Trailers, Any buying tips for a towing newbie? Options

[campbellcj]

Looks like it's a buyers market out there for tandem open trailers. I have found numerous ones for sale w/in an hour from home.

Going to look at a couple this morning and will probably drag one home.

I will leave the enclosed trailer as a project for later days, when time and money are a little looser. It looks like finding a sweet 20+' enclosed hauler would be much more of a project and at least 2-3X the price.

[Joe Bob]

How much they asking?

[campbellcj]

The open trailers I saw on Recycler.com basically ranged from about $800 to 2500 or so. There was one right near me for $1400 that sounded awesome; sold in 2-3 days.

I went ahead and bought this one. Virtually brand new Carson Deluxe steel (7/02 build; 12/02 first sold; 2/03 first titled). Pull-out ramps, electric brakes, great tires, 7000lb rating, storage box. Built like a tank. It towed really nice, empty at least, even w/o the brakes hooked up.

I will probably move the storage box elsewhere and add a tire rack and winch. I think it will work out well, until I get the itch for a bigger/enclosed one...which would most likely need a bigger tow vehicle (ain't gonna happen anytime soon.)

It was $1800. I might've talked the guy down a little but not much. He helped me install my ball setup and temporarily rewired the lights for my 4-wire socket (from the 7-blade connector).

The guy was a real car fiend. He currently has a WRX street car, plus a gorgeous track-prepped 993C4S as well as a Spec Miata race car. He just bought a 24' enclosed rig.

[campbellcj]

Oh yeah...16' bed. Should be a little more manageable than an 18-20 footer w/ my relatively short tow vehicle.

Now I have to learn about tie-downs (and loading/unloading procedures).