dealing with a find in someone's yard...

[FireLion]

I don't know about other parts of the country, but here in Kansas City, there are area's that I WILL NOT go into! My skin color automatically makes me a target. Sad, but true. Good luck if you decide to go for it.

[kb5zcr]

I would go up and knock on the door and just ask. Tell them that you have a hunting lease you are looking to put an old trailer on and don't want to spend a lot of money.

You could also just ask if they are willing to sell the axles on it. You might be looking for an axle for a trailer you are building and they might be interested in selling the whole thing for the price of the axles. Hey, it works.

[Coca Cola Teardrop]

Julie, I agree with everyone's advice. I go around looking for old fencing and ask folks if they want to get rid of it. I always have my first name and cell phone number typed on a piece of paper to leave with them. I almost always get a call back. Sometimes immediately and sometimes a few months later. If you leave a call back number they may think about it a while and decided they don't need the trailer or that they could use some money.

Good luck

There is a trailer close to home that Charles is thinking about approaching the homeowner...

Linda

[oklahomajewel]

Thanks all..

UPDATE: I drove by there yesterday afternoon... should've done that first before even posting this, but your advice will help someone else and I'll know what to do next time.

I saw as soon as I drove down the street and saw the other side of it... POC. Sheared off, burned off, cut off... looks like the back 1/4 of an old airstream or something .. no front no windows... POC.

I drove on by.

I know of others I've seen but wouldn't necessarily be interested in.

Thanks all !!!

Julie

[CASHCOW]

be sure you cell phone is in your hand ..... ready.......

[Rusty O'Toole]

Here is a technique I have been using for years to buy old cars etc.

Do not mess around with someone else's property. Go right to the front door. I find Saturday morning is good, as people are most likely to be home. Or in the evening well before dark.

Knock on the door and use this phrase word for word: Hi, I notice you have a trailer you are not using and wonder if you might like to sell it?

This phrase was developed over 20 years. It gets to the point but is neutral and does not cause offense.

Most of the time you will get noplace. Once in a while you will buy something. If you follow up consistently you will end up with more deals than you know what to do with.

One time my brother needed a cheap van for a business he was starting. During the week I spotted 18 suitable vans in driveways around town. On Saturday, we bought 3 of them for a total of $700. Out of the 3 we put one good van on the road, sold one, and scrapped the other for a total of $900 to the good and a free van.

One time I was after a 1966 Dodge. A teenage boy answered the door, I asked the question above, and he said "I don't know, it belongs to my dad. I know mom has been after him to get rid of it".

At that point I knew the car was as good as in my driveway, no matter what I offered lol.

So don't be afraid to ask, you never know your luck. Do not be discouraged by no's. It is a numbers game. All you need to do is keep asking and you will find someone who wants to make a deal.

[Craig McCormick]

I have bought countless trailers that way. Yes always travel in pairs. In real bad hoods one stays in the car while the other goes to the door. I always dress down for poorer hoods. I like Robs advice also.

AZCRAIG

[robfisher]

I've been on both sides of this kind of transaction many times. I had a nice collectable car sit on my property for 2 years "waiting" for the money to do the full restoration the car deserved. I heard the phrase, "Want to get rid of that OLD car?" so many times I could puke. We both knew what it was. We both knew how collectable it was. And we both knew about what it was worth.

Those people never got the time of day! I finally sold it to the first person who treated me and the car with respect. And I gave him a good deal just because He did treat us with respect.

On the other side of the deal I saw a 66 GTO covered with snow and it hadn't snowed for weeks. Knocked on the door and said "I couldn't help but notice your GTO has been parked for quite awhile. You interested is selling it?" No BS, No pretending we didn't know what it was. Just a respectful question. I drove it away for the full price he quoted me. Once again, no BS just respect.

[madjack]

...check the dates...this is a 4yr old thread..............................

[robfisher]

MadJack,

Thanks for the heads up. Sometimes I do miss the age of a thread and you pointing that out could save me from looking stupid. It does bring up a question about reviving old threads.

Is there a particular reason why a four year old thread shouldn't be revived other than looking stupid? I know I do get frustrated when the picture links no longer work as in Chris' My trailer is finished thread.


The question of how to approach a yard find is always relevant and especially this time of year when many of us hope to find a new project that may NOW be for sale due to a million different reasons.

Yes, that trailer deal never happened and directing advise to Julie is certainly not relevant. But the subject is still good.

[PKCSPT]

I love it when an old post gets revived, I've only been here a short while and some of the are fun

[vwbeamer]

Good info for the rest of us, non the less. usually hate old threads, but this one is good...

[Kathy53]

Rob you are not the only one to post this thread 4 yrs late. I read it 4 yrs late. Still good info.

[bobhenry]

This topic has been touched on several posts over the years and the styles utilized are always creative. I have purchased 5-6 trailers and numerous cars and trucks by" home shopping".

I arrive at the door with my name and phone # on a paper in hand.
( I now have some business cards ).

I simply ask if I can look at it. No reason given just can I look at it.
They will say yes or No.

If yes there is a chance it MIGHT be for sale.

If it doesn't appeal to me I simply say I have one like it and wanted to see how this and that were fit together or some other silly excuse.

If I am interested I start with I would be interested but don't have much money and make a little offer. They will say Yes , NO or make a counter offer. Yes it's mine No I will hand them the name and address and ask them to please call me if they change their mind. If they have counter offered I tell them I don't have that much right now but will be back when I can afford it and hand them the card with the name and number. One purchase of a ladder rack for my work truck worked like this and the phone was ringing when I walked in the house.

On my last 3 trailer buys it went like this. On number one I never got past "can I look" he said if you want it, get the damn thing out of here.




Number two It wasn't for sale ! I gave the older gal my card and said I really would like it if you change your mind. A week later my phone rang and she wanted $10.00 more than I offered.






Number three was a stripped down pop up that hadn't moved in 4-5 years you could just tell the wood floor had rotted in place and one tire had rotted literally away. They wanted scrap price and I simply gave them my # and as I was about to drive away the owner said if I would clean up the mess completely out of the drive it was mine. I of course agreed. Tore off the scrap lumber with a tire iron and put on 2 spares I had in the truck and dragged it home. Sorry no pics I barely got it home and a co worker made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

The concept of spending $600 to $800 dollars on a frame just isn't my cup of tea. Perhaps if I had more disposable income it would be more appealing to me but I truly enjoy bargain hunting.

[Aaron Coffee]

I realize this thread is old.
My main piece of advice is "ask". There was a small older camper in the trees at a place just down the road from me. I always meant to stop and ask about it for parts and frame or for a resto project if not too much damage. Finally one day I saw it on the junkmans trailer going to the scrapyard.
Then there was what appeared to be a Benroy teardrop, in a farm yard. I always meant to stop and see if they would let me look at it, but always thought I would stop next time by. It now appears that the house is empty and the teardrop is gone.