$3500 for a used enclosed trailer

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hoamskilet

Member
Need to bounce some ideas off you guys and see what you think.



I've got about $3500 to play with and I want to find an enclosed trailer. Need it to hold at least 2. Yes, I know the inline aluminum trailers are awesome (i had one a few years ago), but that's just not gonna happen right now. I looked at a 4 place gull wing trailer New Years day on the way home from my in-laws place that was in great shape.....told him 15 minutes after we left I'd take it and let me know what night to come pick it up. Had most of the cash at the house, just needed to get the rest out of the bank the next day. He sold it about 3 hours later to somebody else. Of course, I haven't been able to find anything remotely close to as nice for the price.



So here's where I'm at. In the price range I'm looking, I've found the following:



12' drive on/drive off clamshell $2500ish



8.5 x 12 V-nose deck over $3500ish



2 place hybrid $3500ish



The clamshell is by far the least desireable. That being said, it's the cheapest option to get me by until I can afford to get what I really want. The other 2 should be more pleasant to use than the clamshell, but I'm really struggling paying that much for a trailer that can only hold 2 sleds after missing out on the one I wanted that was only $3100.



Final option is a friend of my brother in law has an enclosed car hauler that we used a couple times last year and fit 4 sleds in. It's in really good shape, fits 4 sleds, and I can get it for $3500, but it's steel and a bit overkill for what I need 50% of the time.





What would ya'll do.
 
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latner

Active member
I have a 2 place tilt that I plan on selling and going to a hybrid. I want the fold down door/ramp plus I want to use the trailer during the summer to haul my bike. RNR makes a decent hybrid with the beaver tail reared for ~$3800 new.
 
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woodside

Member
My brother and I both bought 12' x 8' Mission trailers two years ago for just under $4000. Nice thing about them is they are higher than other enclosed units with a side door for easy access. Much easier to move around inside the trailer and a lot fewer head bangers. Candyman has a 16' unit which is narrower but handles two sleds nicely.
 
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snobuilder

Well-known member
If your sleds have reverse you can get a new v-nose cargo trailer for that kind of money.

http://www.pfeiffertrailersales.com...ealth-mustang--pewter-.php?search-class=cargo



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ffemt

Member
Hybrid ...... not unless you are thinking a SXS someday 16ft in-line mentioned above with extra height would be the ticket but out of price range. But definitely a I would get a hybrid easy load and unload
 
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2TrakR

Member
hoamskilet said:
Need to bounce some ideas off you guys and see what you think.
Click to expand...

What is the end game - what trailer do you really want to end up with or need it to do?
Trailer market, as you know, is killer. You have to try very hard to lose money on a used trailer and dealers rarely have any reason to deal $ on new as they sell well.
Personally I hate clamshells, had mine whack me in the head more than once, part of the reason I no longer have it.

Didn't say what you are towing with. I currently pull with a F350 diesel and get effectively same mileage pulling 8.5x27 steel v-nose as I do pulling 8x16 aluminum flat nose. Based on that, I'd consider your BIL's trailer.

Used sled trailers are a trick - steel rusts over time but aluminum will also corrode especially anywhere that steel and aluminum meet as I've had both style "rot out".
 
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ezra

Well-known member
it a new hybrid 12 ft then you know what you have and in about 30 days you will prob get a snopro for 3500 or less with slides and mats in it already
 
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hoamskilet

Member
2TrakR said:
What is the end game - what trailer do you really want to end up with or need it to do?
Trailer market, as you know, is killer. You have to try very hard to lose money on a used trailer and dealers rarely have any reason to deal $ on new as they sell well.
Personally I hate clamshells, had mine whack me in the head more than once, part of the reason I no longer have it.

Didn't say what you are towing with. I currently pull with a F350 diesel and get effectively same mileage pulling 8.5x27 steel v-nose as I do pulling 8x16 aluminum flat nose. Based on that, I'd consider your BIL's trailer.

Used sled trailers are a trick - steel rusts over time but aluminum will also corrode especially anywhere that steel and aluminum meet as I've had both style "rot out".
Click to expand...

Basically I "need" a 2 place ....some day I would "like" an aluminum 4 place (either inline or car hauler style) some day

I have a diesel F250, so I've got plenty of truck to pull anything I'd like
 
indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
Id get the clamshell until you got the coin to get your ideal trailer. I wouldnt spend more just to "settle". Thats just how my mind works...
 
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snobuilder

Well-known member
Sell your overpriced moneypit diesel to someone who needs a **** extension and you will have plenty of money for a stinking trailer vs a stinking money pit **** extender diesel....
 
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fishcrib

Member
Hoamskilet I have a 12' clamshell drive on/off fair to good condition.

I need to buy a taller trailer for my UTV.

2200ish. Northern Illinois
 
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2TrakR

Member
hoamskilet said:
Basically I "need" a 2 place ....some day I would "like" an aluminum 4 place (either inline or car hauler style) some day

I have a diesel F250, so I've got plenty of truck to pull anything I'd like
Click to expand...

I have never heard anyone say "man, I wish this trailer did not hold so much stuff". You have the truck capable of towing the bigger trailer, should be an easy answer to get the bigger trailer from your BIL.

Trailer size/weight is a concern when running 1/2 ton gas pickups, 3/4 and up diesels really negate any appreciable benefit to towing with a lighter trailer.

Mine will see 1 or 2 MPG increase pulling 2500# of aluminum vs 7000# of steel (both v-nose). I can more than make up that MPG difference by setting the cruise down a couple clicks.
 
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longtrack

Member
LOL, I have a 29' - 8.5 wide and pull it with my 1500 Ram 6cyl Gas. Set the cruise on 65 and go. Had it out to the Big Horns last year with 4 Sleds in the Trailer.

No need to pay .75 to 1.00 more for Fuel and a extra 10k for a Diesel.

If you can't haul a UTV in a Trailer, don't buy it. Mine hauls 2 Atv's and my Jeep in the Summer and up to 5 Sleds in the Winter.
 
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hoamskilet

Member
Alright, I think I've made up my mind. Between me, my brother in law, and my father in law, there's 7 sleds. Even if it's just me and my wife going, it'd be nice to take a spare sled in case of a breakdown and not ruin the weekend. I have a feeling I'd regret getting just a 2 place trailer

We've got our first trip of the year coming up in a little less than 2 weeks. If something doesn't pop up and blow me away in the next week or so I'm gonna get the car hauler
 
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dofo1

Member
I got a 2002 or 3 enclosed 7' wide R and R I would sell for 3000. It is west of Chicago now but could work out delivery between home and St Germain
 
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hoamskilet

Member
dofo1 said:
I got a 2002 or 3 enclosed 7' wide R and R I would sell for 3000. It is west of Chicago now but could work out delivery between home and St Germain
Click to expand...

Send me some pics please. My car hauler deal fell through.... apparently the guy doesn't wanna sell it now
 
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