Is this trailer worth it?

bmyohn

bmyohn

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Lake Orion, MI
Alright guys, I have found a trailer that I like. The guy wants $2,250 for the trailer originally. I have talked him down to $1,800 before taxes (So $1,926 out the door). It's a 16ft Better Built Goosneck with a dovetail.

It has a fresh coat of paint, new fenders, and a new wood floor. All the lights work and seems to be in overall good condition.

gooseneck2.jpg


Does this seem like a good deal?
 
I'm really hoping it's just the poor angle on the picture, but that front post doesn't look vertical to my eyes. Are those 3,500 or 5,000 lb. axles? I'd hope that fresh coat of paint isn't concealing cracks in the tongue structure.

I'd love a goose neck. A 16' trailer probably wouldn't be enough to get me to go to a gooseneck and loose my bed cap, though.
 
I will have to ask about the axles, i think he told me 5,000 lb but i'm only 70% sure. The front post is straight, the trailer is sitting on a hill so all the other trailers behind it are sitting on an odd angle.

As for the structural cracks, i did see the trailer before paint was applied, there was some surface rust but the structural integrity did seem intact, but thanks for the reminder I will give it another quick go-over tomorrow morning.
 
ChiXJeff said:
I'm really hoping it's just the poor angle on the picture, but that front post doesn't look vertical to my eyes. Are those 3,500 or 5,000 lb. axles? I'd hope that fresh coat of paint isn't concealing cracks in the tongue structure.

I'd love a goose neck. A 16' trailer probably wouldn't be enough to get me to go to a gooseneck and loose my bed cap, though.
Click to expand...

I just stopped by tonight after they closed and looked at it. The weight on the trailer is 7,000 lbs. So the axles must be 3,500 then
 
I don't know much about those trailers and their prices. I will add though, there is the same trailer for sale in someone's yard in Illinois in Wadsworth down Kilborne, right off of 173 and the starting price is the same as mentioned up there.
 
Brakes on both axles? Looks like a crappy set of car tires, not trailer tires.

Seems a little steep, but I'm cheap.
 
Why do you need a goose to haul one Jeep? If the main purpose for it will be to haul you Jeep........it's not worth it. If you've got a bobcat or a backhoe or something along those lines, then yeah....a goose it is BUT with 3500 axles, you're limited. A 16ft goose with those axles is kind of pointless in my book. If you're just wanting something to haul the Jeep, find a nice bumper pull for less money. A bumper pull will be just as safe and get the same job done in the same amount of time.

If you want a goose for the "Hey look at me, I've got a gooseneck trailer!".........definetly go with a bumper pull. :D

Besides, most of your local friends likely aren't set up for a gooseneck so they won't be able to borrow it.
 
IllianaXJ said:
Brakes on both axles? Looks like a crappy set of car tires, not trailer tires.

Seems a little steep, but I'm cheap.
Click to expand...

It does have mis matching tires on it, but if i did do this trailer i would be swapping the wheels and tires over from my folks boat that has brand new tires on it (they never haul the boat anyways)

HaleYes said:
Why do you need a goose to haul one Jeep? If the main purpose for it will be to haul you Jeep........it's not worth it. If you've got a bobcat or a backhoe or something along those lines, then yeah....a goose it is BUT with 3500 axles, you're limited. A 16ft goose with those axles is kind of pointless in my book. If you're just wanting something to haul the Jeep, find a nice bumper pull for less money. A bumper pull will be just as safe and get the same job done in the same amount of time.

If you want a goose for the "Hey look at me, I've got a gooseneck trailer!".........definetly go with a bumper pull. :D

Besides, most of your local friends likely aren't set up for a gooseneck so they won't be able to borrow it.
Click to expand...


On the side I do work for a landscaping company, he has a mini-excavator that he has a hard time moving around with his 22' bumper pull so i would be renting out my trailer to him to use with his 03 ram 3500 he just bought. When i'm not using the trailer.(unloading a heavy mini-excavator off a 22' B-P with no dove tail on a half ton truck can be scary sometimes).
 
HaleYes said:
Why do you need a goose to haul one Jeep?
Click to expand...

He already has a gooseneck hitch in the truck! :D I am trying to get him to buy a 2 place so he can haul our Jeeps out to Moab next year! :D
 
I'd check the weight on that mini-ex *BEFORE* I loaded it on that 16' gooseneck w/ 3,500 lb. axles. Those things are denser than they look, and that trailer will be heavier than a 16' tag trailer.

I think that I'd pass on a 16' gooseneck with a 7k limit.
 
ChiXJeff said:
I'd check the weight on that mini-ex *BEFORE* I loaded it on that 16' gooseneck w/ 3,500 lb. axles. Those things are denser than they look, and that trailer will be heavier than a 16' tag trailer.

I think that I'd pass on a 16' gooseneck with a 7k limit.
Click to expand...


Those things have a wide range of weights depending on the size of the excavator. Just a quick google search shows anywhere from 2,100-14,700lbs.
 
HaleYes said:
Those things have a wide range of weights depending on the size of the excavator. Just a quick google search shows anywhere from 2,100-14,700lbs.
Click to expand...
Sorta my point. Check before loading.
 
I think he bought it unless he found another. It will work fine for his Jeep not sure for an excavator though. I would want a much bigger trailer or at least a diamond plate deck if I was gonna put that much weight on it. Hey Brendan, Go ahead and buy a 2 place too, moneybags! :D
 
I did go ahead and buy it, I called around to every trailer store/lot in the area and they all said that the trailer was a good deal. I do wish the axles were a little beefier (that could be changed in the future), but for my purposes it should work out just fine
 
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