The Gatormade expierence.

[aczlan]

I'll send you a message.Hahah. I ordered my trailer with heat shrink option. You could have fixed your Issue in 15 minutes with a torch and some heat shrink. People can complain much better than taking the bull by the horns.
U have wasted more time complaining about a common wiring method than what you could have fixed it yourself.

Just responding to your comment that "I get the feeling that most people complaining about a scotch lock, a paint run etc... have never owned another trailer... we are not talking about buying a new corvette here. If you will truly look at Gatormade's trailers now..there is no way anyone could complain."
If they were to do it in the manufacturing process, it would cost them $5 more per trailer in parts (if that) and 10 minutes in labor. If I go to redo it, it will take at least an hour (including time to buy the parts) and cost me $10 in parts.
Around here it is not common to have any exposed connectors due to the salt. On my last trailer reqire (3000# single axle 6x10 landscape trailer) I used scotch locks, but they are INSIDE the lights where they will stay dry and I only used them because butt splices wouldnt fit in the light. I also put a drip loop on the wiring going into the lights so that water stays out.

Aaron Z

 

[Newblue]

The issues on my trailer took a little longer to fix like the bad bearings, seals, and brake shoes. You may haul a lot being a hotshotter but what does it say when I baby my trailer and things still go bad on it? I agree the trailer is a good bang for the buck but I don't like being lied to by Gatormade.

 

[Newblue]

Air pocket in the bearing race when it was cast. Quality

 

[freighthaulerjim]

The issues on my trailer took a little longer to fix like the bad bearings, seals, and brake shoes. You may haul a lot being a hotshotter but what does it say when I baby my trailer and things still go bad on it? I agree the trailer is a good bang for the buck but I don't like being lied to by Gatormade.

The axle has nothing to do with the trailer itself. I would bash the axle supplier not the trailer itself. It sucks you had a problem, but there is always the chance u can get a bad axle, tire etc ... Your issue sucks. We have all had a bad axle before. Replace your backing plate and hub and you will be good to go. I know If my axles blow out it is my own issue. I voided my warranty with my first loads on the trailer..... Over loaded by 5000#
I

 

[Newblue]

I blame Gatormade for the cheap axle. They purchased the axle in the first place and installed it on the trailer.

 

[freighthaulerjim]

Right, and I'm not your pal. Your post was clearly designed to promote Gatormade trailers while bashing the competition, and perhaps even trying to do a little damage control. However, your efforts are a monumental waste of time because the vast majority of posts on this thread speak for themselves.

So.... By me having a great experience along with many others I know....I must have an " agenda" because I am giving a positive review. Sorry that u can't see past your scotch lok and look at your trailer for face value. You gave them your money.... They didn't rob you.
My whole point is to say... There are so many unbelievably cruddy trailers out there, you are lucky you just had an issue with wiring or an axle. Many other trailers I have had were out of square, axles were welded crooked, had welds that looked like a chicken pooped on the trailer.

Again..... Just my experience

--james

 

[freighthaulerjim]

I blame Gatormade for the cheap axle. They purchased the axle in the first place and installed it on the trailer.

Define cheap axle...
They are all basically the same now. Most parts interchange.
Many parts on axles are outsourced from China
It is the world we live in now. Everything is being outsourced.
All the companies say "made in USA " whilst only doing final assembly in the states.

 

[jeffsw6]

I ordered my trailer with heat shrink option.

Do you mean they offer an upgrade for all the wiring to be done correctly instead of with skotchloks? I mentioned this to my Gatormade salesman when I bought mine, that I would have been willing to pay extra for better wiring. I guess I must not be the only customer who asked for it if they started offering it.

 

[MasseyWV]

You gave them your money

No, I didn't.

They didn't rob you.

See above.

 

[freighthaulerjim]

Do you mean they offer an upgrade for all the wiring to be done correctly instead of with skotchloks? I mentioned this to my Gatormade salesman when I bought mine, that I would have been willing to pay extra for better wiring. I guess I must not be the only customer who asked for it if they started offering it.

Yes they do offer it now. It was around $80.00 maybe a hundred I dunno
I looked at their site and it isn't shown there, but I assure you can get it done.
I have found that for a price..... You can get anything.

 

[downslope]

Do you mean they offer an upgrade for all the wiring to be done correctly instead of with skotchloks? I mentioned this to my Gatormade salesman when I bought mine, that I would have been willing to pay extra for better wiring. I guess I must not be the only customer who asked for it if they started offering it.

Unfortunately this is the way it's going with trailers today, take what used to be standard and make it an extra cost item. I was looking at a trailer (new) online a few weeks ago and if you wanted the underside painted it was an additional charge. Put wiring in a conduit, extra charge, Dexter axles, extra charge.. All of this is fine as long as the seller is up front about it. Someone who beats heck out of a trailer in commercial transport and gets rid of it in just a few years may not care if the bottom is painted or not, they just want it to be structurally sound.

 

[logdog]

It would seem to me that those of us on TBN are more informed about these types of purchases and we look closer at the details. I think it would be a safe assumption that non-TBNers may be more apt to look at just price. If you have two trailers at two dealers and they "look" the same but there is a 300 buck price difference, I think the cheaper one will sell more often. Even if the 300 more expensive one has better wiring and a more efficient central turn signal lube dispenser. Again I am talking about non-TBNers, which happen to buy more trailers than us TBNers.

 

[MasseyWV]

I think it would be a safe assumption that non-TBNers may be more apt to look at just price.

This is exactly why quality has gone out the window in most products that are manufactured today. Especially in products that are manufactured overseas. Even USA made products seem to be suffering in quality as manufacturers try to compete by sacrificing quality in favor of the bottom line (IE: profits).

Cheaper is not always better, but try telling that to the average Joe.

 

[logdog]

Cheaper is not always better, but try telling that to the average Joe.

That is a much better way to say what I was trying to say!

 

[kneedeep]

This thread wore me out reading it!! :confused2:

I am looking to buy a 20' Bumper 12-14K to haul a 25K$ :tractor: from point A to B and then back to Point A when I am through using it.

I want the best I CAN afford, not the best at the cheapest price,

I am looking real hard at a Kaufman because I can BUY all the little things that I want for about the same price as a comparable Big Tex on the yard 5 minutes from home does not offer- like spring assist ramps, 8K axle upgrade, waterproof wiring (??), tire upgrade and spare, and 2' longer.

I am buying a transport vehicle for my big boy toy that will live outside and not in the barn, won't get washed unless it rains real hard, will only get serviced when it breaks and will probably get a good dose of used tractor oil on the deck instead of Thompsons Water Seal.

If I was looking for a perfect trailer, I would got to a fab shop and have one built to my specs with all the latest gidgets and whatnots, then take it to Billy Bobs Body Shop for a candyapple flame pinstripe clearcoat paint job and be prepared to write a big fat check for it.

I really just want to haul my tractor safely without roadside repairs. Sadly, I fully expect to have to work on whatever I buy and be just as mad as davygp38.
American pride and quality DOES have a price and it ain't cheap!

My :2cents:

:thumbsup:

 

[danito]

I was looking for Gatormade reviews and just fell on this thread. Honestly I don't understand most of you guys. If you think Gatormade is built cheap, why not go with another brand? Is it maybe because they cost more? If so you are doing exactly what you are complaining about; going for the cost instead of quality. Then you complain about the quality of certain details..

IMO if the trailer is structurally well built then I'm OK with cheap wiring, or even some paint drips, because the alternative is to fork an extra 1k$ for another brand.. To me these details aren't worth the extra money. To each his own I guess...

 

[jeffsw6]

IMO if the trailer is structurally well built then I'm OK with cheap wiring, or even some paint drips, because the alternative is to fork an extra 1k$ for another brand.. To me these details aren't worth the extra money. To each his own I guess...

Depending on what you are buying, the cost difference may be a lot more than $1k, and that is why I bought Gatormade. My 8.5x20 enclosed with several customizations was about $7700, a Haulmark or Wells Cargo would have been around $13k. That is a huge price difference and fixing some wiring is well worth that cost-savings.

I think if you re-read this thread, you would find a lot of remarks like mine, and only a few people who are really complaining or dissatisfied.

 

[MasseyWV]

IMO if the trailer is structurally well built then I'm OK with cheap wiring, or even some paint drips, because the alternative is to fork an extra 1k$ for another brand.. To me these details aren't worth the extra money.

If they are willing to skimp on something as simple as the wiring and paint when buildng a trailer, how do you really know that it's structurally sound? They could use poor quality steel. It could be full of bad welds. And the list goes on...

 

[kneedeep]

If a company sells a trailer that is structually solid and uses good steel welded correctly that may have cheap paint, trailer service tires and crappy wiring for a cheap price are they doing anything ileagal?
Most people wanting a utility trailer don't want to spend a lot of money and will buy cheap trailers. That is why there is a good market for cheap trailers! Just look around at all the trailers with mismatched tires, fenders missing, bent frames, all rusted up, decking rotten or missing etc!!! Thats all they can afford or need!! They will run em till they die then find another one, tire her up and hit the road!
Any company that sells a product that fails and is determined to be faulty has opened themselves up for all kinds of legal dealings and most know that. If they have been around long ,it ain't cause they sell junk. They have found a market that works for them. It is hard to make a profit selling trailers.

People will buy a 7K # trailer and load it down with 10K # and raise all heaven when the tires blow or the hubs burn up at 75MPH. Most trailer service tires are rated only for 60 MPH!!!

Buy what you need and expect to get what you pay for.

My humble opinion

 

[fisherridge]

my 2 cents here:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...made-trailers-still-gets-c-3.html#post2865088