Trailer Modifications

Paul Proefrock

Moderator
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Prepping for my GT40, I currently have an enclosed trailer (8 x 16) which the car will fit into. But it does not have a side escape door. I think this will probably be a necessary modification.

Does anyone have the height of the lower door edge from the ground? Preferably from an RCR GT40 MKI but probably any MkI would be close enough.

I am trying to determine if the side door can be at the wheel box height or if I have to go the full route and make the wheel box move also

You'll note the lower black box that forms the wheel well for the trailer wheels on the side of the trailer interior shot. Both sides are the same and I will need to modify the driver's side

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About 15 inches.
Prepping for my GT40, I currently have an enclosed trailer (8 x 16) which the car will fit into. But it does not have a side escape door. I think this will probably be a necessary modification.

Does anyone have the height of the lower door edge from the ground? Preferably from an RCR GT40 MKI but probably any MkI would be close enough.

I am trying to determine if the side door can be at the wheel box height or if I have to go the full route and make the wheel box move also

You'll note the lower black box that forms the wheel well for the trailer wheels on the side of the trailer interior shot. Both sides are the same and I will need to modify the driver's side
 

Darius Rudis

Supporter
I winched mine on. Learned to NEVER load in reverse again (for rear engine weight distribution), you cannot steer and move it over during winching. This was when I picked it up, and chalked that up to lessons learned.
On my Racecar, winched it on also. Sure, it has to be perfectly lined up on ramps, but then I just let'er rip. Adjusting steering wheel last minute before going in, but thats about it.

Most of my buddies DRIVE in, then crawl out the window. Not quite possible with GT40. And unless you are in the Big-Boy-Club, and have stackers, and side-exit door trailers... rolleyes
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Jim Albright

Supporter
A winch with remote control is the answer to your issues. I have a similar trailer but lower profile and load my RCR Lola solo in roughly 30 minutes. There is no need to open the car doors during the process, as you can make minor steering tweaks simply by moving the front tire angles by hand. Once the car is all the way in, I partially open the door to put it in gear for transport (as a backup should the tie down straps and wheel chocks fail during towing). The rear of the car goes in first for correct weight distribution and a sway free tow:)
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Randy Folsom

Supporter
Paul,

The bottom of the doors are going to be about 1/2” above the top of the sponson. The sponsons are 10-3/8” tall. Either the bottom of the sponson or the bottom of the rocker panels determines the ride height. So adding your desired ride height to the sponson height, plus about 1/2” should give you the measurement you need.

Based on the picture, I am pretty sure that if you add a door above the wheel box, you should have enough clearance. Your trailer also looks tall enough to be able to stand up in the seat so you can get in and out of the car.

Cheers,
Randy
 

Howard Jones

Supporter
Just wench it in and out and save all the driving in/out drama, You can use a very inexpensive wench, the car is light and on basically flat, asphalt/cement ground. I do my SLC alone all the time like this. Easypiecy. Go in nose first so you can make small adjustments with the steering wheel by reaching into the driver-side window. I see no advantage to driving it in/out.
 

Neil

Supporter
I have loaded my car both ways- nose forward and nose backwards. It is easier to load a car nose first as you can steer it normally but a mid- engine car has a rear weight balance and backing the car on to a trailer gives you added trailer tongue weight load which helps stability when towing. My car is relatively light (~1950 lbs) and the trailer is all- aluminum so the difference the loading makes is not critical but for a heavier car, it would be important. A winch makes the job easy.

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I trailer my car using a 20 ft open trailer, but I believe this should also apply to an enclosed trailer. I load nose first because with the longer trailer the engine of the GT sits right over the rear trailer axle, sometimes between the two trailer axles if I load the car as far forward as possible. I also have a winch for emergencies, but I generally just drive it right on to the trailer. No swaying from the trailer.
 
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