ebay trailers?

RufusTheRam

New Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2005
Location
Raleigh
does anyone know anything about any of the trailer vendors on ebay? some of them appear to be well built, and can be had for a considerable savings over local companies even after you incur the cost of going to get one or having it delivered.

i'm only concerned with the construction and quality of axles/couplers used. things like lights, etc. are something that can be taken care of easily/cheaply enough on my own if there are problems.

the particular kind of trailers i'm eyeing are 32+ ft. open deck bumper pulls.
 
I had looked at the place that was headquarters was in Wilminton and the pickup location was in GA, but as soon as I wanted some custom stuff their sales person was clueless. If you wanted a basic trailer with their offered options/ or check box type upgrades you would probably be fine.

That said, I found Kraftsman was very comparable to their prices if you compared the same trailer. At least call a local place and give them the chance to do it.. Just doing the math, unless it was a considerable savings It didn't justify a 1 overnight, 12 hour round trip..
 
I agree with Yager on this one. I looked all over the carolinas, georgia, and virginia and went with Kraftsman. I don't have any experience with the Ebay trailer dealers, but check out the towing section on thedieselstop.com and you will find some information. Mixed reviews, mostly.

- Mac
 
By the way, I know that you didn't ask, but for a length like 32+ feet, I would run a gooseneck if possible, but you may have reasons for wanting a bumperpull. I'm sure you wont have any problems with it, but I personally love pulling our longer goose over the shorter bumperpull any day.

- Mac
 
i would prefer it also, but gooseneck isn't an option for my current or upcoming tow rig.

i also don't have a need for anything custom.

i haven't checked with kraftsman yet, but it looks like i can save in the neighborhood of $1000 or so over a kaufman. that's well worth a drive to me if quality is comparable. i also found some of the ebay places will deliver for $200-300 along the east coast.

keep in mind my price comparisons here are for 32ft. and over trailers. the 16-18ft. models don't appear to be enough of a difference to go away from a local company.
 
this may not be a concern but having previously had a kraftsman trailer w/ the full wrap around tongue design, it greatly adds to the rigidity on a tag trailer. When I asked about this from the other companies, they either didn't know what I was talking about, were unable to or didn't want to build it that way, or said their method of simply slapping some channel under was enough. Those with the tongue inlie with the frame, made for higher hitch heights. May/not be an issue for you..

Also specifically ask what type and quality of tire your getting. And ask if they are NEW.. Many of the smaller trailers ship with used car take-offs, not sure if they do it on the bigger ones..
 
I got mine from an Ebay vendor and I'm VERY pleased. 20' 7K Gooseneck with extra foot added to dove tail. Break away, Aluminum tool box mounted on top, Spare tire and rim delivered to Wilmington - $2321.90 tax and all.

VERY well built. 6" Channel Neck, 5" Channel Main Frame, 3" Channel Cross Members. Everything painted black with treated floor and chain up ramps.

Don't know if this dude does it anymore?
A1A2Z Inc.
910-619-3988

This was in 2003. The going rate at the time was almost twice fold for a local builder.

It was built in Alabama. Only thing I'd do different would have been drive over ramps. I took off the tear drops and planned on fabbing some myself one day.

I can also get the phone number off the trailer if you can find a deliverer. They do good work.
 
I think one major cost savings that I saw is that most ebay vendors are using used tires and some put light truck tires on the trailers. I haven't bought any from ebay, but when I was looking that is the main thing I found. I tow with a kraftsman and love the rigidity and loading of the trailer.
 
interesting, i didn't realize some use used tires. i'll have to go back and check that out. definitely don't want to cheap out there.

mike, can you explain the wrap around tongue? taller hitch height isn't really an issue.
 
Top is how some build them... some even add the red piece and call that a 'double stack'

the full wrap usually extends back to the first spring hanger.
 

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okay, i see now... i knew that's how i want one built, just didn't know the term.
 
I have boughtmany trailers over the last 7 years. I have had 3 built by kraftsman and was pleased with their product and price. the last one I bbought was off ebay b/c of the proce savings. I had mine custom built thru DTE Down to Earth trailers in georgia. they have been building trrailers since the 80s. Mine was signifacantly cheaper and was built my way with new parts. 18" bumper pull, dual #5200 with brakes on both and a bulldog coupler, tongue box, break away kit, full wood deck and 10 d rings for 2 grand. I could not be happier with this trailer. FWIW
 
I bought mine from Sweet River Farms that I first found on ebay. They are close by just accross the border into SC from me. I am very happy with my trailer. I opted for brakes on both axles and I got a tool box on the tongue. I have a short going to my lights on the driver side rear of the trailer but wiring on trailers is always a challenge its seems. So i just need to get underneath it and fix it...just waiting for a 60+ degree day....

Just watch what you are getting....some cheap out on the tires and rims....
 
sweet river farms is one of the ones i was looking at. so you feel like it's a well built piece i take it? not really worried about wiring like i said. i plan on redoing some things with whatever i get anyway.
 
Kraftsman all the way. Good stuff and they have a 1 year Warr. on it if I remember and somewhat local with a good price.
Remember steel is up and down all on the price so get the price down before you build.
Make sure you are getting the same thing, steel, axles, brakes, lights and so on.....
 
I would also say that if you are buying a new trailer, I sure as hell wouldn't want to have to fix anything. Trailer wiring is super easy to do right. Most just don't do it that way. Kraftsman wired mine right. They just cut the LED holes a little to big so my taillights keep falling out. I need to fix it, maybe when the trailer and the trail rig get off of jackstands.
 
Down&Dirty said:
Kraftsman wired mine right.
Click to expand...

Define "right"?

Running wires through a hole in the steel without grommets isn't right.
using those POS quick-lok's isn't right.
Using a breakaway box that doesn't charge the battery isn't right. (if it only has 2 wires, it doesn't have a charger in it)
Not running a ground in the 7-pin harness isn't right.
 
After seeing the wiring on some, and hearing all the stories on here. IF I were gonna build or have built a custom trailer, I would order it without wiring, and do my own from the get go. A lot easier to wire it right, than it is to go through and figure what parts they have done right, and what parts they have not.
 
not a bad idea. i wonder how much that would save?
 
My dad bought a tralier some years ago and it has done everything we ever wanted it to. The only thing I had a problem with was the wiring. Along with everything Rich said the wiring was also very short. Short enough that the wire could not run down the frame, but instead was streched across from corner to corner. If a conector broke you didn't have any extra wire at all to fix it. I ended up redoing all the wiring. I don't know how much money they saved by shorting every trailer a few feet of wire but from a customer point of view it wasn't worth it.
 
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