Trailer cover experienced opinions

[iahacker]

I'm looking for a newer 12' covered trailer and wondering about the good and bad of clam shell covers.

Aluminum Triton style covers compared to the canvas Snocaps compared to the fiberglass Aero covers.

The Snocaps look like they may be a pain to roll the ends down and sinch the straps. The aluminum ones seem to have a lot of wind drag and proned to hail damage. The fibeglass likely is heavier but, look more aerodynamic.

Lets hear your experience for ease of use, wind drag, problems, likes, dis-likes, etc...with each.

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[IAVECTORGT]

I had a Triton 12' with aluminum cap and I thought it was a pain in the arse loading and unloading. I traded it and bought a 2011 7x23 Stealth Predator all aluminum trailer and won't look back now! Drive on, drive off. Can haul gear, tools, spare tire, all things needed for a trip in this trailer. No need to unload all the stuff other than gear when you get to your destination. Just lock it up! Granted, it is more money to go this way but to me, the only way! I use it for snowmobiles in the winter and for atving in the summer. So it gets used! I get about 2-3 mpg less when towing this trailer. I tow it with a 2010 chevy 1500 with the 6.2L gasser.

 

[4strokeluvr111]

The owner of SnoCaps told me the cover has a life expectancy of 10-12 years. Not long enough IMO and you can't use a knife to cut thru aluminum and fiberglass.

A friend has a 2 place v-nose Triton w/ramp and a Triton aluminum cap. What an awesome setup! As soon as I can swing one that's what I'm getting!

edit - pulls like a dream with our 6cyl minivan too.

 

[Mikedom]

I have a Triton clam shell type, drive on/drive off trailer. It's the type where you use the ramp that stores under the trailer to get the sleds on and off. Works great with the wifes sled since she doesn't have reverse. The top opens either to the front or the back. I have had this for 5 years and still looks great. I don't know its behind my Ford F150, unless its really windy out. Mike

 

[VectorLTX2012]

I've got the Triton trailer over 7 years ago and it has been great. Both my sleds have reverse so I drive on and reverse off. I don't like getting that close to the back of the truck using the drive off front. When towing the trailer I get about 12 mpg with my F150 doing about 60-65 and it goes down from there with speed and head wind. The siding is very light gauge so you need to be award of that and not bump it hard or you can dent or ripe it.

 

[cudase]

I went with a drive on drive off style 2 place aluminum clam shell trailer. The tongue is long enough that I have no problem driving off. It has held up well. I wash it a few times a season and before I store it for the year and the shell could still pass for new even though it is 6 years old and has over 30k miles on it.

 

[iahacker]

We already have a 20' enclosed that we use on long trips up north. It is very nice to just pull the sleds in, throw all our junk in and go.
I have a 10' open tilt trailer with a slush guard and it is the easiest thing to use for local trips. We need a little longer one for our XTX's and I want a covered one because I'm tired of getting our sleds/covers all dirty.
We have had other drive on, drive off trailers and I hate messing around with the ramps.

Good advice guys. Thanks for the input.

Anyone else offer some experienced advice?

 

[kinger]

I debated on a clamshell vs enclosed and actually went with a 6x12 enclosed for my single sled. It is so nice compared to a clamshell and this trailer has 6'3" interior so no headaches. It was around $3800 IIRC and worth every penny for convenience. Draw back? Its steel frame and it pulls like any other enclosed pretty hard. Ironically I got the same mpg in my new ford pulling this vs a 27' enclosed. The v nose helps but she still takes some grunt to pull. The trailer itself is fairly light and I can move it around by hand.

 

[NHSLEDDER]

A friend of mine builds trailers in Milton NH. Proline trailers. He has been building them for about seven years now. You should check him out. He has basic layouts but most guys have them customized. I have one and love it. Drive on and drive off.

 

[Sevey]

Hey Kinger,
Nice trailer, I also own a 6x12 Miska V nose with ramp. Great way to haul a single sled. Easy to store gear in and its also the change room to jump into my gear at the drop point. Mine is aluminum so it is sounds a little bit easier to manage, but it still pulls like there is a bulky box behind you.

I have two 121 tracked yamahas, and manage to get both in when I need to (on rare occasion). It requires a bit of grunt work but can be done. Drive one in and ram it to one side and back the other up the ramp, then pull it the rest of the way in. Definitely need 2 guys on it.

I wouldnt want to do it for a day trip, but to go away for a destination drop of 3-5 days its do'able'.

See ya
MS

 

[BigDog05]

I've had Triton clam shells since they first came out and have been happy with them.

This one is 12 foot and tows great with the dual axles. I just put bolts in place of the front pins and back off with the ramp.

I have a 15 gal fuel tank mounted in front of the one sled, so can't drive off that side anyways.

 

[MT.man]

You want to keep in mind that alot of 12 ft. clamshell trailers dont give you much headroom when you are loading. I alway felt that to get the nessessary run to load I always felt that I would (and have) hit my head. I bought a crossover , its like a clamshell but with the back as a loading ramp, no tilt . Mine is a mission and I love it ,kinda the best od both worlds at a decent price. NHsledder is right , Pro-line is top notch and I would have bought one if the dealer that I buy all my stuff from was a dealer.

 

[nards444]

I had a Triton 12' with aluminum cap and I thought it was a pain in the arse loading and unloading. I traded it and bought a 2011 7x23 Stealth Predator all aluminum trailer and won't look back now! Drive on, drive off. Can haul gear, tools, spare tire, all things needed for a trip in this trailer. No need to unload all the stuff other than gear when you get to your destination. Just lock it up! Granted, it is more money to go this way but to me, the only way! I use it for snowmobiles in the winter and for atving in the summer. So it gets used! I get about 2-3 mpg less when towing this trailer. I tow it with a 2010 chevy 1500 with the 6.2L gasser.

I think budget has a play here. For what you have your going to spend 2-3times that of a clam shell, although you are right if you have the money better way to go.


Anyways back to the question. By the time you buy a snow cap and trailer your probably the same into it money wise as a clamshell to begin with. They do have drive on and off clamshells. Buddy has a snow cap on a 4 place and its not bad, think he paid almost 2. Yeah you can get into it easier and it wont last as long. A hard clamshell will work nice for you.

 

[yam177]

My trailer set-up

 

[VectorLTX2012]

yam177,
Kinda hard to get a feel for your set-up from the pictures you posted. It appears to me that if we saw more on the sides I would have a better understanding of what you're trying to show us.