So I can pick up a bit of a beater 24' Wells Cargo (I think it's from 1999 or 2000 or so) for under 3 grand.... pretty good all things considered. Here's what I know:

It doesn't appear to leak...
3 Tires are "decent" and one needs to be replaced
It's a pintle hook
It doesn't appear to have suspension (I think, but it was freakin cold!)
Nobody knows if the brakes work, but they probably do.. (ha)
The lights supposidly work (but I don't know until I hook it up after I've paid)
The side door doesn't close right (maybe the latch?) but it does "stay closed"
The rear ramp door has 1 cable broken
The frame looks pretty good, mostly free of any serious rust (just surface stuff)
The inside was used by landscapers so it's kind of beat up.
It doesn't have chains or a breakaway
It has 2 3500 lb (I assume, they are 6 bolt) axles
There are 2 small tears in the metal on the sides of the trailer (how do I fix that? Silicone caulk? (like 6 in long or so).
The trailer hasn't been moved in 1.5 to 2 years. I will fill the tires before I drive off. It has no spare.


Is it worth it? I figure I have to spend $120 on a pintle hook setup or $100 on the ball attachment for the trailer. I have an extra breakaway so I just need to wire it (don't know how, but how hard can it be?). I'll probably spend $60-80 on a battery (right?)
And what else should I consider?
How hard is it to lube the trailer and should I do it before I drive off?
I will fill the tires before I move it, what should they be at ?

Etc...
Thanks

 

Sounds rough for that price.....

 

Agreed, but I can't find anything else in the great cold northeast that's close. I saw two other trailers this weekend and they were going for $3700-3900 and were in just as bad of a shape... or worse... the only thing they had going for them was that they were still on the road actively.

I saw one other guy with a trailer for around $2500, but it is a Haulmark 24' vnose skimobile trailer.... and he just had frame work done on it because of rust issues (so they might be fixed, but whatever...) ?

Slim pickins'! Got any leads?

I mean, just out of curiosity, what does a brand name, decent quality 24' ramp door 8 or 8.5' wide trailer cost these days, ballpark?

 

If you weren't in California I might say yes...

Anyone closer? I'd take a 20-24' bumper trailer (enclosed) with a ramp door...
I guess I should have asked on here!!

I haven't handed the guy any money yet and I can call and cancel.
I'd drive up to 8-10 hours each way from NYC to pick up!!...

But unfortunately 5500 is a bit out of my range... maybe if you were asking 4500 I might be able to swing it.... the trailer I'm looking at will be 2800 (not 3K sorry, I forgot I talked him down a bit). But even that's a stretch with all the driving involved, even if it only were 8-10 hours each way (which of course, Cali is not 8-10 hrs, from NYC). Anyone else? Anyone have any suggestions on places to look? I have checked Craigslist, eBay and RacingJunk a lot over the past 1-2 months and not come up with much in my price range...

 

Oh, I forgot, I am intending upon using it to tow a small racecar, tires, tools, etc so I expect to get near the GVW of the trailer every time I tow (2600-2800 for the car), 3 sets of tires/wheels, some chairs, tools, a compressor, etc etc... If the trailer weighs around 3K doesn't that leave me 4K for "stuff in the trailer"?

Would that change the answer at all?

Also, do you guys know of a place to go get brake stuff (drums, rotors, hardware, whatever) cheap online? If I decide to get the trailer...

 

start looking at trailers on ebay..

 

I have looked on ebay (said it in my email above, along with a few other sites). I never see ones in the ~3k ish range...

 

You need a trailer w/10K GVW if you're gonna roll 7K+ all the time. 3.5K axles bend like butter when they are loaded up.

12" brakes and bigger bearings that come on the 4-6K axles are a huge plus.

Do it right the first time and make it the last time.

I always try to make a killer deal on new stuff.

Everytime I buy something used, I always end up putting more money in it to make it sano. For 25% more, I could have had new.

 

I got a 7x20 10k cargo w/double doors,e-track v-nose f/$4,500 ordered from a place in GA off ebay last fall,I looked f/a long time too b4 bitin the bullet.

 

Two things to note:
6 holes rims are with 5000lbs axles
It does have suspension, it's torsion, you don't see the springs.

I agree price is high due to conditions, but if you cannot find anything else cheaper....there's no way out

 

New $4295!!! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/8-5-x...QQcmdZViewItem

 

good find!

 

This has 3500lbs axles, by the time you back out the weight of the trailer, it can haul......., well...... no much!

 

I agree, plus it has springs instead of torsion axles.
Looks good but it only hauls a barbeque grill, maybe 2 !!!!

 

So do tell whats the reserve??

Trailer weight is around 3k, so you have enough capacity for a car some tools. My 24ft haulmark with 2 3500's has worked fine since 1998, I have weighed it a few times and its always been ok. Heck for $5-600 or so order it with 5k axles you stil can be under 5k for a new trailer!!