What should I be looking for in a car trailer? How would I know if the electric brakes are working properly? Should if it's double axle, should both have brakes? Truck weight I have to imagine is around 5k.
New to the world of trailers, need something to pull my 85 4Runner with my soon to benew Tundra.

whats the tow rating of the Tundra?

To start with your rig must fit on it, length, width and weight rating of the trailer.
To test the eliectric brakes, hook the trailer to a truck and have someone hold the brake controller on. You should hear a buzz from each trailer brake.
Also I would pull it ahead with the brake controller on full and make sure the tires lock up.
As far as 2 or 4 brakes...4 is better obviously. Alot of flatdeck car trailers have brakes on the front axle only and this is fine usually. I prefer brakes on all wheels. There may also be laws gouverning how many wheels need to have brakes, you'd have to checl your state/province.

Most car haulers have tandem 3500Lbs axles, add 500lbs of hitch weight (2" ball rating is 500lbs) and you get 7500lbs overall traile weight. Assuming your rig is 5000 and the trailer around 2000.....you'd have a bit of extra capacity fo gear.

Most car haulers have tandem 3500Lbs axles, add 500lbs of hitch weight (2" ball rating is 500lbs) and you get 7500lbs overall traile weight. Assuming your rig is 5000 and the trailer around 2000.....you'd have a bit of extra capacity fo gear.

I've never seen a commercial trailer builder rate a GVW for more than the combination of axles.

OP, since your in NJ i'll assume the worst for you.

Find a trailer that's long enough for the runner plus a few feet for tie down angles. My 13' Jeep rides on a 17' trailer.
Get brakes on all wheels. This is the way of the future in laws and regulations.

car haulers are typically low deck height and a width of 80" between the fenders. if you are wider than 80" you have to go to a deck over at 100" or drive over fenders.

Most car haulers also come with 2x 3500# axles. this gives you a 7k GVW (gross vehicle weight) that's what you are legally allowed to weigh on the trailer tires, not what it actually weighs. This includes the weight of the trailer, crawler and spares. 7000# can go away in a hurry and leave you on the edge of being over loaded.
Yes, there is a safety margin in the GVW numbers, but do you want to push it with the DOT cop standing there in the rain?

I prefer to see crawler haulers built with 2x5200# axles. the upgrade doesn't cost you much, but gives a significant safety margin. You get bigger brakes, 6 lug wheels (matches Toy) and larger wheel bearings.

whats the tow rating of the Tundra?
Tow rating on the Tundra is 10,300.

I've never seen a commercial trailer builder rate a GVW for more than the combination of axles.

OP, since your in NJ i'll assume the worst for you.

Find a trailer that's long enough for the runner plus a few feet for tie down angles. My 13' Jeep rides on a 17' trailer.
Get brakes on all wheels. This is the way of the future in laws and regulations.

car haulers are typically low deck height and a width of 80" between the fenders. if you are wider than 80" you have to go to a deck over at 100" or drive over fenders.

Most car haulers also come with 2x 3500# axles. this gives you a 7k GVW (gross vehicle weight) that's what you are legally allowed to weigh on the trailer tires, not what it actually weighs. This includes the weight of the trailer, crawler and spares. 7000# can go away in a hurry and leave you on the edge of being over loaded.
Yes, there is a safety margin in the GVW numbers, but do you want to push it with the DOT cop standing there in the rain?

I prefer to see crawler haulers built with 2x5200# axles. the upgrade doesn't cost you much, but gives a significant safety margin. You get bigger brakes, 6 lug wheels (matches Toy) and larger wheel bearings.

Thanks for the info, I hav e aline on one, a 2004 Bri Mar, not sure of the model number, owner says 7k, I think it only has one set of brakes on the rear. 18' long, must check on width. I know I had to put my rig on a friends traileronce to get back to camp, not sure of his width but I had about a half inch on each side to clear his fenders, wasn't a deck over system.

On another note, what are opinions on towing a car trailer (1,500 lbs) 300 miles with a brand new vehicle? My new truck is in Deleware and the trailer is close to their but I would be towing it home 3 hours, this on a brand new vehicle with only test drive miles on it.

On another note, what are opinions on towing a car trailer (1,500 lbs) 300 miles with a brand new vehicle? My new truck is in Deleware and the trailer is close to their but I would be towing it home 3 hours, this on a brand new vehicle with only test drive miles on it.

I wouldn't

drive the truck for 500 miles or so normally to seat the R&P. drop 1000-1500# in the bed and drive around until 2500 miles. Do a good hard full throttle acceleration or two a day. Then go get the trailer.

I've never seen a commercial trailer builder rate a GVW for more than the combination of axles.


Most car haulers also come with 2x 3500# axles. this gives you a 7k GVW (gross vehicle weight) that's what you are legally allowed to weigh on the trailer tires, not what it actually weighs. This includes the weight of the trailer, crawler and spares. 7000# can go away in a hurry and leave you on the edge of being over loaded.
Yes, there is a safety margin in the GVW numbers, but do you want to push it with the DOT cop standing there in the rain?


Pic of the tag on one of the trailers in my yard:
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk253/DirkSteffens/trailers/IMG00253.jpg

2x5200# axles, yet 12700# rated weight


I certainly agree that you shouldn't push your max weight tho. And you are deffinitely right when you say that is what is allowed to weigh on its tires.
our regulations (ontario) state:
"Actual weight of a trailer
The amount of weight, loaded or empty that is transmitted to the road by the trailer's axle or axles when the trailer is attached to the truck. Some trailer ownerships may indicate the trailer's empty weight."

so at 7000# on the wheels and 500# on the tongue you are within the lgal limits.

Anyway I think we are splitting hairs and the spirit of both our advice seems to be the same. :)

Pic of the tag on one of the trailers in my yard:

2x5200# axles, yet 12700# rated weight

tag, 5th wheel or goose?

EDIT:
Looking up Damon Corp. and the size of your trailer I'll say it's a 5th wheel RV.

5th and gooseneck style trailers are legally able to over rate. this is from a know weight transfer to the truck for operation.

I've never seen a tag trailer over rated.

I've never seen a tag trailer over rated.

It is actually pretty typical for a larger tag equipment trailer to have a higher GVWR than the combined GAWR's but mostly with a pintle hitch. I have a 22'x96" tri axle deckover with 21k worth of axles and a manufacturers GVWR of 23k, lots of the 20 ton deckover tag equipment trailers come with 2-22.5k axles and a 50k GVWR.

Ok
I've never seen a tag car hauler overrated. Jeez guy's who's going to buy a 20T EQ trailer to drag behind a Tundra and tow a Runner.....

On another note,

I would worry about doing it at all....

Thanks for the info, I hav e aline on one, a 2004 Bri Mar, not sure of the model number, owner says 7k, I think it only has one set of brakes on the rear. 18' long, must check on width. I know I had to put my rig on a friends traileronce to get back to camp, not sure of his width but I had about a half inch on each side to clear his fenders, wasn't a deck over system.

On another note, what are opinions on towing a car trailer (1,500 lbs) 300 miles with a brand new vehicle? My new truck is in Deleware and the trailer is close to their but I would be towing it home 3 hours, this on a brand new vehicle with only test drive miles on it.

With the weight you are pulling any basic car hauler will do if it pulls straight. I would shoot for a 16', 2 axle of course, with brakes on one axle is fine. Two is better but one is just fine. The Tundra stops better than any truck I have ever driven. Normal trailers are 82" between the fenders. Look for rust and bad tires when you do your search. Good luck.

Ok
I've never seen a tag car hauler overrated. Jeez guy's who's going to buy a 20T EQ trailer to drag behind a Tundra and tow a Runner.....

It was an example, take a look at this catalog in the car hauler section (the manufacturer of the tri-axle I have): http://www.camsuperline.com/Brochure/2009Brochure.pdf

It was an example, take a look at this catalog in the car hauler section (the manufacturer of the tri-axle I have): http://www.camsuperline.com/Brochure/2009Brochure.pdf

those are nice EQ trailers. Not your ebay special car hauler. I see where there are people over rating.

here are 2 from Big Tex. I think they are a respected name.

http://www.bigtextrailers.com/pdf/60ch.pdf wood deck

http://www.bigtextrailers.com/pdf/70dm.pdf steel deck

I would say that the condition of the tires, the brakes, the deck and the hitch are most important; spend more for a trailer with those in good condition, and you'll save money over a trailer where you have to replace those, as it can be a few hundred to get each of those items replaced, quickly exceeding the cost of a better trailer.

When I purchased my new trailer there was a few extras that you might want to consider....

Must have items:

Trailer larger than rig that will be on it. To a degree, the wider the trailer, and the longer, the better it pulls. I have a 16 foot trailer for a TJ.

Dual axles

Electric brakes on at least one axle

Spare tire

New not used tires on trailer.

ramps

Items that you might want to consider:

Electric brakes on both axles

Break away system (maybe required by some States)

Pressure treated lumber on deck, or metal.

Flip up ramps

On another note, what are opinions on towing a car trailer (1,500 lbs) 300 miles with a brand new vehicle? My new truck is in Deleware and the trailer is close to their but I would be towing it home 3 hours, this on a brand new vehicle with only test drive miles on it.


I wouldnt do it. I towed a trailer w/ car on at about 1500mi on my tundra, but i wouldnt even tow a 1000lb uhaul under 1k on the truck. To expensive of a potential risk in my book.

I looked into buying Tundra when I got my new truck and they really try to trick you with the 10300 lbs tow rating. That is for a 2 wheel drive regular cab truck. When you add 4 wheel drive and a crew cab etc it lowers the tow rating considerably. I found a place on the Toyota web site that said what the rating is for different builds but of course now I can't find it.