This trailer comes with an electric brake system. We provide a plug that connects to the towing vehicle, and one of the wires links up to the towing vehicle’s brake controller. When you hit the brakes in the towing vehicle, an electrical signal travels through the wire to the brake drums on the axles, which activates the brakes. Electric brakes respond faster, which makes the whole setup safer during transport.
For reasons of customer privacy, the company name, employee names, and any locations mentioned have been changed. Please feel free to contact Three Horses Trailer and we can discuss more details based on your specific situation.
How to Choose the Right Trailer for Your Race Car
Recently, motorsports have been getting more and more attention around the world. Events like WRC and F1 are drawing bigger crowds, and that interest is spilling over into the car market. More people are buying sports cars and modifying them than ever before. Naturally, that’s created more demand for car trailers, too.
So if you’re a racing fan, how do you pick the right trailer for your car? I’ll walk you through it with a real customer’s story, breaking it down into a few key points.
Client: MP, A racing fan from Canada Location: Ottawa, Canada Trailer Specifications: Drop deck car trailer, deck size 5500*2000mm, load capacity 2500kg
MP spent his time modifying a Nissan Skyline. He wanted a trailer that could take it to the car shows and track events. The Skyline is one of Nissan‘s most classic performance cars. It has huge modification potential, so it’s very popular among racing fans. After learning more about his car, we recommended the drop deck car trailer for him.
Why Choose a Drop Deck Car Trailer for Your Race Car?
MP is a racing fan and follows all kinds of racing events. When he asked about this drop deck car trailer, he said, “I’ve seen it on TV, but I don’t know how it works.” I’m sure a lot of people have the same question.
This drop deck car trailer has six hydraulic cylinders and four swing arms, which sets it apart from standard hydraulic trailers. Most hydraulic trailers only have two straight axles and two hydraulic cylinders, so the deck can only tilt. But with this one, the cylinders and swing arms work together to lower the deck all the way to the ground. That’s a big plus for sports cars with low clearance, so you don’t have to worry about the deck scraping the underside of a modified car.
After MP learned how this trailer works, he brought up another concern: “When I’m loading or unloading the car, will the car hit any of the hydraulic cylinders?” That’s actually a fair question. When you’re driving a car onto the deck, it’s easy to come in at a slight angle. If the car scrapes against an exposed cylinder, you’ll end up having to replace it. We do have a solution for that. We install a protective cover over each cylinder to shield the exposed parts. So even if there’s some slight contact, the cover keeps the cylinder safe and working properly. On standard hydraulic trailers, the cylinders are usually placed underneath the deck. When the deck tilts, the ends of the cylinders can end up touching the ground on uneven surfaces, which isn’t ideal.
Car Size Determines Deck Size
With sports cars, especially modified ones, the dimensions and weight can change quite a bit from the original model. For example, adding a wider fender or a bigger front lip. When you’re picking out a trailer, your car’s size is the first thing that tells you what deck size you need. But different countries have their own rules on how wide a trailer can be, so you need to check local regulations before settling on the deck dimensions.
For a modified sports car, wide body kits and wider tires increase the car’s overall width. If the deck is too narrow, it’s not just harder to drive on and off, it also increases the risk of scraping. Based on MP’s final car dimensions (4900*1900mm) and Canada’s legal limit on trailer width (no more than 2590mm), we settled on the trailer’s specifications: a deck size of 5500*2000mm.
When choosing this drop deck car trailer, there are two dimensions you need to check.
Two dimensions
When the deck is raised, the fender can block the door from opening. Like MP's modified car, the door sits about 28cm off the ground, so we kept the fender height at 25cm to make sure he could still open the door.
Usually when the deck is fully lowered, the end of it sits roughly 4mm above the ground. If your car's chassis sits lower than that, you won't be able to drive it onto the deck. In that case, the trailer would need some modifications to work with your car.
Car Weight Determines Trailer Load Capacity
For any car, lighter weight means quicker acceleration and sharper handling. That’s why racing fans try to shed as much weight as they can. MP kept his modified Nissan Skyline’s curb weight right around 1400 kg. Based on this weight, we went with our most standard load capacity: 2500 kg. That’s enough for most sports cars, with some extra safety margin built in.
Details That Are Easy to Miss When Choosing a Trailer
While working with MP, we noticed that a lot of racing fans overlook some details when buying a trailer. And those details can affect how safely the car rides and how well the trailer works for them in the long run.
D-rings for Securing the Race Car
For a modified race car, using the right tie down method is just as important as picking the right trailer. MP asked us early on: “How am I supposed to secure the car?”
We have a few ways to handle that. To keep the sports car firmly in place, we installed six D-rings along both sides of the deck. That way, you can use straps to tie it down and keep it stable during transport.
Leave Space for Future Modifications
For many racing fans, modifying a car is never really done. This year it might be a new wide body kit. Next year, they could want a bigger rear wing or wider tires. So when you’re choosing a trailer, you can’t just design it around the car’s current size and weight. When we put together the plan for MP, we looked at his car’s current dimensions and weight, but we also left some extra space and safety margin for any upgrades down the road. That way, even if he makes more changes later, he won’t need to buy another trailer. That will save him money in the long run.
Why Are More Racing Fans Choosing to Use a Trailer?
A lot of first time sports car buyers have the same question: “If the car can be driven on the road, why do I even need a trailer?” The truth is, for most racing fans, using a trailer has become the safer choice. For one thing, many modified race cars have upgraded suspensions and other components. These upgrades may improve track performance, but on long highway drives, they add extra wear to the tires and suspension. Plus, rocks kicked up on the road can chip or scratch the car. On top of that, race cars usually need to carry a bunch of track gear, such as spare tires, fuel, and various parts. If you drive the car to the track, there’s no good way to bring all that stuff along. A trailer lets you haul both the car and all your stuff in one go, which makes everything a lot easier.
That’s why we also put together some extra accessories for MP, like stone guards, a spare tire carrier, and a spot for fuel cans. This way, he can bring more gear in one trip. The stone guards block flying rocks during highway transport. The spare tire carrier holds extra race tires. And the fuel can mount lets him carry additional fuel.
Besides, for many high value modified cars, every extra kilometer on the road adds wear and tear, and can even hurt its resale value. Using a trailer not only cuts down on unnecessary miles but also gets the car to the track in top shape, ready to go. For MP, a drop deck car trailer that handles cars with low ground clearance safely and is easy to use just makes the most sense.
Conclusion
Picking the right trailer for your sports car isn’t just about getting the right size and weight rating. You also need to make sure the car stays protected during transport. From chassis ground clearance and vehicle dimensions, to tie down methods and room for future upgrades, every little detail affects how well the trailer works for you down the road.
We hope MP’s story helps more racing fans understand what to look for before buying a trailer, and how to choose a transport solution that fits their own car.
If you’re looking for a trailer that can handle race cars, sports cars, or cars with low clearance, feel free to reach out to Three Horses Trailer. Our engineering team will work with you to design a custom solution based on your vehicle’s size, weight, and transport needs. So you can transport your car with confidence.
FAQ
What Material and Finish Does the Drop Deck Car Trailer Use?
This trailer is built with a steel frame, but there’s an aluminum plate mounted in the middle of the deck, and it also comes with aluminum rims. The surface is painted, and we can match the color to your race car, which will look pretty cool. Of course, if you’re after a lighter trailer, we also do aluminum model. And if you often travel to tracks in wet or humid conditions, we can do a hot dip galvanized finish for extra corrosion protection.
How Does the Brake System Work on This Drop Deck Car Trailer?
How to Maintain Your Drop Deck Car Trailer
Before using the trailer for the first time, run the deck up and down while it’s empty. This helps the hydraulic fluid circulate through all the cylinders, so everything moves more smoothly down the road. After you’ve used it a few times, check the axles and tires regularly. If you notice any wear, replace them as needed. When you’re done using the trailer, clean off any dirt, sand, or gravel from the deck, and rinse the undercarriage and hydraulic parts to prevent corrosion. If you’re storing the trailer for a long period, keep it in a dry, well ventilated spot to keep everything in good working order.
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Eric Zhao
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