What is influencing your decisions between building and Buying an expedition trailer?

[Tight_wad]

So, why do I ask? Because my reasons for building (from a M416) was because the prices of the new and used ready to go expedition trailers was more than I felt I could justify. I have since change my mind about this. Don't get me wrong, I love my trailer, the experience, and the "it's my creation" factor, but I don't save as much money as I had thought. The labor that I did was a big savings, true, but if I factored in my time, at a reasonable rate, I saved very little.

Do you think that you would purchase a manufactured trailer, if they were not as expensive?

Or do you think that they are priced accordingly?

Do manufactured trailers offer you all the options that you need, or do you have to build a trailer to get all that you really want?

Would you build a trailer no matter what, because you can?

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Yeah.... I definitely went way over my budget. I budgetted like... $5000 or so, but I probably spent 10-15. I could have bought a nicely equiped AT Horizon.

But, it wouldn't have served my needs the same way my personal trailer will. I just didn't see anything on the market that would. Well, a Conqueror Conquest would have come pretty close, and I do wish I'd been able to get one of those.

Ideally, a Conqueror Companion or Comfort would have been perfect for what I want. But at what cost? $40-50k?

 

[Titanpat57]

Yeah.... I definitely went way over my budget. I budgetted like... $5000 or so, but I probably spent 10-15. I could have bought a nicely equiped AT Horizon.

But, it wouldn't have served my needs the same way my personal trailer will. I just didn't see anything on the market that would. Well, a Conqueror Conquest would have come pretty close, and I do wish I'd been able to get one of those.

Ideally, a Conqueror Companion or Comfort would have been perfect for what I want. But at what cost? $40-50k?

I agree...

As I am way over budget at this point too(which in reality, is moot). By creating and building something that is uniquely "your" own, as Rob says, suits your individual needs, and supplys that "wow" factor, seperating it, from what's available or professionally made. Sometimes that is invaluable. I've seen some great platforms brought together by guys with limited finances,skills and tools, but lots of heart, and they are people of vision.

We all see some of the fantastic trailers produced commercially here and abroad....and there worth every penny, but building my own, allows me to get just a bit closer to my ultimate dream trailer...what ever the hell that is....:ylsmoke:

 

[cruiseroutfit]

You know the old saying, 'why buy something for $50 when you can build it for $75'

Rings very true with labor intensive projects such as a full on trailer build. If your time is worth any more than $5/hour you often exceed your budget if not on your parts alone. In the end you likely have a trailer that is a close matche to your personal needs but on the flip side you have unique fabricated parts, surplus components, etc versus off-the-shelf components that you could have shipped out in the event of need from a place Adventure Trailers. Put pen to paper on a realistic budget for a off road trailer and its easy to see why trailer manufactures are priced where they are, and that price is fair given their relatively low volume, high quality and innovation.

Might be helpful for some still in the decision stage:
Will An Off-Road Trailer Work For Me? The Off-Road Trailer Conundrum

 

[StumpXJ]

Not factoring in labor, my trailer build was quite cheap compared to some of the higher end trailers. The conqueror and AT's are extremely nice, and I have no where near the fit and finish, but I also spent (actual money) a fraction of their cost, and its custom to my needs. Not including the orginal trailer, I have around $1400.00 in my trailer. Labor.... well it was a LOT of work and time spent, but to me its a hobby. If I built them for a living, they would be right in line with the higher end trailers price wise, just due to time and effort involved.

If I had to do it over again, and money was no object, I would still build it, but it would be way 'nicer' and outfitted with more off the shelf products instead of building everything or holding out for used parts.

Just my take.

~ James

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I didn't put a price on my time, as I enjoyed it (I say that now, looking back, not necessarily at the time!), learned some skills, and it kept me busy in the off season. If I wasn't building the trailer, I'd be doing something else. Watching TV?

 

[teotwaki]

In my case I am lacking the tools and the room to build, rebuild, recondition, paint, etc. I also don't want to pay my local shop $65/hour to do the work. A fully priced high-end trailer is out of my budget so I've been looking at used. The Conquerers that were blown at last year in the $6K range were a great bargain but they are sort of big for offroading on Jeep trails (but so is my 4th Gen 4Runner LOL!)

I originally thought about just a simple trailer and the military ones are solid but the lack of a tailgate starts to limit the use of the trailer for moving furniture or other non-expedition tasks. A trailer with a roof-top tent will lend itself to casual camping along the California coast which my family really likes. :elkgrin:

 

[BigDaveZJ]

The option to buy a manufactured trailer was never even one I really considered. I certainly looked at them for ideas in my build, but never considered buying one. Are they worth the price that companies like AT ask for? IMO, absolutely.

I had abandoned the expedition trailer idea altogether until I found my M416 as cheap as I did. Great platform to start from, and for a cash investment of < $2,000 I have a well built trailer with RTT. The time my wife and I spent working on it is certainly substantial, but we enjoy doing that kind of stuff together and we already had the tools to do it. If I were to put a value on our trailer including our time, it would be at least $5,000, but for me the time was well spent. For me it also increases the satisfaction of use having done the work ourselves to make the trailer what it is.

 

[The Adam Blaster]

Time.
And the complete lack of skills or know-how or experience in building a trailer.

That 2nd point hasn't really stopped me in the past though...


EDIT: I would have specific needs as others have mentioned - specifically enough sleeping capacity (and shelter from the elements) for a family of 4.

 

[Mtn Mike]

I'm in the process of designing my own trailer from the ground up. My reasoning is as follows: Commercially available trailers are bad ***, but WAY out of my budget. With a custom built trailer, I can start with the basics and add what I need, when I can afford it. Plus commercially expedition trailers are only good for expeditioning. I'd like a multi use trailer; say 60% utility trailer and 40% camping trailer. My build will be multi purpose and convertible. Another option is military surplus trailer. They're nice, but they seem harder to find, their state of repair is variable, and often they seem to be over built for what I need.

So, my future father-in-law is willing to teach me to weld and let me use his shop. :wings: . The next step is sketching out what I want and buying the raw materials...It should be a great winter project and I plan to post the results

 

[Hill Bill E.]

I love the expedtion trailers out there, and I think the cost is justified.


That said, I would build my own if doing it over again. (and I probably will!)

My M416 is an awsome platform to work from, but I hate to cut it up:Wow1:

It's all original, minus the lunette a PO cut off. (they did use the 1/2 from the trailer for the ball hitch)

Right now it's just a trailer, with a lid, RTT, battery and 5# LP tank.

I'd really like a tailgate, slide out kitchen and slide out for a fridge.

I may remove the tub, and use the M416 frame, to build a more custom trailer.

That way, the essential parts like wheel bearings, leaf springs, etc, will be easily sourced.

Everything else can be fabricated or sourced from trailer places like AT.

I enjoy the build, the design (and redesign:snorkel and fabrication, so for me, I'd build.

 

[Mr. Leary]

In my case I am lacking the tools and the room to build, rebuild, recondition, paint, etc. I also don't want to pay my local shop $65/hour to do the work. A fully priced high-end trailer is out of my budget so I've been looking at used. The Conquerers that were blown at last year in the $6K range were a great bargain but they are sort of big for offroading on Jeep trails (but so is my 4th Gen 4Runner LOL!)

I originally thought about just a simple trailer and the military ones are solid but the lack of a tailgate starts to limit the use of the trailer for moving furniture or other non-expedition tasks. A trailer with a roof-top tent will lend itself to casual camping along the California coast which my family really likes. :elkgrin:

I love the expedtion trailers out there, and I think the cost is justified.


That said, I would build my own if doing it over again. (and I probably will!)

My M416 is an awsome platform to work from, but I hate to cut it up:Wow1:

It's all original, minus the lunette a PO cut off. (they did use the 1/2 from the trailer for the ball hitch)

Right now it's just a trailer, with a lid, RTT, battery and 5# LP tank.

I'd really like a tailgate, slide out kitchen and slide out for a fridge.

I may remove the tub, and use the M416 frame, to build a more custom trailer.

That way, the essential parts like wheel bearings, leaf springs, etc, will be easily sourced.

Everything else can be fabricated or sourced from trailer places like AT.

I enjoy the build, the design (and redesign:snorkel and fabrication, so for me, I'd build.

LOL. Sounds like both you guys need a 1940 Chevrolet truck bed trailer...

Shouldn't be too hard to find, and much cheaper then military trailers right now... :ylsmoke:

 

[Hill Bill E.]

LOL. Sounds like both you guys need a 1940 Chevrolet truck bed trailer...

Shouldn't be too hard to find, and much cheaper then military trailers right now... :ylsmoke:

:elkgrin:

I picked up my M416 for $275. Only drawback was I had to get rid of the branches in the back of it:snorkel:

Everything I've done to the trailer, is easily reversable. I did this for two reasons.

1: It's in excellent shape, and would be a great candidate for restoration.

2: I'm fixing up a '46 CJ2A back to 'original' configuration, and want to use the trailer behind it (in stock form)

I found my dad found an M416 for $150 last year, and now it's that one we'll fix up for the CJ2A.

But I just haven't been able to bring myself to cut the tub up for a tailgate and sliders on the side:Wow1:

Still debating. May just sell my "Hill, Bill E. Hotel" and start from scratch!!:coffeedrink:

 

[Box Rocket]

Cost was the one and only deterrant for me buying an AT Chaser. Love the design and for my needs would be perfect. However, I have very limited funds and couldn't justify that cost. I found myself really needing a trailer so building a low cost one was what needed to happen for me. It doesn't have all the "expedition" features of a commercially produced trailer but it serves its purpose very well.

I ended up at about $1500 total cost (plus my own labor time) to build mine. There were ways I could have cut cost too. the LocknRoll wasn't cheap, and I spent a little more to get wheels to match my cruiser. Otherwise it's an inexpensive no-frills trailer that has worked out better than I ever would have imagined.

 

[tclaremont]

It totally depends on your objective. My trailer project is so I can learn how to do stuff like this and still have a functional trailer when I am done. If your objective is to go camping by the end of August your needs will likely dedicate a different direction!