I know about negotiating on used things...get the cheapest they will go. BUT, what about BRAND NEW trailers at a dealer?

Do they come off it any or is it set in stone? I dont want to insult anyone.

Thanks

I have learned NOTHING is set in stone when it comes to price.

Set your price limits before you get there, and stick to them. Be prepared to walk away if they won't meet or be under your budget.

Have you ever heard of a new car dealer sticking to the sticker price?

Yes, trailer lots should be willing to work with you. Don't set your expectations too low, or you will never get a trailer. If you find a trailer lot that will not deal, walk away and find one that does. You don't want to do business with a place that deals like that anyway.

Keep in mind that one person might pay more or less for a trailer than the guy that lives 3 states over. Shipping these SOB's gets spendy, quick! I think we are paying, on average, $2700-3000 for a flatbed semi load of trailers brought up from Texas. The more trailers we can get on the load, the less shipping (per trailer) will be. Some of these outfits won't put more than 10 trailers on a load... The place we gets ours from puts 20-30 on a load! You can see how shipping would cut into it.

That lot also has to have a way to get those trailers unloaded off of a semi. If they have to rent a forklift everytime they get a load of trailers, you have to figure that into the price. If the lot has their own lift trucks, or overhead crane, then you won't have to pay anymore for that.

Taxes and tariffs cut into it also. Pres Bush just imposed a tariff on steel that bumped the price of our trailers by $100. Lisencing can be spendy depending on where you live. Sales tax also.

Just remember, trailers aren't like cars... You can't ask for the price to come down very far, because there is not much mark up on them to begin with. Be willing to do a little fabrication work yourself. Be prepared to pay for any changes you want done from the factory. When they are cranking out the trailers all day on the assembly line, they don't like to have to stop and pull yours aside to do your custom stuff.

I am in no way saying that they won't do it, or work with you on the price, or set you up with the trailer you want and can use... I'm just saying that you need to keep the above stuff in mind.

It really depends on where you go, how long they have had the trailer, and how fast the model your looking at will sell.

Personally I got the 28 foot gooseneck I bought dirt cheap. Had cash and the guy wanted it off his lot to make room for another shipment he was getting.

Do some internet searches for trailers, get a price range for the model you want and go from there. That is what I did. I got mine $1200 LOWER than anyone I found on the net and it was only 40 miles from my house. :D

Originally posted by MattS
It really depends on where you go, how long they have had the trailer, and how fast the model your looking at will sell.

Personally I got the 28 foot gooseneck I bought dirt cheap. Had cash and the guy wanted it off his lot to make room for another shipment he was getting.

Do some internet searches for trailers, get a price range for the model you want and go from there. That is what I did. I got mine $1200 LOWER than anyone I found on the net and it was only 40 miles from my house. :D

So.. how much did you pay for it?

(Keeping that in mind deciding on building one myself or just buying)

Originally posted by Travis Waldher


So.. how much did you pay for it?

(Keeping that in mind deciding on building one myself or just buying)

$3800. :D Got brakes on both axles, HD axles, spare and ramps for free too! I think the salesman got fired after he sold that one. But I had the title and signed papers done so it was MINE. ;) The owner was not very happy.

Originally posted by MattS


$3800. :D Got brakes on both axles, HD axles, spare and ramps for free too! I think the salesman got fired after he sold that one. But I had the title and signed papers done so it was MINE. ;) The owner was not very happy.

Hmm... so.. if I can build a "lightweight", 20,000lb, tandem axle, tandem brake 30' gooseneck trailer for 3,000 or so. That would probably be a real good deal?

Figuring it would probably take a solid week (60-80 hours) for me to build if thats all I did.

Originally posted by Travis Waldher


Hmm... so.. if I can build a "lightweight", 20,000lb, tandem axle, tandem brake 30' gooseneck trailer for 3,000 or so. That would probably be a real good deal?

Figuring it would probably take a solid week (60-80 hours) for me to build if thats all I did.

I guess. I don't know how much you get paid but at minimum wage that will be another $400 @ 60 hours. :eek: Then factor in equipment costs, wire, electricity grinding wheels and all that other stuff. I don't know. Some of the welds on mine are over 1/2 WIDE. I have used a HUGE 440 volt mig and it would not lay a bead that wide. And then consider yours has no warranty and the possible hassle of registering it.

I would add it all up and then think real hard about it. :D

There is probably about $250 in consumables at most. so 3250.

I don't know how much a 30' lightweight (read that as custom, ~4,000lbs or under I hope) 16-20,000lb trailer would cost. No one advertises their prices, I haven't had time to call. only guessing in excess of 5-6,000 if you got the salesmen in trouble for paying 3800 for yours.

My time, its free. I get paid $30 an hour, but for something like this, I take it as a learning experience, and getting to build it myself. So warranty is no worry.

According to my WSP buddy, getting it registered and through inspection shouldn't be a major hassle. But, that would be my biggest concern.

A 1/2" bead? where on your trailer are those? I mean.. my MIG can burn holes through 3/8" plate. what on your trailer is thicker than that?

Where the sections meet and they are reinforced with this dimond plate: http://pirate4x4.net/mstevens/trailer/2.jpg

See the rest of the pics here: http://pirate4x4.net/mstevens/trailer/

They are just super wide beads. I would say go for it! Then you can make it exactly how you want. :D

Edit: The welds may be mroe like 3/8 wide, they just look really wide. ;)