Chinese trailers

Here's the closest I found to a flatbed. I wouldn't trust that here and it probably won't get DOT approved.
https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...7318670.html?spm=a2700.7724838.0.0.cmr3o8&s=p

While you're at it, order up some $60 tires and see how those work out for you:
https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...60211607641.html?spm=a2700.7724838.0.0.lUARyx

Or maybe some $10 brake shoes?
https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...3989567.html?spm=a2700.7724838.0.0.vbQGCz&s=p

 

The trailer:
They are strong.
DOT certification would not be a real problem.
So where is the BUT?
Finding loads light enough .......because those trailers have a LOT off steel in them.


The tires you found........you should add that you need to buy a whole container off those and price was ex works so transport+customs is your problem.
And yes,those will be bad quality tires.
Does not mean you cannot buy good chinese tires.
The problem is finding the good product and the right seller to do bussiness with.

For instance ,i have some chinese lights on my trailer which are better then any i bought in the past.(the ones i bought in the past were locally made)
Does not mean that all chinese stuff is worth the money.
It is a "buyer be ware" story.

Ps pls do not believe that all "made in....." is right.
If all parts off a item are made in china but assembled in country X ,it will be marketed as being from country X.

 

Yes I have and gotten quotes from them. Nice trailers, nice price.

I'll tell you where I'm at with platform trailers. You can make really good money on moves with them. The problem is, they sit a lot. Then add the fact that you can rent them dirt cheap compared to the purchase and maintenance cost. The down side to rental is having them available when needed.

Bottom line is I could either go to China for new or find a good deal on some used lines. For now, I've ruled out dealing with China. I'm still keeping my eyes open for a deal on a used one.

You can actually buy used Golhofer lines pretty reasonably from Europe, but by the time you figure importing cost, travel to inspect, and other cost, the deal isn't that great.

I know some people are pros at importing, it scares me. I have enough trouble with business dealings with Americans.

 

Right now ,with the $ high vs a low €,importing is feaseble.
But what will happen in the future........who knows.

 

How do you know they're strong? Lots of steel doesn't automatically = strong. They might be cutting corners on engineering and fabrication. Or even the metal quality. And why do you think DOT certification wouldn't be a problem? Someone has to certify what the trailer is rated for. If the DOT doesn't want to take the manufacturer's word/paperwork for it, you're stuck paying an engineering firm to load test and certify the weight rating for commercial use.

I know people who imported variations of cars to the US and can't get them registered due to DOT regulations. A Toyota Land Cruiser and a Toyota Supra. Couldn't get them registered because they were built with different safety standards in other countries. An unknown Chinese manufacturer will give you issues.

 

The Chinese are capable of producing quality on par or better than any US manufacturer. Ask Boeing who has large sections of several of their planes manufactured there.
You might get what you paid for if you bird dog the process from beginning to end, can speak Cantonese and know everything there js to know about materials, engineering and have the time and resources to verify the vendor is complying with all requirements.
Many large US companies get "taken" by the uber confusing methods and regulations of Chinese business practices and laws. It is not for the faint of heart, nor is it a low volumn endevor. I cannot imagine a scenario where it would be cost effective.
If you want to take a first hand look at Chinese truck transportation products built to a certain spec in the US, lots of container chassis here originated in China. That should give you something to go on.

 

Cars have a lot more regulations than trailers... I agree with you 200% on the part about "Lots of steel doesn't automatically = strong". I won't live long enough to see the day that I trust Chinese steel...

As far as DOT certification goes, I don't see where that would be a problem. As long as the components are close enough to US trailers, that the same standards can be used for measuring wear, etc... I used to manufacture trailers, not these trailers, but smaller utility trailers, with the largest being a 30' goose neck. Unless things have changed drastically in the last 15 years, which I can't imagine, nobody has to give a "DOT Certification" to the trailer, or to approve the trailer for use, short of a state or federal DOT inspection. It was the manufacture that "certified" the trailer and/or "approved" the trailers ability to carry a certain weight. A DOT inspection will not verify grade of steel, thickness of steel, or anything of the sort, that is up to the manufacture to determine. As long as US requirements are met for everything that gets checked during an annual inspection... bumpers, brakes, lighting, etc... I would imagine it would be good to go.

I would think that the only problems with Licensing/Registering a Chinese trailer would be more along the lines of not being a recognized brand... Which wouldn't be much of a problem. A car, is a whole 'nother world...

 

It's OK as long as you're wearing a hardhat with a face shield.

 

I have several family members that work there. Boeing has large sections manufactured by 4 major suppliers in Japan, not China. Big difference.

That's correct, but there might be issues with the bumper. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/571.223 . DOT has some strict requirements for those, including labeling them. But like you said, the majority of the issues will probably come from registering/paperwork/insurance coverage.