Buying A Used Dry Van Advice/Input?

Get a new Hyundai.

2 foot on center logistics posts

Air ride. They all come air slide now.

You want the two foot centers cause a lot of the better paying stuff requires them

 

letting a reefer sit doesn’t do it any good either, unless you need that big of a beer fridge at the house…

 

Etrack system, a wood floor that has the highest weight rating, air ride, air slide tandems and tire inflation system.

 

New ones have dropped about 10% it seems. Still too high. Avoid wood walls,always getting damaged. Logistic posts usually are sufficient. Every 2 ft. Better than 4 ft. Only had a couple times that e track was required. Better off without it, having nice smooth walls. Heavy duty paper spec has 12” spaced cross members instead of 16”, or 18” maybe? Adds weight though. There are some lightweight paper spec trailers now. Don’t know any details though. Aluminum wheels help. Good manual slider, auto type is problematic. Air ride preferred, but spring ride is less maintenance and more dependable. Avoid Vantraax suspensions, They eat tires up. Inspect side rails for corrosion and missing/ broken rivets. First sign of flexing. There frameless. Only as strong in the center as the side rails and the cross members/floor. Belly Load can snap a new one. I’ve seen it a few times, brand new Wabash Trailers, loaded wrong with beer. I avoid paper rolls, and certain water loads that load 4 pallets per lift, and ingets. Between a 4,000lb lift and the machine loading it, really weakens the floor, especially if it’s old and dry. The sound will make you cringe. Looking underneath as they roll on and off, the floor rolls, while the wood breaks. SS rear door frames a big plus. Though it’s rare. Galvanized is more common, along with Galvanized Bumper. Different Trailers have different bumpers. Best to get bolt on bumper, easier to replace, no welding required. Cheap vents, on front and rear, at least 4 straps. You’re pretty much covered for any load.

 

Budget?

 

I just called about a 36’ 2020 Utility van with air ride, air slide, steel wheels, tire inflation system, and a 5500 lb rail gate. It has a little over 100,000 miles and looked bran new except for the rust on the underside.

I almost dropped the phone when the salesman said they were asking $90,000. I then spent about an hour scouring the country for something similar and the only one I could find was a very similar one in California that only had a little over 30,000 miles. I didn’t even bother to call about that one.

Fortunately for us we can wait another year or two and hopefully we can custom order a trailer. We bought a bran new Vanguard a few years ago and it’s only 13’ high. Surprisingly it makes a pretty good difference in fuel economy and the front corners don’t get beat up nearly as much since we run a lot of back roads and are always trimming the trees.

 

36’????

 

The buys are at the auctions. Think there were 2 2023 DV's at last weeks Taylor Martin Ft Worth sale. Think both brought low 40's. Don't remember make or specs.

 

Great Dane, Stoughton or Utility are the best built sheet and post trailers. I would avoid plate trailers. They don't last. You can get logistics posts on 12", 16", 24" or whatever you want. Mine were on 16". They're useful and more is better. You don't have to get fancy on specs you're just picking off random spot loads right? Air slider tandems are pretty much on every van these days. Most trailers within the last 10 years are composite lined interior walls. I had an older Utility with plywood lined walls before my newer Dane with composite and no-one ever rejected wood walls for food grade. Air ride. Aluminum roof. Self inflation system on the tires are nice. And you're good to go.

 

Watch the auctions even if ur not gonna buy anything. May just be able to find a deal if u are looking when others arent. Lots of brand new and slightly used . not all auction stuff is rusted out clapped out junk like some say it is