Is it because of the orange?

Those SNI trailers got beat to hell and most were on the rail, taking beatings from the railyard equipment and may not even be air ride because they spent most time on trains. Knight would be in a hell of a lot better shape.

 

Those trailers that have been on rail cars do take a beating. At railheads/switch yards, when the move the train cars with those trailers on them, the tracks are down hill and they just give them a push and off they go. They hit a stop and sometimes the freight in the trailer even rips the front of the trailer and pops the rivits.

Give the Schneider trailer a good inspection if you consider it and it may be OK. Won't look too good, but will get the job done.

 

Our friends at Waco wingfoot detest a Schneider trailer.

Require more grease

Heard them gripe many times.

 

From what I remember about Schneider they only buy spring ride trailers because "they didn't see any difference in the ride for the freight." So I'd go with knight.

 

I would go with the air ride for sure. When you go to look make sure they put air to the system so you can verify that the system is in good working order. Check the frame rails and the cross members very carefully as well.

 

Spring ride vs air ride matters. Oddly, the down-side on air ride for you is more parts to go wrong, more potential maintenance. No broker I've talked to asked whether trailer was air ride. Just concerned it's 53 foot.

Are you sure both trailers weigh the same? One of the Gordon drivers was telling me he couldn't scale a heavy load with a Heartland trailer, went back to drop yard, got GTI trailer and had no problem with same load. Claims the GTI trailer's 1500 pounds lighter.

Hey, we live in a free market economy. Nothing unusual about a wide difference in price for same article. Might be over thinking...

What are the ages of the tires on each trailer?? (Code on sidewall.) Tires are a major expense, of course. Caps vs virgins matters. If 2nd trailer has a good set of new tires, could account for some price difference right there.

A set of 8 Bridgestones with lowest possible rolling resistance set a buddy of mine (at Landstar) back almost $4000 when all said and done but he says he noticed a change in mileage immediately. Will pay for themselves in time. Some of the big outfits actually capitaliize their expenses for tires and depreciate them out over two years.

The age of the trailers matters as well. But you say they're both '03... are these both from dealers or private parties? A dealer, just like a used car dealer, has to build in a profit, plus his overhead, expenses. A private party with a 'don't wanter' and maybe in a $$ pinch is what I always look for in a deal... Have you checked the Landstar 'for sale by owner' site?? (www.lcapp.com)

What's your budget??? I'd definitely value a vanilla white trailer more than an orange one, unless I were pulling for Schneider. Of course, if you pull for Schneider, Schneider Choice, you can run loads with their trailers... like a driver I spoke to yesterday.

Maybe you can whip up a trailer comparison spreadsheet and share it here.

 

As far as the spring ride goes, the Knight trailer will have that too. They don't have many/any air ride trailers.

 

When I used to buy houses, I'd look until had seen at least 15 for sale in my area of about the right square footage, etc. That was the tipping point where I could evaluate a new listing, whether it was too high or a bargain. And often, if a bargain, the seller's motivated and with cash as bait the deal can be sweeter, too. You want someone who WANTS to sell SOON, not later.

Starting with your Wabash duraplate with swing doors, wood floor, aluminum roof & logistics posts, I'd become 'expert' on that but not limit myself. At the end of the day I want as light a trailer as possible with the best bang for my buck. You'll kick yourself every day if you buy a too heavy trailer and pay for it in fuel and lost or borderline overweight loads.

And, yeah, I'd look at 15 of the spec you're interested in as my jumping off point. Keep in mind that trailers out of the same manufacturer, whether Wabash, Utility, Great Dane, have the specs the fleet ordered. May have the same look but may have different specs.

 

Wasn't sure what logistics posts were so looked up this thread: http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...39-53-dry-van-trailer-questions-logistic.html

Don't think that would be on my 'must have' list for a first trailer. Cart before horse unless you have a market lined up that you think warrants. Too many go into trucking thinking about the driving, the equipment rather than the more important and first order of business: what you're going to haul and who for. Broker loads? Work with shippers direct? Lease on somewhere?

Do you plan to just run wild or will you choose a lane and learn it, the loads, rates, etc. until you can feel and sense the direction freight's moving? Goal now is net profit, not miles. Big difference.

Do you need logistics posts?? Or is that just a nice to have?? Something you willingly would pay more for but could truck on just fine without. Probably lots more trailers out there without.