Buying used dryvan, is 10 years too old?

Yep. That's the only place I've ever been hassled about the age of the trailer.

 

This really depends on what possible future maintenance the 10 year old trailer will need. Saving the 10 G's may end up costing you more in the long term this is the decision your now faced with.

 

I'd rather have a nice new one but who wouldn't right? I've pulled some junky trailers and they can really bite you in the butt. I remember this old Great Dane the guy at my old company bought for like $5,000 and that thing was just a nightmare. Brakes were garbage...drums and pads were paper thin. Tires were garbage. I found out the hard way when I tried to slide the tandems back forward with the load in it that 3/4 spring cans weren't working on it, so that was an $800 bill at the T/A for 4 new ones. I've got lots of stories like this unfortunately. Nobody is going to bother selling you anything for a good price that they have already dumped a bunch of money into fixing to make right. Its not like cars where people just get bored with them and are willing to take a bath on.

 

My trailer is 12 years old and has a translucent roof. I was told that this would cause me a problem.
It hasn't.
I have been using that trailer since May 2014. Nobody cares a stuff about the translucent roof in fact some actually like it because they can see what the heck they are doing ! As for the age - if you don't want me then I don't want you.
Oft times somebody tries to scare others as to the viability of their equipment because they get a kick out of it. The fact is that the market is full of brokers. For everyone that is picky there are 100 more who couldn't care less.
My trl cost me $11,200 in April of 2014. Since then I have had a steel landing plate installed and the bogey has been completely rebuilt. All new bushings, bearings, airbags, shocks, brake chambers, shoes and the axles were all changed to give me the typical see thru oil window.
It might be a bit scratched but it is sound and a lot cheaper than a new one.
Having said that I am still contemplating a new one though just because I want one. It'll have to wait though. Other things higher up the priority list.

 

I like the translucent roof. That same company I worked at previously had a different 06 Great Dane with that. It was a beat up looking trailer they didn't pay much for either but this one was a higher quality build...Produce vents, 24.5" wheels, translucent roof, spare tire rack underneath, (one of) the swing doors was polished stainless, Hendrickson heavy duty air-ride, manual tandem slide but it worked like butter even with with a full load in it. I liked that one. Somebody stole the tandem puller off of it one time in Columbus and the local dealer had one sitting on the shelf.

Only time I ever saw a requirement for a metal roof trailer was at a plastic bottle shipper in Wytheville, VA. I guess they worried about the heat getting through the roof and warping the bottles or something? That seems like BS to me. To melt plastic bottles you'd be talking very hot, like get out the fire extinguisher hot.

 

You won't haul potatoes chips with translucent roof and likely other food product either. You won't be hauling any nursery/plant loads in one after late March so don't waste your time/money venting any van with a translucent roof it will be useless unless you also insulate the ceiling. The con's outweigh the pro's IMO. I had a translucent roof trailer at one time. I insulated the ceiling and vented it so I could haul the above loads. I will never own another translucent roof van and would suggest anyone else avoid them. Also a metal roof is quicker to patch if holed though either is really a simple fix.

 

And of course, one can just add lights if it's really an issue.

 

Look around and be patient. I found two Great Dane's 53x102 vans, one a 06' and a 07' on Truck Paper in Amarillo at a dealer. Both came from the same company and had been taken care of, no large decals and paint is decent, floor and walls are good, air dump and air slider works like a dream. They put new drums, brakes and virgin tires on them as part of the deal. Gave $21k for both and dressed them up with new aluminum wheels. Then found a 2011 Utility van for $12,500 that was in great shape, seller needed it gone and took my offer.