well, I heard somewhere that Bush had since removed the tarrifs. Which mean that steel prices went down. So, hypothetically, some trailer manufacturers could have gotten shafted buying steel at the wrong time and are stuck trying to sell expensive trailers. While others may have had enough inventory to wait out the price hike. Pure conjecture on my part.

 

Aluminium trailers are pimpy.

 

you buyin'?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you buyin'? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Nah, but with the price of steel trailers these days, I'd consider the lightweight alternative (even if it is still $1500 more). Save gas, trans wear, etc on your truck.

 

I might think about maybe considering it if I had a good place to store it. As it is, I will be leaving my trailer outside of my work. With a lock, or three. I wouldn't want to leave an aluminium trailer out there. Would be nice though, I agree.

 

Perfect timing. Thanks for all the recommendations as well. I keep racking up more and more reasons I need to go down to NC.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well, I heard somewhere that Bush had since removed the tarrifs. Which mean that steel prices went down. So, hypothetically, some trailer manufacturers could have gotten shafted buying steel at the wrong time and are stuck trying to sell expensive trailers. While others may have had enough inventory to wait out the price hike. Pure conjecture on my part.</TD></TR></TABLE>
you may be partly correct.i asked a salesman today for a price on the car haulers.he said that he thought they were back down to $1799,but he wasn't definite on that.i know at one point they were up to as high as $1900,so maybe they're going back down again from the dropping steel prices?
Chris

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krshultz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Oh it's three years old alright. But...this is Whitney. He's probably got a spreadsheet listing every time he's gone outside and rattle-canned the trailer so it always looks good as new. (Sorry Whitney, I had to...)
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Sorry to disappoint you - that picture is from 2002 It still looks good, but not THAT good!

What Karl says about rattle cans is true though. A couple times a year I get 2-3 cans of Rustoleum gloss black from Ace and do a partial respray, heavy on the scratches, scrapes, and nicks. Takes about 15 minutes and it will keep me from ever needing to repaint it ... ever.

 

found the number for Anchor sales, they quoted me $1700 for a 16ft full deck. Sounds like a winner to me - unless I find a used one in the next few days...

 

Trailers are one of my pet peeves. Most are way overbuilt which just makes them heavy and makes towing them harder. Having mostly raced smaller, lighter cars (Civics CRXs, Miatas, GTi) towed with small tow vehicles (Bronco, minivan, Jeep GC), I've learned what makes a really efficient open trailer. The big key is use of rectangular box tubing instead of I-beam or angle. The box tube is much lighter for a given strength. Also, an open deck is lighter as are torflex style axles (not leaf springs). Right now I am using a custom-built twin-axle trailer with brakes that weighs 725 lbs. Before that I had a single axle that weighed 620. Note that these are steel trailers which are lighter than most aluminum trailers!!

The only place I have ever found that builds 'em this way commercially is D&D in Trenton, NJ. Here's the link: http://www.deandetrailers.com/ That's where my single-axle came from and it was awesome. Since the original poster was from VA, I'd highly recommend checking into D&D. You will not regret it.

--Andy

 

Anyone offer you an aluminum trailer? If not, think carefully about your choices overall. We did and I overbought but it really only cost me $200 more than a 16' would have. R&R builds one of the best I've come across. Beavertail is customizable and the ramps are an airdam for the car. I grant we are talking pricey compared to the basic steel units-but resale is excellent and there is NO rust to contend with. Our 20' may become available and has a winch+batterybox and a host of other nicities. With the price of steel climbing and the cost of doing business in general going up you should consider all options and just take your time until the right deal comes your way.
BTW: Our supplier is Leonard Truck and Trailer-near the Rahal shops. Another good source is TrailerWorld in Bowling Green, not too far from the Koni shop.
Just my 2 cents

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">unless I find a used one in the next few days...</TD></TR></TABLE>

If you've found new ones for under 2000, I wouldn't bother with a used one. New gets you new bearings, new tires, new brake pads. New ==

 

Good point Karl. I may go to Roanoke this weekend.

jc386: thanks for the input. I just can't justify spending any more than what I am about to spend on a trailer. I had actually budgeted $1500, not $1700. I understand the advantages of aluminium, but I have to be shortsighted in this case.

 

I have to agree with Andy; lighter is better. I built my tandem axle trailer to come in under 800 lbs. I designed it to tow a 2200 lb car, since it saves some money (in Virginia) for the car and trailer combination to be sub-3000 lb.

Keith, who used to tow it with a Camaro and then 4 cylinder trucks...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Andy Hollis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Trailers are one of my pet peeves. Most are way overbuilt which just makes them heavy and makes towing them harder. Having mostly raced smaller, lighter cars (Civics CRXs, Miatas, GTi) towed with small tow vehicles (Bronco, minivan, Jeep GC), I've learned what makes a really efficient open trailer. The big key is use of rectangular box tubing instead of I-beam or angle. The box tube is much lighter for a given strength. Also, an open deck is lighter as are torflex style axles (not leaf springs). Right now I am using a custom-built twin-axle trailer with brakes that weighs 725 lbs. Before that I had a single axle that weighed 620. Note that these are steel trailers which are lighter than most aluminum trailers!!

The only place I have ever found that builds 'em this way commercially is D&D in Trenton, NJ. Here's the link: http://www.deandetrailers.com/ That's where my single-axle came from and it was awesome. Since the original poster was from VA, I'd highly recommend checking into D&D. You will not regret it.

--Andy
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