Trailer Prices?

[hummingbird]

So with things like this supposedly falling in price, what time of the year would you suggest we shop for one? I want to wait until the sales come on last years models before we go and start looking. At this point we are just window shopping but we are thinking about investing in one.

[ppine]

I would encourage you to consider a used trailer. Most people take awhile to figure out what they want and go through several. There is no perfect tailer. Selling a trailer you bought new after a couple of years is an expensive experience. I like to shop in the winter for things like trailers and boats. A day that is snowing is especially good if you have cash money.

[CozInCowtown]

What type of trailer are you looking for?
I disagree with ppine, buy new.
If you do not know what to look for you can end up with somebody elses problem real quick. This will lead to repairs that can exceede the cost of a new trailer.
A new 16' utility should run anywhere from $800 for a cheap-o to upwards to $2000+ for a top of the line.
JMO,
DC

[CozInCowtown]

Okay, I wasn't gonna do my "Trailer Rant" but here it goes anyway.
First of all, all trailers are rated by carring capacity that is determined by the TIRES and trailer axle capacity.
Generally a 15" tire has a 3500lb capacity and a 16" tire has 5000lb capacity per single axle. 2 axles with 15" tires should have a 7000lb ballpark carring capacity, two 16" axles should be around 10,000lb carring capacity (yeah, yeah I know about tongue carring but lets not confuse anyone at this point).
All this carring capacity is great BUT will get you in trouble really fast if you can not get it all stopped!!
BRAKES!!! <-----Super Very Honkin' IMPORTANT!!!
Truck brakes alone are not enough.....ever! Have a brake controller installed in your vehicle and have dealer show you how to set them. They have to be reset between empty and loaded.
Now drive slower than Granny Coalberry while pulling your trailer. If the guy behind you is in a hurry he should have left earlier.
Double you stopping distance for unloaded and tripple for loaded.
GO FREAKIN' SLOW!!!
When you are looking at trailers do not look at the shiney paint. You do not want to buy a paintjob needing repairs. A cheap paintjob will cover up a multitude of sins.
Look at the squareness of the trailer. Does it set square on level ground?
There should be a slight "arch" in the trailer from front to back. This is supposed to be there and helps the trailer carry its load without bowing under a load. Short trailers probably wont see this arch, just make sure it does not bow in the middle. If it does then pass it by as it has a broken back.
Look at the floor, especially from underneath. Look for soft spots and/or rot.
Check axles and springs. Axles should have a slight arc in them, high in the center about 1-2 inches. Springs should be arched and all even.
Check tires.
Check the hitch and tongue of the trailer for dents and squareness. Does it look like it is bent or been jack-knifed?
Do all the lights work?
Good used trailers are out there if you know what to look for.
I hope this helps,
DC

ps,
Trailers are not a seasonal item so there is no best time of year to buy.
DC

[Mountain Man]

We bought a new trailer a few years ago and the value has gone way down. We're still paying for it, so if we decided to sell it at this point we'd basically have to pay out more than we'd get. If I had to do it again, I'd buy a good used one. You can get a pretty good idea if a trailer has been barely use or greatly abused just by looking closely.

[ppine]

Coz,

I think you are talking about utility trailers, and the rest of us are talking about travel trailers, (RVs).

[CozInCowtown]

Hummer didn't specify but you are probably correct!!
Everything still applies....kinda.
DC

[Mountain Man]

I always thought that the best deals were in the late fall or winter because summer camping was finished. But a friend who works for a place that sells trailers said that sometimes there are better deals in the spring when they are trying to clear out models from the previous year.