GON
$100 Site Donor 2024
Trailers are in extremely short supply. What I have found on the market are new trailers that are of extremely poor build or used prices that are well above the price of the trailer when new. I have read hundreds of owner reviews of new trailers, and except for high end trailers, the reviews all point to poor build quality, cheap parts, and no useable after warranty support. Tough time to buy a quality trailer unless one has a very large wallet.
Single axle cargo trailers are going for 4-6k. Current prices blows my mind. I saw an ad for a dual axle enclosed trailer I liked locally on Facebook and the price seemed good, the Seller was gracious to write back saying he had over 200 people respond to his ad in 24 hours. He said he sold the trailer to the first person that responded out of fairness.
Three days ago, I came a across an enclosed trailer on Copart. Trailer was at a remote Copart lot in Southeast Georgia. Trailer's owner was GEICO. Trailer being sold for parts only, with a bill of sale. Manufacturer is Continental Cargo out of Elkhart, IN (the Detroit of trailer manufacturers). I believe Continental Cargo is owned by Forest River, the USA's largest manufacturer of travel trailers.
What I liked about the trailer was it appeared to have some upgrades. From six floor tie downs (most trailers, even 24' come with four tie downs standard), interior had coverings on the roof and wall (all trashed), and the floor and ramp had a higher end covering. Trailer had a lot of questions, and I had no idea if it was road worthy, etc. This trailer was 165 miles from me, so that was a huge plus. Decided to bid on the trailer- clearly knowing the trailer may be complete junk and if it is, I will have to take a loss ($2800) and leave the trailer at the yard.
I won the trailer. $2200. With fees, about $2800. I was in an on-line auction live bidding war with a person from Georgia. I took that as a plus as maybe that bidder had previewed the trailer. One other bidder from Florida. I would like to have won the auction at $1,000, with fees about $1500..... but the market is what the market is. I need a trailer, this trailer was local, and the pickings are slim. Three years ago, in its current condition, I would have valued this trailer in the $800-$1500 price range.
Arrived at Copart yesterday. Copart employees let me drive direct to the trailer, instead of having the trailer brought out by a Forklift. First impression was trailer was stolen and recovered by GEICO. Maybe a case of fraud by the insured. The trailer's VIN placard was missing. The trailer had the "Harley Flames" painted over with flat black paint. The seven pin connector for trailer lights was trashed. Tons of cosmetic issues with the trailer. I was concerned with the auction pictures showing rust on the tong and trailer- that the trailer was from the "north" and would have a rusty frame.
Inspected the tires, they looked just ok enough to tow the trailer home. Side door missing its skin. The rear ramp door had one of its support wires broken off. The e-track was not properly installed to the interior studs. But I was ok with what I saw. Looked under the trailer, zero rust on the frame. Sprayed lube all over the tongue mechanicals, hooked up the trailer, and drove away. At the first fuel station I came to, I put air in the trailer tires. They were about 15lbs per tire. Trailer was empty and tires didn't look great, so I filled each tire to 44lbs instead of 50lbs.
Towed the trailer home. First thing I did was send a request to Continental for a replacement VIN sticker. I have no idea if they will provide. Next, I ordered a new seven pin trailer connector from AMZN. I sense the entire trailer may need to be rewired. No big deal. I also ordered a new door lock assembly for the side door. Next I started to price Goodyear trailer tires. I did initial research on how to buy replacement door skin. I would also like new rims, and found they are cheap in white painted steel, pricey in anything silver covered.
Have to figure out the title. Seller was GEICO, so sale is legitimate. But getting a title may be a challenge. If the trailer had the VIN placard, South Carolina has a process to award a title to a trailer that was never titled. VIN searches clearly suggest the trailer was never ever titled or tagged. Since this trailer has no VIN sticker, it makes it a challenge getting the trailer inspected by North Carolina Law Enforcement to validate the VIN for title issue.
Single axle cargo trailers are going for 4-6k. Current prices blows my mind. I saw an ad for a dual axle enclosed trailer I liked locally on Facebook and the price seemed good, the Seller was gracious to write back saying he had over 200 people respond to his ad in 24 hours. He said he sold the trailer to the first person that responded out of fairness.
Three days ago, I came a across an enclosed trailer on Copart. Trailer was at a remote Copart lot in Southeast Georgia. Trailer's owner was GEICO. Trailer being sold for parts only, with a bill of sale. Manufacturer is Continental Cargo out of Elkhart, IN (the Detroit of trailer manufacturers). I believe Continental Cargo is owned by Forest River, the USA's largest manufacturer of travel trailers.
What I liked about the trailer was it appeared to have some upgrades. From six floor tie downs (most trailers, even 24' come with four tie downs standard), interior had coverings on the roof and wall (all trashed), and the floor and ramp had a higher end covering. Trailer had a lot of questions, and I had no idea if it was road worthy, etc. This trailer was 165 miles from me, so that was a huge plus. Decided to bid on the trailer- clearly knowing the trailer may be complete junk and if it is, I will have to take a loss ($2800) and leave the trailer at the yard.
I won the trailer. $2200. With fees, about $2800. I was in an on-line auction live bidding war with a person from Georgia. I took that as a plus as maybe that bidder had previewed the trailer. One other bidder from Florida. I would like to have won the auction at $1,000, with fees about $1500..... but the market is what the market is. I need a trailer, this trailer was local, and the pickings are slim. Three years ago, in its current condition, I would have valued this trailer in the $800-$1500 price range.
Arrived at Copart yesterday. Copart employees let me drive direct to the trailer, instead of having the trailer brought out by a Forklift. First impression was trailer was stolen and recovered by GEICO. Maybe a case of fraud by the insured. The trailer's VIN placard was missing. The trailer had the "Harley Flames" painted over with flat black paint. The seven pin connector for trailer lights was trashed. Tons of cosmetic issues with the trailer. I was concerned with the auction pictures showing rust on the tong and trailer- that the trailer was from the "north" and would have a rusty frame.
Inspected the tires, they looked just ok enough to tow the trailer home. Side door missing its skin. The rear ramp door had one of its support wires broken off. The e-track was not properly installed to the interior studs. But I was ok with what I saw. Looked under the trailer, zero rust on the frame. Sprayed lube all over the tongue mechanicals, hooked up the trailer, and drove away. At the first fuel station I came to, I put air in the trailer tires. They were about 15lbs per tire. Trailer was empty and tires didn't look great, so I filled each tire to 44lbs instead of 50lbs.
Towed the trailer home. First thing I did was send a request to Continental for a replacement VIN sticker. I have no idea if they will provide. Next, I ordered a new seven pin trailer connector from AMZN. I sense the entire trailer may need to be rewired. No big deal. I also ordered a new door lock assembly for the side door. Next I started to price Goodyear trailer tires. I did initial research on how to buy replacement door skin. I would also like new rims, and found they are cheap in white painted steel, pricey in anything silver covered.
Have to figure out the title. Seller was GEICO, so sale is legitimate. But getting a title may be a challenge. If the trailer had the VIN placard, South Carolina has a process to award a title to a trailer that was never titled. VIN searches clearly suggest the trailer was never ever titled or tagged. Since this trailer has no VIN sticker, it makes it a challenge getting the trailer inspected by North Carolina Law Enforcement to validate the VIN for title issue.
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