casmurbax
Well-known member
Strouty pictures of new trailer?
Above 1200 Sq/FT The Salvage Garage
- Thread starter Strouty
- Start date
Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
Here is the new trailer, going to do a full assessment tomorrow.
The trailer has some clear issues, and some downfalls, but overall it is a decent looking trailer. Instead of using the correct hitch, they welded one on, also the front frame has some damage most likely from jackknifing the trailer a bit too far. The worst issue to me is that the trailer is 8’ wide, if I keep it, I will need to widen it to 8’ 6” and rework as few other aspects of it. It is also 4” taller than my other trailer, so we need to see how much work both need and decide what is going to be the better trailer when I get done.
The trailer has some clear issues, and some downfalls, but overall it is a decent looking trailer. Instead of using the correct hitch, they welded one on, also the front frame has some damage most likely from jackknifing the trailer a bit too far. The worst issue to me is that the trailer is 8’ wide, if I keep it, I will need to widen it to 8’ 6” and rework as few other aspects of it. It is also 4” taller than my other trailer, so we need to see how much work both need and decide what is going to be the better trailer when I get done.
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It looks to me like the new trailer is a rugged unit, but I also think that it will be easier to take the entire deck off and build one from scratch rather than trying to widen it three inches on each side. I am in one of those conundrums where I have too many options and not one of them is really great.
My main goal was to have a fifth wheel tilt trailer, but after using the tag trailer a bit, I am not convinced that I want the trailer to be fifth wheel. This would also allow me to use a small flat bed on Perk and still haul the trailer. When I need to haul one of the larger trailers, I can remove the flatbed and the fifth wheel will still be there.
Of the three trailers, the red one needs the least amount of effort to get the suspension up to DOT standards, the black one needs the least amount of work to make it DOT legal and it is already 8' 6" wide, the yellow tilt needs the most work of all, probably too much work in reality. I don't mind sacrificing one trailer and combining it to make one good one, so it may be that I used the axles front eh red one and rework the tilt trailer, but I have to really compare them and see what horrors I would be up against.
The easy way out of these situations would be to swap the tires and wheels off the red trailer with the ones on the horse trailer, then sell the red one as is. I would also be able to do the same thing with the yellow trailer, swapping its wheels for the ones on the extendable fifth wheel step deck. I am not sure how much money I can recoup from selling them, but I am sure I would end up on the plus side since finding the replacement tires and wheels are proving to be harder than anticipated for the other trailers. I will still need to come up with one more of those old 9.00-20 tube tires to make a complete set (remember the horse trailer had a disintegrated tire). It thought I had some of them, but all I have are 8.25-20 or 10.00-20 and those are either a lot shorter or taller, so you can't make them work next tot he 9.00-20s.
My main goal was to have a fifth wheel tilt trailer, but after using the tag trailer a bit, I am not convinced that I want the trailer to be fifth wheel. This would also allow me to use a small flat bed on Perk and still haul the trailer. When I need to haul one of the larger trailers, I can remove the flatbed and the fifth wheel will still be there.
Of the three trailers, the red one needs the least amount of effort to get the suspension up to DOT standards, the black one needs the least amount of work to make it DOT legal and it is already 8' 6" wide, the yellow tilt needs the most work of all, probably too much work in reality. I don't mind sacrificing one trailer and combining it to make one good one, so it may be that I used the axles front eh red one and rework the tilt trailer, but I have to really compare them and see what horrors I would be up against.
The easy way out of these situations would be to swap the tires and wheels off the red trailer with the ones on the horse trailer, then sell the red one as is. I would also be able to do the same thing with the yellow trailer, swapping its wheels for the ones on the extendable fifth wheel step deck. I am not sure how much money I can recoup from selling them, but I am sure I would end up on the plus side since finding the replacement tires and wheels are proving to be harder than anticipated for the other trailers. I will still need to come up with one more of those old 9.00-20 tube tires to make a complete set (remember the horse trailer had a disintegrated tire). It thought I had some of them, but all I have are 8.25-20 or 10.00-20 and those are either a lot shorter or taller, so you can't make them work next tot he 9.00-20s.
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xtremek
Well-known member
Can you put enough of them together, sell most of them, and have enough money to buy what you want?
I think if I sold them all after keeping the wheels and tires, I would be close, but not sure. I need one of them for another couple months, the black one is the best choice to keep for what I am doing. The plan had always been to fix it completely, then list it for sale at a higher price and use it until I get an offer I can live with. Tomorrow will be the big assessment, my welder friend is coming over to look at things and all three are (essentially) at the Hill. The red one would be the easiest to fix and use as is, but the 8' width *****, maybe tomorrow I will try and load the Mitsu on it and see how bad it is, Clark would not be an issue, probably most of the other things I would haul would be fine as well. The Mitsu tracks are 8' wide and the blade is just about 8' 6" so you don't have a lot of room to be off, when the deck is 8' wide.
When I bought the yellow one, I paid $2,000 the cheapest tilt I could find was about $7,000. I have seen some cheaper, in the $5,000 range, but they need almost as much work. The brakes do not work and the lights will short out the entire truck system, so they need to be completely reworked on top of all the suspension and deck issues. We had figured $2,500 in parts and another week of labor, but this was a guesstimate.
The black one cost me $3,000 and still needs suspension work, it had good tires and the brakes worked, I did have to mess with the lights, but not more than a few hours. I spent some time on moving the lunette eye to make it level behind Perk, so I am not sure I would count that. Then I cut the springs on the ramps so they could move closer together when loading Clark. That trailer works well, but will probably cost me several hundred in parts and several hours of fabrication.
The red one was $1,200, the deck is decent, the tires are almost all good, the lights will work with an hours worth of time and a new light. The brakes are unknown, but I will mess with them tomorrow (maybe tonight), but I think they are going to work fine. The suspension needs work, but far less than the other two and then the lunette eye needs to be replaced as well as some repairs to the front I-Beam. If it was 8' 6" wide, this would be a no brainer, my buddy may have a good solution to widening it, but in my mind it would be easier to start fresh and sell the deck, it could be used as a truck body or for another trailer. I figure it would bring $500 to the table.
If we could make the red one into the tilt trailer, that would be worth the effort, but I have my doubts, that tilt trailer is built very heavy duty, as far as I remember the frame is a lot bigger. One thing I hadn't thought of before this brainstorm, it might be possible to swap the black trailer's deck with the red trailer with a lot less effort than anything else, this would still allow for two trailers to be sold and then I would have a great long term deceiver tag trailer when I got done. I still want a tilt, but I can wait a while.
The black one cost me $3,000 and still needs suspension work, it had good tires and the brakes worked, I did have to mess with the lights, but not more than a few hours. I spent some time on moving the lunette eye to make it level behind Perk, so I am not sure I would count that. Then I cut the springs on the ramps so they could move closer together when loading Clark. That trailer works well, but will probably cost me several hundred in parts and several hours of fabrication.
The red one was $1,200, the deck is decent, the tires are almost all good, the lights will work with an hours worth of time and a new light. The brakes are unknown, but I will mess with them tomorrow (maybe tonight), but I think they are going to work fine. The suspension needs work, but far less than the other two and then the lunette eye needs to be replaced as well as some repairs to the front I-Beam. If it was 8' 6" wide, this would be a no brainer, my buddy may have a good solution to widening it, but in my mind it would be easier to start fresh and sell the deck, it could be used as a truck body or for another trailer. I figure it would bring $500 to the table.
If we could make the red one into the tilt trailer, that would be worth the effort, but I have my doubts, that tilt trailer is built very heavy duty, as far as I remember the frame is a lot bigger. One thing I hadn't thought of before this brainstorm, it might be possible to swap the black trailer's deck with the red trailer with a lot less effort than anything else, this would still allow for two trailers to be sold and then I would have a great long term deceiver tag trailer when I got done. I still want a tilt, but I can wait a while.
As for what I can get selling them, the tilt may be able to get close to my money back, even after I swap the tires and rims, might even be able to turn a profit with a little work. I think fixing the lights and getting the brakes working could bring closer to $3,000.
The black trailer is probably worth exactly what I paid for it, $3,000.
The red trailer should bring at least what I paid for it (even after swapping the tires and wheels) only if I get all the lights and brakes working.
So lets say that I liquidate all three almost as is (still taking the tires and wheels), I should be able to get about $6,000. I have not seen any good deals lately, but they do pop up, most are still close to the $7,000 mark and I am sure they need work. $10k will get me a pretty nice used trailer that should fit the bill.
The black trailer is probably worth exactly what I paid for it, $3,000.
The red trailer should bring at least what I paid for it (even after swapping the tires and wheels) only if I get all the lights and brakes working.
So lets say that I liquidate all three almost as is (still taking the tires and wheels), I should be able to get about $6,000. I have not seen any good deals lately, but they do pop up, most are still close to the $7,000 mark and I am sure they need work. $10k will get me a pretty nice used trailer that should fit the bill.
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
Strouty, I gotta ask. If you could have got the trailer you wanted and needed for $10K, then why did you buy all the ****, just to fix it to break even, and still need to spend the $10K?
Ralf99
Well-known member
Flogging a dead horse probably 
but factor in the opportunity cost of time on top of Kay's analysis...
If the Black one meets your needs and requires only a little work then do that, and only that. Swap around the wheels and tyres on the other trailers as necessary to make the one or two that you are going to keep functional and safe - get rid of everything else for whatever you can get for them.
Spend the time you save getting the White burb and the F700 sorted and dealt with.
Just a thought - low hanging fruit and all...
but factor in the opportunity cost of time on top of Kay's analysis...If the Black one meets your needs and requires only a little work then do that, and only that. Swap around the wheels and tyres on the other trailers as necessary to make the one or two that you are going to keep functional and safe - get rid of everything else for whatever you can get for them.
Spend the time you save getting the White burb and the F700 sorted and dealt with.
Just a thought - low hanging fruit and all...
Kay, the first trailer was the yellow tilt and I thought it was in better condition than it was, totally my fault, lesson learned. The saving grace is that it has tires and wheels I can use on another trailer. The black one was in decent shape, I knew it needed work, my buddy looked at it with me and the plan was to fix it. The red one was totally bought for the tires and rims, but it is actually in decent shape, just not 8’ 6” wide.
casmurbax
Well-known member
Yea you don't want to get in the eyes of DOT needlessly.
Well hope the help helps you and you get things done.
Well hope the help helps you and you get things done.
I was torn about posting, thinking I may be contributing to someone's problem...
But dually 4x4 Suburban for $1500
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/279260686707142/
But dually 4x4 Suburban for $1500
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/279260686707142/
Thankfully, that one is too rusty for me.
Today I looked at a trailer that was "not for sale", but ended up making a deal, the guy has to get the title, but he lives out of state. Says he will have the title and be ready to sell the trailer Thursday or Friday. It is perfect and the price is right, hopefully he doesn't change his mind, I did try and leave a deposit, but he didn't want to do that. That is my only concern, I have his name and phone number, and the trailer is not listed for sale anywhere. If he changed his mind on the price I would pay more for it too. If this happens, I will be able to sell all the other trailers and would end up with a nice tilt trailer that fits perfectly for me.
steaks&anvils
Well-known member
Thankfully, that one is too rusty for me.
Today I looked at a trailer that was "not for sale", but ended up making a deal, the guy has to get the title, but he lives out of state. Says he will have the title and be ready to sell the trailer Thursday or Friday. It is perfect and the price is right, hopefully he doesn't change his mind, I did try and leave a deposit, but he didn't want to do that. That is my only concern, I have his name and phone number, and the trailer is not listed for sale anywhere. If he changed his mind on the price I would pay more for it too. If this happens, I will be able to sell all the other trailers and would end up with a nice tilt trailer that fits perfectly for me.
Good to hear. The gods work in mysterious ways!
I was taught that if you are patient, you keep your eyes open and do good things, that the right "one" of anything will eventually come your way.
I hope it works out, but I won't know until Thursday or Friday, going to feel like an eternity. 
My feet dragging lost the wrist and clean up bucket I was looking at, so that is off the table for now. I think next thing will be to rebuild (pay someone else to do it) the Upper ram on the Mitsu, it has been leaking for a long time and is getting much worse. Then today we came up with an idea of how to rework the thumb so that it actually works better with the bucket, so I may try and coincide that repair with the ram repair. Next week I have to move Clark (didn't get to it this week), then work on getting the tires swapped around on the trailers so they can get listed for sale.
Looks like I am going to the island on Tuesday or Wednesday, so I am mentally preparing for that.
I also got my H2 rims in and need to get the tires mounted and balanced so I can put those on the Maroon burb.
Lastly, the blue forklift that we named Guido, it didn't stick, it is now called Smokey and the Blue electric forklift/stacker is Guido. The names fit better for sure.
My feet dragging lost the wrist and clean up bucket I was looking at, so that is off the table for now. I think next thing will be to rebuild (pay someone else to do it) the Upper ram on the Mitsu, it has been leaking for a long time and is getting much worse. Then today we came up with an idea of how to rework the thumb so that it actually works better with the bucket, so I may try and coincide that repair with the ram repair. Next week I have to move Clark (didn't get to it this week), then work on getting the tires swapped around on the trailers so they can get listed for sale.
Looks like I am going to the island on Tuesday or Wednesday, so I am mentally preparing for that.
I also got my H2 rims in and need to get the tires mounted and balanced so I can put those on the Maroon burb.
Lastly, the blue forklift that we named Guido, it didn't stick, it is now called Smokey and the Blue electric forklift/stacker is Guido. The names fit better for sure.
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Here is the trailer that might be.
It has brand new tires and new brakes, suspension looks like it doesn’t need much if any repairs, paint it decent, it is 8’ 6” wide, outside rail has a lower lip for ratchet straps, overall length is 26’, and the deck is a full tilt. I would probably add full hydraulics for power up and down, then add a nice winch to be able to haul non running things up the ramp. Probably will rework the tail a bit to make it a sharper edge so it will be easier to haul forklifts, then I will redo the decking a bit too. Last thing is I may swap over the hubs and rims to make it easier to deal with the tires later on, but this is absolutely last on the list.
It has brand new tires and new brakes, suspension looks like it doesn’t need much if any repairs, paint it decent, it is 8’ 6” wide, outside rail has a lower lip for ratchet straps, overall length is 26’, and the deck is a full tilt. I would probably add full hydraulics for power up and down, then add a nice winch to be able to haul non running things up the ramp. Probably will rework the tail a bit to make it a sharper edge so it will be easier to haul forklifts, then I will redo the decking a bit too. Last thing is I may swap over the hubs and rims to make it easier to deal with the tires later on, but this is absolutely last on the list.
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xtremek
Well-known member
Good luck with the trailer. It'll be cool to see you get something that doesn't need a ton of work, says the guy who is rewiring 2/3s of a rusted out '82 c30 dump truck.
I am trying to turn a new leaf.
One of my H2 rims has a huge dent in the outer lip, didn’t notice it on Friday. Not sure if it will be an issue with mounting and balancing, but I don’t like it. Contacted the seller to see what they want to do, hopefully they will get back to me tomorrow.
It looks better in the pictures, I even tried to smack it around with a soft faced dead blow, but it wasn’t moving a bit. I suppose the wheel fixer guy could do it, but I don’t think I should have to pay twice. I hate it when things don’t go well, always makes me feel like I am the problem.
One of my H2 rims has a huge dent in the outer lip, didn’t notice it on Friday. Not sure if it will be an issue with mounting and balancing, but I don’t like it. Contacted the seller to see what they want to do, hopefully they will get back to me tomorrow.
It looks better in the pictures, I even tried to smack it around with a soft faced dead blow, but it wasn’t moving a bit. I suppose the wheel fixer guy could do it, but I don’t think I should have to pay twice. I hate it when things don’t go well, always makes me feel like I am the problem.
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casmurbax
Well-known member
that ***** on the wheel... What you were not supposed to notice that?
Ralf99
Well-known member
Fingers crossed the deal on the new new trailer comes off - all the conundrums with the others disappear after you swap wheels about - WIN!
If the seller backs out or even asks for more money, I would probably pay it just to save the hassle of finding a better deal. I honestly think the trailer is worth more like $5k, hopefully he doesn't change the price, but who knows. The tires are nothing special, but they are still $200 a piece plus mounting, so there is $1600 just in tires. My buddy thinks the guy will stick with his price, I sure hope so, it would make my week.
xtremek
Well-known member
Pulling for you to get this win.
jack stand
Well-known member
What makes them Hummer wheels. Is it just the 16.5 part? I know they were getting hard to find 6-8 years ago. Used to be what I ran for years on my pickups, iirc 315/85/16.5 BFG tires.
Another couple holes drilled, I feel like I went to a rock concert, no earplugs, I should have said no, but I just wanted it done. I have said “what?” about twenty times today.
I have some errands to do, then I may go back to the house, it is really hot and humid and I am dying.
I have some errands to do, then I may go back to the house, it is really hot and humid and I am dying.
casmurbax
Well-known member
don't die, get hydrated and use ear plugs!
any word on the wheel?
any word on the wheel?
racer-john
Well-known member
"The trailer guy backed out"
Damn.
Damn.
mybigwarwagon
Well-known member
The trailer guy backed out.
I suppose it could have been worse. He could have took money and then disappeared.
So I went to check into having the damaged rim fixed, they said maybe, but it would be $125. So I asked about powder coating, he said it is $125, I asked a few more questions, all answers were $125. Basically if you want, they will acid dip, sandblast, fix dents, repair cracks, and powder coat whatever color you want, $125 per rim. I saw some of the work and it was excellent, so I may end up having some rims done later on. I asked him how they could just charge $125 and he said volume, I still can't imagine trying to make a living with a flat fee, they must have had ten employees in there and a pretty good size shop with some expensive equipment.
Hopefully the replacement rim will be here early next week so I can get them on the Burb, I think they are going to look really nice.
Also, it is hot, really hot, with an excessive amount of humidity too.
Hopefully the replacement rim will be here early next week so I can get them on the Burb, I think they are going to look really nice.
Also, it is hot, really hot, with an excessive amount of humidity too.
shortykorte
Well-known member
When you got a good process down and the easy ones balance out the more difficult ones.
Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal
Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal
scooterbum46
Well-known member
I ran a home based shop twice - fixing CB radios back in the mid 70's and Commodore computers a couple of years later. I was being fed the work by stores in both cases and agreed on flat rates because the volume was pretty good and I'd learned that diagnosis and repair of a lot of the units was pretty easy. That balanced with the "tough dogs" that could blow an entire evening once in a while, but the end result was that I made enough on it overall to make it worthwhile without timekeeping and billing hassles.
That worked in both cases until I realized that I was getting more tough dogs by far than the numbers said I should. A little quiet checking in both cases showed an enterprising employee was "pre-screening" and moving the quick fix stuff off to his own side business. Gotta keep track of the numbers........
86turbodsl
Well-known member
ah the good old days when repairs didn't include just circular filing everything... I still watch commodore repair videos.
scooterbum46
Well-known member
I've still got a cabinet full of discrete parts.... I should look for a maker group to donate the stuff to (not Commodore parts though LOL).