Why type of vehicle do you haul you kart in?

Ky Boe · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 16

Harbor Freight 8' trailer for the win!!

Scott Boito · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:45 am Post subject:

I pull our two karts with my 2002 Lexus IS300 on a Harbor Freight 4x8 trailer with the bed modified to 54" wide on a slight incline to get over the trailer wheel arches. My shifter fits on the rear 6' section and I set up the front to be 43" (out onto the tongue about 18") for my son's kid kart that sits on there sideways. The car doesn't notice the weight at all - gets around 23 mpg whether trailing or not.

Future plan (next year) is to get a Ford Excursion Diesel and an RV/toy hauler to haul (hopefully) three karts for one more kid.
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KM #68 - Haase/Honda kart
BetterOffRacing
Member of the SCCA KAC

Timothy Stevens · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:06 am Post subject:

Gary Sanchez · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:08 pm Post subject:

I got rid of my Mazda3 Hatchback (which towed this setup with no problem) in preparation for an enclosed setup. Meanwhile, this is how I roll. If I had a stacker stand, I would load both the Rotax AND the Honda. It's a 1200 lb trailer ... 2 karts would be fine

G
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It's better to have raced and lost than to have never raced at all - G

Martin Buehler · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:53 pm Post subject:

Timothy Stevens · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 8:25 am Post subject:

Thanks Martin, will start looking around!

Mike Martz · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:31 am Post subject:

This goes back to the very early 70’s and my dad got tired of renting trailers to haul my Hornet LP / Mac91b to the enduro races. He picked up a 1962 Cadillac hearse/ambulance cheap and it worked great. It had storage compartments everywhere, would cruise at 80 mph and was dead quiet. The picture is from its later years but still looking ‘bad’ in its $99 Earl Scheib paint job. The kart fit perfectly. I did have to install seat belts!
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Mike Martz
Kevin Martz - Driver of the #199 Safety-Kleen, Bell Helmets, Rapid Racing Top Kart / Leopard
www.motorsportsliquidators.com
Rapid Racing - www.rapidracing.com

micah jones · Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject:

Couldn't find a picture of my setup but I also tow with a WRX (wagon). Being a "performance" car, the high hp and decent brakes make towing a breeze. I have a 5 x 8 trailer with a custom fabbed box that isn't much higher than the car's roof so it's not too much off a windblocker. The enclosure adds a bit of weight (empty trailer is about 700 lbs) and loaded up its about 1100. I think the key to towing with a unibody vehicle is not to have too much weight on the tongue so the frame, suspension and tires aren't overstressed. My little trailer is so well balanced, I can easily pull it around my driveway (and into tight spots at big races) by hand.

I just can't "do" trucks, so my tow vehicle gets decent mileage and doubles as an occasional Autocross, Rallycross, and TSD rally car. Can't be beat.

Jason Bell · Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 8:59 pm Post subject:

I haul one, with room for two karts in the back of my short bed 2006 F150. The kart fits perfect even with the front bumper and side pods on. My buddy also made a kart stand for me that mounts to the hitch. It takes me all of 5 minutes to load or unload and has never given me any issues.

And here is my buddy's home made setup for transporting two karts in the back of his truck. The pit cart/kart stand he made is badass!

Timothy Stevens · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:33 am Post subject:

For those going the Harbor Freight route, which did you go with? Am curious whether this is wide enough:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=92174

They also have this one:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=93747

But since it's nearly 2x as much I was hoping to get by with the cheaper option if I can without having to disassemble the kart all the time.

Heck, this one would be great if it would work:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42709

Would be nice to fold it & tuck it in the corner.

Greg Hughes · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 1:01 pm Post subject:

After browsing through this (I store in a stall at the track, but also have a full size bed F350, so not much of an issue here), I have the following thoughts:

1) Blake has posted one of the craziest photos ever on this site (snow storm with kart on top - wild!)

2) There are some incredibly ingenious folks on this site - very impressive concepts and ideas

3) Between the trailers and the ever growing 100.00 clone motor class, why the he** is Harbor Frieght not a major sponsor of some karting event somewhere?
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Greg Hughes
'07 CRG Kali 32 \ Rotax
www.61kartway.com

Scott Boito · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 1:15 pm Post subject:

I don't think the tailgate will work like you are hoping. The angle is too steep for you to easily roll the kart onto one of those.

I can't find the interior dimensions of the first one, but it looks like it might fit a full-sized kart in there with not much room to spare. The 2nd one is certainly big enough, but way pricey for hauling a kart. I think the best bet is to buy the flat-bed foldable trailer, http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90154, slap some plywood and strap points on and be done with it. Oh wait, that's what I did...
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KM #68 - Haase/Honda kart
BetterOffRacing
Member of the SCCA KAC

Timothy Stevens · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 1:21 pm Post subject:

Thanks Scott. Did you put the plywood over the wheels to enable the kart to sit on there flat? Any pics you'd care to share?

Scott Boito · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 1:25 pm Post subject:

Mine was built similarly to the Full-Bore Karting trailer documented on the site (look in the Autocross section, I think). But instead of raising the entire floor up to get above the tires, I went on a slight angle from the rear to the front (up) about 4" at the 6' mark where I stopped that section. The final 2 feet of the bed and about 23" of the tongue I placed flat. I have pics that I'll try to post later today or tomorrow for you.
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KM #68 - Haase/Honda kart
BetterOffRacing
Member of the SCCA KAC

Gary Sanchez · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:06 pm Post subject: