What is this trailer worth $$?

[Su7]

I recently came across this trailer(see attached). There is no discernable manufacturers name on the trailer name plate but I can see it was assembled in 1989 and is supposedly a 14K trailer on the registration but the nameplate show 10,000 lbs that has been stamped over with 12,000. Should I be worried about these items? The owner wants $1200 but I offered him $1000 and he is thinking it over. Oh, almost forgot, the deck will need to be replaced, no problem there since I have access to oak trees and a portable bandsaw mill, and I didn't see any electric brake setup. Where exactly should I be looking for the electric brake controller and is that a device that was popular in 1989? How hard is it to add electirc brakes?

Thx for all you advice!!

 

[deereguy]

Might have electric brakes, controlled thru a brake box in your truck (if you don't have a brake box- one needs to be installed). I saw what looks like the plug to go into the truck (or pull vehicle), so the wires from the trailer brakes SHOULD be wired into (what I think is a 6 hole) plug. For the $1200.00 he was asking, I think its fair, even for needing a deck, provided there aren't any breaks/welds in the frame, the hubs are tight and brakes are in working condition. This is a HEAVY trailer and should be pulled with a 1 ton or heavier truck, in my opinion. A new deck and a paint job would make this trailer look new again and you wouldn't be able to tell its 16+ years old.

Good Luck.

 

[GIJOE]

As mentioned, the brake controller mounts inside the tow vehicle. A 10k, 12k, 14k trailer should have some kind of brakes. If you're not sure, crawl under the trailer and look at the back side of the hub. If there is a wire going through the back plate then the axle has brakes. Check all four hubs because sometimes the wires get ripped out. A 16 yo trailer with brakes, depending on how well it was maintained, will be a gamble if they work or not.

 

[LoneCowboy]

Having gotten a "free" snowmobile (flattop) trailer that I then spent $600 fixing up to be roadable at best, when i could have bought a brand new one for $600, makes me wary of cheap "deals" like that.

But maybe I just got taken for free.

 

[George2615]

As long as the trailer VIN matches the resistration, then 1000-1200 is a decent price even if you need to redeck it, put on new brakes, rewire, and replace tires you'd still have a heavy trailer for around 2K.

 

[Renze]

If that trailer was over here in Holland, i might be able to sell it for 1500 Euro to contractors that drive around their little excavators around on them (then pulled by a farm tractor)

It looks to be that the steel is still hard, there even isnt much surface rust to worry about before painting it.The deck cant be that much of a problem, so all you need to know is, how expensive are new brake shoes, just in case its all rusted tight..

 

[radman1]

The tread on those tires remind me of trailer house type axle and rims. I would suspect those tires are just mounted onto a rim with no center hub. That was fairly common back then. If tires are in good shape, and if it has electric brakes that work, then that would be a very good deal at $1000-1200, even if needs new floor. It appears to be a very stout trailer with a heavy frame, pintle hook and heavy duty leg jack. I would guess it is a 12-14,000 lb trailer.

 

[Birdhunter1]

It is possible it could have hydraulic surge brakes.

 

[CATMAN]

I, too, thought that those might be house trailer axles. Back in 1991, I built my first equipment trailer, I purchased house trailer axles. I went to test electric brakes when I got them home and only one out of four worked. I went to the trailer part stores, and they said these "donut" style magnets aren't sold any longer. I decided to resale them and build the trailer with new 6000 lbs(8 bolt) axles with brakes. I am glad I went this direction. For the price of this trailer, you may want to consider just putting new axles/brakes under it, because it looks heavy and you are going to need good working brakes for highway use.

 

[psj12]

I just bought a new 7 X 14 enclosed cargo trailer from a gentleman in Philidelphia Tn. While there to pick up my trailer he showed me new 10k and 12K equipment trailers. They were priced $2,250 and $2,500. I was very tempted. He lists on Ebay all the time.