Is it because of the orange?

Air ride does ride a little better when empty or lightly loaded, but the difference is not nearly as meaningful as many shippers think (another coup for marketing). Besides, I've never had a shipper actually check my trailer suspension and haven't heard it happening to others. And I have seen more than a few leaf-sprung trailers with "air ride" decals...

Funny you mention 53' -- 99% of the time a 48' trailer would get the job done, but brokers/shippers insist on loading 53's...

Anyway, 53' is a necessity, but I can do without air ride (not that I'd mind it, but I certainly wouldn't pay 50% more for it)

They ought to be within 100 lbs. Both 2003 Wabash duraplates with wood floor, al roof, composite walls, logistics seams, spring ride, and dual steel wheels...

Weight is a factor which is why, along with aesthetics/snagging, I want the composite walls. I'd really like the composite "wood" floors too, but they were just hitting the market at that time and are hard to find used. I have seen some former Werner duraplates ($6900 for an '00) that have wood floors on the sides and an aluminum strip up the center -- I bet that saves some weight. Unfortunately Werner did not order those trailers with logistics seams or etracks & I've had terrible luck with friction load locks slipping around on composite walls.

I'll be swapping to wide singles almost immediately for weight & fuel economy, so my only interest in the current tires is as a point of negotiation.

Schneider sells their trailers direct. A third party is selling the Knight trailers (perhaps accounting for some of the $4000 difference). There are 10+ units from each company available for sale...

I hadn't checked lcapp but just did -- no dry vans at all unfortunately. I agree that private party often offers the best deals, but I've only come across a handful on truckpaper and craigslist.

I'm willing to spend for a return. The value investor in me is naturally drawn to 2003-04 trailers due to the precipitous price drop the moment they reach 10 years. I know some shippers won't load a 10 year old trailer, but from what I've seen & heard, those shippers all load heavy and rarely pay well anyway.

I would have a hard time spending $15K on a 7 year old trailer knowing that a brand new trailer lists for $27K, and I just don't see the ROI (but maybe I'm missing something)

As would I. I didn't much care for the Maverick purple tractor either, but a deal's a deal. I just can't see a shipper turning me away based on equipment color.

I may have my terminology off -- I'm not talking about the "double stack" trailers -- just the vertical E-tracks flush-mounted into the seams. Horizontal E-tracks tend to snag some of the freight I'll be hauling (fiberglass rolls) and I don't get along with friction load locks.

I have a couple of local shippers I'll be working with to get home/leave, but I'll mostly be focusing on the spot market OTR.