Buying My First Trailer!!

It is the wrong time to buy a trailer now. The good used ones are already bought the rest a leftover junk or overpriced for the age. New and you pay the FET. And overpriced as it is a sellers market now.... I have a 2019 brand new tires clean food grade trailer. I'll do 30k on it

 

hahaha

 

Prices on equipment are high at the moment , you might consider renting or leasing one .

 

I just bought a trailer today. was gonna go reefer, but dont want the debt and too much risk as in waiting on unloads and loading, and temp issue charge backs..... so i decided on dry van. i learned, a plate trailer is better built, all trailer accesories are good since they are designed for fuel savings, and a vented trailer is good. Plate trailer and vented opens up more loads. Aluminum rims and Roof are good. Aluminum cross members except surrounding kingpin, those need to be steel, and disc brakes are good. a 2016 or newer usually offer disc brakes. i decided on a 2012 great dane and it cost me $17,900 total. probably over paid, but these trailers are selling faster than they can hit the lots. This is just a rookies experience, im still open to advice also.

 

It was pretty hard for me to rent/lease when I had a new authority and that was with cash and good credit. It took me a long time to finally find ONE place that would lease to me. I kept it 6 months and decided I was better off paying the note on one than their crappy terms so I bought one. Paid it off quickly.

Good luck OP, it is true that the good ones go very quickly.

I'd make sure it has E track, metal roof and no wooden walls. After that you've got to make sure it isn't junk mechanically. I wouldn't buy anything older than 2015 unless you have direct customers that don't care.

 

I said price was high. 3500 in on virgin firestone tires. An't free

 

I purchased my first reefer after 2 months of running with my new authority for $3900. 2005 trailer with 2015 reefer unit. Took straight to the shop and invested $4000 to make it load ready lots of suspension work and fix oil leak on reefer unit. I grossed $12,00 first week out. I've been looking for good deal on 2nd trailer to go with 2 tractor. Purchased 1 multi-zoned 2015 reefer trailer from copart with no tandems, almost $9000. Purchased rolled 2020 dry van trailer for tandems $3000. Repairs & shipping to bring it all together under $5000 will make it worth in my opinion. I would make sure next time that both trailers are no more than 1 state away. I rather take the time to get what I want than pay for instant gratification.

 

good deals and hard work pay off.... but at 12lk a week, you could pay for a ready to roll trailer and have it half paid for with the time and effort you got into piecing 1 trailer from 2.... but everyone approaches things differently. good job and good luck to you.