Okay... My 8 years are up. The Navy is done with me and I'm headed home to Texas (Finally) from central California. The Navy will hire movers to move my stuff and in my 5 or 6 moves they've always done a pretty good job... however, I"ve never let them move my tools and stuff like that, also, this time I have a considerable more amount of stuff to move (got married). So... I've been shopping around for a covered trailer...

I found a haulmark 6x12 single axle trailer for 3100 out the door... it has a ramp gate and side door and is a well known name...

i also found a 6x12 single axle trailer for 2600 out the door with ramp gate rated at 1000lbs and side door, plus this trailer is all welded whereas the other is screwed together...
the other difference is the second one has steel skin instead of aluminum, which I liked better, and a steel ramp gate instead of wood which is good for aboutg 300 more lbs.

The second trailer is built locally by a smaller trailer builder/dealer and carries a 1 year warranty..
I talked to the manager and told him I"d be taking it straight back to Texas and would have no need for a warranty I'd only be able to use locally and he offered to throw in a lift assist for the ramp gate and will paint it to match my dark shadow gray 04 F150... which I REALLY liked...

Now... trying to sell the wife has been a little tougher... but I figure hell.. you can always use a covered trailer.. I'd be willing to bet that the family would be all over us trying to borrow it. Plus I could move my tools, compressor, and big screen back to Texas myself instead of leaving that to the movers... and it would be great for bikes and camping and stuff...
Also... I figure if it's painted up nice then I'd always be able to get my money out of it should I decide to sell it...

So.. what do you'all think... get it? or not....

Casey

 

Get it.

No regrets.

 

I did a lot of research on cargo trailers two years ago. Those prices seem very high to me. Compare to www.cardinal-sales.com before purchasing.

Buy a tandem axle - holds a lot more weight.
Buy torsion axle - better ride.
If you can afford wedge front, you'll get 2mpg better.

Haulmark is well known name, but I didn't think their materials/design were worth their prices

 

If you have the extra $$ and have other uses for it then get it... Other wise you might just want to rent one.

 

I'd be more apt to go with the locally built trailer instead of the national chain built trailer. The big national company employs dozens of people who may or may not care about quality. You said yourself that the locally built trailer was better quality at a lower price.

 

3 things to consider.

#1 you will get bad mpg pulling it back from Calf.

#2 were are you going to keep it.

#3 people love to steel trailers, unless you are going to keep it in a garage, there is no lock that will keep it safe.

i had a car trailer behind a locked gate, good lightning, wedged between a truck and the fence, with a tounge lock and it lasted that way about 2 months....gone.

 

Another thing to consider. How many times can you rent U-haul trailers for that price plus the cost of tags and up keep. If you are going to use it everyday, yes buy it, if not rent it.

 

I would buy it. I was in the same situation when i left the army and drove from Texas to PA. I bought a car trailer for $1000. Uhaul wanted $500 to rent one. The laws from state to state are different so you may need to fix or change stuff when registering it.
When i did my move myself i got paid $3,000 so you can use some of this to offset the cost.

 

I've found the Haulmarks for $2495 for the 6X12's. I also found Interstate for $2900. I decided to go with an Interstate 7X14 dual axel however, which I can get with the ramp door for $3900. I can order it in red, and with a few extra options if I would like, but I think I'll keep it simple.

Interstate is made in Kingman, AZ, so you might want to try calling them and seeing what kind of deals you can get. E-bay also sells these trailers new all the time.

 

Those kind of prices are only for one way towing. Local are 29.95 a day.