Need Trailer Advice

[Ryan GA]

I have a gooseneck trailer that was built my dad built when he finished welding school back I"m the mid-80s. It"s a really stout built trailer and is roughly a 8x20. It was never used very much and now I"m wanting to use it. Here"s the deal... It has mobile home axles and tires and I"d like to put something better under it. I"d like axles with electric brakes. I looked at a few online and 7k axles with brakes run about $700-800. What would you guys recomend? I will be hauling small tractors with some equipment, antiques, round bales, and thought about putting a 1000 gallon tank on it someday and use it has a nurse trailer. The trucks I will use to pull it would be a 09 F150, Chevy 2500 Duramax or an 85 Chevy 1 ton. All three of which already have electric brake controllers. Any suggestions on which way to go? Would I be better off selling this trailer and putting some money with it to get a better one with electric brakes already? I would guess maybe 1500 miles a year... Maybe more but its not something I would use everyday.
Thanks for the help,
Ryan
 

[Shetland Sheepdog]

Just some random thoughts here!
Axles x2 = $1,500 +/-
Wheels & tires x4 = $800 +/-, spare? add $200
Welding to convert $500?
Street legal used trailer $2,500 +/-

JMHO, YMMV, Dave
 

[Dodgeit]

How stout is it? If it weighs 7k and you put 2 7K axels under it you'll only be able to carry 7K.

Your probably better off selling it for what you can get out of it. Taking the money you would need to convert it, and buying one ready built.

I just bought a 2012 model for $4400, that somebody didn't need any more. There are plenty out there for $3-3500.
 

[JWalker]

If the axles are hubed you can add brakes to them for around 75 per axle. If you have a MH hauler in your area you can most likely trade the MH tires for ones listed as "truck" tires on the same rims. You can make your trailer street legal with brakes for under %500.
 

[VicS]

I don't have it now, but I did have a trailer about like yours. I don't think there is that much wrong with house trailer axles and tires. One thing I found out was that the house trailer tires were older than I thought. They could be 20 yrs old. Just because they came on a new trailer they are not new. They take those axles and tires back and pull another trailer and another. We finally bought some new 14.5 tires and our trouble was over.Vic
 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Add brakes to the axles you have, get some 14.5" "low-boy" tires and be all set.
 

[George Marsh]

You may find it's cheaper and safer to buy a new trailer. I bought a new 20ft 14k implement trailer for $3150 last year. It wasn't a gooseneck. It was power coated. I think it's better to buy a new trailer instead of a used trailer that needs tires, breaks, new battery, wheel bearings and fix the wiring problems.

Chances are your trailer may not have a break away switch and battery, which is required to be legal.
George
 

[chevytaHOE5674]

[George Marsh]

Perhaps I read the post wrong. $800 for axles. My spare tire and rim to fit 7k axles ran $225 each, that's $900 for wheels. He will need a battery and break away switch. How good is his old deck? Does it need replaced? Did a certified welder put his trailer together? Does the old trailer track straight?

I sold my 15 year old 7k 16 ft utility trailer for $1200 and put another $2000 for a new one with no regrets.

The way I see it, he is looking at half the price, or more, of a new trailer to fix up the old trailer, not $60.

I would go with a new trailer if he wants to be on the road. Stay with the old trailer if he wants to use around the farm.
 

[chevytaHOE5674]

[George Marsh]

Last year my CPA was able to write off all the purchase price of my new trailer. For my tax bracket, state, Fed, and local, that was over 30%. Spend $3k and don't pay $1k off in taxes. So in real money, after selling my used trailer and buying a new one, it was a good deal.

Actually, I bought 2 new trailers last year. The other was a 10K dump. Didn't spend enough money, had to send Uncle Sam a big check.
 

[Ralph Bauer]

One thing to keep in mind is that house trailer axles do not have any suspensions on them, rough ride.
 

[chevytaHOE5674]

[Ralph Bauer]

I see. Around here, when folks talk about trailer axles especially in conjunction with shop made trailers, they hardly ever have suspensions. I was looking for a used GN just recently myself(in TX, OK, KS, NM) and all the shop made ones had no suspension mobile home axles under them: you can find them at private sales, auctions dirt cheap. I also have heard that those are intended for one time use only, to get the MH from point A to point B...but I cannot back that claim up. (Anyways, I did settle for a new GN.)
 

[ericlb]

ive curently got a home built trailer[ tag along] with 3 mobile home axles on it, this trailer was built in '71 or '72 i cant remember it has brakes on all 3 axles, used to haul tractors, over the years it has hauled everything from a 8n ford, to a d4 cat, i service the wheel bearings once a year, and just generally check it over, all we changed out was the wheel bearings, [ better quality bearings a seals] and the tires from "mobile home use" to ones marked" for low boy use" this thing has been all over 3 western states thru the years, never a problem, been pulled by everything from a 1/2 ton pickup to a c-70 chevy truck, , the only thing the dot looks at when they see it is tires, tags, and if the item on it is correctly secured to the trailer, that one is like a fetish with them lol , if it were me id upgrade the tires, and bearings on whay you have and pull it, also make sure the lighting is up to current specs,