Gonna look at my first flatbed trailer - '99 Great Dane

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I've finally focused my trailer search one particular unit that sounds okay. It's a ... 1999 Great Dane combo flatbed with a hard to find front axle slider. The salesman on the phone said tires are at 60% They want Cnd$10,500 but will probably agree to 10 grand (practically same amount in U.S. funds). I'm gonna look at it tomorrow by myself. If I like it, I'll have to bring it to our yard (of the company I'm leased to with the truck) where the Shop will check it out. Our maintenance manager said it's better to get a trailer that's 2002 or older but "if the the shop says it's okay, we can talk about this 1999 trailer."

I know I"m supposed to check for cracks in the frame, and the shop will check (probably) the brakes, electric, and air lines. Is there anything else I should worry about?

I haven't decided yet what to do about the tarping issue - I can either order lightweight tarps from Peak Tarps and tarp the old-fashioned way, or install a brand new QuickDraw tarping system ($17,000) and let the financial company pick up the tab. $27,000 for the package is not bad, as a brand new combo trailer (without any tarps) goes for ... 32 grand. With 15% down, the payments on a 36 mo purchase contract will probably be around 500-600 bucks (with QuickDraw).

Any comments will be appreciated.

[GMAN]

I would check for excessive rust underneath the trailer. If you plan on hauling a lot of coils, you may want to check to see if the trailer has a coil package on it. I like the idea of a sliding axle. You can save a lot on your tire wear.

[NotSteve]

Forget the lightweight tarps. I have the heavy ones and now the lightweight ones and pretty much not much difference. Get yourself a 3 piece 8' drop lumber tarp set and you will cover any loads you get.

Forget the Quickdraw system and save your money.

Worst case you can have a trailer dealer lift the whole trailer into the air, sand blast and paint it like new for around $3,000.

I would prefer to see you buy a cheaper trailer and put $5,000 into it.

Sand blast and paint.
New tires.
New brakes
LED lights
New reflectors
New winches and straps
60" box

[allan5oh]

Great dane trailers can have ABS problems. Make sure they're working 100%.

[special k]

Check to see if it has aluminum floor crossmembers. If it doesn't check for rust or crushed ones. Make sure all the floor srews are tight. Combos are bad for the srews backing out and the flooor lifting. Usually that sliding axle makes the trailer heavier. I would say it probably doesn't have a coil kit in it because most people that have a sliding axle don't haul heavy on a regular basis. Any place that aluminum touches steel is a spot where corrosion can start so go over it with a fine tooth comb. Check for a suspension dump valve also. A friend of mine just sold a 2000 Transcraft super beam for $7000 with a lightweight kit, aluminum wheels, 80% tires/brakes/drums, coil kit and all the gear. The new owner safetied it for $150. So I'd lowball him for a couple grand anyway. Like I said before there's a ton of trailers for sale in southern Ontario right now.

[GMAN]

It sounds like your friend got a good deal on his trailer, special k.

[special k]

Yes I knew both the seller and the buyer if I had any use for it I would have bought myself. If I ever need a spread I'm sure the prices will be back up through the roof

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Looked at the trailer. It's very worn out. I didn't mind the rust on the frame, but the floor was flexing under my weight! I called the sales guy and told them I wouldn't take it for $5,000. See the pic (it's the one on top).