Buying a trailer - questions

[TRoss]

This is certainly my first time posting in this forum. As I have mentioned elsewhere, my wife and I are moving to Reno at the end of this month (from Nashville). I have been looking at trailers on craigslist with the thought that if I found a decent one for cheap enough, it might be cheaper/easier to just buy it and tow our stuff to Reno with my truck rather than messing with a rental truck. At least then I could sell the trailer afterward.



I recently found this trailer on craiglist 24 Ft Horse Trailer w/Sleeper & Tack and called about it. It has working brakes, the only thing that he said over the phone that wasn't included in the post was that the lights on one side stopped working after the new pressure treated floor was installed. I don't know a great deal about trailers, and would love to hear some thoughts about this trailer and any other recommendations anyone might have.



By the way, at the moment, I don't have a gooseneck hitch, so I would have to get one installed before I could even consider this trailer. I would also accept thoughts on hitches as well. Thanks in advance. I'm hoping to draw on a lot of wisdom here, because I'm pretty new to the game. Truck is included in my signature, which is up to date.

 

[GAmes]

The floor installer must have broken a wire to the lights. Easy to re-wire. The price sounds too low though. You know the old saying, "if it sounds too good to be true, etc" I would check the trailer out very carefully. Other than that, I have done the same thing. Bought a trailer to move goods with the intention of selling it at the other end. That is why I now own a 24 ft deckover flatbed and a 14 ft enclosed cargo trailer. The 24 ft flatbed was $1500 also. I had to replace all the brake assemblies on it, but I knew the brakes didn't work when I bought it.



There are a lot of options on gooseneck balls. The least expensive would probably be a pair of reese rails with a gooseneck ball plate. There is also a turnover ball. Depends on how many holes you want in the bed, cost, etc.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Doubt that you would be satisfied with that trailer, it woul not be weather proof to keep you belongings dry for one thing and might be difficult to load some things also. Something along this line might work and be easier to sell when you get there. bg NEW 09 7x16 7 x 16 V-Nose Enclosed Cargo Trailer w/Ramp - eBay (item 160338417620 end time Jun-04-09 09:39:23 PDT)

 

[HBarlow]

I agree with BG Smith above on the horse trailer. It wouldn't be weatherproof to protect your household effects and, an old trailer like that would almost certainly require a set of tires, wheel bearing service, possibly new brake backing plates to restore braking, new 12 volt wiring harness and lights, and a new safety break-away switch and battery module. Yes, I know, the horse trailer seller's ad said it has "new tires" but that often means they look like new. Until you check the DOT code in the inside sidewall of all four tires as well as the size and load rating, it is safe to assume they will require immediate replacement before you load the trailer with your possessions and set out on a cross country trip.

A new cargo trailer purchased at one end and sold on the other can be a smart way to move yourself, particularly now while much of the population of NV is making a hasty retreat.

However, the cargo trailer in the ebay ad appears to be a "no-name" trailer meaning it was built by one of the new start-up companies of cheap methods and materials. It is also too small to move more than one room of furniture and lacks the weight carrying capacity as well.

I spent some time a year ago searching for and helping my daughter buy a nice cargo trailer for her husband. He has a Corvette collection and I was the "gofor" when he bought several of them via ebay.

My advice would be if you're seriously consider buying a trailer, buy a brand name such as Pace American, Wells Cargo, or Haulmark and buy one with 5,000 lb. axles and torsion suspension. It will cost more but will be functional, tow smoothly, and will have resale value on the other end. You may even decide to keep it for future moves.

There are several companies who have advertised daily on eBay for years to sell trailers such as the one in the ad link. The companies may or may not be reputable. They buy in volume, often just arrange for their customer to pick up the trailer at the factory, and know how to buy them very cheaply with the cheaper features and options and advertise skillfully.

While searching I found a company on the web that sold quality HaulMarks at an excellent discount. My daughter bought it via phone and I drove to the distant company location with a cashier's check in hand. It was detailed and ready, exactly as ordered, and my son-in-law loved it when he saw it. I've picked up three Corvettes in it. Nice trailer, tows well, and worth keeping.

 

[TRoss]

Thanks for all of the thoughts. I really appreciate your candor. I really appreciated the creativity of this one 22 foot enclosed trailer. I'll keep looking around. Any thoughts on whether it is better to buy new or used?



Originally the idea was to buy an inexpensive trailer and eat the cost of it at the other end, just hope to get something out of it, and still be around the same price as moving. Of course, if its only going to cause more problems along the way, and possibly endanger us, our stuff, or other people on the road, then its certainly not worth it. I suppose if we spent more then we could hope to recoup more of the cost at the other end, but since we don't have a lot of money to begin with (did I mention I'm a graduate student), that seems like quite the risk. Thanks for all the thoughtful responses, I certainly appreciate them.



Also, do you think I should pull my #5 plate out and put the stock plate back in if I am going to tow?

 

[BobSacco]

The horse trailer is too cheap and looks like an older model. What happens to them over time is the frame will rust due to "horse by-products" and they can become unsafe. Also, watch out for home-made trailers that use old mobile home axles. Most of these axles are not meant for continous duty at highway speeds, and are not of the same quality as RV or conventional trailer axles.

 

[RVTRKN]

A new cargo trailer would be your best bet as pointed out before, but the economy has been hit hard here on the left, I mean west coast. Plan on keeping that cargo trailer awhile because it will take a little more time than normal to sell. Reno is a wonderful place to live, you will like it there and stay away from those Cat Houses. The downtown area is ugly but once your up in the Sierra's there is nothing but fun. If you don't snow ski now, you will before you know it. Give Mount Rose a try if you do ski, their snow is dry and stays in a powder form longer, being that it is on the dry desert side of Lake Tahoe, but is a smaller resort. And BTW, I recommend a B&W goose neck hitch setup there are no rails in the back of the bed and they sell a awesome 5th wheel hitch, and you can attach it to the under the bed rails, here is their link. B&W Custom Truck Beds, Inc.

 

[mberry]

I have to agree with RVTRKN and the others about the trailer. It's not worth the risk to your safety, let alone your stuff.

Downtown isn't a place I ever go willingly anywhere.

 

[TRoss]

Thanks again for everyone's comments. Today I went out and looked at some trailers. I stopped into a Trailers Plus location here in Middle Tennessee, they are the outlet branch of Interstate Cargo. My wife and I looked at all of their trailers, and picked out a 2008 (new) 7'x16' enclosed trailer. Here are the features listed on the website with a couple of additional notes by me.



<ul>

<li>Spring suspension axle [2, 3. 5k each]</li>

<li>Electric Drum Brakes (all hubs)</li>

<li>EZ Lube hubs with grease caps</li>

<li>15" Bias ply trailer rated tires [the trailers we saw today had radials on them, so they may have changed this since their last web update</li>

<li>Integrated A-Frame design</li>

<li>. 030 Beveled Aluminum Exterior Panels (available in 11 colors)</li>

<li>32" Camlock side door</li>

<li>Protected undercarriage</li>

<li>3/4" Exterior grade plywood floor</li>

<li>Lauan walls with 27"-3/8" plywood kicker</li>

<li>LED tail lights</li>

<li>Weather tight clearance lights</li>

<li>16" Aluminum diamond plate front stone guard</li>

<li>(2) Rear stabilizer jack</li>

<li>Aero flow vents</li>

<li>(2) Dome lights with wall mounted switch</li>

<li>Double rear door</li>



I do not know a lot about this brand, they appear to be more abundant in the Western US. I did a search for mention of them on here, and the few times they come up no one has had anything but good to say about their quality and customer service. The trailer was very affordable and seems like it is very high quality. Here is a page devoted to how they're put together, Interstate Cargo and their warranty, although the further warranty info is a broken link. They're website does not impress me very much, but sometimes too much money into promotion means less into quality, so I'll forgive them.



I also found a 7x16 used haulmark today. tandem axle, 2x3. 5k, torsion suspension. It had some exterior damage, looks like it might have gotten into a scrape. Had some screws coming loose and some panels that were cracked through into the trailer. Even for a possibly quick turnaround (move to Reno, sell) this trailer makes me nervous. It was $2,275.



Depending on where we live and what my wife finds for work, we might consider keeping the trailer we buy (in the case of the Interstate). What do people think? Is this a good investment? The price we've been given is around $4k. Apparently they have you bring it in after six months, and again after a year, to look the whole thing over and see if anything needs fixed or replaced under warranty. That sounds pretty good, does anyone have any experience? The salesman kept emphasizing that they are big in the West (I never paid attention when I lived there) and their name speaks for itself out there. Anyone have any experience with this company, its sales/customer service staff or its products? I'd love to hear it all.

 

[AndrewKing]

HI,

Trailmaster is a good brand too... . Same features as what you have listed pretty much BUT with a ramp gate rear with easy lift for $3650 In VA (oh that is with a V nose also... . Better mileage and easier to pull)... ... May be a far ride for you tho.

Hope this helps.

Andrew

 

[HBarlow]

Interstate is not one of the trusted old names in cargo trailers, 3500 lb. axles are inadequate for carrying a load, and spring suspension will beat the trailer and the tow vehicle to death when unloaded. In plain language, this is NOT a good choice.

As I wrote in an earlier post, you should look at HaulMark, Pace American, or Wells Cargo. They are the old and trusted brands. In the trailer lines of those three manufacturers are entry level, or value lines which are not great, and improved models that are better.

Two 3500 lb. axles will give you a trailer with 7000 lb. GVWR. The bigger trailers will weigh about 3,000 to 3,500 lbs. empty so you won't have much carrying capacity. A better choice if you plan to buy a large trailer that can carry your furniture and belongings is a 28' trailer, 24' box, with 5,000 lb. axles. Torsion axles don't cost a lot more but provide vastly improved ride, loaded or empty but the difference is dramatic when the trailer is unloaded.