Used Trailer prices?

[crackedglass]

I've been looking at a used Trihull, its about 18' long, and runs great, but the trailer its on it not going to get it home, the current owner only pulls the boat about 1000' to the ramp with it, and it's way too small for the boat.
I was looking around for a good used roller trailer, the average price range for anything in the 2000 to 2500 lb capacity range seems to be around $750.
I made the mistake of thinking that I'd just buy a new one, the best price for a new one around here for galvanized with full rollers, is about $2900. Way out of my budget for a lake boat.
I do plan to haul it from time to time some distance, but not often.
I was looking at this one, http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/boa/1059593825.html
There's a number of them for sale all around that area for about the same money. All are priced firm, so I take it it's the going rate. I have seen a few newer trailers but they want double this amount, and they're not in any better shape. The way I see it, no matter what trailer I buy, I'll be changing over the rollers to urethane, to cut down on them marking the boat, rollers are cheap so thats not much of an issue, and I have a new power winch which was a Christmas gift.

What is the going rate for a good used roller trailer like this? I'd have figured a lot less but all that I looked at which were cheaper were either too light, too rusty, or just plain abused. I don't expect new, but I don't want to deal with rust. The trailer the boat is on now is well rusted, sagging and has lumber bolted inside the frame rails to keep it from bending. So fixing it is not an option, not even just to get it home. (About a 100 mile ride).
I'm figuring on a trailer in the 2500lb capacity range since the boat weighs in at about 1850, plus fuel, gear, ice, and anyother items that may go along for a weekend outing. For most trips, it won't go more than 5 or 6 miles, but on occasion, I may drive farther and use it for some crabbing and fishing.

 

[KurtG]

Re: Used Trailer prices?

Where are you located? Did you try Dave's trailers in Glen Burnie, MD? He quoted me like $850 for a new trailer for my 15' boat.

The problem with used trailers is finding one with a title.

The ones I've seen with titles run in the $500 and up range. Without titles in the $250 range.

THe price you found is prrobably about market price for right now, not a steal and not high.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Used Trailer prices?

Use this http://crazedlist.org/ to search Craigslist in a larger area. You've GOT to be able to find a better deal than that. I just bought one for $75. It was towable as-is and came with 2 really nice tires and a really nice spare. I'm replacing the axle/springs/bearings for $200. You should be able to find something decent for a few hundred.

 

[crackedglass]

Re: Used Trailer prices?

I am in NE PA, but I travel to the southern NJ shore area for work about once a month. I looked at that trailer I mentioned, it don't need anything other than maybe some fresh tires, but the one's on it aren't bad, their just old.

Even if I buy a new trailer I'd change the rollers to urethane, I can't stand how the black one's mark up a white boat. I priced some new trailers and the cheapest trailer I can find in the 2500 lb range with urethane rollers is $3400?

I've seen a lot of cheap trailers for sale but all need major work, most need springs, axles, wheels and tires, or have rust. I want a galvanized trailer, without a rusty frame, and I don't care to have to restore it. I have a good set of used tires in the garage which are only about 4 months old, so the tires situation is not a big deal, the same with the rollers, I can buy a full set of rollers for that for about $45.

Why do I need a title? None of my trailers now have original titles? When I lived in NJ years ago, they took your Certificate of Origin or title, which ever you had, and only gave you a registration card, when I returned to PA, I just registered them all as homemade, it eliminated having separate tags.
The one in NJ has a registration, which is all any trailer there will ever have if it's been registered. The same for most places from what I see.

I looked at a few more, all were in just a good of shape but they wanted double that amount.

If I buy trailer for $75, then have to put a new axle on it, for $200, most likely a light kit, for about $50, plus a days labor, then I'm well over the $750 price that their asking for the used one that don't need all that work. I have to value my time as well, since the time spent fooling with the trailer is time I could be out using the boat. The way I look at it, I can probably get that one a bit cheaper, if it's still there, swap the tires and rollers, about an hours worth of work, and be out boating.
Also, if it were my trailer, sitting in my driveway that I was selling, seeing the cost of new trailers in that size and type, I'd probably be asking far more for it in that condition.

 

[crackedglass]

Re: Used Trailer prices?

Where are you located? Did you try Dave's trailers in Glen Burnie, MD? He quoted me like $850 for a new trailer for my 15' boat.

The problem with used trailers is finding one with a title.

The ones I've seen with titles run in the $500 and up range. Without titles in the $250 range.

THe price you found is prrobably about market price for right now, not a steal and not high.

Was it a roller trailer? How much weight cap?

The best prices I've seen here are in the $3,000 to $3500 mark for anything close to what I need. Most places don't even have a trailer in that range in stock, they all seem to keep the next size up or down from what I need. I could put it on a lighter trailer but that would also generally mean a shorter tongue, and I'd be at the trailer's limit with just the boat.


I did just buy a new 16' bunk trailer for $660, but it's bunks with tiny 12" tires and no winch. I had priced around, everywhere from here to the Jersey shore and this was the cheapest one by far. I didn't need a winch or a spare so that was a bit of the price difference but it saved me $177.

A trailer like that though won't do me much good for this boat, its a pretty heavy trihull with an I/O motor, so it needs to be able to carry that weight plus any other added items and fuel.

I also have to go get the boat this weekend, so I don't have time to do a major overhaul. I also don't want to deal with rust, if a used trailer needs new springs and an axle, it's probably been used in saltwater, the one I looked at in NJ didn't look like it's ever been in saltwater. The springs were still clean, no scaly rust anywhere. The lights were brand new, all new wiring, and the rims were clean not all rusty. It had a new jack, and the owner has kept after all the hardware, keeping it painted and clean, so I'll be able to adjust it to fit my boat if needed. Most that I looked at even up here, had all the hardware all rusted up. I've yet to find one with galvanized or stainless hardware, even the new trailers on the lot were already showing rust on the bolts. Most have only cad plated or just plain steel hardware.

 

[capt sam]

Re: Used Trailer prices?

Good used trailers are tough to find here right now since the economy took a dump, people are picking them up instead of new ones. A decent 18'-20' aluminum trailer here is gonna run $1200 at least.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Used Trailer prices?

If I buy trailer for $75, then have to put a new axle on it, for $200, most likely a light kit, for about $50, plus a days labor, then I'm well over the $750 price that their asking for the used one that don't need all that work. I have to value my time as well, since the time spent fooling with the trailer is time I could be out using the boat. The way I look at it, I can probably get that one a bit cheaper, if it's still there, swap the tires and rollers, about an hours worth of work, and be out boating.

While I don't agree with your math (I'll be WAY under $750 even with pretty much everything new).............after having just come inside from spending my 3rd or 4th solid hour with a grinder cleaning up my $75 trailer and only being about 30% done I say if you got the $750 by all means spend it! Fixing up a beater trailer is pain in the @ss. However my time really isn't that valueable (I wouldn't be doing anything overly productive otherwise) and I like a project so I'm fine with doing the work. Good luck with your search.

 

[crackedglass]

Re: Used Trailer prices?

While I don't agree with your math (I'll be WAY under $750 even with pretty much everything new).............after having just come inside from spending my 3rd or 4th solid hour with a grinder cleaning up my $75 trailer and only being about 30% done I say if you got the $750 by all means spend it! Fixing up a beater trailer is pain in the @ss. However my time really isn't that valueable (I wouldn't be doing anything overly productive otherwise) and I like a project so I'm fine with doing the work. Good luck with your search.

It's not that I have $750 burning a hole in my pocket or anything, it's more that I don't have the time between now and Saturday to get and install a new axle or anything else a cheaper trailer might need. What ever I buy needs to be ready to roll down the highway. I fully expect to have to do the bearings and seals on any used trailer, even if it's only a year or two old, it wil no doubt need maintenance. I did look at two others today, one for $400, which even had new rollers and a new Harbor Freight electric winch, and a battery box and battery on the tongue, but it was a foot shorter, and far lighter than I'd like to have under this boat. The other one, was only 5 years old, but the springs were shot, and the wheels and hubs were badly rusted already, plus there was a small rust hole already in the rear cross member. They were asking $1100, but said they would take much less, but even for free, it wouldn't work for me by Sat.

I see a lot of trailers in the 17-18' range rated at 1500 or 1850 lbs, and a lot of 3500 and up trailers, the longer 2500lb trailers seems to be a hard size to find. I'll be done in Jersey this Fri, if that trailer is still there, I'll most likely grab it unless I find a super deal elsewhere. I suppose if I offer him $600 he'll most likely take it, but even at $750, I still think it's my best bet. I just have to remember to leave the house Fri. with my trailer tag in hand.

 

[BigB9000]

Re: Used Trailer prices?

I dont care for those trailers. all bolted together, no welds at all. the toung and side beams like to bounce up and down.

I was offered a trailer that looks exactly like that for $300. I declined.

 

[rrhodes]

Re: Used Trailer prices?

Keep in mind that any trailer you buy is not going to be setup for that hull. Roller trailer may not be the way to go if you are picking the boat up this weekend. I would find a bunk trailer. Chances are even if it's not a perfect fit at least you can get it on the bunk trailer.