Trailers, what a difference a year makes.

[QRTRHRS]

Late January 2021 I went trailer shopping. Neither of the two trailer dealers in town had anything near a 10k equipment trailer like I wanted, nor when anything would come in. I ended up buying a Gatormade, the factory being about an hour away. (The trailer has been okay except for some minor paint peeling which I expected)

Fast forward to this year. Both my local dealers have plenty of stock. I am seeing stacks of maybe six trailers come in and sit for awhile until unloaded. Since I am not in the market, I am not following prices. I would expect that they have gone up in a year but with that much stock on hand, their should be some negotiating room?

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I am not seeing much of anything that hasn't gone up.

 

[Jstpssng]

Two years ago I was looking at basic 7K car trailers, and could find them for around $2800. Now that brand (Sure-Trac)* is nowhere to be found, and the same basic trailer is $3985.

*One dealer in this state.

 

[SandburRanch]

Maybe this will make my 10 ft. tandom worth more .

 

[Skagit]

Trailers have pretty much doubled around here, I saw a wrecked 7x14 cargo trailer sell for $7000 the other day. Wheel and hub ripped off with one axle chained up. Nuts.

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

Trailers have pretty much doubled around here, I saw a wrecked 7x14 cargo trailer sell for $7000 the other day. Wheel and hub ripped off with one axle chained up. Nuts.

I bought a 10k car hauler in Mount Vernon 4 years ago for $3500 out the gate. I saw the exact trailer listed in Olympia for 6300 on the lot. Has steel gone up that much?

 

[ddbackhoe]

I bought a 10k car hauler in Mount Vernon 4 years ago for $3500 out the gate. I saw the exact trailer listed in Olympia for 6300 on the lot. Has steel gone up that much?

Like most things, more demand than supply is the bigger culprit. Fear (panic) buying drove prices up, once one guy gets a thousand more, everybody else decides to sell for a thousand more. People really are their own worst enemy. Look at some of the bigger auction places to see just how crazy the prices have gotten because people just had to have it. MSRP on a Kubota L47 is up to 64K (with 3rd func and hyd thumb), pretty sure in 2020 it was ~ 50K

 

[dodge man]

Never mind, I misread the original post.

 

[LD1]

I wish prices would come back to realistic.

Last year around March 2021 I inquired on having a trailer built. 22+2 gooseneck low profile with the deck between the fenders. Nothing fancy.....just like any other 14k 24' bumper pull equipment trailer....only with a GN instead. Was quoted 7300 but a 6 month lead time so I didnt order. Thought I'd keep looking used. Called 5 months later cause was tired of looking and prices went to $8800 subject to go up another 5% before the 6-month lead time elapsed...so ~$9300. So I passed again.

Called them just a few months ago to see if prices have came down any. I dont track steel prices but do alot of construction stuff so follow lumber prices and seen they were down quite a bit (a few months ago). Nope.....still at $9300.

Dad bought a bumper pull equipment trailer here locally 3-4 years ago by a fairly well known local retailer who sells AMO. trailers. Back then ~2018ish (pre-covid)....a 20'/14k was~$3600. Today that price is north of $6k for the same trailer. And I constantly see people selling thier 5-6 year old trailers for $5000-$6000. Trailers that they paid $3500 for when new.

I hate this new market

 

[BleedingOrange]

Supply and demand, plus lots of crazy stupid people, that gotta have, whatever pops into their head, that particular day, right now, regardless of the cost. Even the vehicle manufacturers are warning their own dealers that stupid mark-ups will not be tolerated, and the dealerships doing that will be punished. Just imagine if buyers got their brains back, and refused to buy overpriced items for even a one month time frame. Won,t happen, because there is always someone out there, that has to have it, right now, regardless of cost.

 

[Midniteoyl]

This basic 10k lb wood decked trailer is currently $4500 for a 22ft, and it's the cheapest I can find. Steel decked version is only $450 more though..

 

[Bearsixty7]

They are starting to come back down around here. I am seeing more inventory on lots and online in searches.
Certain models they must have focused on because they are even offering some discounts, not much, but some.

Used trailer listing are increasing with frequency as well, I have seen several 30' DT goosenecks listed for around 9-11K.

Hopefully the trend will continue and inventory will continue up and prices down.

 

[ljjhouser]

I'm not so sure that the supply and demand is the main reason for high prices. I think there is a lot of borrowing and printing dollars by the government which SURELY has an inflation effect on the value of the dollar. It's not just tractors, cars, trailers - it is everything from food, paper products, fuel, oil, tires, and you name it, it is much higher. I think the inflation rate of just 2021 alone was 7%. I think everyone is feeling the effects of inflation, and that includes manufacturers that try to meet the increase cost of raw materials.

 

[Jstpssng]

It isn't just the price of steel. We've all heard how hard it is to find help, so no doubt that's a big factor.
I don't know about steel and fabrication but for years the sawmill industry was just hanging on, and not spending more than they had to on infrastructure. With prices of the past two years several mills in our service area have used the extra profit to upgrade and expand.

 

[Bearsixty7]

Speaking about finding help, Just exactly where did everyone go to create so many job vacancies? Are people just not working and back living with mom & dad or what?

 

[zoedog2012]

Speaking about finding help, Just exactly where did everyone go to create so many job vacancies? Are people just not working and back living with mom & dad or what?

I think they are all "living" with Uncle Sam.

 

[LD1]

Speaking about finding help, Just exactly where did everyone go to create so many job vacancies? Are people just not working and back living with mom & dad or what?

Have pondered the same question. It was easy to answer back when covid had everything shut down....but now that things have been pretty much fully open for a year.....many business are still struggling to get people to work.

I have talked with a few fellow local business owners.....and they are down on head count....but not because people not wanting to come back....but because they moved on and found better jobs.

Its easy to sit back and point the finger at lazy bums wanting to mooch off the handouts....but during this discussion I was having with a few local owners....and have asked this question to others......we really dont know anyone who is NOT working.

If there were mass amounts of employee shortages because everyone wanted to sit at home....you'd think we'd know some of these people.

But everyone I know, friends with, acquaintances, relatives, people I just know of, people on facebook.....almost everyone is working

But what I have noticed since covid.....and you have to have facebook to really see it....is a whole rash of people who are "starting their own business". Some of them are legit....and doing things the right way....others its clear are probably gonna fail. But kudos to them for trying I guess. Maybe that accounts for the shortage? Everyone that has a facebook page and flood the local groups daily promoting their attempt at a business startup. Not to mention the quite a few regulars on the pages that are always looking for side work or scrap to haul because they are broke. Most of which cant get a job because they cant pass a drug test.

Sorry for the long ramble....to answer the direct question....I really dont know where everyone went. Are there more jobs or fewer employees or some combination of both??

 

[Jstpssng]

Are there more jobs or fewer employees or some combination of both??

I believe that it’s a bit of both. I believe that a lot of people who were getting toward retirement took it early. The stock market helped them out.

 

[lman]

I'm not so sure that the supply and demand is the main reason for high prices. I think there is a lot of borrowing and printing dollars by the government which SURELY has an inflation effect on the value of the dollar. It's not just tractors, cars, trailers - it is everything from food, paper products, fuel, oil, tires, and you name it, it is much higher. I think the inflation rate of just 2021 alone was 7%. I think everyone is feeling the effects of inflation, and that includes manufacturers that try to meet the increase cost of raw materials.

We are fortunate that they weren't able to print the trillions more that they wanted to.

 

[Hay Dude]

Like most things, more demand than supply is the bigger culprit. Fear (panic) buying drove prices up, once one guy gets a thousand more, everybody else decides to sell for a thousand more. People really are their own worst enemy. Look at some of the bigger auction places to see just how crazy the prices have gotten because people just had to have it. MSRP on a Kubota L47 is up to 64K (with 3rd func and hyd thumb), pretty sure in 2020 it was ~ 50K

But some people and companies that are in REAL need of replacement are getting screwed. Not everyone has the luxury of waiting for prices to come back down, IF they ever do.