Question for those towing an enclosed car hauler...

[RicB]

Does your enclosed car hauler/cargo trailer have an escape door on the drivers side for exiting your loaded vehicle? Do you feel one is necessary?

[TprLSP]

I have one and works great with my jeep Cherokee Lattitude. However, what sucks now is when I take the motorcycle and golf cart, I have to put the jeep in backwards to keep the tongue weight down. That's when you realize how nice it is to have the door.

[Bird_Freak]

After years of hauling show cars I say get the door!

[Lwiddis]

Ken’s suggestion has much merit.

[discovery4us]

It would be dependent on the car I was hauling. With my jeep I had to climb over tires or climb out the back of the jeep so it would have been nice. I hauled a mini cooper for a friend and it would not require an escape door.

I load differently based on what I have in the trailer trying to balance the weight in the trailer so it might be a concern on the escape door not being in the right spot if you had a different car in the trailer.

[1SG]

I have an escape door on mine and it is well worth it.

[winniman]

If you have a smaller vehicle, and a 8 ft 6 inch wide trailer, you would probably be able to get out without the trailer door. If you have a wider vehicle, or a skinnier trailer, you may not. My friend used to have a 7 ft wide trailer, and he had to climb out the hatchback of his SUV. His newer trailer is 8 ft 6 inches, and he can get out of the vehicle. Of course if you have a choice, get the trailer door. You can also get other compartment doors that make hooking up the front chains or straps easier as well.

[DrewE]

schlep1967 wrote:

kenwautoone wrote:
Why not install an electric winch

With most newer vehicles you would still need to apply the brake to put the vehicle in park. Which means either crawling in the window to do it by hand or opening the door and getting in and the out of the vehicle.

Or, if you have a hatchback or similar (I suppose even a trunk passthrough in a sedan would do), clambering in from the back.

[schlep1967]

kenwautoone wrote:
Why not install an electric winch

With most newer vehicles you would still need to apply the brake to put the vehicle in park. Which means either crawling in the window to do it by hand or opening the door and getting in and the out of the vehicle.

[kenwautoone]

Why not install an electric winch

[ferndaleflyer]

I have done without one for 20 years on the race car trailer but I for sure would have one if I should buy another trailer. Don't cost that much more but not sure if the economy brands even offer it.

[js218]

yes, makes it super easy to load and unload.

[hotjag1]

I don't have an escape door, but I am only about 10 lbs over what my ideal weight should be. I park the suv a few inches off center in the trailer so the door opens a little further than normal. This makes it easier to get in and out of the vehicle. An escape door would make it easier, but if a person isn't quite a bit overweight, it isn't that big of a deal.

[jorbill2or]

No , and yes !
I ordered it without thinking my “spry” self would have no problem, esp with the small car I was hauling. Wrong , I would never buy another without a escape door. Crawling out is a pita no matter how small the car rep after the retirement spread.

[Lwiddis]

If I rode in a car being transported in an enclosed trailer, yes I would.