Trailer to fix

[KMB]

This is my friend’s trailer that he has offered to ‘sell’ to me. It would be my firewood hauler:

This is probably a question for the fellas that work with steel. Could the bent section be fixed properly? Is it possible to properly straighten that bend? Would the steel be weaker afterward? How much would it cost to get it straightened?

I’ve priced out what I would need to spend on this trailer to get it to how I would want it. I’m looking for opinions/comments on fixing the bent section. I could go into another ‘book’ of my latest trailer situation…but I’ll spare y’all for now…until I can’t stand it and NEED some more feedback .

Kevin

 

[olyman]

take tooo long to type out--bring it up--ive straightened worse--and fixed one trailer about that bad-----

 

[KMB]

olyman, if I have understood you correctly by you offering for me to bring it up to your place in Iowa...that's a little to far from SW Arkansas...but thanks.

Kevin

 

[mdavlee]

It can be fixed but cutting it out and replacing that section will be stronger. That would be what I would do to it.

 

[KMB]

mdavlee, that makes sense to me. Since I don't know how to weld, I would have to pay a welder to do the work and get the steel.

Kevin

 

[DSS]

Cutting it out and starting new would be easier and maybe cheaper. All you need is some angle, I would check the scrapyards for some good used stuff.

Be a good wood hauler when you get it done up.:msp_smile:

 

[les-or-more]

It can be fixed but cutting it out and replacing that section will be stronger. That would be what I would do to it.

I agree $50-75 worth of angle, a new fender and about 4hrs. The frame angle looks from the pics to need a few well placed blows from a BFH, but I think it would straighten ok.

 

[Toddppm]

Nothing a couple dozen blows with a sledhammer wouldn't fix right up.

 

[mdavlee]

The reason I would cut out and put a new section is the bend will be weaker and take less force to bend it in again. I would think you could get by with about $50 at a shop. The angle iron shouldn't be over $20 at a scrap yard.

 

[Mntn Man]

I agree with cutting it out and replacing it. The easiest way that I have found is start with finding someone with a welder and the know-how to use it and take it over with a box of cold ones.

 

[mdavlee]

A 12 pack and $20 for steel would have you fixed up if you were close to me. I wouldn't replace the fender. It will bend back and more than likely with loading wood it will get dented and bent again.

 

[KMB]

I agree with cutting it out and replacing it. The easiest way that I have found is start with finding someone with a welder and the know-how to use it and take it over with a box of cold ones.

The 'cold ones' would have to be cokes...not sure that would go over that well.

Kevin

 

[KMB]

Thanks for the reply's fellas. The fix doesn't sound to bad or expensive...but it's the rest of the trailer where the costs add up quickly. For 4 new trailer rated tires, new floor boards, ramps, brakes added to both axles, 7 way plug and a breakaway kit, I’ve figured it would cost about $1200 (doing the work myself). Adding to that would be the purchase price for the trailer (as is). I don’t think it makes sense to put that kind of money into it when I can get a 77”x16’ utility trailer with 2-3500 lb axles (brakes on both axles), 4”x3” angle frame, 4” channel wrap tongue, pipe top rail, 3”x2” angle uprights, diamond plate fenders, treated wood floor, Bulldog coupler, 48” ramp gate, spare mount and 2 extra tie-downs (for a total of 6) for $1735 factory direct. I got this quote over the phone and then I looked at one of their basic tandem utility trailers at a dealer’s lot and they appear well made.

I want to pay cash for a trailer like I'm ideally wanting, but still can't do it immediately...gotta look after my family (God first, family next, me last). If my friends trailer didn't need so much money to be put into it, I could settle on a price and pay him a little at a time. But there is the fact that I could get a new trailer (set up the way I would want) for very close to what it would cost to do up my friends. It wouldn't make sense to go the other way.

Kevin

 

[Mntn Man]

The 'cold ones' would have to be cokes...not sure that would go over that well.

Kevin

You are right. It would have to be Pepsi if it was me, lol.

You could buy the trailer, put minimal repairs into it to use for now, then resell it for what you have in it. Of course, the price would have to be really reasonable. I do know what you mean about having everything nice, I am the same way. I don't have OCD, but close!

 

[KMB]

You are right. It would have to be Pepsi if it was me, lol.

You could buy the trailer, put minimal repairs into it to use for now, then resell it for what you have in it. Of course, the price would have to be really reasonable. I do know what you mean about having everything nice, I am the same way. I don't have OCD, but close!

Hmmm...never thought about it like that. Probably more than having everything nice (which is a bonus), I want to be safe...as in being able to stop as quickly as possible when pulling a cord of green Oak and having properly rated tires to carry the load.

I should have rephrased my last post when I said that I could pay my friend a little at a time...the trailer price would have to be very reasonable (would less than $200 be too low?) and I could pay him right out. It would be the fixing and replacing that would have to be done over time.

Kevin

 

[psu927]

Honestly I would replace the decking and hook a come along to the side of the trailer and bend it back (hitting it with a sledge while pulling with the come along) you will be able to get it very close and it really would take a lot to bend it back again. If it's just a wood trailer why would it need to be perfect? Just a farmers 2 cents.

 

[les-or-more]

Hmmm...never thought about it like that. Probably more than having everything nice (which is a bonus), I want to be safe...as in being able to stop as quickly as possible when pulling a cord of green Oak and having properly rated tires to carry the load.

I should have rephrased my last post when I said that I could pay my friend a little at a time...the trailer price would have to be very reasonable (would less than $200 be too low?) and I could pay him right out. It would be the fixing and replacing that would have to be done over time.

Kevin

Its nice to have a nice new trailer but they all get the tar beat out of them at some point. This one already has the "character", you could start with brakes and the deck, then work up to pretty. I guess thats one advantage of living up here, by the time the deck rots out the crossmembers are gone. Not sure what it is the state is using with the salt now but it really eats steel.

 

[Hansenj11]

Thanks for the reply's fellas. The fix doesn't sound to bad or expensive...but it's the rest of the trailer where the costs add up quickly. For 4 new trailer rated tires, new floor boards, ramps, brakes added to both axles, 7 way plug and a breakaway kit, I’ve figured it would cost about $1200 (doing the work myself). Adding to that would be the purchase price for the trailer (as is). I don’t think it makes sense to put that kind of money into it when I can get a 77”x16’ utility trailer with 2-3500 lb axles (brakes on both axles), 4”x3” angle frame, 4” channel wrap tongue, pipe top rail, 3”x2” angle uprights, diamond plate fenders, treated wood floor, Bulldog coupler, 48” ramp gate, spare mount and 2 extra tie-downs (for a total of 6) for $1735 factory direct. I got this quote over the phone and then I looked at one of their basic tandem utility trailers at a dealer’s lot and they appear well made.

I want to pay cash for a trailer like I'm ideally wanting, but still can't do it immediately...gotta look after my family (God first, family next, me last). If my friends trailer didn't need so much money to be put into it, I could settle on a price and pay him a little at a time. But there is the fact that I could get a new trailer (set up the way I would want) for very close to what it would cost to do up my friends. It wouldn't make sense to go the other way.

Kevin

I have been looking for a trailer the weight rating and size. What factory gave you that quote?

 

[TMFARM 2009]

heck my trailer is bent and beat up just as bad as that one.. it works just fine for me.. around here that would be a $700.00 trailer on average.. i see nothing wrong with older trailers as long as the frame isnt broken.. brakes, floor and side repairs can be added afterwards..
even can be painted cheap..if its priced right buy it..i have had new trailers before that didn't last long also..just lose more $$$ when they get torn up.in todays economy i would buy a new one over a used one. just my 2 cents worth..

 

[davec]

Thanks for the reply's fellas. The fix doesn't sound to bad or expensive...but it's the rest of the trailer where the costs add up quickly. For 4 new trailer rated tires, new floor boards, ramps, brakes added to both axles, 7 way plug and a breakaway kit, I’ve figured it would cost about $1200 (doing the work myself). Adding to that would be the purchase price for the trailer (as is).

Kevin

The wheels look good, but the tires are toast. As is the deck. The bent angle frame is not a big deal. I would use the BFH to get it back in shape as it isn't a structural member, so the fact that it is fatigued from bending a couple times is not a biggie. But no brakes? Jeesh. You may or may not be able to add those easily. Some axles are setup so you can add it, some are not. And no ramps? Looks like it was made as a hauling trailer, not a car trailer, so ramps may not have mattered. Do you care?

How much did you say your friend was paying you to dispose of his junk? :msp_biggrin:

Seriously, watch CL or get a SearchTempest search going for the general driving vicinity of your area and look for something that actually seems to be a working trailer.