Looking To Purchase a good used trailer

Friend of mine bought a 53-102 at a farm auction for under $2,000.00
The farmer was using it for storage.
He put used tires on it and scrubbed all the mold off and it passed DOT inspection.
He's an OTR driver.

 

Next news headline. Paying out on a cargo claim as customers product falls thru the floor. Owner operator goes out of business in an already difficult economy.

The more used it is, the less life it has. Broken logistic posts, roof bows, etc..

 

Just got sent an email 2023's for 35k.

 

biggest mistake i made starting out was buying a used trailer, well over cost of what a new one was 4 years ago when I bought it, and I’m just about out of #### to weld too on the floor

 

Yeah, and some shippers want something less than 10 years old. Fyi

 

Check sites like Ritchie auction and Truck Paper. Some dealers and classifieds are with the times (prices lower) and some are still way up there, thinking they can still charge 60k for a year old van. Get good pics or go look in person. Tires, suspension and brakes can be repaired easily. Check hard on the floors, roof and walls for damage. Give the frame a good look for cracks. Get a metal roof. Great Dane and Utility are the two most popular and well thought of brands in my neck of the woods. I’m hauling around a 23 year old Utility. The floors are finally starting to thin and crack. The translucent roof sucks and wish I had a metal one. But it’s a very solid trailer giving the age - showing good build / brand quality. Prices have come down significantly so it’s not the worst time to buy one. They will probably continue to fall for a while. Good luck.

 

My current said reefer trailer is a utility and I’ll make sure to spend the money on a Great Dane for the next one on top of ot

 

What brand dry van?

 

Utility