Casper250 said:
I am getting a truck this fall but was going to hold out on an enclosed trailer because I thought it was overkill for just one rider. What did you dislike about the truck and like about the trailer?
Enclosed trailers rule! I roadraced for several years with an open trailer and a truck with a cap. I later upgraded to a 6x12 enclosed trailer and then upgraded again to my current 7x16 trailer. I might buy an open trailer for some uses, but I'll never sell my enclosed trailer.
When you get home, you back in, unhook, and you're done. No longer do you have hours of unloading to look forward to when you get home, totally beat, at midnight.
When you stop on the road for a bite to eat, you don't have to worry about some dirtbag stealing your stuff laying in the back of your truck.
If you spend the night somewhere, that enclosed trailer is an excellent "track motel."
You bike garage also happens to be a totally mobile vehicle you can take with you. All your spares are in the trailer, and therefore they go where you go. No more being away from home with a broken bike while the spare you need is safely at home.
If your truck breaks down, anyone can pull your trailer.
An enclosed trailer is 18" from the ground, at most, while a truck is at least twice that high. Enclosed trailers can also be had with ramp doors on the back, making loading even easier.
An enclosed trailer, equipped with a roof vent, can be air-conditioned. When it's 90F outside, my air-conditioned 7x16 is like a little bit of heaven.
Of course, they're not without their down sides. For one, they are a LOT harder to tow due to the increased aerodynamic drag. That generally means you need a bigger tow vehicle than you would for an open trailer. For example, I tow my 7x16 with an F350 Power Stroke Diesel. Yes, plenty of folks will regale you with tales of how they tow bigger trailers than that with an F150 with the smallest engine Ford offers. That's their perogative. I think 3/4 or 1-ton trucks are the way to go for towing enclosed trailers. Bigger components, stiffer springs, etc. all add up to a more pleasant towing experience. It might not matter for relatively local dirt races, but when you're going to a road race track that is 12 hours away, it's definitely a factor.
Your fuel economy will also take a beating, particularly if it's a gas engine. Diesels get MUCH better mileage when towing.
They're also harder to store. You can grab an open trailer and move it by hand. An enclosed trailer requires machinery, every time, unless you're a gorilla.
You also have one more vehicle to keep registered. Also, most states require brakes on trailers over 3000lb GVWR, which can also lead to annual inspections (at least here in Pennsylvania).