Heavy hauler: Can this price be beat?

Gary Fowler · May 1, 2012

I have found a 20 foot bumper pull car hauler with 2 foot drop down, wooden deck, dual 6K axles, 10 ply tires with a spare, electric brakes on back axle with break away battery back up and heavy duty 6000 # front tongue jack for $2995. I dont think I can beat that price for the size trailer. It doesnt appear to be a name brand so likely locally shop made. I will have to call back and find out who made it and some more details, but I'm pretty sure I am going to buy it.

Gary Fowler · May 1, 2012

Here is the ad in case someone want to call them. It is in the Houston Texas Craigslist

20ft Heavy Duty 20ft Car Hauler 12,000 GVW - $2995 (Porter)

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Date: 2012-04-29, 9:50PM CDT
Reply to: k9nnh-2974791784@sale.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
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83in x 20ft - 6000lb EZ Lube axles with 1 brake axle - dove tail - 16in tires 10ply rated - comes with spare call 281-354-5600 Generate link codes HTML for websites & blogs

JESSE1 · May 1, 2012

Considering the load capacity of the trailer, my concern would be that it only has brakes on one axle. Otherwise that looks like a well-made trailer for a good price. If you buy it, I'd recommend adding brakes to the other axle.

Gary Fowler · May 1, 2012

Thanks to Diamond Pilot, I have the website of a place that sells retrofits for not to bad a price. It seems trailer makers are mostly interested in meeting the intent of the law in the state that they sell and not the total safety for their customers. Got to keep that price competitive. Rarely do you even find a new trailer advertised with dual brakes. I guess you have to special order them to get them.
This one does have a few extras that most dont have, like the heavy duty side wind tongue jack & spare tire and mount. I think I saw one with a mount advertised but no spare tire. Likely a come on to get you to buy a wheel and tire from them for a little extra profit. After D.P posted the tire requirements for trailers, I got to looking at what most 7K trailers came with and most seem to have load range C car tires with a few mentioning trailer rated tires. These are marginal for the weight if you look at their specs. I am glad to see this one coming with 10 ply tires.
My wife was giving me a little lip about this trailer with"what do you have to haul", "why do you need a big ***** trailer" My best response was "Whatever I feel like, whenever I feel like it"
I hate to borrow mainly because I dont want to be a bum and secondly because you never know the condition of the equipment and Thirdly if something breaks you are obligated to fix it even though it may be from 20 years of normal wear like wheel bearings etc. I had just rather have my own stuff to contend with than use someone elses if I have a choice.
Like the time I borrowed my BIL trailer, hooked it up at night, checked the lights, didnt think to check for a license plate. Ran it 800 miles on a round trip to Houston without a tag. Lucky I didnt get stopped but it was a fairly new trailer so I may could have talked my way out of it.

Diamondpilot · May 1, 2012

Yep, add them brakes to the second axle asap or you will be replacing truck rotors as soon as you get it. Been there done that.

Chris

Gary Fowler · May 1, 2012

Since the dealer doesnt have one in stock but has one ordered, I might be able to get them to put on 2nd set of brakes at the fab shop. I will check on that and the price to have it made that way.

Gary Fowler · May 1, 2012

I went to ABCTrailer parts checking price difference in axles with brakes vs without brakes and was surprised at the low cost difference. $110 per axle for 3500#, $145 each for 5200# and $170 each for 6000#. For such little cost to add, why is it that trailer suppliers dont put them on to make their trailers safer. Seems that for $220 added to the cost, they could sell their trailer as safer for just a few dollars more in cost. Since they buy in bulk, the probably dont pay that much for them either and this was premium drum type electric brakes not the trailer house axle type cheap stuff.

WM75Guy · May 1, 2012

That's a Trout trailer.

Trout Tire Center, Inc - Car Hauler Trailers

Verticaltrx · May 1, 2012

Not sure if it'd end up being any better price, but here is a solid name brand 10K, 20' trailer for $3200:

16 Ft, 9,990 lb. Wood Standard

(go to additional lengths option to see 20' price)

I have an 8K, 18' Kaufman trailer and it is of superb quality.

Gary Fowler · May 1, 2012

I looked at a Kaufman 20 foot car hauler with 10400# rating and it had the little light weight tongue jack($25 at TSC) like my boat trailer except no wheel. Everything else looked well made. The heavy jack is optional along with spare tire
I just got info back from the dealer, they are going to have manufacturer put brakes on front axles so I will have 4 wheel brakes for the hefty price of
$150 extra. Why would someone not do this for that price. It was $250 if they did it there. Maybe that answers my question on why dealers order them with just rear brakes, make a little money for their shop folks.

Total out the door price including $5 temp tag $3150 for 20 foot wood deck with dove tail, sto-away ramps in the rear, 12,000 GVW, 10 ply rated trailer tires with spare tire and spare tire mounting bracket, 2 5/16 bulldog hitch, heavy duty drop down tongue jack with estension to side of trailer for winding handle, extra heavy gauge fenders and delivered to my daughters house for me.