Old TMC benson flat

10k is really low and 8 grand sounds more like a scrap trailer. Aluminum trailers crack from work hardening over time and belly loading is tough on any trailer.

TMC will spec the cheapest trailer they can get. Hauling heavy on a light trailer is much more damaging than running a heavier specced trailer loaded well below its max capacity.

Is it one of their Fantaines or Bensons?

I'd learn about where the common places that particular trailer tends to crack and look at it yourself in person. Or have a dealer go over it in known problem areas if you can't do it yourself.

 

That old Benson will pull nicer than your rental. TMC will have ordered it with the coil package. Definitely go over it with a magnifying glass, looking for cracks. If you buy it, pull the wheels, inspect/replace the bearings and replace the seals, check the bushings, new shocks, and get it aligned. It’ll be a nice trailer to work with, if it’s not cracked.

 

The question becomes, how good are you at wrenching, welding, fabricating and repairs in general? Even if the trailer is as good as he says, you should still take that with a grain of salt, if you haven't seen/done it yourself. The point being, you'll need to do the work yourself, or have a budget bigger than your initial outlay. If the option is to keep using the Transcraft until you build that budget up, it might be the better option, but if it's that good of a deal to you to pass up, then make sure you increase the maintenance fund beyond that $2,000 that you'll have left after the purchase for repairs, parts, tools to do it yourself, etc.

I don't know squat, but I know that would be my plan, should I venture into the O/O area. I like your plan, and it's the way I'd plan to do it, too, but I'm familiar with what I can and can't do, and I'd have to budget according to my abilities.

 

Sorry, I missed that you had Benson in your post title. Anyway, those Bensons have been run into the ground by newbs and a mega that oy cared about maximum profit. I'm confident it's cracked somewhere and/or the axle tubes are thin.

He probably found one or both of those issues when he tried to align it. You belly load that trailer and it cracks in half and kills someone your business will be over before it even starts. Unless you know exactly what to look for and where to look you'll never find any cracks if the seller hid them by filling them with epoxy or covering with dirt or paint.

It's your money but keep in mind you share the road with humans and you're legally responsible for their safety.