18' trailer price check

[Piston]

Hey guys,
A friend of mine is selling his 18' trailer and I'm thinking about buying it. It's not really what I want as I want a 20' or 22' trailer, however, I'm wondering if I should buy it rather than buy a brand new trailer.
I need to measure my tractor and maybe even try loading it onto the trailer to see if it fits, but assuming it does, what do you think a good price would be for the trailer?
The guy selling it is a good friend of mine and he'll probably still borrow it in the future whenever he needs it, so we are looking for a fair price for the two of us.

it was built in 2006 according to the sticker, it hasn't had much use, in fact it's been sitting for 2 years but I don't believe the tires are dry rotted. Neither of us know if the brakes work in it and it does have obvious surface rust. Structurally it seems fine, just don't know about brakes and axles?

What are your thoughts for a fair price on a used trailer like this? Or should I just skip it and buy a brand new trailer I want? i'll be using it 1 to 2 times per month to go 120 miles, mostly highway. The weight capacity should work for me.

 

[paulwestski]

Piston
What size tractor will you be putting on the trailer?

Do you already have a brake controller in your truck?

 

[gerard]

Assuming everything works. (brakes may be frozen with rust if left sittting for a long time so it might need a brake job. Not a bad do it yourself job, just messy and a little time consuming). Id see what a new one costs and shoot for around 50-60% of that price.

 

[Piston]

Piston
What size tractor will you be putting on the trailer?

Do you already have a brake controller in your truck?

I don't have a brake controller and need to get one regardless.

The tractor is a kubota l4610 with fel. The rears are loaded with rimguard. I think it weighs about 5500-6000 with the grapple.

 

[George2615]

Hudsontrailer lists a 4T medium duty equipment trailer as having a 78" wide deck and weighs 1900lb. Your L4610 even with a loader should fit but at 18' it may not be long enough for the tractor with attachments such as a rear rotary mower. Hudson makes a good trailer.
Questions to ask yourself would be:
Am I going to haul the tractor with loader and a rear attachment? If so, 18' probably won't be long enough?
Will I ever need to haul something wider such as a full size pickup? You may need a trailer with 82" Width between the fenders for that. That extra 4" makes a big difference.

I'd hook up your loader (if equipped) and rear attachments and measure the length.
I don't know what a new 4T Hudson goes for but I'd find out then ask what the seller wants. In my area sellers would ask about 2500-3K for that. If you can get it for less I'd say that's a buy. There is a 18' 5T on Ebay the seller is asking $4500 or B/O for so a good price an 06 4T is tough to call.

 

[dstig1]

I don't have a brake controller and need to get one regardless.

The tractor is a kubota l4610 with fel. The rears are loaded with rimguard. I think it weighs about 5500-6000 with the grapple.

Is it a 10k+ trailer? You will be overweight if it is a 7k car trailer. Especially if you add anything on the 3pt.

18' would be an improvement over the 16' I have for my similar tractor, but if I was going bigger, I'd want 20' at least, so I had room to maneuver for tongue balance.

Prices are very local on these. Start searching CL to get an idea on used ones.

 

[Piston]

It's a 4 ton capacity so I can load 8k onto it. It seems like the prices are all over the place so I'm not sure what to go with.

 

[Milton Burro]

That's a fine looking trailer. The channel iron frame appears to go all the way to the back of the trailer. Heavy duty fenders too. I just bought a new 16' today for my L3400. Brakes on one axel, ramps store under the rear. The fold up ramps may prevent you from hauling a brush hog attached to the tractor with the fel on, or anything else that may protrude over the back. If your buddy just wants you to store it and you pay for tags, etc. so he can use it, I'd say you should get it for a good price. 1000 bucks would be fair IMO unless you're going to use the crap out of it in a business or something. If so, that's a $1800 trailer at least IMO. I gave 1400 for my 16 footer and it's lighter duty than that pup there. The brakes are pretty simple on those rigs. Figure about 100 bucks for a brake controller too.
edit:
That dovetail in the back will make for easier loading too.

 

[Western]

I agree, prices will be local. here they'd ask around 2k+

Since it's been "sitting" for 2 years, I would look around first, but that's me, or just borrow it from your buddy and keep up the tire's and maintenance for him. That would buy you some time and give you a feel for the trailer.

Bottom line to me is get what "you" want, that does what you need with no guess work. Of coarse if he say's "$500":laughing:

 

[paulwestski]

You may be able to get a great deal on the trailer......but like you said in your thread starter you really wanted a 22' or 23' trailer. The GVWR on this trailer barely meets your tractor weight. You said you'd be towing in excess of 100 miles a few times a year. Personally I like to have my trailers well over rated.... 2k or more. You get larger brakes and tires.