Help with overhauling trailer...sell?

[BajabossJD]

Hey Guys. I bought a 232 Baja boss last summer. At the time I was in need for a trailer as the boat was sold without one. I picked this up for ...err.. $900. Its sized well for the boat.. looks a little shabby though. Has rollers which mark the heck outta my hull and I think it needs a couple new bearings.

Should I just sell it and cut my losses? I may be able to get $600 for it in this south Florida Market.

I would like wood bunks, but I am not sure on what brackets I would need and what the additional cost would be?? Wood bunks would be a must on my next trailer.

I can do the bearings, replace the braking actuator and refurb the one rotor that needs service. With new bearings, good brakes..do you think I am just wasting money, or would I be able to get some $$ when it comes time to sell?

Thoughts?

Thanks,

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Help with overhauling trailer...sell?

I'd just replace all the rollers with yellow poly if you need a trailer. The other stuff is just normal maint and once you are done you know you have a good well serviced trailer. Not sure why you want bunks for a boat that big.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Help with overhauling trailer...sell?

It is a lot easier to sell a boat of that size, if it has a trailer.

So, your options would be to throw money into this one . . . or buy a new one. For a lot less than a new one, you could probably fix this one up and convert it to bunks.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Help with overhauling trailer...sell?

Price the cost of converting the rollers over to bunks. It may not be as bad as you think.

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Help with overhauling trailer...sell?

I'm with oldjeep. I would just service the trailer replace the rollers with better ones and call it good. You already said you have money into it and would take a loss selling it so I would keep it. If you really want bunks you can change them over. If your at all handy you can do it yourself fairly inexpesively. There are some good threads on here about building bunks. Good luck whatever you decide to do.

 

[90stingray]

Re: Help with overhauling trailer...sell?

Do you need a trailer? It would be cheaper to fix your trailer rather than sell and buy another one. But if you do not need a trailer, then send her down the road. But like others have stated, it's always better to work on what you have... that way you will know the bearings and such are taken care of and won't let you down.

 

[Pony]

Re: Help with overhauling trailer...sell?

Should I just sell it and cut my losses? I may be able to get $600 for it in this south Florida Market.

No matter what used trailer you find, you will have to go through the bearings and do pretty much the same routine maintenance you have to do on this one.....so finding something else and "cutting your losses" wouldn't really save you anything IMO. Converting rollers to bunks is easy and cheap if you really wanted to do that. I agree with some of the previous posters....a boat that size is WAY easier to load/unload with rollers. Sounds to me like replacing the current ones with poly rollers would solve the marking the hull problem and save you the time of converting the trailer.

 

[gozierdt]

Re: Help with overhauling trailer...sell?

The trailer looks fine to me. It has what looks like pretty superficial rust on the winch post, and what looks like somewhat heavier rust on the axles. I'd wire-brush and paint the winch post, and wire-brush the axles to see how bad they are. May well not be bad enough to be a problem, in which case I'd paint those with good anti-rust primer and paint also. Even if you had to replace the axles, they aren't very expensive, and you automatically get brand new hubs and bearings. I'd do that and either put on the poly rollers or convert to bunks. I like bunks because they give the boat better support, but you do need to get deeper than with rollers. Ya' pays yr money and takes yr choice...

The comment about the rig being worth more is absolutely true. Most people today trailer boat, so if you ever want to sell, you'll have a nice, good-fitting trailer. The trailer frame looks to be galvanized, which is the best (IMHO) finish available.

 

[BajabossJD]

Re: Help with overhauling trailer...sell?

Thanks for your responses guys! I did two bearings this weekend. All went well and I even started scraping some of the rust of certain areas.The poly rollers are a must, but they are expensive! It looks like they will be about $300 for the set, but it should stop the marking of the hull.

I absolutly need a trailer, so I guess my best bet is to spruce this one up.

Thanks again,

Joe

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Help with overhauling trailer...sell?

Good call baja. I'm sure putting a little money in that one will be cheaper than a new one and you will know its in good shape because you fixed it yourself. Good luck with the upgrades.