcycle riders pull on long trips? I'd like to make a longer trip than 2 days. All I need is 2 pairs of drawers and a comb! But the Queen needs a complete load of crap after the first night.

[MEK04]

Re: Trailering!

Packing a T-Bird trunk is an art. No matter how little or how much, fill it completely, NO SHOPPING ALLOWED!!

Last years 17day Maritime and New England Seabord trip for two only one trunkfull. Remember 4 days use on undies, Front, Back, Inside, Outside.

[Bill Brown]

Re: Trailering!

Packing a T-Bird trunk is an art. No matter how little or how much, fill it completely, NO SHOPPING ALLOWED!!
Last years 17day Maritime and New England Seabord trip for two only one trunkfull. Remember 4 days use on undies, Front, Back, Inside, Outside.

Don't forget the stick/no-stick rule on the underwear. If you toss them at the wall and they slide down there are good for another day. If they stick to the wall well you get the picture.

[Bill Brown]

Re: Trailering!

Packing a T-Bird trunk is an art. No matter how little or how much, fill it completely, NO SHOPPING ALLOWED!!
Last years 17day Maritime and New England Seabord trip for two only one trunkfull. Remember 4 days use on undies, Front, Back, Inside, Outside.

Don't forget the stick/no-stick rule on the underwear. If you toss them at the wall and they slid down there are good for another day. If they stick to the wall well you get the picture.

[2K2BIRD]

Re: Trailering!

Packing a T-Bird trunk is an art. No matter how little or how much, fill it completely, NO SHOPPING ALLOWED!!

Last years 17day Maritime and New England Seabord trip for two only one trunkfull.

I agree with you there, Mike. We did the New England, Maritime, Quebec, Ontario trip for 29 days last year with stuff for two in that tiny trunk and every nook in the cockpit. It can be done!!

As for trailering, Darsi, if that makes you happy then go for it. We'll be happy to see you in Dearborn. Next time you have a chance, you and Chuck will be able to compare truck driving stories instead of T-bird driving stories with the rest of us.

[Chuck]

Re: Trailering!

Darsi, welcome to the club. This will be the 3rd season I've trailered my birds. I know there's another member looking into doing the same. Takes me about 1/2 hour - 45 minutes to get the car in or out of the trailer. It's nice to put the bird away at night when staying overnight at a show. If you're at a show it's nice throwing the bird in its trailer if it starts raining or just leave the thing in the trailer if it's raining.

[darsinewman]

Re: Trailering!

Thanks, Chuck. I've read lots about your trailer on this site and look forward to seeing your set-up sometime. Are you headed to Dearborn this summer by any chance? Getting the whole "in and out" process down will take some work, I'm sure, but I think I'll be really happy with it.

[Leroy]

Re: Trailering!

My question is, whats the trick to getting out of the car or getting into it after it's in the trailer? Is there enough room to open the door? Those trailers don't look too wide. Leroy

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[darsinewman]

Re: Trailering!

Leroy, that's the part that I'm going to have to figure out. There's certainly not room enough to open the door all the way. A drag racer friend winches his cars into his trailer so all you have to do is reach in and put them in gear once they're in (or take them out of gear to back them out). I imagine my trial run will be when we head to Dearborn in a couple of months. If only I could find a really skinny friend who I would trust to drive the Bird...

[Chuck]

Re: Trailering!

Darsi, unfortunately I'm not going to make Dearborn. As far as getting in and out. Not too much of a problem with the top down. You have to stand up in the car on the door cill and slip 1 leg out at a time - I'm sure you'll get the knack of it. With the top up it's a real challenge. I'm relatively thin and it's a real tough with the top up / hardtop on. I bought my trailer used as well and it does have a winch in it but I've never used it to pull the car in.

[DavidA]

Re: Trailering!

Make sure you buy a good trailer. The cheap ones tend to "wallow" from side to side when going fast. Mine is made by California Side Car.

Using it really makes our trips a pleasure, and barely effects the mileage. We loose about 1 mpg when pulling it. Wiring is a problem too, as you can not simply splice into the wires, you need a converter. There are threads here that address that issue.

[darsinewman]

Re: Trailering!

Check out the sweet decal Ben had made for my trailer! Unfortunately he was out of town for several weeks prior to the Dearborn trip and couldn't get it put on before then, but I'm pretty happy with it!

[FEsTbird]

Re: Trailering!

David--
I tried your link with no success. I think it is California Sidecar. Are they located in the LA area?