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.