Hello All. First post....questions about buying.

[Bobbymt]

I just flund this site a few days ago and all I can say is WOW!! The ideas and the craftsmanship folks on here display are amazing. I am in the planning stages and your posts have taken me in a whole new direction and got me really excited about starting my project to boot. I'm sure I will have plenty of questions as it unfolds.

Question one: I'm ready to buy and have contacted a few dealerships..just need to pull the trigger. My question: are dealership prices pretty well set or is it the norm to negotiate as in buying a car/ truck and if so how much of a discount could I expect with a little haggling?

Question two: Any opinions on Trailer Showroom? I live fairly near their Texas facilities.

Thanks!

Bobby T

[hankaye]

Bobbymt, Howdy;

Welcome to the forum. Settle in and make yourself comfortable.
Heaps of information scattered all over the site.
As for the haggling aspect, ... can't help but go into each conversation
with the sales folks with an open attitude, ask questions, work with them
and maybe they'll work with you ...

hank

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Bobby


SAVE YOURSELF, lots of time and hassle, Gadgetman has his rig for sale....

the chance that your's will look as nice as his is slim - too NONE...
no offense to your trailer building skills.
I'm sure he will make you a good deal

Jerry

[roadinspector]

Bobbymt,

Welcome!! Mine was not a dealer purchase so I am not much help with your question. I was amazed with the amount of innovation when I stumbled across this forum and still am. What is your plan for your CT build?

Earnest

[Gonefishin]

Bobby, just make a reasonable offer once you find what you really want. The worst they can do is say "no", or give you a counter-offer. Keep it civil, and the price will be what it is. Take it, or leave it and shop elsewhere. I'd do that anyway, get at least 2 or 3 quotes and a "feel" for who you are buying from. You may need services or products from them down the road. I'm not familiar with Trailer Showroom, but again, if they're that close, what does it hurt to pay them a visit? My advice is take your time and be sure you get what you want. Don't skimp for a few hundred dollars and regret it later.

[jwhite]

If your not in a hurry or you just want to build one from scratch yourself I would look around on Craigslist or ebay and see if you can find one for sale.
I am surprised at how many I have seen for sale that have already been started and or finished.
In fact I may sell my 7x16 because I just bought a 2010 29 foot fusion toy hauler because I got a great price on it,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGZy9mz_FUc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peo2sXp5NuY
this is the toyhauler I have now.

I had thought about building a longer trailer and it would have cost as much to build the trailer I wanted as this one cost me>?
I think after I built my trailer I found out there were some things I wanted like a better bathroom and RV toilet with holding tanks, also a onboard generator so I wouldn't have set the generator up and take it down every time, I should have put in more windows and built the Window AC in the wall plus about 5feet longer so I could stay inside without having to take the golf cart out.
I have never thought I would stay in a Walmart parking lot overnight but with what I have now I couldn't do that.
So I have something now that has it all.
I think the biggest problem I ran into was most trailer are not 6.6 feet high, and I wanted a 7ft for my golf cart so I ordered mine so I don't think there is any price break if you order one, but you can get it the way you want.

this is a great web site to look around and compare prices
http://www.trailershopper.com//url

I live about 100 miles from Douglas GA and trailer building is the main industry and has been for many years, I talked to a guy that works near there and he said they build 450 trailers a day.?
and they can't keep up with the demand.

[bc toys]

well if you live close to factory go to them and save shipping and all the hagglen what part of texas you from i live in Omaha Tx when i was a kid there are lots of trailer places in Mt pleasant tx well good luck with your hunt and as others said tho out a price all the can say is No or OK

[beccae]

We just bought one.Nice thing about

Code: Select all

http://trailershowroom.com

is that he posts all of his prices for trailers and the options online.Gives an idea of what options are available and specifications of each.

[hankaye]

Bobbymt, Howdy;

Depends on where you are ... if you are near the Utah, Wy., Idaho area or don't mind traveling
a distance. You might look here;
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=231&cat=101&category=100
only a suggestion

hank

[jjvw]

If your near a mfg, you can save a bundle by picking it up at the factory. You still have to go thru a dealer like "cardinalsales.homestead.com" who will do it a for small fee/deposit, than you pay the factory the rest when you pick it up. Cardinal can do it for trailers made in Indiana, Texas, Utah, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Arizonia and Georgia. The state of Georgia gives their trailer factories a tax break so they are always cheaper. You get one with the options you want, like a screen door, screwless exterior or two tone. A takes 4-5 weeks to build, so plan ahead. Some factories like RNR, where I bought my 7x 16, sell direct.

[MtnDon]

The thing I noticed about thetrailershowroom is that I believe they don't build anything themselves. I am virtually certain the trailers from Waco are built by Continental. The trailers offered by the McGregor location are different; flat roof, not rounded for one thing. Not saying that's bad. The options costs are different between the two as well; $11 a foot for colors in McGregor and a flat fee of $40, IIRC, in Waco. But Waco trailers cost more for a comparable size. I'm still trying to sort out what I want while keeping an eye open for local used trailers.

[beccae]

We are picking up our new 8.5x20 TailWind model (Continental Cargo by Forest River who also makes CargoMate) tomorrow in Oregon from TrailerShowroom. My understanding is that the customization of the trailers is done at TrailerShowroom but the base parts comes from Continental Cargo.We had 5 windows put in (yes,George is claustrophobic) a baggage door for the a/c and a couple of other things done.George wanted a rounded roof (Oregon rains 8 months out of the year on this side of the mountains) which eliminated the car haulers.We needed a ramp door for his liguid oxgen bottles and our mobility scooters.We were able to pick and choose features,at very,upfront pricing from the website.Will let you know how happy we are after we go get it. We have looked at several manufactures,each has their strongpoints.One of the bigger sellers of enclosed trailers here doesn't even undercoat their trailers.There are hundreds/thousands of enclosed trailers here for hauling ATV's to the coast for dune riding,besides the guys who use their trailers for elk hunting,contracter work, or kayaking.Guy caught a 25 lb salmon in a kayak down the street from us this week.It is not uncommon for used trailers to sell for more than new prices! Amazing the number of people who don't do their homework but just impulse buy.I'll post pictures of ours and also of the parking lots at the dunes,when they are wall to wall enclosed trailers.we have very mild weather here and people ride 12 months out of the year,wet or not.