You are down on power to start with, absolutely get the V-nose. With todays modern trucks, the weight isn't the issue, it's the drag. Once you get the weight moving, save for hills, it's not too bad. With a non v-nose trailer, you will be dragging a parachute behind you all the time. We have a 7x16 tandam axle V-nose trailer and a 6x10 single axle for setup trailers, the big'un has a v nose. That little shit seems to always put up more of a fight behind a half ton...up until the big guy gets too heavy and you have to switch to a diesel.

 

V noses are better as far as aerodynamics but one disadvantage is you can't jackknife them when backing up as your bumper will hit the front instead of riding over the frame. This limits how tight you can angle them while backing up. This can be troublesome if you are trying to turn around in a tight area.

Jason

 

go wide, you will not regret it when you decide to haul another 4x4 besides a flatty.

 

I love my v-nose. Built cabinets up front to store tools and prevent theft. As far as pulling, the trailer is awesome. I have not pulled a flat front enclosed trailer so I cannot compare them. Go with the wide trailer, you will use the extra width, trust me. My trailer is an 8x16 box with v-nose. The length of the tongue on mine was increase to alow for better turning.

 

oops accidently added that last picture...oh well :flipoff2:

 

2 things that are bothering me...
1. its a half ton truck, Im very nervouse about an 8' wide trailer with it.
2. Backing into my drive with a V-nose, I have a fairly narrow street and people love to park on it. Its hard enough already to get my 12' flat bed in the drive.

I've actually been trying to convince the wife that we should go flat bed instead. But, she wants to be able to store stuff in the trailer and have a place to change besides an outhouse.

 

I have owned both and could not tell the difference as far as towing. Nor was there any change in fuel mileage.

 

I have a 24' v nose and counting the v part you get 27+ feet of floor inside. I built a v shaped bench with a compressor under in in the nose and tool boxes under the sides. Really nice but it is damn heavy. I have never pulled a flat nose this size so I can't compare it to anything. I sure would not want it to pull even harder because of wind resistance. I would do it again.

 

1. its a half ton truck, Im very nervouse about an 8' wide trailer with it.

Whats a 1/2 ton got to do with anything? Go 8'.

Alex.

 

Well towing the narrower trailer will be less wind resistance, more the same width as your truck instead of wider than your truck, way easier to see directly behind you and as you stated earlier easier to back into a narrow spot. If you don't need the width you may like the narrower width. As far as a parking spot generally you are more interested in a shorter lenght so to get the same square footage a foot wider trailer makes a lot of sense. This is another plus for a V nose more space (or should I say less wasted space) with no penalty in extra length.

Jason

 

Thats why he will opt for a v-nose trailer.

Alex.

 

well we went trailer shopping Saturday and was very disappointed with the enclosed trailers on the lot. width difference between the 7 and 8' was only 9" and the 8' was nowhere near 8' wide so fitting 2 utility quads side by side wouldnt work. The real problem becomes height at the ramp door. The roll cage on my CJ2 wont clear once I put on the lift and tires sooo... enclosed is basically out at this point because Im not paying what they want to add 6" in height nor do I want to step up to a full time car hauler.

Instead we are thinking either a PJ 16'+2' flatbed or an Aluminacraft(spelling?) 16'. The PJ is powdercoated with a wood deck for $2000 but weighs in at 2000#. The aluminum is all alum with built in D rings, torsion axles etc weighs in at 1300# but cost $3900. Im thinking we will never save $1900 worth of gas with the lighter trailer but it sure is shiny.

Edit: the advice received in this thread made me decide to finally buy a red star!