lcrain

I have towed my 20' enclosed featherlite with a 2013 F150 with no issues really. Fuel economy sucks when towing. I just upgraded to a 2021 F150 platinum with the max-tow package and I am sure it will do just fine also. Would love to upgrade to a super duty for towing, but they are just so gigantic and I use my truck as my daily also. I log way more hours in the truck driving around town and taking trips without a trailer, so the F150 makes way more sense for me.

ANGST

This discussion pretty much nixes my idea of getting a Ranger for towing (Stated tow 7500lbs) .

pewpewpew3000

I started there too. From everything I can read, it's doable but risky. I'd rather not take the risks, and as much as I want a Cayenne to tow I'm better off with a 1/2 ton.

I just got a 22' ATC Raven that is about ~2600 lb. Should be a just about perfect size for for a 1/2 ton and what I need it to do.

linzman

I towed a 24' aluminum enclosed with an F150 for a while. The first trip was scary, but then I got an Equalizer weight distribution hitch, and it rode like a dream. The engine and brakes on the F150 were fine, the transmission however did not last more than 50K miles, and less than 10K, probably closer to 5K of that was towing. It had the tow package and the cooler. Buyer beware.

Southpaww

Excursion: no other vehicle can haul 8 adults, 2 big dogs, all our cargo, and still tow 10,000lbs (24’ ft trailer non aluminum).

Frank 993 C4S

It really depends on how much weight you are going to tow and how mindful you are about managing your tongue weight.

ANGST

18 Cayman GTS ( 3100 ) an a U-haul at first ( 2200 )

BlackHawkRacing

Out of curiosity, why the need for the enclosed? Unless you are hauling a race weekend worth of spares and gear, I would highly recommend getting the smallest trailer for your needs. In this particular situation, I would say an open trailex with a tire rack. I personally use a 7541 and tow it with a diesel x5. 17 hours of towing last week and it was both an uneventful experience and very comfortable (gotta get those air cooled, massaging seats!).

Also, having just left your situation (NYC resident with truck and trailer), I can tell you that you can easily spend more storing the trailer alone than the cost of a new, loaded, 28 ft intech; that or you are storing it (imo) an unreasonable distance away and it becomes a hassle.

Southpaww

I went from a 28' triple axle 5th wheel enclosed to my 24' double axle bumper pull enclosed. Now I'm looking to downsize even further to what you have - a Trailex open aluminum, that way I can tow with smaller CUVs.

Benefits of Enclosed:

1. It is like a second garage, you can store so much stuff inside of it even when not at the track (will use it to store garage belongings during garage renovation this summer)
2. I sleep inside of my trailer at the track, no more money on hotels
3. added security, especially when towing a "high end race car". No peering eyes.
4. So much more storage (spare parts, tools, tons of wheels), I can basically swap an engine with the tools i bring with my enclosed trailer
5. If you don't have windows in your race car, you don't have to worry about weather conditions, also could protect from hail
6. It can be used for non car stuff (i moved from Texas to California and my race trailer was full of our personal belongings)

Cons of enclosed:

1. Aerodynamics kill fuel economy and almost require a truck. Sucks to drive past trucks or vice versa. I drove from Houston to San Diego with a combined weight of 17,200lbs and I averaged 8.8 mpg driving 60-65 mph.
2. Hard to tow with a crossover (like a Cayenne/X5) unless it is aluminum, but then $$$$
3. Strapping down race car requires acrobatics
4. Storage might be a pain (I can store on my own property, but I was paying $150/mo for a 30' enclosed storage unit in Texas)
5. Replacing panels might be pricey
6. Not as easy to just "hook up and go".

dan212

Why enclosed??
A) Live in NYC, no garage or such to store anything. Trailer is my garage. Stored at the shop.
B) no window? meh... add them

But the # 1 reason??
SUN & RAIN.
I just cannot spend extended time in the sun.

Frank 993 C4S

Check for UHaul trailer towing in the Cayenne section. Lots of stories. They are heavy trailers and you can’t manage your car position and therefore tongue weight.

pewpewpew3000

Where are you storing your trailer? I'm also in NYC.

dan212

Trailer is with car - Car is with trailer
My shop is not in the trailer storage business.

I use Provost Motorsports. They do fantastic work on my SPB.
Provost is super nice. Super detailed. Track support is exceptional.
They also do work on street Porsche and work on my Cayenne/GTS

Provost is in Bordentown, NJ and they are a little over an hour out of Manhattan (in a fast hustle)


-Dan

AudiOn19s

If you decide on a half ton there are "small" diesel offerings that can be pretty attractive options for those of us who tow a good bit. I bought a '21 GMC 1500 with the 3.0 Duramax and it's exceeded expectations for my personal towing needs. That said my enclosed for kart racing is only 12' long and weighs just over 2500k lbs, otherwise for the GT3 I pull it on an open ATC aluminum which is also a breeze behind this truck.

dan212

A lot of sensible suggestions here, but if you are in NYC the rules dictate some choices that do not apply elsewhere.

I have had several 3/4 ton Diesel Trucks. Towing was a dream. Enough power to pull a house. Stable enough for me to tow my very heavy steel trailer through hurricane Sandy in 2012. Heavy pick up trucks are a dream to tow with and diesel engines can get surprisingly good mileage. I never once floored the engine on the steepest hill. Upscale trucks are luxury vehicles too. Outside of the city totally great. Diesel brakes are a joy too.

But New York has specific rules about vehicle weight and "unmodified vehicles over 6000 pounds" will mandate commercial plates. , And that is a massive pain. I live in Manhattan. All those signs saying "No commercial vehicles"? Commercial plates meant I couldn't go on the FDR, the West Side Highway, any road in NYC, Long Island or Connecticut that has "parkway" in the name and so forth. It adds up. A trip to my daughter in Brooklyn was no less than 45-60 minutes by truck, or less than 15-20 by car.

Driving home from the track added considerable time - typically 40 minutes or more - EACH WAY. I keep my car and trailer with my shop in New Jersey. So does my girlfriend. But she towed an open trailer with a Cayenne and was home via West Side Highway and in her robe while I was still working my way down broadway in my truck and stopping at every light.

The heavy trailer carried so much stuff that it took 2 hours to get all of the junk in there out when I sold it. I miss that trailer. I sold the truck and trailer during COVID for better local mobility. I miss the truck. I got a Cayenne and a Trailex Enclosed. Its a good package. The Cayenne is wonderful, but believe me not the same towing pleasure of a heavy truck. Less visibility and noticeably less stability.

Still - when not towing I am driving a Cayenne GTS and I love THAT!

But, I can't tow at the speeds that I did with the heavy truck or as effortlessly.

Give some thought to where in NYC you are and what will be practical.
If you get a light truck, the 1/2 ton will be more convenient in NYC, but also mandates greater care while towing and a light, probably aluminum trailer.

Some of the 1/2 ton trucks are rated for 10,000 pounds. Don't believe it. If you get a 1/2 ton, tow the lightest trailer you can find. Just because they are rated for 10K pounds doesn't make it sane.
Yes, you can tow at the rated limit. I know people who do. But ask anyone who tows for a living if that is wise.

Keep the above in mind.