moliver

HELP, I am trying to decide what length trailer to buy. The 944 is 14' long with a 8ft wheel base. I am just using the car for DE, but like the piece of mind a trailer brings. The trailex are just as long as an 18' open featherlite, I want something shorter, and am leaning towards a 14ft.

So anyone out there have a 14' open featherlite that can share experiences?

What are you DEer towing the car on? I don't plan on taking all kinds of crap to the track, and have a truck as a tow vehicle so plenty of room there.

Thanks for any and all help.

Mike

M758

I have mine on a 16" foot open trailer. I put a space for tires on the front. 14' feet could work for me, but 16" gives me a bit more space to put the car on.

The front tires stop at the stops on the floor.



Here is my autocross car when dragged it home.

Drew_K

I tow a 13' long Spec Miata on a 16' open trailer. The only issue I run into is that, when the Miata is properly weight balanced on the trailer, the rear wheels are right at the edge of where the dovetail part of the trailer is. I think your 944 rear wheels would be on the dovetail of a 14' trailer. Probably not a big deal if it's tied down properly. Just don't forget that the car is going to want to roll backwards as soon as the front straps are released.

I think the bigger issue is whether you'll be able to place it on the trailer to get the proper tongue weight. I suspect you'll have too much, but the only way to find out is to try it out.

I think if you can resolve the weight balance issue, a 14' trailer shouldn't be a problem.

moliver

those pictures are worth a thousand words, my car would be swimming on an 18ft. The trailer I am considering 14'featherlite, doesn't have a dovetail.

Anyone have pics of a 944 on a 14' trailer?

Huge help.

Bill L Seifert

If the trailer doesn't have a dovetail, you might scrape the air dam putting the car on the trailer, unless the ramps are real long. I have seen people have this problem. They have to use all kinds of ramp extensions to keep from scraping. And the extensions have to be carried in the truck. I don't think I have ever seen anyone put a 944 on a 14' trailer. But if Featherlite makes one, ask them, they know their trailers. Most trailers I have seen are at least 16'. I remember a couple of years ago, at Memphis, some guy brought a brand new T1 Corvette on what seemed like a 13' single axle trailer, it was a piece of crap. I wouldn't have hauled trash on it. $50,000 car on a $100 trailer.

Bill Seifert

1987 944S Race car.

M758

With my trailer I have two stage ramps. 6 foot regular type ramps and 4 foot long entender boards to help. I just avoid sraping with this set-up. However whay you will depends on how low the car is and high high the actually floor is on the trailer. Since mine is a converted utility trailer it is a bit higher than most.

16" feet is probably perfect length for a 944 open trailer.

Drew_K

Here's an easy trick for helping the front of the car to clear the ramps and dovetail (or lack thereof): Buy a pair of Rhino ramps and drive the rear truck tires onto them. It raises the rear of the truck about a foot, which in turn lowers the rear of the trailer. Plus, the Rhino ramps are useful in case you need to work on the car.

competition

I am looking at a featherlite 14 foot tow a 944. Is it too small? Do i need the 17 foot one?

JerryW

For a 944 - get at least a 16'. I'll get a photo of mine on the trailer later. you need room to balance the car and if you have your wheels on the beavertail you wont be able to open the doors to get out

Bill L Seifert

Drew_K

the Rhino ramps work great. I did that with my 22' open trailer pulled by a Tacoma. No scrape at all. Before that I would use the front trailer jack and raise the front of the trailer, with no scrape. I did, however, forget to retract the jack and ripped it off the trailer when I took off. The Rhino ramps big drop when you forget them, reminds you to stop before you run over them with the trailer. If you can do it wrong, you will. I now have a Kendron Folding trailer, which would haul a 944, if it is less than 3000lbs. I love it and pull it with a Tourag V8. Get 14 mpg even pulling over The Donner Pass.

Bill

competition

Thank you for the info. If you have a picture JerryW it would be great to see it.

84-944

I have a 16' dovetail, works perfectly. I wouldn't use a 14' because or the orientation of the car to the trailer axles and the rear wheels would be over the crest of the dove tail.

JerryW

Here are some pictures of the car on the trailer. Note where the jacking point is in relation to the center of the 2 wheels and that I had to place a 2x8 for the rear wheels so the door(s) would clear the fender when loaded. This is a Carson 6.5x16 trailer

nano111

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17.5 Featherlite