People are weird

[crazyal]

There was an auction close by that had me a little interested. In it they had a 16' equipment trailer listed as "in poor condition". While the rust wasn't as bad as they made it out to be when I got there I found that it had surge brakes and mobile home style axles. They weren't from a mobile home (it's a factory made trailer) but the tires aren't easy to get unless you want to go to a mobile home dealer and go that route. I couldn't find manufacture's name plate but would guess it was rated for 10,000 lbs. At some point someone cut both of the main rails to add stake pockets which then needed to be reinforced because the steel was cracking. Also one of the two rails going to the hitch was bent.

Unless the drums were designed for both hydraulic and electric brakes I figure that it was going to cost at least $1000 to convert it (brakes, wheels, and tires). That was assuming that the master cylinder could be rebuilt (if it was converted to disk brakes) as it was at least 30 years old and the axle stubs were a common dimension. It's not that surge brakes are terrible but they are expensive to repair and I've never felt like the drum style ones had great stopping power.

For the right price I would have bought it but it sold for almost $1400. With not too much searching you can find a newer 10k trailer for less than $2k around here with electric brakes, standard wheels, and in better shape. Am I wrong? Would you have paid that much for it?

 

[dragoneggs]

I don't know about that trailer specifically but $2K for the trailer you are describing doesn't happen around here.

 

[3Ts]

I've gone to auctions with the intent to purchase and knowing what the price is for a new item. What I saw was the auctioned item typically in well used condition went for at least as much if not more than a new item by the time the buyer's premium was paid. I've quit going to auctions.

But to answer your question, no, I wouldn't pay much for that trailer, and probably not even bid on it.

 

[fried1765]

There was an auction close by that had me a little interested. In it they had a 16' equipment trailer listed as "in poor condition". While the rust wasn't as bad as they made it out to be when I got there I found that it had surge brakes and mobile home style axles. They weren't from a mobile home (it's a factory made trailer) but the tires aren't easy to get unless you want to go to a mobile home dealer and go that route. I couldn't find manufacture's name plate but would guess it was rated for 10,000 lbs. At some point someone cut both of the main rails to add stake pockets which then needed to be reinforced because the steel was cracking. Also one of the two rails going to the hitch was bent.

Unless the drums were designed for both hydraulic and electric brakes I figure that it was going to cost at least $1000 to convert it (brakes, wheels, and tires). That was assuming that the master cylinder could be rebuilt (if it was converted to disk brakes) as it was at least 30 years old and the axle stubs were a common dimension. It's not that surge brakes are terrible but they are expensive to repair and I've never felt like the drum style ones had great stopping power.

For the right price I would have bought it but it sold for almost $1400. With not too much searching you can find a newer 10k trailer for less than $2k around here with electric brakes, standard wheels, and in better shape. Am I wrong? Would you have paid that much for it?

You made a very wise choice by letting some other poor sucker buy that POS !!!

 

[TractorGuy]

Auction buyers are nuts. It's not about getting a deal. It's about outbidding someone else. I watch them and sometimes bid online but I never waste time going any more.

 

[Hay Dude]

Auction buyers are nuts. It's not about getting a deal. It's about outbidding someone else. I watch them and sometimes bid online but I never waste time going any more.

And the auctioneer relies on that stupidity.
I see a LOT of JUNK at auctions. Rarely bother with them.

On the other hand, used trailer fetch phenomenal prices. I just sold a trailer. Paid $10,000 for it in 2015. Just sold it for $9,000.

 

[Jstpssng]

And the auctioneer relies on that stupidity.
I see a LOT of JUNK at auctions. Rarely bother with them.

On the other hand, used trailer fetch phenomenal prices. I just sold a trailer. Paid $10,000 for it in 2015. Just sold it for $9,000.

Decent used trailers are slightly less common than unicorns; first somebody has to buy a decent new trailer. They typically then hang onto it.
What is usually out there, new or used, is light metal TSC style crap.

 

[two_bit_score]

You have consumer bidders and you have pro bidders at auctions. When the pro bidders detect a consumer bidder they will make him pay dearly for the unit. The consumer bidder will realize too late that he was screwed and probably won't be going back or he will realize not to get into a bidding war against pro's.



.

 

[oliver1555]

You have consumer bidders and you have pro bidders at auctions. When the pro bidders detect a consumer bidder they will make him pay dearly for the unit. The consumer bidder will realize too late that he was screwed and probably won't be going back or he will realize not to get into a bidding war against pro's.
.

My father in law was a cattle order buyer. When he had a large order(s) to fill, some bidders would just be an irritant to him. I've seen him do that exact thing many times. "All part of the learning process for them!" he would say.

 

[two_bit_score]

My father in law was a cattle order buyer. When he had a large order(s) to fill, some bidders would just be an irritant to him. I've seen him do that exact thing many times. "All part of the learning process for them!" he would say.

Yep and the pro bidders that frequent any particular auction know each other and often trade off with each other on specific lots/units. The only thing that keeps things in check is internet bidders who aren't part of the insiders clique. And that is not to be derogatory to the insiders; it's just the way things are.

 

[crazyal]

I've bought plenty of things from auctions. I've got some great deals on woodworking equipment. Some of them have a set time they end but if someone bids in the last minute it adds time. It this case several people decided their maximum price really wasn't their limit. Looking at the bid history a couple of dealers bid on it but dropped out not much higher than my limit. The trailer was in a remote location and the pictures weren't all that great. I'm wondering if they didn't actually go look at it in person.

I was actually looking at a couple different standby generators (in other auctions) that needed some work. They went for a reasonable price.

 

[Redlands Okie]

I would not buy the trailor you described. Very unlikely to take it even if it was free. Basically have to rebuild it to fix it. The described existing wheels and axles are a no way no how deal breaker by them self’s.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I keep telling myself never to spend, time, energy and money on used trailers.

Anyway, I did buy such a trailer years ago with the mobile home axles and rims. They do look more impressive than the typical white (powder scab) rusted junk rims. I had the hardest time finding some of those wheel studs in the right length and thread size.

Auction prices, even according to the local auctioneer, are simply SKY HIGH! Especially On-Line auctions, and there simply aren't any deals. How is is that people that can be so stupid, have so much money to spend?

 

[Rebeldad1]

Sounds like you could make good money buying the 10,000 trailers for $2000,00 and putting them back up for sale.
Around here a good used one would bring $2500,00 in a heartbeat.

 

[BrokenTrack]

Holy crap!

I got a nice 16 foot trailer built out of 8 inch channel iron, with house trailer axels; in trade for some welding on a 5th wheel trailer the guy owned. He figured it was worth $400 and that was about what the welding was worth that I did.

Typically I get screwed in those kinds of deals. The only reason I agreed to the deal was because my wife thought it would make a good Tiny Home Trailer being so rugged.

I had no idea the trailer was worth so much.

 

[Jstpssng]

Holy crap!

I got a nice 16 foot trailer built out of 8 inch channel iron, with house trailer axels; in trade for some welding on a 5th wheel trailer the guy owned. He figured it was worth $400 and that was about what the welding was worth that I did.

Typically I get screwed in those kinds of deals. The only reason I agreed to the deal was because my wife thought it would make a good Tiny Home Trailer being so rugged.

I had no idea the trailer was worth so much.

I sold one just like that a few years ago for $700. Heavy doesn't necessarily equate good... in my case it was way too heavy, and the axles were so far forward that you didn't even need a tongue jack, it would stand level on it's own. It was going to cost way too much to fix it so that it was legal, and would always go down the road screwy. You couldn't go over 45 mph or it would be all over the road.

Plus I've never been sure how you determine the weight rating on a homemade trailer...

 

[Industrial Toys]

My beaver tail trailer made with the mobile home axles spared no expense for weight and bulk. Maybe great twenty years ago. It's why I sold it. I am maxed out for my Duramax as far as licensed weight before I have to go CVR (commercial with log books and all that stuff) and I doubt I could legally carry any weight in that trailer, the legal weight all being taken up with the extra weight of the Duramax and heavy trailer!

 

[lostcause]

I sold one just like that a few years ago for $700. Heavy doesn't necessarily equate good... in my case it was way too heavy, and the axles were so far forward that you didn't even need a tongue jack, it would stand level on it's own. It was going to cost way too much to fix it so that it was legal, and would always go down the road screwy. You couldn't go over 45 mph or it would be all over the road.

Plus I've never been sure how you determine the weight rating on a homemade trailer...

I built a 2 axle a little over 20 years ago here in Maine and I've used and registered it since. it doesn't carry any weight rating on the registration, but it's pretty much irrelevant anyways, because for anything over a 2000lb trailer here we have to register the tow vehicle at a rating that will cover the tow vehicle, trailer and all cargo in the truck and trailer. we only have two trailer registration prices - 2k weight and over 2k weight. it is currently on a pair of dreaded (gasp) mobile home axles and I built it to perform like like a normal 7k trailer even though it has no rating plate.

 

[Jstpssng]

I built a 2 axle a little over 20 years ago here in Maine and I've used and registered it since. it doesn't carry any weight rating on the registration, but it's pretty much irrelevant anyways, because for anything over a 2000lb trailer here we have to register the tow vehicle at a rating that will cover the tow vehicle, trailer and all cargo in the truck and trailer. we only have two trailer registration prices - 2k weight and over 2k weight. it is currently on a pair of dreaded (gasp) mobile home axles and I built it to perform like like a normal 7k trailer even though it has no rating plate.

I know all about Maine trailer laws. At the time that I sold mine they were making noises about enforcing laws on pickups and trailers. I have a little 3k gvwr dump trailer and as you say, am supposed to have my pickup registered for the trailer. Yet for the first time in my life, I put passenger plates on my new truck. Heck, the curb weight of a half ton pickup is over 5000 lbs... put 2 people and a dog in it and you're over your weight rating.