Value of this flatbed trailer?

[J DeMaio]

Hey guys:



I know where there is an old tri-axle pintle hitch flatbed and is wondering what it is worth. It is a 14' in length and is 8' across, IS NOT a deck over, and looks to have brakes on each wheel. It has the budd wheels and has a 3' dove tail. It needs paint and a new floor and am not sure how the brakes and axles are. Is there any way to see if this trailer manufacturer is still in business, the trailer had no tags on it? It looks like it had been manufactured by a company not an individual. Would this setup haul my John Deere 4020 very well? Any info is appreciated.



Thanks,



John

 

[Whitmore]

John

It would be excellent to haul a 4020 , look it over real good and offer less

 

[Whitmore]

John

is it 15 or 16 " tires, how many lug nuts?



6nuts usually = 8 k axles that gives you 24K Load

5 nuts are 5 to 7 K that gives you 15 k to 21 K Load

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Check the price on the brake repairs if needed. Fellow at church was given a trailer identical to what you just described because the brake job was going to cost more than the trailer was worth.

 

[Ray Torresdal]

axles/brakes

Another option would be to check with Dexter axle, and see what new axles with brakes would cost. - might be less hassle than fixing the existing brakes.



You will never like the pintle hitch as well as a gooseneck when towing, unless you need to use the bed of your truck for a camper, or whatever.



Ray

 

[redramnc]

Check the brakes is a good piece of advice. Also consider what tires will be needed and what they cost. Check the condition of the wiring and the lights - if they are bad and you don't know it the consequences to the electrical system on the truck can be expensive.



My ugly gooseneck was a screaming deal because he knew and I knew that the brakes were going to cost. Between new tires and fixing the brakes I doubled the price I paid in addition to what I paid initially. At the time I couldn't afford a new trailer (just like now) but could afford to put a little money in as stuff needed fixing. After 6 years of use and some tinkering I have an ugly gooseneck that I will not be afraid to haul anything, anywhere on.



In my opinion, pintles are good only behind 2-ton and larger trucks that have the suspension and weight to forgive the looseness of the pintle connection. On smaller trucks a ball hitch is less prone to wiggle and is a more comfortable tow.



Just things to consider... ... ...

 

[J DeMaio]

Okay guys:



I'll go through and clean/grease wheel bearings and suspension but don't plan on replacing unless I have to. The lights/wiring need completely repaired and am not sure of how good the breaking system is. It does need a new floor. Now, some guys say that the Dexter axles that I have described are mobile home axles, throw aways, no good, etc. What is wrong with them other than being budd wheels? They look heavy duty and I know they have brakes because of the wires and the brake drums. The trailer has sat for about 5 years and it's so hard to tell how long ago the brakes have been used. It is my boss's trailer and as far as i know all he has hauled with it was the John Deere 4630 and the John Deere 450 dozer. Keep in mind that these were very short trips and it WAS NOT used day in and day out, as he's a dairy farmer. Is it worth $100.



Thanks boys!



John

 

[redramnc]

It's probably worth about $30 as scrap, if nothing else.



At that price you can afford to tinker with it to make everything right over time.



Mobile home axles are supposedly designed for a minimum amount of miles - the bearings and hubs are intended for short hauls and wear fast if loaded and used regularly. I have been told this but find that information kind of hard to swallow. I know of several trailers built on these axles and, to my knowledge, none have ever lost a hub. They may all fail tomorrow, so I can't say for sure.



If you are going to use it for short hauls and not alot of weight then you should be good to go. Just keep an eye on the bearing wear and/or heating up a hub.



Good luck.

 

[sewman]

I needed a trailer real bad some yrs ago & it had a pintle hitch got tired of it real quick. I went to a trailer place & bought a new ball hitch 15/16" bolted right on it but cost $185. 00

FWIW,

Bob