Posted 2006-12-07 2:45 PM (#52283) Subject: What to do with a Trailer past its prime?
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Posts: 333
My 84 Trailet Park Ave is slowly crumbling away. The outside aluminium and the interior steel looks brand new, but the undercarriage is crumbling away and is unsafe. I am glad I had an extensive check on it before putting a horse in it.
What does one do with a trailer that can't be used for hauling without cutting off the top and somehow welding it back on a new frame (something I can not do .. no skills!!!)
Posted 2006-12-07 3:13 PM (#52284 - in reply to #52283) Subject: RE: What to do with a Trailer past its prime?
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Not being funny... If it's irreparable, scrap it by taking it to a recycling yard. Request and Watch it being destroyed. (It's fun to see a huge claw rip it to pieces.) I've done that with some proprietary machinery. I would be concerned that it be sold to a newbie as a safe horse trailer once out of your control.
Posted 2006-12-07 4:31 PM (#52288 - in reply to #52283) Subject: RE: What to do with a Trailer past its prime?
Veteran
Posts: 235 Location: Keymar,Maryland
I'll go out on a limb here. Honestly if the rest of the trailer is in that good of shape, fabricating a new frame is not that difficult. The rails, gussets, crossmembers, etc are all going to be common steel stock. Measure all the pieces, weld it up square.If gooseneck the uprights and hitch are probably OK not having been exposed to as much exposure as frame rails.Maybe build some interior temporary bracing to keep the shell square, get out the angle grinder and cut loose the old frame, pull it out and in with the new.I'd tackle something like this but can do alot myself and have a network of friends that are fabricators, etc.Probably not worth it to pay someone though. My 2cents. Rich
Posted 2006-12-07 7:07 PM (#52292 - in reply to #52283) Subject: RE: What to do with a Trailer past its prime?
Regular
Posts: 50 Location: Colorado
You know, if you're up to the task, you could HONESTLY describe its condition about needing frame work refab and that it is UNSAFE in its current condition to haul ANY animals in -- on this website (or even eBay if you are up to it). You might get a little more $ for it than you would at a scrap yard and somebody else would haul it away, depending on the arrangements you make.
Now there is no way to tell what somebody might do once it is out of your hands, but there are lots of people out there that are on small budgets but have excellent fabricating skills (or have access to those skills) that would be willing to reconstruct that trailer for the right price. Esp. if the skin is in as great of shape as you say. My spouse tells me if anything else, the axles are pretty valuable just as they are.
Posted 2006-12-07 7:14 PM (#52293 - in reply to #52283) Subject: RE: What to do with a Trailer past its prime?
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Posts: 333
I remember someone on this this who bought a Trailet and had the same problem, the bottom was rusting away and he did the fabrication and fixed it really nice. The only thing I fear is that even the guy who did the inspection was sort of chuckling that I would even ask him to do something like that.. until he started looking at it.
My fear is that someone might buy it from me and then sell it.. the only thing holding the trailer together is the wood floor. If I KNEW the person, that would be OK, but since I dont' know of anyone who wanted to do the refurb, I feel like someone might get another person in a heap of trouble.
The exterior is aluminum so it looks great. It is the undercarriage that is so bad. If I could weld, I would do it, but I have a hard enough time keeping my trailers waxed!!!
Posted 2006-12-07 7:33 PM (#52295 - in reply to #52293) Subject: RE: What to do with a Trailer past its prime?
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Originally written by Jbsny on 2006-12-07 6:14 PM
My fear is that someone might buy it from me and then sell it.. the only thing holding the trailer together is the wood floor. If I KNEW the person, that would be OK, but since I dont' know of anyone who wanted to do the refurb, I feel like someone might get another person in a heap of trouble.
The exterior is aluminum so it looks great. It is the undercarriage that is so bad.
Good for you.. my other thought is to go ahead and sell it, But cut the wood floor in such a way that anybody purchasing it would have to repair the frame.
Posted 2006-12-07 9:07 PM (#52302 - in reply to #52283) Subject: RE: What to do with a Trailer past its prime?
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Posts: 402 Location: Lockport, Illinois
What part of the undercarriage is unsafe? If it is the cross members under the wood floor, that is an easy fix for a welding shop. You would have to remove the wood floor first, then replace the cross members and put in a new wood floor.
Posted 2006-12-07 10:27 PM (#52303 - in reply to #52283) Subject: RE: What to do with a Trailer past its prime?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 500 Location: West TN
Have you ever thought of donating it to a local high school Ag Mechanics class? I teach a class like this currently. We have a few donations like this from time to time where we are able to teach kids how to do major repairs and how to build trailer frames. In most cases you can write it off your taxes as a donation to a non-profit. The task seems to be a large one to say the least. However, when you have 25+ high school students working on a project, you will be surprised at the amount of work that can get accomplished. Plus, in the long run, the students will have something that they will be proud of and learn more than any book will teach. Just a thought!
Posted 2006-12-08 5:43 AM (#52312 - in reply to #52303) Subject: RE: What to do with a Trailer past its prime?
Expert
Posts: 1283 Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey
Originally written by robdnorm on 2006-12-07 10:27 PM
Have you ever thought of donating it to a local high school Ag Mechanics class? I teach a class like this currently. We have a few donations like this from time to time where we are able to teach kids how to do major repairs and how to build trailer frames. In most cases you can write it off your taxes as a donation to a non-profit. The task seems to be a large one to say the least. However, when you have 25+ high school students working on a project, you will be surprised at the amount of work that can get accomplished. Plus, in the long run, the students will have something that they will be proud of and learn more than any book will teach. Just a thought!
This is the best idea so far, I was in Ag. Mechanics for my Junior and Senior years of High School and it was an old flatbed gooseneck that we had donated to us, we replaced the crossmembers and wood flat, painted it, sold it in a local consignment auction. Used the funds to pay our way to a weekend at the Farm Machinery Show in Lousiville. I learned so many skills from those classes and went on to expand upon them in the military. My parents didn't have the cash to send me to college, but they had the will for me to learn a trade. I did, and it has turned out to be a pretty good life so far.
Posted 2006-12-08 6:11 PM (#52340 - in reply to #52332) Subject: RE: What to do with a Trailer past its prime?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Columbia, TN
Some of these votec colleges will do a project like this and you pay for just the materials if you want to keep the trailer or sell it in a better condition. Just a thought
Posted 2006-12-09 1:56 PM (#52367 - in reply to #52283) Subject: RE: What to do with a Trailer past its prime?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 333
Thanks for the ideas. I will get ahold of the vo techs in my area. I have tried before to get it in, but they always say they are full. This time I will tell them I have a donation.
As for the question of what is crumbling, it is the steel frame itself where the wood is. It is strange, it crumbles just like a soda cracker does when you put it in soup. I have never seen a trailer do this, but then I have never had a trailer this long, either.
Thanks for all the ideas. I definitely will try the votech thing first. I would love to keep it. Not sure how to get items into the schools and there are only on school per county in Ohio where I live.
Posted 2006-12-11 3:11 PM (#52425 - in reply to #52283) Subject: RE: What to do with a Trailer past its prime?
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Posts: 333
Good news, I found a local vocational school whose ag director is thrilled to get the trailer!!!! I feel better it will have a second chance and someone will be able to have a nice trailer!!!!
Posted 2006-12-12 6:41 AM (#52452 - in reply to #52283) Subject: RE: What to do with a Trailer past its prime?
Member
Posts: 14
Location: new ringgold pa
Congrats,
Maybe they will take my good trailer frame, take off the crumby steel skin and put your skin on!
Seriously, I am curious about why the frame rotted. Was there a leak that kept it constantly wet? Or was it because of the steel being in contact with the aluminum? Maybe steel frame trailers are not the way to go.
Posted 2006-12-12 6:54 AM (#52453 - in reply to #52452) Subject: RE: What to do with a Trailer past its prime?
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by cindylee on 2006-12-12 6:41 AM Maybe steel frame trailers are not the way to go.
there are alot more 20 year old steel trailers than aluminum. doesnt hawk use galvanized frames? bet those trailers would last forever, ill be looking at them when the time comes.
Posted 2006-12-12 3:00 PM (#52466 - in reply to #52283) Subject: RE: What to do with a Trailer past its prime?
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Posts: 333
No, it didn't (and still doesn't) leak. I parked it in my gravel driveway and grass never grew high enough to touch it. The steel rusted out. Not sure why. I had a WW that is older than this trailer and it is still going strong--sold it to some 4-Hers when I bought this 84 (in 1988!!!).
Posted 2006-12-14 12:27 PM (#52496 - in reply to #52283) Subject: RE: What to do with a Trailer past its prime?
Veteran
Posts: 219 Location: Mt. Clemens, MI 48043
I agree with the rest of the group. Either donate it or see if anyone would like a project. My first horse trailer would have been one that was old and left in a field. The owner that bought the land did not want it. I would have reconditioned it but I could not find a way to get it out. I bought a different horse trailer but I will always remember that trailer.
Posted 2006-12-14 5:36 PM (#52507 - in reply to #52506) Subject: RE: What to do with a Trailer past its prime?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Columbia, TN
I think you ought to kind of keep up with it if possible and see what becomes maybe go back and get some pictures or have the teacher make pictures of the progress and post them on here I think it would be cool to see the progress have him make one before and after.
What to do with a Trailer past its prime?
