Used trailers

[Mark.Smith]

Hello all,



I'm thinking about buying a used 24' enclosed car carrier. I'm not that familiar with TT trailers so what should I look for when inspecting the trailer? What should I look for that will cause me trouble? I've pulled them before but never owned one. TIA



Mark

 

[Grizzly]

Most important parts of any trailer is the running gear. Make sure that the frame, axles, wheels, springs and tires are far more than you need to carry the weight at the speed you want. Beware of ST tires because they are limited to 65 mph max speed and will only last 3 years from date of manufacture. LT tires are a better choice. Make sure the tires Load Range exceed what you need. It's better to have over kill than under kill. Make sure electrical system and brakes are good.

 

[HBarlow]

I don't own a cargo trailer (do own a Big Tex flatbed) so don't have personal experience with them but based on observation of various brands which are fairly new to the market I would say the most important thing to look for when inspecting the trailer is the brand name on the front. Quality older names in the industry like Haul Mark, Pace American, and a couple of others I can't think of right now (senior moment) have been in business a long time and build quality trailers. There are many new brands manufactured today that look just as good as a Haul Mark or Pace American when new but quickly deteriorate or even fall apart. My grandson bought a no-name brand. One of the brakes has grabbed and failed to release since new, and the side door hinges have already broken off. I've seen other brands that looked good when new then the frame distorted twisting the box and all the paneling fell off the walls.



Look at the quality brands first and then, if you can't fit one in your budget, shop the no-name brands by comparing their construction and components to the quality built trailers.



There is no substitute for Dexter running gear. Communist Chinese running gear and tires are used on the no-name brands.



Harvey

 

[AClayton]

I totally agree with both Grizzly and HBarlow that tires and Dexter running are a necessity when purchasing a new trailer. You can learn from my trailer purchasing mistake several years ago when I shopped price instead of quality. Many trailer man. will put 3500' axles on 24' models and while there is nothing wrong with these axles,if you're hauling a car and gear and tools you can easily put a trailer in an overweight condition. Leaf-sprung suspension has been used for years,but the Dexter-torflex axle has been proven to be reliable and better riding when properly loaded... . just keep trailer level when WD hitch is hooked up. Anyway,my point is to opt for the next size up axle rating whether Torflex or traditional leaf-spring. Just my . 02 cents!! Alan

 

[EGroeneveld]

View attachment 68159



Attached is a picture of my enclosed trailer. I ordered it a couple of years ago and have been very happy with it. I use it for my ATVs.



Everything I can remember:



2005 Pace America Shadow GT Package,

20' cargo area

Black to match my pickup

Spray in bedliner on the floor and 1 foot up the walls

rated at 12,000

24 flat d rings in the floor

2 overhead lights

1 side door

extra long tongue (5')



Things I would do now:

go 24' or 28'

Do another 1' extra height

have powered fans or at least the vents you can drive open with installed

would have bought cabinets installed accross the front, still want to just never get around to it. Money goes other places.

would have shelving installed for fluids and helmets and bags

maybe go gooseneck now that I am set up for it and have another gooseneck trailer and like the handling much better

I also would not put the spare tire in the hidden floor area, I would wall mount, nothing like moving everything to get to the spare on the side of the road.

Would dream of adding a/c and a generator.

 

[Mark.Smith]

Thanks for the responses. I'm looking for at least a 10k weight rating with just a bare bones interior to save weight. I'm going to use the trailer to move from WA to Texas and then to take my car to the strip. Appreciate the info, especially the axles and suspension.

 

[TFucili]

I can't agree more with spending for quality. I bought a Cargo Express which was hailed as "just as good as the other guys" by a dealer who seemed trustworthy, and recently I started having brake issues at probably less than 8,000 miles of use. It does have Dexter axles, but when I got under there and started looking around, it looks like it was wired by a fifth grader. Very crude to say the least. Live and learn...

 

[RDHamill]

I have 2 24 gooseneck trailers. one is a Pace, and while all of it's troubles are not Pace's fault, the trailer is junk. Wiring is very poor, and placed where ice and snow build up on it, and subject to salt spray. the Dexter axles are not great either. They run my tires in a negative camber position, which ruins the tires. The rubber suspension bushings are just plain worn out. Rust is a big issue as well, Pace has placed Alumimum directly on steel, which we know is a no no. in it's defence, it does have at least 300,000 miles on it.

My other trailer is an ATC, this is a much better unit, and more money, zero issues thus far, but not many miles.

Best advice... Look for wiring and rust, and tire wear.

Good luck