elmo_4_vt
Explorer
So, as the title suggests, I need some advice. As with many people reading this particular board, I have a trailer addiction. Currently, I have my "camper", a 4x8 for general yard work and to tow behind my car, and a 6x12 for bigger tasks to tow behind my truck. My question pertains to the little steel trailer. It's getting pretty old (~35 yrs to be exact). It's nothing special, just being a normal steel frame, and used to have a tilt bed, basically like most of the ones you can buy right now from any Lowes or Tractor Supply. I spent some time about 5 years ago and cleaned everything up, added stake pockets and walls, rebuild the axle, new wheels, put on LED lights, welded up the tongue so it doesn't tilt or move around as much, but it's still an old trailer that doesn't have a "real" tailgate/ramp. As it is, I will be needing to spend a lot more time on it soon in order to keep it serviceable and reliable. Also, I just bought a new motorcycle (a heavy Yamaha Super Tenere), and I'd hate to see something happen to it when it's being pulled around on this trailer, as little as that should be happening. I use this trailer VERY frequently for everything from dump runs, lumber runs, firewood, my son's dirt bike, kayaks, trips to the beach, etc.
So my main issue is this... Do I spend money and time on fixing up the trailer $200-$300 dollars and probably 40-60hrs of work to clean, repaint, and generally refresh the steel trailer. It will need some new steel, lots of rusted bolts, welding new metal on, paint etc. Even after that, it will still be a 4x8, not able to hold more than two small motorcycles, not able to haul my riding mower (deck is a 48" cut and about 50" wide), and is generally ugly. Or do I double down and move onto one of the "nicer" aluminum trailers. I can get a 4.5'x10' for ~$1,700, then sell the current one for about $300-$400. It would solve most of my space issues with the current trailer (more room for wood, equipment, etc.). It is lighter, so should be better being that I'm pulling it with my little 2.5, 4-banger. And it should be much better as far as longevity being all alum. The downside is that I don't have an alum. welding setup (yet), so working on it, and making changes may be harder.
So what would all of you trailer experts do?
Here are a couple pictures of the existing/old trailer, and one of the alum. one:
And the alum. one:
Thanks for the help.
Don
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So my main issue is this... Do I spend money and time on fixing up the trailer $200-$300 dollars and probably 40-60hrs of work to clean, repaint, and generally refresh the steel trailer. It will need some new steel, lots of rusted bolts, welding new metal on, paint etc. Even after that, it will still be a 4x8, not able to hold more than two small motorcycles, not able to haul my riding mower (deck is a 48" cut and about 50" wide), and is generally ugly. Or do I double down and move onto one of the "nicer" aluminum trailers. I can get a 4.5'x10' for ~$1,700, then sell the current one for about $300-$400. It would solve most of my space issues with the current trailer (more room for wood, equipment, etc.). It is lighter, so should be better being that I'm pulling it with my little 2.5, 4-banger. And it should be much better as far as longevity being all alum. The downside is that I don't have an alum. welding setup (yet), so working on it, and making changes may be harder.
So what would all of you trailer experts do?
Here are a couple pictures of the existing/old trailer, and one of the alum. one:
And the alum. one:
Thanks for the help.
Don
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