Lets talk: Trailers

[RockRanger]

I am looking for a 7000lb car trailer. I want a wood deck and no rails like a landscaping trailer has. A dove tail doesnt really matter as I dont see myself hauling many cars cause everything I own has a transfercase I looked at two different trailers today. The first was a carson brand trailer. With brakes on both axles it will probably be a little over $2000 out the door. Then I went and looked at a big tex. Brakes on both axles it will run a little over $3000 out the door. The big tex looked like a much nicer trailer and the price reflects that however I dont really want to spend that much. The carson had a few things i didnt like that a saw right off the bat that I would end up spending a few days fixing anyway. I am sure there are more places but those were the only two I knew of on my way home from work today.

I plan on finding a few more places to look at and see what they have then also look at maybe just building a trailer. However between building my truck, work, and moving in 4-5 months Im not sure I have enough time inthere to build a trailer in time for moab and before I move.

Ay opinions on what to look for/avoid on specific brands of trailers?

 

[tdavis]

Which Bigtex did you look at? The 70ch?

How about used? there was always a few good deals in Trucktrader/Cartrader and Craigslist around here.

 

[RockRanger]

Yup thats the one. Dont know if I can swing 3k for a trailer, then 100 for a controller, then 150 for straps, and a few more bills for load distribution system. Will be close to 4k before I am ready to roll down the road. this towing thing isnt cheap even with my chevy paid off.

All the used ones I have seen around here fall into 2 catagories. Homemade looking junk that is just plan scary or decent used ones but they want just a few hundred less then a new one. For the cost of new bearings or tires and I could have bought a new one.

Im going to try and find a few more local places and see what they have. also might go up to fresno and see what they have up there as well.

 

[tdavis]

Towing isn't cheap at all..

Part of the deal for the trailer you want to swing is for them to include the straps and brake controller in the price. Some do it, some do not.

I thought there was an 'Aztek'? trailer manufacturer in SoCal.. I could be wrong.

 

[410Fortune]

You can find used trailers far cheaper, sometimes you can swing the straps, jack, ramps, etc into the deal. You can also get a better trailer for the same $$ with used.

Not cheap is right.

 

[Brian1]

You can also get a better trailer for the same $$ with used.

Maybe in CO. Here in NM that is not true.

I recently made a new trailer purchase (Dec 05) to primarily haul my Jeep on. I was pretty picky about my options because I have dealt with trailers for most of my life and I know what I like.

I was told by many people I talked with to get a bigger trailer than you think you need i.e. get a 10k instead of 7k. Also I wanted a steel deck, I have had to replace 1 too many wood decks because of rotting or cracking/breaking.

What I got was a 20' overall 10K 6" C-channel car hauler with a steel deck, 2' dovetail, ramps, steel diamondplate fenders, 7k drop leg jack, breakaway brake controller, 4 wheel brakes, rear loading jacks, spare tire, 4 recessed d-rings in the deck and recessed lighting. The recessed lighting is really nice because there are no lights sticking out of the sides to break (which i have done before ). I origionally ordered an 18' overall but a mixup occured and I got a 20' instead. It is a big trailer but now I can haul an ATV or something in front of my Explorer/Jeep plus I can fit a full size truck on it with no problems which I have already done.

I ordered my trailer directly from the source, PJ trailers. I picked it up in TX which was about a 10 hr round trip for me. I paid 3k and I consider that a great deal. I have seen used trailers in the paper here, same brand, for almost that same price but alot smaller in size and weight rating. I looked around at new and used trailers for about 4 months before deciding on a PJ. Nothing else had the options I wanted standard or could even touch the price I paid for my PJ.

Here is a partial picture of my trailer

 

[bmxking5]

I know that everything (as far as I know) is more expensive out in CA, but here in GA, we sell steel floor car haulers, brakes on both axles, and the other things you mentioned for $1695...and we make really heavy duty stuff.

Since I work at a trailer/hitch/truck accessory shop, I'll only have to pay for materials and labor when I have mine built.

 

[RockRanger]

I have thought about going with a 10k trailer. I like the idea cause you get bigger brakes and bigger wheelbearings. However I will be pulling it with my half ton chevy and the extra weight of the trailer is just that much more of a load on it. On teh flip side I could say screw it the truck already has 54,000 miles and I will be getting something else in 3-4 years anyway while I will still keep the trailer.

the carson was advertised for $1545. However by the time I added options i wanted I was over 2k. They do come with free runs in the paint though. I try to price the 10ks while I am out and the carson was around $2800 while the big tex was about $5500 but it was a tilt deck cause thats all they had in stock.

 

[tdavis]

I stopped by the local BigTex dealer (since I needed to get a drop draw bar for the Zuk, so I can move the trailer around..)

Asked them what their going price for 70CH is - under $2700 out the door.

The carson also is not painted underneath..