ACR Clamshell Trailer Project

ACRucrazy

Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 14, 2009
Posts
1,894
Reaction score
1
Ok, I will admit it. When I saw this.

FinalProject2013_013.JPG



I wasn't too excited.. I was waiting to reserve judgement until the final product.
But the outcome :omg: Wow!!! You put a lot of work into that! It turned out great! Looks great, paint is great. Overall just awesome!

Final_Phase_029.JPG


Now my thoughts. That cap, how heavy is that beast? Also how do you tie down the front of the car?
 
OP
OP
N

NSviper

Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 28, 2009
Posts
440
Reaction score
0
Location
Nova Scotia
Ok, I will admit it. When I saw this.

FinalProject2013_013.JPG



I wasn't too excited.. I was waiting to reserve judgement until the final product.
But the outcome :omg: Wow!!! You put a lot of work into that! It turned out great! Looks great, paint is great. Overall just awesome!

Final_Phase_029.JPG


Now my thoughts. That cap, how heavy is that beast? Also how do you tie down the front of the car?

Thanks. The cap comes in at around 800lb. I am thinking I will have to use a turn buckle style tie down.
 

WDW MKR

Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 17, 2011
Posts
340
Reaction score
0
Location
Alabama
Anyone else look at the tipped-up trailer cover and envision the NHRA Funny Car body opportunities for Mopar?

Awesome project! In addition to the earlier questions around potential for roof deflection at speed, will the light weight of this cover be a problem if loading in windy conditions? I'd think you have a potential market opportunity if everything checks out.
 

TrackAire

Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 24, 2009
Posts
1,523
Reaction score
1
Location
Vacaville, California
Very nice work and outcome. Now that you have the Viper done, make a Corvette mold and go into business selling these....I'd say there is a market for the guy that wants to tow but does not need or want a big enclosed trailer.

Cheers,
George
 

Wiretech

Enthusiast
Joined
May 22, 2011
Posts
325
Reaction score
0
Location
Toronto Ont
Looks good, nice paint work, low profile your going get more look on the road admiring the trailer. Very rare 1 of 1 SSG viper trailer.
 
Last edited:

Mopar Boy

Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 2, 2007
Posts
10,274
Reaction score
0
Location
Ontario and Ohio
Nicely done sir! Looks GREAT!!!

So now with the wind drag factor going away and less wait, wanna race my truck to the next VOI on the west coast again? :D:rolaugh:
 
OP
OP
N

NSviper

Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 28, 2009
Posts
440
Reaction score
0
Location
Nova Scotia
Here's to answer a few questions that have come up recently, with regards to fuel economy and the overall mechanics of the cover itself. There are no obvious deflections in the fiberglass shell, as the top is curved and the sides have stiffeners in place. As for the fuel, I have done several test runs with both my 20 ft. conventional enclosed trailer and this one. I also did the same route with my truck, with no trailer in tow. The results are; distance travelled (one way) is 225 km. With conventional trailer, 76.1 L of fuel consumed, with new trailer, 45.7 L of fuel. No trailer , 31L of fuel. Sorry to my american friends I am using Liters, but that's all we know here. Anyway, overall, there is an approx. overall savings of 40%!! Having said this, over the past 4 years, with with trailering my Vipers around, either to events or to Chuck Tator's, I calculate that I have driven about 62,000 km's, paying an average of $1.20 / L of fuel, I could have saved myself just over $9,000 in fuel!!! Just the trip for VOI11 to Salt Lake City, could have saved me the cost of registration plus a little extra, for us both. As promised, my kids showed up, and we took a short video to show the hydraulics of the trailer and back supports. Did not want to bore everyone with unloading the car. The following is the link to the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeQE8waSDeg&feature=youtu.be
 

JAY

Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 12, 2007
Posts
1,425
Reaction score
0
Location
Ontario Canada
You might be able to set a new track record with your new trailer......lol ! Nice work ! :drive: :D
 

viper04

Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 17, 2007
Posts
379
Reaction score
0
Wow!!!, nice work and happy to see it did help with the fuel economy.
 

ACRucrazy

Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 14, 2009
Posts
1,894
Reaction score
1
Cool video. Some sort of locking device (another pin?) to keep the metal supports up on the side during travel may not be a bad idea.
 

cowger

Viper Owner
Joined
Feb 17, 2012
Posts
211
Reaction score
0
Wow, what an amazing project! Love the video -- thanks for sharing!!
 

JoelW

Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 30, 2010
Posts
452
Reaction score
0
Location
In a Tennessee hollow!

Kevan

Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 11, 2006
Posts
2,556
Reaction score
1
Location
New Albany, OH

Does anyone on this site have any experience with the Serpent Express??--Dave
I spoke with them a while back and they do NOT have anything for Vipers.

As my tow vehicle is a Jeep GC, I like the idea of an aluminum trailer and a lightweight shell.
The only problems I foresee are: lack of storage (tires, coolers, chairs, tools, etc), and difficulty with strapping the front of the car down.

Looks great though. Turned out VERY nice.
 
OP
OP
N

NSviper

Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 28, 2009
Posts
440
Reaction score
0
Location
Nova Scotia
Hey Guys, thanks for the comments and suggestion. I took some of the ideas and applyed them to the trailer thanks.
 

rvansnick

Enthusiast
Joined
May 2, 2011
Posts
24
Reaction score
1
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada
Shaun,
I saw your trailer and car at the Car show in Moncton last Sunday. Your trailer is awesome and wow what a project. I was going to call you to see where you bought it and then I came across this site today and read all about it. That was a huge project for sure and no doubt there will be others looking for one of those especially if you have the mold. Sorry i missed you, I came back but you were not around, hope to get together soon for a cruise as the season is fast approaching. We will make a plan for a dinner at Duncan's Pub.

Cheers,
Rick
 
OP
OP
N

NSviper

Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 28, 2009
Posts
440
Reaction score
0
Location
Nova Scotia
Shaun,
I saw your trailer and car at the Car show in Moncton last Sunday. Your trailer is awesome and wow what a project. I was going to call you to see where you bought it and then I came across this site today and read all about it. That was a huge project for sure and no doubt there will be others looking for one of those especially if you have the mold. Sorry i missed you, I came back but you were not around, hope to get together soon for a cruise as the season is fast approaching. We will make a plan for a dinner at Duncan's Pub.

Cheers,
Rick

Yeah sorry we missed you, but we didn't get there until early afternoon Sunday, as I was in Toronto for work until Saturday. The guys that painted the trailer asked to put it in the show, and then the organizers asked if we could put the car in as well. The car won best in class, which was something we didn't expect. The workmanship that went into a lot of the other cars is unbelieveable! But overall, the trailer got a LOT more attention than my car! I even got emails about the trailer from out west, all out of a car show in Moncton.:) Yes, would love to do a cruise/get-together as soon as it warms up and the rain stops. Would love to try out Duncan's Pub again.
Cheers,
Shaun
 

SnakeBitten

Enthusiast
Joined
May 18, 2001
Posts
2,550
Reaction score
0
Absolutely coolest project Ive seen in a long time. Huge:2tu: How about painting the trailer sides and fenders black instead of the silver finish it has now? Might look cool that way with ACR like black wheels. Actually it perfect the way it it but you know its hard to resist modding anything with wheels lol.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
N

NSviper

Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 28, 2009
Posts
440
Reaction score
0
Location
Nova Scotia
Absolutely coolest project Ive seen in a long time. Huge:2tu: How about painting the trailer sides and fenders black instead of the silver finish it has now? Might look cool that way with ACR like black wheels. Actually it perfect the way it it but you know its hard to resist modding anything with wheels lol.
This was going to be my winter project, but with the bad weather we've been having, I had the wheels arrive a couple of weeks ago so I figured I'd just do it now ;) And find another winter project :).
Aug_2013_081.JPG

Aug_2013_084.JPG
 
Top