Converting 7000# car hauler to 10000#?

[Highbeam]

I'm fairly certain my PJ was made in Mexico too by the company that is based in the Texas. Still was made very well with excellent welds and fabrication. My tractor is from Korea so what the heck? I had my first problem though, one of the sealed reflector marker lights has blown out after years of use. Dang.

 

[Builder]

I had considered new wheels and tires. I forgot about the coupler. The axles on ebay are about $280. each and they come with springs. Here is the reason I was considering doing this. I gave $2300 here for my 7000# PJ and a 10400# 18 ft dovetail cost about $3600. I considered driving to Texas to buy the 7000#. We really get ripped here on trailer prices. Maybe it has to do with snowbirds haulin there toys and having money to spend as opposed to someone trying to make a living. Terry

Sell the trailer, buy a used 10K that gives you the all important tag on the frame that says "GVWR 10,000 lbs".

Converting your trailer is not worth the headaches. I bet you end up spending more converting than making a good deal on a 10K.

 

[Dallas_Lilly]

Sell the trailer, buy a used 10K that gives you the all important tag on the frame that says "GVWR 10,000 lbs".

Converting your trailer is not worth the headaches. I bet you end up spending more converting than making a good deal on a 10K.

I completely agree with what you are saying. Not arguing your point. The thing here in Arizona is it is crazy how few decent used trailers are available. If they are decent they go for just about the price of a new one. I actually sat at an auction and watch a trailer almost identical to mine except it was a utility with side rails and had a bent tounge go for $200 more than I paid for mine!! It is the same with tractors, hence why both my trailer and tractor was purchased new.

 

[George2615]

Dallas,
I know what you mean about auctions. I went to several auctions to buy a used trailer. Auction prices were at or above new prices and the trailers needed repairs. I could not believe these people had no clue they were paying more for a used trailer than a new one would cost. I was using a homemade trailer I built while going to these auctions and finally figured I wasn't going to get a good price on a used one so I bought new. The same thing happens here with the price of used tractors.
Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and buy new. It sounds like your area is a lot like mine. You can't get a good deal on a trailer here since everyone I looked at was made in another state and shipped in to a dealer. Dealer adds the shipping to the price to make his profit, end result is we have to pay higher prices. There are other threads by guys who live in states where trailers are built. They seem to get the better prices since they don't have to be shipped.

 

[Dallas_Lilly]

This is exactly what i am talking about. 14' trailer with for $1,500. granted it is a tilt but it needs a ton of work!
Heavy duty Equipment/Car Trailer

 

[LBrown59]

Dallas,
I know what you mean about auctions. I went to several auctions to buy a used trailer. Auction prices were at or above new prices and the trailers needed repairs. I could not believe these people had no clue they were paying more for a used trailer than a new one would cost. I was using a homemade trailer I built while going to these auctions and finally figured I wasn't going to get a good price on a used one so I bought new. The same thing happens here with the price of used tractors.
Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and buy new. It sounds like your area is a lot like mine. You can't get a good deal on a trailer here since everyone I looked at was made in another state and shipped in to a dealer. Dealer adds the shipping to the price to make his profit, end result is we have to pay higher prices. There are other threads by guys who live in states where trailers are built. They seem to get the better prices since they don't have to be shipped.

Yup; It's hard to believe how stupid people can be.

 

[Renze]

Dallas,
I know what you mean about auctions. I went to several auctions to buy a used trailer. Auction prices were at or above new prices and the trailers needed repairs. I could not believe these people had no clue they were paying more for a used trailer than a new one would cost. I was using a homemade trailer I built while going to these auctions and finally figured I wasn't going to get a good price on a used one so I bought new. The same thing happens here with the price of used tractors.

When i visited family in Canada some years ago, i saw that most Dutch immigrants that came there in the last 5 years, had taken their tractors with them, one even traded his European model IH 1056 for a Maxxum, because parts would be harder to get for the European market 1056 than for the Maxxum which is built in Germany and the USA both.

IT has two reasons: First one is, they dont have to blow as much money when the Dutch government wants to see tax over the sale of their farm in Holland, and the other is the incredible prices in the USA and Canada, for used equipment.

Do Americans and Canadians just "dont have a clue" when paying the price of new for something 5 years old, or is there a tax or financing reason which makes it cheaper to buy used ???

My brother bought a brand new horse trailer. When buying new, he could deduct 19% of VAT off it as a company purchase. On a used trailer the tax return has already been given to the original buyer, so it would be more attractive to buy new, get 19% of VAT back, than to pay 19% less for a used trailer and NOT get the VAT back.

 

[SunnyJim]

What about Texas Bragg? A Leo by Texas Bragg would fit the bill and is also very well built. I was quoted a cash price of $3300 for a 18' 12k Leo. It had allot of stake pockets and came with the spare. leo equipment trailers

 

[George2615]

When i visited family in Canada some years ago, i saw that most Dutch immigrants that came there in the last 5 years, had taken their tractors with them, one even traded his European model IH 1056 for a Maxxum, because parts would be harder to get for the European market 1056 than for the Maxxum which is built in Germany and the USA both.

IT has two reasons: First one is, they dont have to blow as much money when the Dutch government wants to see tax over the sale of their farm in Holland, and the other is the incredible prices in the USA and Canada, for used equipment.

Do Americans and Canadians just "dont have a clue" when paying the price of new for something 5 years old, or is there a tax or financing reason which makes it cheaper to buy used ???

My brother bought a brand new horse trailer. When buying new, he could deduct 19% of VAT off it as a company purchase. On a used trailer the tax return has already been given to the original buyer, so it would be more attractive to buy new, get 19% of VAT back, than to pay 19% less for a used trailer and NOT get the VAT back.

Here in the states we don't get any deduction on a trailer for personal use whether new or used. (farms or businesses can write off on taxes). New or used we still have to pay sales taxes and registration. In fact, if bought at auction you not only pay the highest bid price but you pay another 6-8% on top of that as the auction company commission fee. My own experience was at one auction I went to had a 12K gooseneck trailer. (I won't mention a brand) I knew I could buy it new for $4000. I figured since it was used and needed a new wire harness (which was cut off), spare wheel and tire and ramps (which were gone) that I could pick it up for about $2500. I never even got my bidder paddle up and the price had gone by what I was going to bid. It ended up selling for $4300 plus commission and needed repairs. A second trailer went the same way.

 

[JB4310]

Yup auction mentality, The only ones who make out at auctions are the guys who go to every one there is and wait for a steal deal, they have a 'I don't care attitude" they don't buy something that some one else wants. That's all it takes is two guys that really want the same thing.

I went to a real estate auction on a small commercial building, there was only about 10 people there but only 2 of us were bidding, I really wanted the building for my own use, same as the other guy.
everyone else were just investors, you could see they weren't happy there were 2 dummies there. the bidding went furiously fast at 135K the auctioneer said that it would be a sale as the reserve had been met, my limit was 140k well the other guy beat me out at 180k. I went 40 over on my limit and was steaming mad I didn't get it. the sad thing is this building was listed for sale for the previous 2 years at 175k!

My very first auction experience was a state gun auction, I was so excited I bought the very first 3 guns that came up for sale. didn't get any deal needless to say, bucking heads with the other green horns.

JB.