Hauling Cars

[merrick4]

Hello all. Still doing well on the reefer side. I've halted growth for a bit as I grew too fast and didnt' want to crash and burn. We just moved into an office hired an assistant etc. Even better I share an office with a CPA so my books are constantly been looked at and he helps me with certian movees (he's also a blood relative, so I'm not billed for every question.

Anyway, I'd like to move into cars as well. I already have the driver and a good lane, as well as some good contacts. I just have no idea about the trailers. What would be the type of trailer to start with? I know GMAN used to haul cars so any input would be appreciated.


Thanks

[GMAN]

If you want to use a high mount fifth wheel truck I would probably look at either a 7 car quick loader or a 9 car. Cottrell makes both types of trailers. Sun Valley used to make a fairly good trailer. Miller also makes a good trailer. If you want to get a stinger then I would go with Cottrell. I would want a 102" wide trailer rather than a 96". The wider are easier to load the newer SUB's and pick ups.

[GrillN]

I have a 1998 7 car Sun Valley Easy Loader that I have not listed for sale yet. I just sold a 1990 last week and now when this one gets back home, it will go up for sale. PM me for details.

[GrillN]

Even if you're not interested in my trailer, here's some advise...

As most on here with auto transport experience would agree, stay away from stingers. If you don't have a huge amount of experience with them, don't try it. There's better money in door to door service and stingers will make you lose sleep at night even if you have a good driver doing door to door. Stick to easy loaders, you'll thank me!

[MichiganDriver]

Even if you're not interested in my trailer, here's some advise...

As most on here with auto transport experience would agree, stay away from stingers. If you don't have a huge amount of experience with them, don't try it. There's better money in door to door service and stingers will make you lose sleep at night even if you have a good driver doing door to door. Stick to easy loaders, you'll thank me!

Can you explain that a little? Stingers, as I understand it, come in 9 or 10 car versions. You referred to the ezloader as a 7 car. It lives up to it's name? Fewer insurance claims and quicker/easier loading is wiser in the long run than hauling more cars at a whack? Trying to learn somethin' here.

[GrillN]

Can you explain that a little? Stingers, as I understand it, come in 9 or 10 car versions. You referred to the ezloader as a 7 car. It lives up to it's name? Fewer insurance claims and quicker/easier loading is wiser in the long run than hauling more cars at a whack? Trying to learn somethin' here.

Easy Loader lives up to it's name. Less hydraulics = less chances for damages. Load 4 on top and 3 on the bottom and you're on your way. I've owned both setups and I've had way more success with easy loaders.

[GMAN]

For me it would depend on the type of hauling that I was planning. It does take longer to load a stinger. There are stingers that can haul up to 15 smaller cars. I have not seen one of those in a log time. They are harder to load and heavy. If you plan on hauling POV's a 7 car might just fit the bill. I still prefer the 9 car, but if I were planning on hauling regionally, I might consider the 7 car. They are much easier and faster to load than a 9 car or stinger. I agree that you might have fewer claims with a quick loader trailer. You don't have to worry too much about moving the ramps or getting the weights right on a 7 car.

[GrillN]

For me it would depend on the type of hauling that I was planning. It does take longer to load a stinger. There are stingers that can haul up to 15 smaller cars. I have not seen one of those in a log time. They are harder to load and heavy. If you plan on hauling POV's a 7 car might just fit the bill. I still prefer the 9 car, but if I were planning on hauling regionally, I might consider the 7 car. They are much easier and faster to load than a 9 car or stinger. I agree that you might have fewer claims with a quick loader trailer. You don't have to worry too much about moving the ramps or getting the weights right on a 7 car.

Yea my last stinger was a 12 car low-rail cottrell setup. 12 sedans, 5 on the head rack and 7 on the trailer. I could not trust anyone with it. I had one driver come work it and he had 16 years verifiable experience with stingers, to make a long story short, 6 cars were damaged on his first round trip. Everything that I've learned in this business has been hard earned and has cost me. In my opinion, stick to an easy loader. Just my $.02

[GMAN]

Yea my last stinger was a 12 car low-rail cottrell setup. 12 sedans, 5 on the head rack and 7 on the trailer. I could not trust anyone with it. I had one driver come work it and he had 16 years verifiable experience with stingers, to make a long story short, 6 cars were damaged on his first round trip. Everything that I've learned in this business has been hard earned and has cost me. In my opinion, stick to an easy loader. Just my $.02

Six cars on his first trip? WOW!! That guy sounds like a driver that I once hired. He had 16 years experience and said he knew how to drive a super 10. He scraped every gear and missed some along the way. The seven car would be the safest from a damage standpoint. But, I would not discount a 8/9 high mount. Probably a little more risk than a 7 when it comes to potential for damage. Some get in too big of a hurry and cut corners. Everyone will have some damage from time to time. I have NEVER had that many vehicles damaged on a single trip.

[Tobytob]

Six cars damaged on one load, he didn't know a thing about car hauling. I live by the stinger, they can be profitable, if you maintain the equipment. 7car quick loaders are great for POV, Door to door work. Word to the wise don't run to CT, NH or maine, they will pop you every time with and over length ticket.. (If scale is open). I prefer stingers, once you learn the truck and have a system down, it the easiest thing in the world..

Now they have strap trucks, greatest invention ever for a car hauler. I ran one couple years ago for United road and loved it. You couldn't get me to chain a car anymore.

[classictruckman]

He had 16 years experience and said he knew how to drive a super 10. He scraped every gear and missed some along the way.

What is the advantage of a super 10 anyway? Are they cheap to make? I've been lucky enough to never have driven one, but it seems like the stupidest shift pattern ever made.

[aubie2]

What is the advantage of a super 10 anyway? Are they cheap to make? I've been lucky enough to never have driven one, but it seems like the stupidest shift pattern ever made.

I loved my Super 10. Easy to drive.

[GMAN]

About the only advantage of a super 10 that I can think of is that if you need to drop a gear, you just flip the splitter and let off the accelerator. There is no need to move the gear shift unless you need to drop 2 gears. I don't know what the cost difference between a super 10 and a standard 10 speed transmission.

[ronjon619]

Yea my last stinger was a 12 car low-rail cottrell setup. 12 sedans, 5 on the head rack and 7 on the trailer. I could not trust anyone with it. I had one driver come work it and he had 16 years verifiable experience with stingers, to make a long story short, 6 cars were damaged on his first round trip. Everything that I've learned in this business has been hard earned and has cost me. In my opinion, stick to an easy loader. Just my $.02

a FIVE car head rack? do you happen to have a picture of that? I think you mean 3 on the head rack and 2 behind the tractor for a total of 5 on the tractor.
Here's a URS truck, these guys will put 3 VW jettas on top and two VW Beetles behind the tractor.

[crb]

I drove a super 10 one time and I loved it simply because downshifting 1 gear was so easy. I still like the 13 speeds for the same reason.

[GrillN]

a FIVE car head rack? do you happen to have a picture of that? I think you mean 3 on the head rack and 2 behind the tractor for a total of 5 on the tractor.
Here's a URS truck, these guys will put 3 VW jettas on top and two VW Beetles behind the tractor.

Same setup as the one pictured except mines was a low-rail. And yes, 3 on top 2 on the bottom. It's all one piece thats why we call them a 5 car head rack. I've loaded 5 scion xb's on the truck before.

[Bigmon]

United Road is hiring. A driver told me that they expect 5k in damage your first year as a rookie.

[ronjon619]

United Road is hiring. A driver told me that they expect 5k in damage your first year as a rookie.

the pay sucks there. % and Zip, zilch, nada for being empty.

[Tobytob]

United road has changed for the worst as I know a couple guys still there, it all depends on your terminal and the manager of the terminal. I know guys putting 10k a week on their trucks out of greer, sc and taylor, mi. Then I know guys putting 5k a week from the same terminals.. So it hit or miss with this company. the thing i didnt like about them was that each terminal is in competition with one another so of course when you go to another terminal they will give you the horrible loads while his/ her guys run the single drop loads. But it all washes out as you get back to your terminal and receive great treatment.

[classictruckman]

About the only advantage of a super 10 that I can think of is that if you need to drop a gear, you just flip the splitter and let off the accelerator. There is no need to move the gear shift unless you need to drop 2 gears. I don't know what the cost difference between a super 10 and a standard 10 speed transmission.

Ok I didn't know they shifted like an 18 or 13 (and maybe the guy I was riding with didn't either)