Tow newbie, what's needed to tow track car

[jflogerzi]

I am doing research on what I need to tow my race car. Starting out renting U-Haul car trailer this year. will I need a brake controller? My route will take me up and down grades to goto buttonwillow raceway.

Racecar weights about 2750lbs plus about 100lbs in tools and gear.

What's a good hitch that's a WDH type( or is it even needed)

Any other tips or good guides you guys recommend? Never owned a truck or towed before.

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[Dahveed]

I am doing research on what I need to tow my race car. Starting out renting U-Haul car trailer this year. will I need a brake controller? My route will take me up and down grades to goto buttonwillow raceway.

Racecar weights about 2750lbs plus about 100lbs in tools and gear.

What's a good hitch that's a WDH type( or is it even needed)

Any other tips or good guides you guys recommend? Never owned a truck or towed before.

U-Haul's flatbed car hauler uses a regular flat-4 lighting connector. They have hydraulic surge brakes, so no controller is needed for that trailer. It weighs about 2200 pounds, so you'll be well under the Ranger's 7500lb towing limit. You'll be right around 5000 pounds. I don't think a weight distributing hitch would be possible to use with their trailer due to its construction. If this is your first time towing, take it slow. You will definitely feel the weight of an additional 5000 pounds behind the truck.

Just make sure whatever receiver you install on your truck (if it doesn't come with the factory 2" receiver) is up to the task. As well as your ball mount and ball.

@Grumpaw is the RV towing expert around here. I'm sure he would have some additional advice for you. I'm fairly handy at towing, but it isn't something I do regularly.

 

[Msfitoy]

I've thought about trailering my MINI

I am doing research on what I need to tow my race car. Starting out renting U-Haul car trailer this year. will I need a brake controller? My route will take me up and down grades to goto buttonwillow raceway.

Racecar weights about 2750lbs plus about 100lbs in tools and gear.

What's a good hitch that's a WDH type( or is it even needed)

Any other tips or good guides you guys recommend? Never owned a truck or towed before.

I used to drive my modified Mini to the "Tail of the Dragon" annually but now that I have my Ranger, I've thought about trailering there with an Uhaul too...let me know how it goes...

 

[Dahveed]

I guess the only other thing I could think of is to watch your tongue weight. The U-Haul trailer is pretty long, and you have no option but to put the car all the way forward on the trailer against its bump stop. Since a BRZ is fairly small, it might put quite a bit of weight on the tongue instead of over the trailer's axles.

I will say I towed my 1990 Ford Bronco, which is about 4500 pounds, on the U-Haul trailer once. But I was only going 10 miles one way. Could definitely feel that nearly 7000 pounds back there. With the Bronco loaded the truck barely squatted which I was pleasantly surprised by. I expected the tongue to be pretty heavy.

 

[jflogerzi]

So this would be a proper hitch and ball?

LinkToHitch

anyone who deals with car transport recommend any good ramps? My car is lowered plus has an aftermarket splitter

 

[a33maxi]

So this would be a proper hitch and ball?

LinkToHitch

anyone who deals with car transport recommend any good ramps? My car is lowered plus has an aftermarket splitter

That ball mount could work, but the ball will probably be way too high. Uhaul trailers usually call for ~18" ball height for the trailer to ride level, but with the Ranger's receiver height, you would be running nearly 25". You will probably want a 4"-6" drop hitch, maybe more, something like this. Uhaul usually sells ball mounts in their stores, so it'll probably be easiest to just measure and buy one there.

Uhaul trailers can accept either a 1 7/8" or a 2" ball, so no need for multiple ball sizes unless you plan on towing multiple trailers of your own.

 

[Msfitoy]

So this would be a proper hitch and ball?

LinkToHitch

anyone who deals with car transport recommend any good ramps? My car is lowered plus has an aftermarket splitter

That ball mount could work, but the ball will probably be way too high. Uhaul trailers usually call for ~18" ball height for the trailer to ride level, but with the Ranger's receiver height, you would be running nearly 25". You will probably want a 4"-6" drop hitch, maybe more, something like this. Uhaul usually sells ball mounts in their stores, so it'll probably be easiest to just measure and buy one there.

Uhaul trailers can accept either a 1 7/8" or a 2" ball, so no need for multiple ball sizes unless you plan on towing multiple trailers of your own.

I have a 6" drop and it's still too high for my standard utility trailer...

 

[a33maxi]

I have a 6" drop and it's still too high for my standard utility trailer...

Yeah, the high receiver on the Ranger is tough. My 5x10 enclosed calls for 16" to top of ball, so even with a 6" drop it will ride a little nose high. I'm hoping it will be level enough when loaded up (I try not to take the trailer on salted roads, so I'll find out in the spring), if not then I'll have to find an 8" drop hitch.

 

[Grumpaw]

No WDH is needed...U-Haul trailers are not set up for it, and their trailers have surge brakes, so no brake controller is needed.
You do need a "stout" drop hitch and one that will drop the ball enough so your trailer, with the car on it, is riding slightly nose down.
I don't know what U-Haul is selling these days, but if you have an rv or trailer supply in your area, check with them. If you check on ETrailer web sight under drop hitch ball mounts you'll get an idea ov types and prices.
Two pics indicate what you need to look at. First one is probably what your going to need as it's adjustable. It is a 10 inch drop, but there are others with even more drop.

 

[ControlNode]

Yeap, sounds like they got the info you needed, U-Haul has surge brakes, and you'll likely want a dropper ball mount so the trailer is not so nose high while driving, but for loading/unloading with a low car having the ball high while loading can be of use.

In the future if you plan on buying a trailer get one with brakes. After I spoke with several friends that tow I'm going to go with electric brakes. If you go with electric brakes you will need the Trailer Brake Controller kit from Ford for the Ranger. I had one on order since Nov when I bought the truck, but still not here.

Find an open area once the trailer is on there, even without the car and get use to how to maneuver with it, to include backing up. Leave more braking room in front of you than normal and look ahead of the cars directly in front of you so you can anticipate speed changes.

 

[cactuss4]

@jflogerzi I've been using my ranger to pull my BRZ on a U-Haul trailer (86DC and speedsf events). Bed and trunk normally has a set or two of wheels, a bin of tools, and 10-20gal of extra fuel.
I'm using a 2in drop hitch and a draw tie receiver. I ended up getting sumo springs to replace the "active" bump stops after I felt the truck was getting pushed around more than I liked over big bumps (680 south and the 405 south into LA it feels the trailer is getting air with the car on it). The car is rather far forward on the U-Haul tailer, so the truck squats a lot. Surge brakes on the trailer, so you don't need a a TBC. Normally getting 16-17 MPG if keep steady speed.

 

[yamahaSHO]

Yeap, sounds like they got the info you needed, U-Haul has surge brakes, and you'll likely want a dropper ball mount so the trailer is not so nose high while driving, but for loading/unloading with a low car having the ball high while loading can be of use.

In the future if you plan on buying a trailer get one with brakes. After I spoke with several friends that tow I'm going to go with electric brakes. If you go with electric brakes you will need the Trailer Brake Controller kit from Ford for the Ranger. I had one on order since Nov when I bought the truck, but still not here.

Find an open area once the trailer is on there, even without the car and get use to how to maneuver with it, to include backing up. Leave more braking room in front of you than normal and look ahead of the cars directly in front of you so you can anticipate speed changes.

I didn't know about the Ford controller... I was just planning on using a P3 like I have in the past. I am interested in the OEM option now.




I will be towing with a trailer I've had for awhile with several tow vehicles. I plan to do airbags on the rear suspension so it won't squat on me when I have the trailer on. My race car, trailer, and other junk is probably around 5k lbs. My other common load is our RZR's, which isn't much lighter with two (the Ace 570 was replaced with another RZR).

 

[Cabose-1]

Ok, well first off opinions are like ass holes. Everybody has one.

So this is what i use, and my experience.
Gen y rebel hitch. Rated 7k
Ball, rated 7,500
Both pins, rated at 10k

I never use a weight distribution hitch. Dont need em. Not towing a travel trailer.

Use a curt echo for trailer brakes on the tow with a car. Traveled 700 miles with it just fine. Other than that, other heavy trailers i have used have had surge brakes. If you are towing a uhaul trailer you will be just fine. Just watch the tongue weight. Those trailers are hard to properly balance the load

The pic of the trailer and tractor, i was using the wrong hitch. No rise.

Gen y really is the best hitch to use. IMO. You can get a 10k, a little more expensive. But 7k has worked just fine for me.
The car tow, i had about 5500 on trailer, and about 1500 lbs payload.
To include occupants, tongue weight, tools luggage and all.
Towed awesome.
No wdh. Never used one. Not towing a tt.
Be safe, tow with proper equipment, and tow smart.

 

[Alpharettark]

Make the investment ($100 or so - a minimal spend in race car terms) for trailer tongue scale. You should be able to move car even a little fore or aft on trailer and eliminate need for WDH. As pictured I have about 400 lbs on the hitch. I’ve hauled this pig thousands of miles (been racing 15+ years this is 4th tow vehicle)and really like simplicity of surge brakes on the Trailex. Hitch is 2” drop.
Cheers

 

[1pt21gw]

Well it looks like everyone has the trailer / towing part covered, but what about the track car part?

What are you looking for? A compact ? a Mustang? maybe even a 4X4?

Edit: Sorry, I was being a smart-a$$, the title just screamed the answer: A track car.

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