Trailers, what a difference a year makes.

[JDZ735M]

More inventory but not any real bargains I'm seeing.

In the market for a landscaping trailer and just not seeing any.

 

[ddbackhoe]

I don’t think everything can be rented or subcontracted. Think more broadly. You and I may disagree a lot on things, but in construction and farming, most things could be rented.
But what about machinery that’s in a factory lost in a fire? Stuff that cant be rented?
These high prices are crippling those in need of replacements now.

more broadly, why? I prefer to focus on my little world and what affects it. fertilizer, seed, feed, lumber, brick and block are near the top, fuel and lubricants are close to the top. Even today, these things effect the P&L more than anything else. my family and I will push through, employees are a huge concern because their livelihood is also in our care.

 

[ddbackhoe]

More inventory but not any real bargains I'm seeing.

In the market for a landscaping trailer and just not seeing any.

retailers rarely put new merchandise on clearance sale.

 

[TGM5040]

The 15k 22' tilt deck trailer I bought at Kaufman trailers in Beaver City, NE 3 years ago is about $1000 ( 15-20%) more expensive now. Not so bad an increase as everything else I buy seems to be up 30-50% or more. I drove a few hours from CO to pick it up, so there was no delivery charges. It was the least expensive quality built trailer that I could find in this area. I think Kaufman mfg's in Nebraska and North Carolina.
I just saw a John Deere 570A grader that needed $5k of tires, was trashed, had oil in the coolant sell for $22K at auction. 3 years ago decent ones were selling for 47-9K. A 30+ year old 2yd loader with 20K hours and a bad transmission sold for $10K. On the other hand, if you have broken down, junk equipment to sell, times are good!

 

[dcarman]

Steel price has gone through the roof. I just finished an 18' car trailer and back in December when I checked on 1/8" diamond plate for the decking they wanted $13.39/sq ft thats $2.17/lb. At 135 sq ft thats $1800 just for the deck material. I found some 1/8" diamond plate for the fenders farther away at $9.50/sq ft. So it now has a 2 X 8 all weather wood deck which still cost $650. The fenders are formed diamond plate that can be driven on if need be. I had a lot of the materials already or it would not have paid to try and build the car trailer at the price of steel today.

 

[JBF43]

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.

That's what I did. My job situation was changing and could make as much/ more to stay home so I did. Just a couple years early.

 

[Jstpssng]

That's what I did. My job situation was changing and could make as much/ more to stay home so I did. Just a couple years early.

Good for you! Take it while you are young and healthy enough to enjoy it.

 

[MHarryE]

I don't really understand steel pricing. I live in the heart of USA's sole iron mining area. One of the large operation is laying off from Mid-March to at least end of August due to iron stockpiles. My dental hygienist told me she and her husband were negotiating on a house when he got word of his impending layoff due to oversupply. Companies seem to be taking advantage of the rumor mill. On the other hand, USA is like the 8th largest producer of iron ore. Most of our steel is imported so out of our control. On the other hand, scrap iron price is up and scrap can be cost effective vs new production from raw ore.

Something that might affect trailer prices is customer demand. I bought my first trailer in 2009 and added a second from the same manufacturer in 2016. The price was 50% higher but quality from this supplier, PJ Trailers, was greatly improved. The 2009 is a rust pile I only use if nothing else is available. However, the next year they made major improvements to the model I bought in 2016 that also brought a hefty price increase but I would have gladly paid if I hadn't already upgraded.