Do I want this trailer?

[TallyCast]

This trailer has been offered to me for free. It's in pretty rough shape. The brake drums are frozen and there is some structural damage (twists and dings) to the frame. The frame is pretty lightweight.

I like the idea of electric brakes and it looks like the hubs are made for tires larger than the skinny 12" ones on the cheap commercial trailers.



There are a couple of additional photos of this trailer on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/radiomacguys/sets/72157622465518962/

Am I being foolish to consider this one?

Davie

[High Desert]

I'd say it would depend on you skill sets for this type of work. If you can do your own, free is good. But if you have to hire it done, free can get more expensive than new. If the the drums are frozen it will probably need some parts to make them work but I agree that brakes are good. If it were me I'd grab it. Just my $.02. Good luck!

[madjack]

Davie, it hard to say definitively from the pics shown but it might work, keep in mind, you will probably have to do a total teardown and rebuild on the hubs...bearings, seals, brakes...the spring pack appears to be very heavy duty and will probably require the removal of at least a leaf(or two) to achieve a decent ride...the frame will havvta be "de-rusted" and painted, not to mention any work to be done to fix the "twists" you describe...it is a lotta work/time and some expense to rehab an old trailer correctly but for free, why not go for it...worst case would probably be to replace the axle and with a free frame to begin with, not too bad a deal...if your willing to put in the time rehabbing it!!!!!!!!!!
madjack

[doug hodder]

Not to be MR. Negative....but looks like more headaches than plusses to me. What's the welds look like under the ply? Lightweight frame and heavy axle is a good combination for something that could have been overloaded. If the outriggers are tweaked, what about the rest of it? When it's all said and done, you could have more into it than you can imagine. Just me though. Doug

[Dale M.]

Frame looks to be 3 inch channel iron to me...... Not exactly a light weight.......

For free, its worth taking hone.... Tear down axles and look at brakes/hubs....

Also check frame under ply.......

IF worst case scenario develops, you can always sell it off for scrap metal and all you have invested is a little time..... IT may be a diamond in the rough then again in may just be a rock........

Dale