WW Stock trailer - opinions

Kfbeal · Oct 27, 2009

I just grabbed this stock trailer off of Craigslist, first time in a while I was the first caller. Almost like trying to win a radio contest. It has some surface rust, and has some through holes, floor is decent but could be replaced.

I plan to sandblast it, cut out the the bad spots and weld in some new metal then prime and paint it.

Tires are decent and drove it 1-1/2 hours and pulled real good.

Was $500 worth it? Similar trailers in our area are going for $1200+ in this shape.

Diamondpilot · Oct 27, 2009

The axles, brakes, and wheels alone are worth that. You did ok. Will take some work but you will get it looking like new.

Chris

jwstewar · Oct 28, 2009

I just bought a stock trailer laid out just like that one. It is an '03 Bison. No rust anywhere. Good solid floor. All lights worked - once I changed the end over to the 7-pin RV plug from the little round one that was on. It has brakes on both axles that work well. I paid $2700 for it. I offered him $2500 but he wouldn't take it. So I ponied up the $2700 so I didn't regret it later. It will eventually (maybe) be used for horses and for 4-H projects.

2 things I don't like about mine. It has passengar car tires on it instead of ST tires. Don't know if that is standard on stock trailers or not. They are not weather cracked in any way, so I'm thinking the PO has put them on in the last couple of years. I probably won't do anything with those for a year or so and then I'll install ST tires. Other one is the lights. They all work, but the red lenses have faded so they look pink. Since I've had it, I actually blew a tail light bulb. Instead of replacing it I installed an LED taillight. Found some pretty decent ones at Wally World for $16. Now I'm starting to replace the clearance/marker lights as well with LED ones. Should make it look better - at least in my mind. That and a good power washing and I'll be good to go.

For $500 I think you did fine.

jayste · Oct 28, 2009

KFBeal, I think you did ok. After a closer look I do see all the rust areas. My first impression is that it may have been in an area with a lot of moisture or salt air. I've seen a lot of steel trailers that are older with less rust-through. Most will appear around the floor area. On the other hand, like Chris said you certainly didn't get hurt. Whatever you put into it at least you know that once it's repaired you most likely have a $1200-1500 trailer. BTW, WW trailers has a web site in case you need it. They're manufactured in Madill, Ok.
W-W Trailer - Madill, Oklahoma, Aluminum and Steel Horse Trailers, Stock Trailers, Cargo Trailers and Float Trailers

Jim, If I'm not mistaken your Bison is fabricated with something they call "Galvaneal" which is less likely to rust.

Jay

weldingisfun · Oct 28, 2009

The price was right. You do have a bunch sheet metal work looking you in the face.
How is the frame?
If it was mine, I would pull up the floorboards and carefully inspect the frame and crossmembers, repair as required, neutralize the rust, then put a heavy coat of a good primer and undercoat on it.
Let us see what it looks like when you finish the project. Good luck to you.

jwstewar · Oct 28, 2009

That is good to know Jay. Here is one that I found for sale that is exactly like mine. Now mine doesn't look quite this nice as the paint is a little faded/oxidized, but for $4000 less, I'll keep mine.

Bison stock trailer

Kfbeal · Oct 28, 2009

This trailer had a bunch of stuff in it, which I beleive caused the rust and floor problems. They had it in there for quite some time from what I understood. The axles and frame, I felt, were worth the $500 as mentioned.

Most trailers around here are either WW or CM.

I wonder if I can just order the panels to replace them? I cut my hand reaching through so I'm unsure how to fix that portion where it's rusted between the runners. I thought about cutting out the bad parts and somehow rounding up the edges to prevent being sharp.

Kfbeal · Oct 30, 2009

I pulled the boards out of the floor today and noticed they are of a tongue & groove. I guess I can just put regular treated 2 x 10's or so in there? The boards run cross-ways of the trailer, not front to back.

weldingisfun · Oct 31, 2009

How do the frame and crossmembers look?
Pressure treated wood for the flooring should work just fine.

Kfbeal · Oct 31, 2009

The frame has some rust, but not too bad of shape. The cross members look good but the ones running front to back are fairly weak, they're smaller angle. I'll add some angle there. The cross members are about 3x3 or 3-1/2" angle. The channel at the gate is in bad shape so I'll have to work on that also. Bought some rust converter earlier and sprayed some inside to test. How does that work on top of paint? Should I not spray the painted areas?

Not sure what to do with the front. Cut out the bad spots and splice in some sheet metal or replace the entire portion.

Even the side panels. Not sure what to do there. Not really concerned with looks, just as long as it's safe to put horse or cattle in.