Big Loads - Post Photos Number 2

But a pretty big step up from Witzco in my opinion. A fellow contractor has a new Pitts and it looks nice and seems to work well for him. Keep in mind that contractors like myself may only make 30 moves per year or less and a lesser trailer may hold up well relative to full time use.

 

Yeah I agree about the limited use, there’s a couple farmers here that have Pitts lowboys but if you’re wanting to run it full time like he wants to I’m not sure I’d buy one. If nothing else they have no resale value.

 

True on the resale value, but that may be at least partially offset by less demand on cash flow due to lower payments, and less interest paid.

The equation certainly looks different depending on full time use for hire and occasional use for hauling ones own equipment.

 

Yeah I suppose if you could buy them cheap up front it’s makes good business sense. Building a business that way probably is the way to go. I’m just in a different world which clouds my judgement

 

I should reassess my thinking, starting this is no different than any other business start cheap and build from there. I just think about quality not business.

 

Sometimes it is better to start with quality to lower risk. A one trailer shop that runs long haul can’t really afford a major trailer repair in a random place. The upfront savings probably doesn’t outweigh the benefits of reliability. The op is looking at older trailers with long histories- better to get a trailer that was overbuilt at the start.

 

I can see both sides, someone that has postive cash flow and an established business with his step deck that could pick up a cheapo trailer like a Pitts and begin to get his feet wet but still have the ability to park it and cover the payment with his existing business is probably a decent way to go. Long term a trailer like that’s is a liability but it’s a means to an end.

 

I don't think you are wrong at all, just that there is more than one way to get where you are going. I bought a 1989 Pete and 1996 Aspen in 2009 as a package for 60K. I have put a lot into the Pete recently, but the Aspen maintenance has been minimal. I had the rams resealed, have run new 7-wire from the neck to the back, changed out a few lights, replaced the brakes, and that is about it. I think that I could sell it today for what I paid for it (figuring 35K), and it is a dang good trailer that hauled our 345 better than the newer 55 ton Eager Beaver that I borrowed last summer, at least in looking at the camber of the trailer. That 55 ton actually flexed beyond level. Our Aspen barely made it to level.

I don't know how much that means, but it seems to me that the Aspen was certainly built better than the Eager Beaver.

Anyway, I have taken the route that you suggested in buying a high quality used trailer rather than a lesser quality new trailer, and I have no regrets. Especially when looking at transport equipment as a necessary overhead incurred by our business rather than a revenue producing asset.

 

i think this is where I was going - the aspen was probably an old trailer but it was a high quality trailer when it was built.

I pulled a mechanical 55 ton trailer king that was a 99 - i hauled d8s on it without issue and it never went negative.

 

I have to think about this a little, if you could pick up a premium trailer at the right price it’s a no brainer but to theoretically start out getting your feet wet maybe the lower upfront cost is desirable.

I’m absolutely a fan of the better trailers just thinking about starting out.

I’m curious, when you bought yours what other brands did you consider?