Have you even costed up the steel, welding, cut off wheels, trailer kits (springs, hubs, hitch, chain etc), wheels/tires, lights wiring and plug and galvanizing costs and the labour to put it all together. also you get a three year warrant on a new trailer.
franc123,
Jan 2, 11:59am
I don't envy the local manufacturers, the amount of tyre kicking morons they'd get in the door wanting local quality and suitability for local conditions at a Chinese price no doubt gets tiresome. As with most things the amount of statutory warranty the retailer is prepared to give you is a good indicator of how good it is. If you can get a fully NZ built (not just assembled locally from imported parts that the importer has selectively turfed the substandard bits likely to give trouble), plated and WoFed 6x4 on the road with a 3yr warranty for $2k or thereabouts I'd say that's a good deal.
kecal,
Jan 2, 6:18pm
family member is a welder and can get metal cheaper than Joe public but even he can't make what we want , for less than buying a brand new one even if its a China import , would be keen to hear what post 8 ,ant 423 has to say about the quality of the trailers he imports.
morrisman1,
Jan 2, 6:59pm
It cost me about 4000 to build my 2m x 4.5m tipping single axle transporter. Braked and sprung with a full ply deck so I can use it for other stuff too. That was getting good prices on components. Took about 40 hours to build but a workshop doing it frequently would knock it out in half of that I reckon.
Still heaps cheaper than buying one and I got exactly what I wanted
stevo2,
Jan 2, 7:02pm
I built my own in the late 90's. Rims, tyres and durotorques all secondhand $350. Steel, ply, lights and couplings all new and galvanizing all cost $750. So there's $1100 for materials. It took me about 30 hours to build and an engineers charge out at the time would have been about $35/hour so that brings the total up to $2150. Remember that's nearly 25 years ago so prices have approx doubled in that time.
mrfxit,
Jan 2, 8:14pm
Done the basic math's on fixing my current 6x4 (true 800kg load capacity) 2 sheets of 18mm treated structural ply will do the deck & sides Assorted bolts One wheel bearing. Mudguards pair Needs rewiring & a new hitch but I already have those Probably 1 full day but would do it over 4 days mucking about in between other duties Might even treat it to new lights ($40) looking at about $500 including new wof
apollo11,
Jan 2, 8:29pm
I don't need a trailer often enough to justify buying. The local garage hires them out, $40 for the day. If you are using a trailer on a monthly basis then it would make sense to buy.
mrfxit,
Jan 2, 8:47pm
Mine gets used weekly. It's a rebuild that I did about 25 years ago Decks last about 12/14 years on average & thats taking a beating Light weight Rides nice even when empty Easy backing with most vehicles Poor old mudguards get a thrashing
Lol, pretty much talking my self in to another rebuild
franc123,
Jan 2, 9:54pm
Yep, and. ? That work is hardly in the same league as a scratch build.
axelvonduisberg,
Jan 3, 12:06am
Government policise/actions etc can reflect on price. When fuel gets taxed, Health and Safety rules get altered, Minimum Wages get changed,Landlords get shafted with altered requirements these altered costs have to reflect in prices overall.
tygertung,
Jan 3, 12:22am
I dare say a new trailer would be a lot less than a new ute and a lot more useful. Can just tow it with a normal station wagon, sedan or van. Probably no need for a van though if you have a trailer.
Labour costs are nothing if you can do it yourself as unless someone is going to be paying you, your time doesn't cost. What else are you going to be doing? Watching TV?
russ6,
Jan 3, 12:47am
I bought a boat trailer years ago, just welded some framework and put a deck/sides on. No prob. A good plan B
elect70,
Jan 3, 1:22am
cut down well side ute bodys were a cheap trailer dont see them today guess they all rusted out .
franc123,
Jan 3, 1:33am
Trouble is these days all this modern crap is double cab and the weight distribution is all wrong. as it is when its mounted to the truck chassis too, the load is behind the axle line You need to be putting a very long chassis under it and putting a very heavy storage box on the front to even it out and even then it probably wouldnt tow well.
tweake,
Jan 3, 1:41am
the trick with double cab well sides is to use two of them joined together. its just hard to find a matching one.
mrfxit,
Jan 3, 3:46am
Steel deck verses Wood deck. Whats the general weight difference for a domestic 6x4 trailer between wood & steel checker plate. Presuming 3mm steel & 18mm treated ply
tweake,
Jan 3, 3:58am
don't know weight but i find steel decks slippery especially when wet. wooden ones tend to grip better, usually better after the rain, but don't last as long.
tnt423,
Jan 3, 6:23am
Checker plate is about 56kg for that size. I never use it here, I prefer Transtex ply.
tnt423,
Jan 3, 6:35am
Its like that with any trade, I cant believe how cheap some people can be.
Other problem, is all the wholesale trailer parts suppliers import their stuff from China. Only really one good wholesaler the rest are a bit average couple boarder on shoddy with what they supply.
tweake,
Jan 3, 6:41am
no way. apart from that as deck material its just about the worse you can get. the aluminium ute decks are usually grooved so there is traction.
the big issue with aluminium trailers is they are prone to cracking. they require a lot more designing to avoid cracking issues, thicker material which increases cost a lot, and most importantly there is very little weight saving.
intrade,
Jan 3, 6:59am
Yea i was thinking the decking sheet thread plate. Galvanising is a big issue . it looks like i scored a minta my trailer is fully propper hot diped. only rust are leaf springs i corrosion X them box is fully fiberglass including the floor and rubber seals and a extractor solar fan. for 2500 they normally sell for 4500$ It somhow works out like i used to live in the shed i store my waste oil in now . But you have to be at it. it dont works out if you just sit back and think it will lol. Its just you do not know till it does. Watching Louis Rossmann for business advise is a good idea if you are lost.
Based just on a single full sheet of either material, the difference would be 27kg verses 69kg = 42kg extra for steel, for deck & sides done.
Would that be close to a 2" /50mm timber deck 50mm timber would be comparable strength to the steel on a general basis
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