DeTomaso Mailing List: March 2001, Message #166

Sounds like you got a great deal on your trailer.

24' Featherlite  $9500.  Just want to haul the cars.  I don't work on the 
cars away from home anymore.  Done it, don't do it anymore.  If it breaks, 
it's going home.

Came home from a week out of town 2 weeks ago and found 30" of old snow in 
the 1/2 mile long driveway.  Dakota made it in and made it out with a hill to 
climb at the start.  A nearby friend with a full-size Dodge Ram pickup could 
not get out his flat driveway and he also has 4x4.  I have had full-size and 
the smaller pickups; the smaller are better in the snow which is my first 
concern.

17 mpg at 75+ mph on the freeway with a 4x4.  Average around town 14 mpg.  No 
matter the load or speed, it never has dropped below 14 mpg.

And it is FAST!

Besides you don't see a lot of duallys in California.  Our parking spaces are 
toooo short.  The Dakota just barely fits.

Again enjoy your trailer and truck,
Michael    #3501    Nevada City Kid  -  Mug009



to Mike Trusty, my Haulmark has a 26' box with a 29'7" tip to tip length.
It's 2 1/2 years old with a fresh AC unit, well used compressor that is
somewhat plumbed through the trailer, 2 exterior halogen ramp lights, 3
interior 12vdc lights, 2ea. 4' 2 bulb fluorescent interior lights, a breaker
box under the cabinets, lugs to strap in a fuel barrel, aluminum wheels with
2 new tires and 2 50% tires, an extendo flapper on the rear door, a home
made articulating arm with a driving light attached just inside the rear
door. and AC plugs in several places.  It's in good shape but not mistakable
as new. Haulmark web site listed at about 4600#s.  $6350.
And I got the guy's load leveling hitch as well!

Patience will serve you well, young Skywalker!

I looked at Featherlight, Tommy, Sooner, Champion and other aluminum high
end trailers.  They are GREAT!  I found a 26' V-nose Tommy '95 model for
only $18,000.  For a look at it go to:
http://www.tommystrailers.com/1995%20Enclosed%20BP.htm
When I called and asked about the price, they said "It's got a lot of
E-track".  And it's only 3600 lbs.  I wonder what it's going to weigh when
you insulate and finish out the interior, add compressor, add A/C, add you
car, add a barrel of fuel, add all your gear?  What % total weight did that
1000# save and what did it cost you?

RESALE  All these trailers depreciate to about 50% - 60% of their new cost.
When it comes time to sell, would you rather lose 50% of $10,000 or 40% of
$20,000.

TRUCKS VS SPORT VEHICLES with BEDS   With all due respect to Kirby, Michael
and those of you who have decided to buy high center of gravity sports cars
instead of trucks, my $.02 says you have made a mistake if you want to tow.
Tom Upton knows what I mean.  My dually diesel will get 19 mpg unloaded and
got 13.3 mpg towing that monster Haulmark back from Louisiana.  I'll bet you
have to baby that Lightning or that Dakota to get 14 mpg unloaded.

WEIGHT  On an open trailer you will start with about 1200# with an aluminum
trailer.  Add 4000# for your car, spare wheels, gear, etc.  Now you are
towing 5200#.  For steel, start with about 1800# and end up with 5800#.
Aluminum has saved you about 10% on weight for nearly 100% increase in cost.
The savings will be less with an enclosed trailer because you will load more
gear.

My next $.02 is save that aluminum money and spend it on a real truck that
you can sling 10,000# on to the bumper pull or 15,000# on a gooseneck.

Want to race trucks?  Let's hook a 10,000# trailer on to each and race from
Dallas to the top of Pike's Peak.  Want to race sports cars, --- let's get
looooww______.

More later,
Jack Tunnell
GT5 #6434
http://home.earthlink.net/~jacktunnell/
972-248-3992 xt21
Dallas