Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » RANT!! Trailers are too much $$$ 1 2

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  March 22, 2011 11:30 p.m. mattm New Reader

  I am in Ohio and anything with wheels and a deck is obviously gold. Check this out.

  http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/2279483072.html

  Disregard the "winsh" I won't need it. On what planet does this thing not need a full rebuild, plus the rails suck for hauling a car and actually being able to open the door and get out. That goes double for a lowered track car with a race seat. I prefer not to have to climb out the window everytime I load the trailer.

  I want a 20 foot but would be happy with an 18 foot deck. Everyone in Ohio thinks that is a $3000 trailer. Thanks for letting me rant. Losing my mind over here.

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  March 22, 2011 11:55 p.m. fasted58 Reader

  wish i had a winsh

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  March 23, 2011 12:33 a.m. motomoron HalfDork

  I got a 16' "Big Tex" open car trailer in nice shape w/ all fresh electrics for $1250 in VA last week. Use searchtempest to expand your search geographically and be ready to beat 'em down.

  Once you get it, tag it in Maine. For reals:

  $90 for five years and no inspection? I'm there!

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  March 23, 2011 12:40 a.m. mk2mer Reader

  mattm wrote: I want a 20 foot but would be happy with an 18 foot deck. Everyone in Ohio thinks that is a $3000 trailer. Thanks for letting me rant. Losing my mind over here.

  Very good place here in Terre Haute, IN to get new trailers at a good price. They're not built like battleships but they are very value priced.

  About 3 years ago, I bought an 18 foot tandem utility trailer (had rails) with 1 brake and wooden floor for $1099. I drove EVERYWHERE trying to beat that price but could not do it. Extremely nice people. The 1 downfall is that they mount bald used tires on new white spoke wheels. They have to hold the price down somehow, I guess.

  Anyway, their contact info is:

  Menke's Greenhouse & Trailer 9151 S US Highway 41, Terre Haute, IN 47802-9621 (812) 299-9861 ‎

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  March 23, 2011 1:01 a.m. jhaas Reader

  i was just working on my trailer tonight. i gotta go pick a buddy up in the morning. his subie tossed a timing belt 2hrs out of town. just cleaned it up and had to rewire the winch and such from the flood. i just put a wireless winch controller on it. IT ROCKS! got it on ebay for 9 bucks.

  about 5 years ago i paid $1295 for a VERY nice 16ft car hauler here...gatormade trailer the ONLY new vehicle purchase i have EVER made. they even threw in a free 2 5/16 drop hitch and ball! worth every penny!!

  now i've got a 8000lb winch, a huge SLA with solar charger, elec jack, and i added a 3ft dove tail on the back.

  steel must have gone up? trailer on ebay (i found mine on ebay)

  hella nice 8x20 enclosed for $4495 enclosed on ebay

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  March 23, 2011 1:04 a.m. mtn SuperDork

  motomoron wrote: I got a 16' "Big Tex" open car trailer in nice shape w/ all fresh electrics for $1250 in VA last week. Use searchtempest to expand your search geographically and be ready to beat 'em down. Once you get it, tag it in Maine. For reals: $90 for five years and no inspection? I'm there!

  Is that legal?

  Anytime somebody tells you that vodka mixes well with anything, slide them a jar of mayonnaise and tell them to practice what they preach.

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  March 23, 2011 1:36 a.m. curtis73 Dork

  I bought a used brick E36 M3house trailer for $1000. Its steel, 18' deck, and is even decked with steel diamondplate. I bought a $129 Harbor Freight winch and its all I need. Its something like 8000 gvw and just needed a coat of paint.

  I'm bringing sexy back

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  March 23, 2011 1:53 a.m. mattm New Reader

  I can post these all day long. There are plenty of 16 foot trailer for this price or more that also need a complete rebuild and they cost an additional $500 on top of this one and I am not interested in a 16 foot trailer due to what tools and wheels I carry along with the car when hauling to the track. The local trailer shops all ask $2800 or more for an 18 foot steel deck trailer. A wood deck is about $300 to $400 less. Used trailers here in ohio are a joke. Anything that was once a working trailer costs $1000. Anything that actually might tow something is $1500. Looks like I will have to buy a new steel deck 20 foot trailer for $2500 and drive 200 miles round trip to get it.
  

  In columbus, $2500 for an 18 foot steel deck tandem axle is a STEAL. This is ridiculous to me.

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  March 23, 2011 1:55 a.m. mattm New Reader

  motomoron wrote: I got a 16' "Big Tex" open car trailer in nice shape w/ all fresh electrics for $1250 in VA last week. Use searchtempest to expand your search geographically and be ready to beat 'em down. Once you get it, tag it in Maine. For reals: $90 for five years and no inspection? I'm there!

  Used searchtempest for ohio and PA. Looks like ti is cheaper to buy a 20 foot new locally. econo trailer in PA was close but with travel it is cheaper to buy new here in ohio than to go far out of state or buy the local junk listed on craigslist.

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  March 23, 2011 5:59 a.m. blizazer New Reader

  mtn wrote:

  motomoron wrote: I got a 16' "Big Tex" open car trailer in nice shape w/ all fresh electrics for $1250 in VA last week. Use searchtempest to expand your search geographically and be ready to beat 'em down. Once you get it, tag it in Maine. For reals: $90 for five years and no inspection? I'm there!

  Is that legal?

  Tag it in Michigan, all trailer plates are "permanent". No inspection, you just need a weight slip so they know how much to tax you.

  And why is it so hard for craigslist listers to spell "winch"?

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  March 23, 2011 6:11 a.m. JThw8 SuperDork

  curtis73 wrote: I bought a used brick E36 M3house trailer for $1000. Its steel, 18' deck, and is even decked with steel diamondplate. I bought a $129 Harbor Freight winch and its all I need. Its something like 8000 gvw and just needed a coat of paint.

  I think you have the same trailer as us :)

  Looks like it was welded by a dunk monkey but the sides are steel I-beams and its decked with steel diamond plate.

  Its ugly and has its fair share of problems (metal fatigue) but we keep patching it up and it keeps going.
  

  With the price of steel right now though I keep thining about scrapping it, probably get enough for it to buy a slightly used but better condition (and lighter) trailer.

  OTTER: "I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part." BLUTO: "We're just the guys to do it."

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  March 23, 2011 6:21 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

  mk2mer wrote:

  mattm wrote: I want a 20 foot but would be happy with an 18 foot deck. Everyone in Ohio thinks that is a $3000 trailer. Thanks for letting me rant. Losing my mind over here.

  Very good place here in Terre Haute, IN to get new trailers at a good price. They're not built like battleships but they are very value priced.

  About 3 years ago, I bought an 18 foot tandem utility trailer (had rails) with 1 brake and wooden floor for $1099. I drove EVERYWHERE trying to beat that price but could not do it. Extremely nice people. The 1 downfall is that they mount bald used tires on new white spoke wheels. They have to hold the price down somehow, I guess.

  Anyway, their contact info is:

  Menke's Greenhouse & Trailer 9151 S US Highway 41, Terre Haute, IN 47802-9621 (812) 299-9861 ‎

  We just towed a MKiii Supra on one of those. The owner paid $1200 built, wired up, and it has brakes.

  SCAVENGE THE SEA FLOOR FOR NUTRIENTS

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  March 23, 2011 7:25 a.m. John Brown SuperDork

  Ohio is pricey for trailers. We bought ours in Michigan or Kentucky when I was in Canton. IDENTICAL trailers were often 1/2 the cost in other states.

  I know of a place in Albion, Mi where you can get an 18' wood deck dual axle car trailer (no rails) for $1100.00 new. Funny thing is they come with USED JEEP OR FORD RANGER WHEELS... they offer a new wheel and tire option for $250.00 with your choice of black, chrome or white 15x7" wheels and 215/75r15 tires.

  Internationally known as The Brown Stig

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  March 23, 2011 7:34 a.m. pete240z SuperDork

  be sure to check around the SW Missouri area - where a lot of boats are made; they need trailers and they have a lot of trailer guys. I stopped somewhere once looking and they had all the worn tires on new trailers too.

  Datsun Pete

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  March 23, 2011 7:59 a.m. Datsun1500 Dork

  I think a bunch of us have figured that used trailers are so close to the cost of new ones, we just buy new. My search started with a car dolly figuring I could find one used for a few hundred. They were $500 used, $800 new. For $800 I might as get a trailer, nope $1,000 used, $1500 new. I ended up with a new 20 foot enclosed. This was a few years ago....

  I completely missed the fact that I am now a dork and no one told me.

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  March 23, 2011 9:19 a.m. dj06482 Reader

  I'm looking at a 20' enclosed to store some things in preparation for an upcoming move. After looking a few locally, I've all but decided to go new.

  '97 328is | '05 Odyssey | '06 RAV4 | '06 Dodge RAM 1500 QC

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  March 23, 2011 9:23 a.m. miatame Reader

  They are big bucks up here in the NE. I paid $1,800 for a used trailer last summer. I couldn't find anything I'd want to own for under $1500. My trailer needs some paint fix up and I just noticed one of the axle might have some issues with the brakes.

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  March 23, 2011 9:50 a.m. ArthurDent Reader

  They are way more that here - $5k for a trailer that could haul a car. $1K for a used dolly. Not sure why.

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  March 23, 2011 10:48 a.m. cwh SuperDork

  Got a welder? Building a trailer is not rocket science. Plus, you get to spec it exactly how you want it. Axles, wheels and brakes are listed on the web at low prices, or see if you have a Northern Tools location nearby. They have everything for trailer construction. And, you will get a good bit of satisfaction saying "Yeah, I built that!".

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  March 23, 2011 11:02 a.m. amg_rx7 HalfDork

  I'm in the same boat here in the San Francisco area. Prices are a bit exaggerated. Even some used open trailers have asking prices more than the same trailer new...

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  March 23, 2011 11:04 a.m. Vigo Dork

  to the OP: $550 sounds really good for that trailer.

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  March 23, 2011 1:33 p.m. spitfirebill SuperDork

  That trailer in our area would be $1,000 minium. With the winsh even more.
  

  I mean he is only charging $50 for the trailer. The winsh is $750.

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  March 23, 2011 2:02 p.m. Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork

  I paid $4k for a 20' box trailer with insulation, cabinets, 110v wiring and rhino-lined floor. $3k is insane for an open trailer.

  Lord of drivel and harbinger of Floundering

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  March 23, 2011 3:00 p.m. Datsun1500 Dork

  That trailer with a paint job and new decking would be a nice one, and you would have $700 in it....

  I completely missed the fact that I am now a dork and no one told me.

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  March 23, 2011 3:10 p.m. Zomby woof SuperDork

  ArthurDent wrote: They are way more that here - $5k for a trailer that could haul a car. $1K for a used dolly. Not sure why.

  Dollies here are like that, but a trailer can be had for almost the same price.

  If you plate a trailer in Ontario, you pay once. No inspection, no tax, $35 one time, for life.

  I built my tandem axle trailer because they were expensive 15 years ago.

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