Trailer-Great Dane, Utility or Hyundai?

In my experience great dane trailers are built strong. We are still hauling 1999 trailers and they are still pretty strong.

Utility are also good trailers but would never buy one new from what I saw when shoping for one. While I was waiting to speak to a sales person I heard an argument with an o/o that was complaning about the shunter in utility yard that scratched Abou 2 feet on the right side while bringing the trailer up front. Sales guy did not want to change pannels due to their mistake.

I bought a used 2007 trailmobile trailer for 7,500$. Strong built trailer too, aluminium roof, logistic posts at each 12 inch. 8 tires at 75%. I did have to change both door but whatever, got 2 door for 400$ and installed them with new seals.

 

I wouldn't recommend Hyundai, but I wouldn't say it has been terrible either. It is what it is: cheap...

Aside from walls and posts that are very easily scuffed/gouged, in 9 months I've had the following trips to the dealer:

1) alignment (Hyundai said it was OK and refused to adjust; it was fixed elsewhere out of warranty)
2) license plate light (bad wiring)
3) abs light on (sensor readjust)
4) license plate light (bad led bulb)
5) abs light (sensor readjust)
6) abs light (wiring)
7) marker light (wiring)
8.) abs light (sensor readjust)


Don't be surprised if the dealer takes 2 weeks to fix a minor problem -- frankly you're better off pretending there is no warranty and fixing it yourself/elsewhere...

 

With any new trailer alignment is a dealer prep thing. They are not aligned at the factory. They eyeball it close and send it on down the production line. Once you pull that trailer off of a dealer yard they're not going to warranty any alignment. They'll say you ran over something. So anyone buying a new trailer from a dealer you either negotiate an alignment in their shop as part of the deal, and you be there to make sure it happens, or you just pay them to do it. My trailer dog tracked as soon as I left the factory. Some people get lucky and they pull straight.

 

Take a look at that stainless steel rear frame. That is where the brunt of abuse will be. You hardly ever see a Great Dane where that is all mangled and beat up. On the outside edges at the bottom that is about 7/8's or 1 inch thick. No-one else beefs it up like that not even close to it. The rest of it is 1/4". The way they bolt the bumper to the bottom of that 1/4 stainless lip strengthens it. Utility tucks their bumper out from under that lip. On my Utility that lip got bent down by a deck plate. Not going to happen with this one. This trailer is only about 300 lbs heavier than a similar Utility I looked at. You can get a CP that is lighter than the Utilities. No-one builds rear door frames as well as Great Dane. Take a close look at all of the trailer out here you will see what I'm talking about.

 

This was my Utility. You can see how that lip is bent down. Not built as well as a Great Dane. I never did think they were and never understood why everyone says they are top of the line trailers. I have no pics of them but have looked at Stoughtons and they are also a superior design rear door frame & bumper area to the Utility imo.