Aluminum frame enclosed trailers....

[Ron Sutton]

Originally Posted by vintageracer

When buying High End Used you definitely have to be willing to travel. That's for sure as what you are looking for is never around local when you are looking!

With few exceptions, I find the same thing. Rarely is a great trailer, in great condition, at a great price ... right next door. You need to be prepared to go see it & go get it.

The other tips I offer are ...

1. Get clear on what you want, what you need & what does & does not work for you, before you go shopping.

2. Get ready to buy. When you find a good trailer at a good price they go quick. You snooze ... you lose. When you find what you want and it's "a deal" ... be prepared to buy it, not futz around.

One time when I found an RV that exactly fit our needs ... at a great price ... from another racer I could "ask around about" ... after we talked & I saw photos, I got a cashier's check & plane tickets that day. Flew there the next day, inspected it & bought it. My daughter & I drove it home from Arizona. But there weren't deals like that everyday. We'd been looking far & wide daily for 6-7 weeks.

3. But don't buy something that doesn't fit your needs. Get clear & be sure, so you can act quick. Knowing when to pass is just as important.

Another time, I sold my semi rig & 53' trailer .... for my full asking price ... with one caveat from the buyer. I had to turn it over to him in 2 weeks. So I had to buy another trailer ... a better one ... and have it in the shop in 2 weeks.

The one I liked from photos ... turned out to have a lot of rust when I got there.
Time limit or not, it doesn't make sense to buy something that doesn't work for you. So I had to "re-shop" all the trailers out there, and fortunately ended up with an awesome trailer at a great deal. It wasn't easy.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Ketzer

I agree with ALL of GW's points about what's important in trailer selection. (even went back and read some of his old posts where he talked about "if I did it again...") I don't want bling, I'm not trying to have the baddest double stack with sleeper cab and living room.... oh, wait... GW???

Gwen wanted it......

[Ketzer]

Originally Posted by Ron Sutton

In the NW, TPD is a good pick, if you hunt & can be patient, you'll find a deal on one.

Here are two 24' TPD's on RacingJunk.com ... in your price range.

http://www.racingjunk.com/Used-Trail...e-Trailer.html

http://www.racingjunk.com/Cargo-Encl...ech-SoCal.html

I haven't seen one of those before Ron. They look like really nice trailers. I bet those triple axles pull sweet as long as you weren't doing a bunch of backing or tight turning.


Jeff-

[Ron Sutton]

Originally Posted by Ketzer

I haven't seen one of those before Ron. They look like really nice trailers. I bet those triple axles pull sweet as long as you weren't doing a bunch of backing or tight turning.


Jeff-

TPD's are awesome for a 16-32' trailer. I have had 3 of them. A 14' dual axle (for 3 Karts), a 24' triple (Karts & Midget) & a special 22' stacker dual axle(2 Midgets). I prefer the triple axle setup on trailers 24'+. Instead of getting two 7000# axles, you get three 5200# axles (torsion) ... and brakes on all 6 wheels & that baby will stop.

You do get a little tire squeal backing & turning hard, but frankly it's not that common or that big of a deal.

TPD's are an FRP trailer. (Fiberglass Reinforced Panel) Extremely well built. Durable, look great, durable, easy to clean, durable, no wavy thin aluminum skins ... oh ... and durable. The resale on TPD's is the best I've found. Part of that is because if you take care of it, it's hard to tell a 2000 from a 2010. You can't say that about .030" aluminum skin trailers.

But you pay for it. About double. I could have bought a 24' Pace, Haulmark or Interstate for $6500. I paid $12,500 for my new 24' triple axle TPD. Had it 5 years & sold it for $10,500.



My friends that bought it 8 years ago, race Quarter Midgets out of if 25 times a year & still love it. Looks just like when I had it.

[vintageracer]

In 1992 I purchased a Stainless Steel 18 ft "Super Duty" trailer built new by Richard Feldman at Trailerworld in Bowling Green Ky. At that time the trailer was 3 years old with the original owner being Vette Vues Magazine who used the trailer to haul and show their 1963 Corvette Grand Sport.

The trailer was aluminum construction with Stainless Steel side panels and a 1 1/2 inch hardwood oak floor. A killer little enclosed car trailer that was VERY expensive new.

I owned this trailer for 21 years and the trailer never sat a day inside in its life. Last summer at a show someone backed into the front panel area damaging the trailer (hit & run). Almost $2K damage to the trailer to replace 2 stainless steel panels and 1 support spar.

Now here is where a HIGH END HIGH QUALITY trailer pays dividends. Last January I sold the trailer BACK to Richard (Trailerworld) DAMAGED for the same price I paid for the trailer 21 years ago!

High End High Quality used trailers in good condition always bring good money!

I understand Richard has replaced the 2 damaged panels on the front of the trailer and resold the trailer to a new owner.

Here is a picture of the Stainless Steel trailer during the Great Nashville Flood of 2010!



Another good reason for buying High End Used trailers!

[GregWeld]

I totally agree that a high end brand will hold it's resale value and in the long run "cost less" than a cheaply built trailer.


I also think there is a price to be paid for "pride of ownership". I always liked it when I was on the road and some trucker would tell me how nice my rig looked . I just don't think that if you're on a budget... and don't really use the trailer for many events or many miles per event... that it needs to be fancy or aluminum. It just needs to be well maintained (think brakes - bearings - tires/wheels) = and doesn't leak. And frankly -- if you're only doing 3 or 4 events per year -- and maybe 1000 mile round trips... it could be a pretty lightweight (as in build) trailer.

Tires on a lot of used stuff may need to be replaced -- they might have plenty of tread -- but be sun rotted --- or just flat OLD.... and the first thing I'd do on any used trailer is all the wheel bearings... which is something most people NEVER service... and they should be serviced annually.

The brakes on these are generally electric.... and are activated by an electro magnet. This is something else that needs to be serviced because of a LACK of use.... they get rusted up and stuck etc.

So by the time you put 4 new tires on -- service the bearings and brakes... you've just spent another $500.


You can buy a BRAND NEW 24' enclosed car hauler -- for less than $5K. For the amount you stated you would use it... how could you go wrong?



http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-5X24-ENCLO...item2ec893c97f

[GregWeld]

At the bottom of this FleaBay Ad is Trailer shopping 101... I just quickly read through it --- and while it's also some of this dealers sales points ---- it does have some interesting THOUGHTS that a guy should keep in mind... points such as looking UNDER a trailer to see the frame and how much RUST is under it.... and the plywood used etc. So linking here just because.



http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-5x24-Enclo...item27d3ce6ef6

[Ketzer]

Also things I have considered GW.
An economy (cheap) trailer with upgraded 5200lb torsion axles, proper radial trailer tires, smooth sides, and a few more lights from a reputable cheap trailer builder. I can afford to spend $10k on used but do I need to when a fresh $6k trailer fits the intended limited use?

One thing I am forced to admit, the cheaper trailers that don't have rounded front upper corners, that bugs the crap outta me. I don't know why, of all the important details I should focus on, that sticks out and drives me nuts...

Jeff-

[Lenie]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Gwen wanted it......

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Ketzer

Also things I have considered GW.
An economy (cheap) trailer with upgraded 5200lb torsion axles, proper radial trailer tires, smooth sides, and a few more lights from a reputable cheap trailer builder. I can afford to spend $10k on used but do I need to when a fresh $6k trailer fits the intended limited use?

One thing I am forced to admit, the cheaper trailers that don't have rounded front upper corners, that bugs the crap outta me. I don't know why, of all the important details I should focus on, that sticks out and drives me nuts...

Jeff-

Thus my pride of ownership statement.