How do you view trailers ( flat/step, refer, dry van)

Bought my reefer off my old boss who bought it for me when I was a company driver for him. He wanted out from under the payments so I bought it out. I was the only one to ever use it. Plan to keep it as long as I can, but not going to run it right into the ground ... it is a Vanguard with TK, the quality just isn't the same as if it was a Utility or Great Dane. The next one will be top of the line, and I will keep that one hopefully for like 20 years ...

 

Quality first for me. Without being ridiculous though. As with anything some are over priced.

 

I paid attention to auctions in my state. Took some poor drivers trailer & made use of it. Some make it in trucking, some don't. !0,000 companies want my load. Word of mouth makes my living. I'm selective. Turn down a lot of loads. 0/0 can do that. Oversize gets my attention. My truck gets lousy fuel mileage. Huge power. Based in Houston, Texas. Don't need anything, I do like to share what I know. Love to help others.
Trucks are hard to drive, I try to make it better.

 

I might go with you if there's room. Have to sleep side by side. Truck is not that big. I can't have kids. That's ok. I have a daughter. Don't even have that anymore. Mega fast truck. Legal for anything. No purpose anymore. A box, a casket, & me. I'm so lost. Only thing that makes me whole, is my truck.

 

I view my trailer the same as my truck, which I view with the same mindset as every other tool of the trade. Chains tarps straps work boots even my #### ink pens. I balance quality and cost. Professional appearance falls in there too. It is NOT an investment, investments go up in value, not down the moment it leaves the dealership.

 

First the most suitable for the job followed by the highest quality that I can afford.

 

I pull a reefer. My tractor is just a hunk of metal without a working trailer to pull behind it. I made the mistake of buying a Wabash reefer last time. Fortunately I was able to get rid of it without losing my shirt and got a Utility. I bought the best I could afford/make work in my business plan. Also with a reefer, if the reefer unit isn't in great shape you're just pulling around a poor excuse for an insulated van.

 

As one poster said, it's not an investment. it's a tool of the trade. It will depreciate with age and use. It will breakdown. It will get 'old'. Get the best bang for your buck, and make the most money you can while you have it.