Where can I get the best deal on a gooseneck

[davygp38]

How flexible are trailer dealers on pricing? Are they like vehicles, or are prices firm? I'm also in the market...but unsure what type of trailer I will buy yet. But just this morning I stopped at a local dealer and did some price checking, and was wondering then....is there dickering room?

I think the margins are pretty small. I must have spoken to at least 6 dealers, and I spoke to 2 factory reps. The dealers biggest expense is shipping. Unless they move a lot of trailers, the margins are a few hundred at best. So far the best deals are factory direct. If you are close enough to a manufacturer (about a hundred miles,) thats what I would do. In my case, I am so far away from the factory, that I have to find a large dealer. I would mention that Gatormade has what I can only describe as a few outlet type lots. When I spoke to the sales rep, He quoted me the factory price for the trailer I am interested in, then he gave me a run down on shipping cost to the various lots. The shipping was fair too. I am now waiting for a subscription to a local farming news paper, that is loaded with equipment ads. after I check these dealers out for prices, I'll be ready to make my move. If your not sure what trailer to buy, check out the links on this forum, and talk to some of the dealers.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I think the margins are pretty small. I must have spoken to at least 6 dealers, and I spoke to 2 factory reps. The dealers biggest expense is shipping. Unless they move a lot of trailers, the margins are a few hundred at best. So far the best deals are factory direct. If you are close enough to a manufacturer (about a hundred miles,) thats what I would do. In my case, I am so far away from the factory, that I have to find a large dealer. I would mention that Gatormade has what I can only describe as a few outlet type lots. When I spoke to the sales rep, He quoted me the factory price for the trailer I am interested in, then he gave me a run down on shipping cost to the various lots. The shipping was fair too. I am now waiting for a subscription to a local farming news paper, that is loaded with equipment ads. after I check these dealers out for prices, I'll be ready to make my move. If your not sure what trailer to buy, check out the links on this forum, and talk to some of the dealers.

I bought my current trailer in 2004 and it was roughly $1450 at the dealer 5 miles from my house. I bought it factory direct for $860. I paid a guy $60 to bring it 1/2 way to me so I turned a 4 hour trip each way into a 2 hour after work run and meet at a Burger King just off the highway.

The trailer I got was 18'x 82" wide 7K wood deck understore ramps. It had no brakes and used tires. I added brakes, ordered it that way because I already had a set of brakes. The tires lasted me 4 years and probably 10,000 miles. Never had a blow out just plain wore them out. I put a new set of GreenBall Trailer Masters on it about 2 years ago. Funny thing is my trailer this replaced was a 25' GN with tandem Duals. It was a 25,000# GVWR trailer but it was just too big and heavy. I also missed having my bed. I find this 18' trailer has done everything I have wanted to do except move the Case Backhoe my brother bought about a month ago.

Chris

 

[bdeboer]

These guys might be close enough to you. I considered them last year when looking for a dump trailer, ended up getting a used Bri-Mar.

Gooseneck Trailers KY

 

[Soundguy]

i'm gonna have to read thru this thread and watch it.

I'm ordering the reese gooseneck adapter for my 5th wheel rails.. and am now in the search for a gooseneck. ideally one with 30' of useable bed so i could haul my 7610s and batwing if needed. I think I now have enough truck to do that..

soundguy

 

[davygp38]

I'm gonna have to read thru this thread and watch it.

I'm ordering the reese gooseneck adapter for my 5th wheel rails.. and am now in the search for a gooseneck. ideally one with 30' of usable bed so i could haul my 7610s and batwing if needed. I think I now have enough truck to do that..

soundguy

I'll tell ya, the problem I am having now, is deciding on trailer size/weight. I have narrowed down the brands I am looking at, and I have spoken to quite a few salesmen. The better trailers weigh more. A lot more. This means you lose Net weight. I wanted to go longer, than originally planned. 25+5, as opposed to 20+5. But then again More weight. and more cost. I will say, that cost, is not the most important thing, but I would be a liar, if I said it was not important. Right this minute, I am leaning towards a Gator-made 25+5 16000#gvw. The next thing, is to find out if I can legally register it in NY, with my truck. These little details drive me nuts. But that Dutch-German background, forces me to try to get the most bang for my buck, and the perfect trailer set up.

 

[Soundguy]

I'm right now trying to get an idea of costs vs length, with weight in mind since I will need 14k I believe.. I've seen a couple 10k.. and they are woefully too light for my needs..

soundguy

 

[davygp38]

I'm right now trying to get an idea of costs vs length, with weight in mind since I will need 14k I believe.. I've seen a couple 10k.. and they are woefully too light for my needs..

soundguy

I was looking at a gatormade 20+5 14000#gvw. The trailer weighs 6000+. This gives me 8000 net. If I go with the Gatormade 25+5 16000# I gain only about 1000# more in net. The price, goes up around $700. I was thinking about Going with a 25+5 with three 7K axles. The problem, is I do not think I can register it in my State, with my truck. I am in a holding pattern, until I find out.

 

[medicshawn]

I'm guessing Gator Made is using the same frame and just putting different axles under it. I have a 14K 20 +5 that weighs 4000. So that gives me 10K payload. I wonder if you might be able to find another manufacturer that that has a better weight to payload ratio.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I'm guessing Gator Made is using the same frame and just putting different axles under it. I have a 14K 20 +5 that weighs 4000. So that gives me 10K payload. I wonder if you might be able to find another manufacturer that that has a better weight to payload ratio.

That seems light. Is that 4,000# the wight of the trailer or just the weight on the axles? Some trailer manufactures allow for some of the weight on the pin. Like on my old trailer I had. It was 20+5 GN with dual 12K tandem axles. The GVWR was 25,000# and the trailer was right at 6,000# leaving me 19,000# load carrying capacity. So they were allowing for 1,000# on the pin but I bet it had that empty and more like 3,500# loaded at times.

Chris

 

[medicshawn]

That's what's listed on my title. I haven't contacted the manufaturer to verify.