what would you do

schmism · Feb 23, 2009

Say you've been looking for a car-transport style trailer. (non-sided 5" ish C frame style trailer)

say you have really wanted a 20' but the seem to be hard to come by. (say you dont want to buy a brand new one for $5K)

Say you found one on craigslist that seems to match the first 2 requirements and is relitivly cheep. $1600 obo 4' dove 16' flat

something like

but in my mind a trailer of that size really should come with 5200lb axles. or at least 4800lb.

but alas it is fitted with 2 3500lb axles 5 bolt with current DOT rated tires at 2150 max load.

so would you buy it knowing that what your towing it behind has ~8K towing capacity?

5500lbs net cargo weight doesnt seem like enough for a trailer that weighs in between 1100-1500lbs and is 20' long.

how many of you out there feel (or have one) that is a trailer that was built for the 8-10K range (5" C channel design) but they stuck little axles under it to save money, and would still stuff 6500-7500lbs of stuff on it?

Diamondpilot · Feb 23, 2009

Steve, you can buy a new trailer for that money 2 hours south of you in Sikeston MO in the 18' range with twin 3.5K axles and a empty weight of 1,500# leaving you a legit 5,500# cargo rating.

My guess is that trailer weights more like 2,200# - 2,500#, so in reality you are left with under 5,000# usefull load.

Go with your gut. Its under built as far as the axles and tires go so its no great deal in my eyes.

Chris

schmism · Feb 23, 2009

Diamondpilot said:
My guess is that trailer weights more like 2,200# - 2,500#, so in reality you are left with under 5,000# usefull load.

Go with your gut. Its under built as far as the axles and tires go so its no great deal in my eyes.

Chris

your probibly right on the weight, although the tires should be good. 2100lbs a piece = 4200lb per axle 8400lbs per trailer. although technically you couldn't load it that hard due to hub/bearing/wheel/spring limitations.

Im familiar with the sikeston trailers. our family is in memphis so we trip through there a lot. Even in Sikestonn, for a nice 5"(ish) C channel "car hauler" 20' (18' flat 2'dove) with dual brakes and dual 5200lbs with 10K GVWR, on 6 bolt D range (2540lb) tires, its been my experience that brand new is in the $5k range.

jwstewar · Feb 23, 2009

I just bought a new Gator 16'+2' very similar to what you are looking at. I believe just like that one the frame is closer to 10k but the axles/springs are only the 3500 lb variety. I figure my tractor is closer to 4000 w/ loader, loaded tires, mmm and an attachment on the back. In case I wanted to take another attachment with me, I was planning for a load of 4500. I haven't hauled yet, so we'll see. I really wanted a 10k, but they seemed to be closer to the 4,000 or so price range and I bought mine for $2750 and it was in stock in town. They had some other 7k for $2000 but were only 16' and no dove tail. They also had a gate instead of ramps that load from the rear, standard lighting instead of LED, and only brakes on one axles. So for $750 more I got ramps that store at the rear, LED lights, brakes on both axles, removable diamond plate fenders instead of fixed stamped steel, and my wood is bolted down vs. wedged in, and a 2' dovetail.

TheKid · Feb 23, 2009

Like Chris said check out Sikeston. I picked up a 16 flat bed with dual 3500#'s and a treated deck for less than $1100 last summer at Jerry James Tandems. shouldn't cost much more for a 20'er. The also have an 18 + 4 tilt bed w/ 5200# axles (one with brakes) for $3250

Diamondpilot · Feb 23, 2009

I would check out Jerry James. I bought my 18' car hauler/utility trailer, 82" between the fenders, dual 3.5 axles, no brakes, used tires but did get a spare and 5' ramps for $860 back in 2004 off of Jerry James. Good people. I added my brakes myself with a brake away kit and did a few other upgrades like a winch, and 8 D Rings and still only have $1,200 in it. The used tires lasted 4 year and about 10,000 miles and I replaced them last year with 4 new ones and 1 used one for the spare for about $280. Mine weighs 1,300# empty(I have weighed it) and hauled trucks as big as a Suburban on it. I haul my 5,200# tractor all the time on it for thousands of miles with no issues other than a flat at a lumber yard one time. Here is a PIC. The flat was the day before this pic with a load of 66 bags of sac concrete. Picked up a nail in the lumber yard at Menard's.

As you can see its a wide version of the common utility trailer. I could put that 2004 F-250 Power Stroke 4x4 pulling it on it if the truck did not weigh 7,500#. It will haul any 1/2 ton Yukon, Expedition, F-150, Suburban, Silverado, Ram, ect no sweat.

I just looked and you can get a 16+2 car hauler, wood deck, brakes one axle, new tires, ect, ect for under $1800. This is a 7K trailer with a empty weight of 1,300# so you can still get 5,700# on it and be safe and legal. You could go to a 10K trailer but your tow rig is a limiting factor and they really jump up in price. Only get it if you really need it.

Chris

BlackRaptor · Feb 23, 2009

I wish i could find good deals like that around me i've been hunting craigslist for weeks now and even 18ft 7000lb rustbuckets are 2000+

George2615 · Feb 23, 2009

Diamondpilot said:
I just looked and you can get a 16+2 car hauler, wood deck, brakes one axle, new tires, ect, ect for under $1800. This is a 7K trailer with a empty weight of 1,300# so you can still get 5,700# on it and be safe and legal. You could go to a 10K trailer but your tow rig is a limiting factor and they really jump up in price. Only get it if you really need it.

Chris

You'll never find this trailer in the northeast for that price.

Diamondpilot · Feb 23, 2009

Yea, we get buy much cheaper because they are built here. The price of steel has also gone down in recent months by about 2/3 and with the economy being what it is I am sure there are deals to be had. Check out Jerry's site, posted earlier buy another member. I got my trailer off of him and gotten about 5 or 6 others for friends and they are good people and a good trailer for the money.

Chris

ahlkey · Feb 23, 2009

I have one of those MO trailers that I bought last year. It is a 18ft Flatbed with a 2 ft dovetail and looks idential to the picture. It has a wood deck, brakes on one axle, new tires, and weighs 1,600 lbs cubside. It is a 7K GVWR trailer and I typically load it with 5,000lbs or slightly more. I do use a distribution hitch which helps but overall it pulls great. I paid $1,700 dollars for mine and it was new. In my mind going much higher above the legal limit would be unwise and dangerous. I also have a GVWR 10K Trailer (5,200 axles) with brakes on both tires that weighs in at 3,100 lbs and for heavier compact loads I use it. Be safe and use strong chains ---Life is too short.