Where to store the beasts?
Discussion
I'm just trying to think about getting some sort of transport plan for the car next year and I'm not sure whether to look at getting a car + trailer or a truck.. I don't really need a tow car for anything other than towing a trailer so it seems a bit pointless. This makes me think that a 7.5 tonne truck would be a better idea, but then begs the question of where would I store it? Is it easy enough to rent some space off a local business/farm/motorsport shop etc? Or do any of you know somewhere near Surrey which might be worth looking at?
The car won't be moving anywhere for a while but I thought it would be a good idea to start looking in case it proved harder than I thought?!
The car won't be moving anywhere for a while but I thought it would be a good idea to start looking in case it proved harder than I thought?!
450Nick said:
I'm just trying to think about getting some sort of transport plan for the car next year and I'm not sure whether to look at getting a car + trailer or a truck.. I don't really need a tow car for anything other than towing a trailer so it seems a bit pointless. This makes me think that a 7.5 tonne truck would be a better idea, but then begs the question of where would I store it? Is it easy enough to rent some space off a local business/farm/motorsport shop etc? Or do any of you know somewhere near Surrey which might be worth looking at?
The car won't be moving anywhere for a while but I thought it would be a good idea to start looking in case it proved harder than I thought?!
Tony Abrams has got a nice van he will probably sell you cheap.The car won't be moving anywhere for a while but I thought it would be a good idea to start looking in case it proved harder than I thought?!
He will be at anglesey with it. you should give him a bell. could be a transporter and sleeping accom.
N.
Thats the main problem for most people Nick, storage.
Trailers/trucks take up alot of space and are rarely used over the year; and then have to be 100% reliable to get you to the track.
Thats why they are relatively cheap. (race tracks that is).
Secure storage (your car + truck = £30k?) for a mobile object is very important.
Be careful and use someone you know, or who does this?
Andy
also make sure you car drive it on a car license.
Trailers/trucks take up alot of space and are rarely used over the year; and then have to be 100% reliable to get you to the track.
Thats why they are relatively cheap. (race tracks that is).
Secure storage (your car + truck = £30k?) for a mobile object is very important.
Be careful and use someone you know, or who does this?
Andy
also make sure you car drive it on a car license.
Edited by Guillotine on Saturday 12th September 11:04
Nick - as I am sure you are aware, you either buy a trailer, preferably covered (i.e. the trailer or in a barn) critically for winter storage, but even a covered trailer can be a security problem and they are expensive, or you buy a race-truck to park in a farmyard (relatively secure). I started with a trailer for all the right reasons (minimal maintenance and cheap insurance, but have recently bought a 7.5 tonne race truck with basic living and an awning. Truck ads/disads are: Secure dry garage (particularly important for the 6 months winter lay-off), all tools and spares (incl spare wheels)can be kept on board and if you buy well you get adequate living accn. Disads are: another vehicle to maintain, tax and insure + parking. Frankly there are plenty of farmyards offering relativey secure parking for caravans, boats etc, so a truck should not be a major problem - I pay £5 a week for mine near Reading.
My advice, if you don't want the extra hassle of a truck and can do without the 'living' is buy a second-hand race trailer with wheel rack and box stowage + find covered accn (barn) for storage. On balance this is the cheaper solution and is less hassle relative to race-truck outlay and up-keep.
Richard
My advice, if you don't want the extra hassle of a truck and can do without the 'living' is buy a second-hand race trailer with wheel rack and box stowage + find covered accn (barn) for storage. On balance this is the cheaper solution and is less hassle relative to race-truck outlay and up-keep.
Richard
Thanks for the replies guys, definitely some things to think about there.
Richard, the one problem with getting a trailer for me would be that I'd need to buy a car/van/4x4 to tow it as well (as my only car is a Chimaera), which puts the price up to somewhere close to a truck. I then still have another car to maintain, tax, mot except that the two combined may take up even more space, and I have to find space to store wheels, tools, spares etc. The truck looks attractive to me as I can chuck everything in there and hopefully store it somewhere secure, making it a little neater overall.. An awning to attach and cover the car at race meets would be fantastic as well as I've seen just how useful they are.
I've no idea what the costs are of maintaining a truck are though.. Looks like I'll need to do some research. £5 a week to store a truck doesn't sound bad at all though!
Richard, the one problem with getting a trailer for me would be that I'd need to buy a car/van/4x4 to tow it as well (as my only car is a Chimaera), which puts the price up to somewhere close to a truck. I then still have another car to maintain, tax, mot except that the two combined may take up even more space, and I have to find space to store wheels, tools, spares etc. The truck looks attractive to me as I can chuck everything in there and hopefully store it somewhere secure, making it a little neater overall.. An awning to attach and cover the car at race meets would be fantastic as well as I've seen just how useful they are.
I've no idea what the costs are of maintaining a truck are though.. Looks like I'll need to do some research. £5 a week to store a truck doesn't sound bad at all though!
Edited by 450Nick on Sunday 13th September 22:55
Given the choice I'd certainly have a truck. somewhere to keep the car clean and dry when transporting or even storing, and somewhere to sleep at the circuit..
although my preference would probably be an HGV for the bigger box and cheaper insurance I think I'd prefer to be able to cruise at 70 rather than 56 so it would need to be a 7.5 tonner..
If you do get a truck you need to consider the box size IIRC a tuscan needs a 14 ft box to so a 20ft box on a truck would give you 6 ft for living, tyres and tools etc... quite a few 7.5 tonners only have an 18ft box..
you also need to consider how to get the car in. tail lift or ramps... as built most tail lifts are quite short so if you extend them to take a car you need a higher rating... probably 1.5 tons for a tuscan. quite a few conversions are on .5 ton and very heath robinson!!!
personally I'd prefer beaver tail box with ramps.. less to go wrong...
If your looking at trailers it made a huge difference when we went from an open trailer to a box trailer... ( we're on trailer number 3) the car stays much cleaner and you can stick much more kit inside it...It also has the advantage that when you take the car out you can use it as a base, and sleep in it.
G
although my preference would probably be an HGV for the bigger box and cheaper insurance I think I'd prefer to be able to cruise at 70 rather than 56 so it would need to be a 7.5 tonner..
If you do get a truck you need to consider the box size IIRC a tuscan needs a 14 ft box to so a 20ft box on a truck would give you 6 ft for living, tyres and tools etc... quite a few 7.5 tonners only have an 18ft box..
you also need to consider how to get the car in. tail lift or ramps... as built most tail lifts are quite short so if you extend them to take a car you need a higher rating... probably 1.5 tons for a tuscan. quite a few conversions are on .5 ton and very heath robinson!!!
personally I'd prefer beaver tail box with ramps.. less to go wrong...
If your looking at trailers it made a huge difference when we went from an open trailer to a box trailer... ( we're on trailer number 3) the car stays much cleaner and you can stick much more kit inside it...It also has the advantage that when you take the car out you can use it as a base, and sleep in it.
G
Nick - I fully appreciate your points about truck v trailer. However should you be interested in the car + trailer option in the future, my old 1998 Volvo V70 Classic AWD estate is for sale. It has 160bhp with a LPT and detachable towbar. Its official tow rating is 1600kgs - a race trailer is about 500kgs + 1000kgs for the car. It is only for sale as I have replaced it with a newer V70 Cross-Country estate which I have been using at this year's race meetings (rated at 1800kgs).
It is SORN'd currently but would come with 12 months MOT, oh and about 160,000 miles for around £2000. My old car trailer is also for sale at £1000, but could do a deal for the pair!
Richard
It is SORN'd currently but would come with 12 months MOT, oh and about 160,000 miles for around £2000. My old car trailer is also for sale at £1000, but could do a deal for the pair!
Richard
Thanks for the offer Richard! I'm actually quite tempted but I think I'm going to stick to my guns and go for a truck in a couple of months or so... Just got to get the car over here now. I'm bored of waiting and am itching to start tinkering. Hopefully it won't be much longer though...
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