i would generally avoid towing in bad weather and would go as far away as i needed to (usually less than 3 hrs one way). i have an f250 pick up that i might be able to revive for this task of tow vehicle.
most trailers i've seen have the overall length listed. some have the deck length included.
what about brakes? i would need a brake controller installed in order to use the trailer brakes but is it necessary?
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Originally Posted by 97 SL320
Not true. As long as hitch mounting points are designed to distribute the load, a unit body is just fine.
As for what kind of car to get, since you have a van use that but put a bit of weight in the back so the trailer doesn't push the rear around. A heavy longer wheelbase car would be OK for towing though the use of equalizer bars would be a must to get some weight on the front wheels
However, the towing parameters need to be better defined. How far will a typical trip be? What type of roads? Towing in rain , snow and / or ice? Are you Ok with having to drive a little slow?
Nearly anything can tow anything else it just depends on how far and how fast you want to go.
The ratio between trailer wheels to hitch length and towing unit wheelbase matters. A long trailer needs a tow unit with a long wheelbase and / or higher weight otherwise the trailer can push the rear of the tow unit around. A particular edgy combination might be stable when going straight but unstable over bumps in a corner or evasive maneuvers.
Car / flat trailers are measured many ways, I don't consider overall length of any value though some are marketed that way. I only consider deck length of value.
My car trailer has a 14 ft deck with wheels a bit farther forward than normal. This leads to a light tongue weight when empty but great balance when a front engine car is loaded. It will carry a late 70's full sized Buick just fine though the back hangs out over the trailer edge. Anything else fits in the trailer fine. Having a short trailer makes for easier storage and backing up.
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