Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

My lead footed wife gets 21 mpg city, in our conventional 2008 Highlander. Something has to be amiss with your hybrid. Pat

David:

Post some pictures with the car loaded and your opinion of your trailer (loading and driving) when you get a chance. I'm also looking for a small trailer and this might fit the bill. My homeowners association won't allow me to leave a trailer outside so I need something that I can put one of my roadsters on and then winch onto one of my lifts. I also tow with a 2013 highlander but not a hybrid.

Shannon

Shannon -
I will post some pics. I intend to store the car on my trailer in the garage... Another benefit of the little trailer.

Pat -
I hear you. I have been round and round with Toyota - "NO FAULT FOUND." My best friend had the regular Highlander too and he got the same mileage. Pissed me off. My truck cost $15k more...

Ross -
I do not have a lead foot. I drive very responsibly. Particularly in the highlander, because I consider it a challenge to get better mileage in the &%&*%^^(&* thing.

You should have bought a diesel then. Mine gets 22 mpg when towing. Its almost broken in with 380,000 kms on it.

Ross
ps I know you have no lead foot

Datsun.David wrote:
Ross -
I do not have a lead foot. I drive very responsibly. Particularly in the highlander, because I consider it a challenge to get better mileage in the &%&*%^^(&* thing.

I know what you mean by a challenge. I recently grabbed a Hyundai Sonata hybrid from the Emerald Isle and drove from Edmonton Intl to Fort Saskatchewan and back. 140kms. I was having fun trying to keep it in electric mode. When I gassed-up upon return I filled the tank with $4 bucks. Crazy. It was like I won a game or something with such a feeling of accomplishment.

Well, the race car is home and tucked away. I will post some more pics when I get better organized... But here is a primer on the trailer experience.

The Aluma 6812H Tilt ($2995) is an exactly one roadster sized trailer. The car fits perfectly and sits nicely balanced over the axle. Our Toyota Highlander sat near level, considering the monster pile of parts that were piled in the back as well.

The trailer loaded a flat tired roadster easily with the help of a $79 2000lb winch. I drilled two 3/8" holes in the deck (offset 4" to one side to avoid conflict with the tilt mechanism) and used the elongated slide on holes on the bottom of the winch to secure it to the deck. Worked perfectly and allowed me to pop it off and throw it securely in the back of the truck after.

I used two 6 foot 2x8's as ramps onto the trailer which I had tilted fully to where the back of the trailer was touching the ground. I think a stock height roadster might roll on without the ramps, but the race car sits about 4" off the ground so we needed a little help. Regardless, ramps would easily stow under the car. Once she was winched up, I pushed the trailer flat with one hand! She was nicely balanced for sure!

I went to Harbor Freight and bought 8 D rings (on sale for $4 each) and 4 tire hold down ratchet straps ($27.99). I only used two of the tie downs as you can see in the pics because I got jammed up by the weather when I was loading. As it happened, D rings weren't necessary as I was able to tie down to the front rail and underside of the frame. I will still install the D rings now that I am home as the over the tire tie downs work beautifully and are SUPER easy to work with. And they are ON SALE at Harbor Freight right now making them an even better deal! Also, having watched several different cars wander around on trailers over the years, I think securing the wheels and letting the car ride on it's own suspension is the best solution and least likely to cause damage to things like sway bars, brake lines etc...

The trailer drives like a dream and with the roadster on, I barely knew it was there. At 620 lbs for the trailer, with the race car loaded with parts, I expect I was right close to the 3000 lb rating, but the trailer didn't even wince a little. The Highlander braked confidently and even in a couple of simulated panic stops, not a hint of wobble or bounce. She sits nice and low and felt totally stable even in the Montana mountain passes.

Nice real aluminum wheels, decent tires, excellent workmanship, REALLY well lit. An excellent investment overall.

Thanks for the write up David. I'm seriously going to look at these. I've located some in Phoenix.

Shannon

Best aluminum trailer out there, I loved mine.
I run padded ratchet straps through the slots in the wheels hooking into adjustable D rings on the strap, also allowing the car to bounce on its suspension and the tire don't budge.

Happy to share Shannon! Seeing the workmanship that you put into your car at Solvang this year, you won't be disappointed in this trailer.

Padded straps are a good idea too - the wheels on the race car don't have slots! I have seen that set up too. I bought the over the wheel ones as much because they were there and cheap! ( I looked at Napa and they wanted $219 for a set that was questionably useful... looked like a real pain to use.)

Very happy with the whole thing!

dw

I run a 20ft enclosed trailer. enough room for all the fun stuff and plenty of room for extra stuff.

R

David:

I purchased one of these in Mesa, Arizona this weekend. The salesman at Big Tex Trailers gave me a price break so only paid $2700. I'm looking forward to using it for my trip to Solvang in April.

I'll be working on the installation of a winch and some D-rings this week.

Shannon

Nice!

Harbor Freight had d-rings cheap and a really handy over the tire strapping solution for cheap. I think the straps were $39.99 a piece and work great. I like the over tire solution as it saves chafing on suspension.

I looked at Napa for over tire, and they were 3 times the money and cumbersome. Think about a simple ramp solution too. I need 2- 6' 2x6's to load without bottoming out. Tilt the trailer, lay the 2x6 half on and half off, then drive straight on. I plan on something a little more elegant, but haven't sorted it out yet...