2001 Featherlite 2H - update: bought it & met the sweetest man ever.

[Senszuri]

I am in the market for a trailer. I have never owned all aluminum. Just wondering what your thoughts are on aluminum in general, as well as Featherlite specifically.

Specs:

• 2001
• one owner (retired gentleman) who used the trailer about 10x/year at most.
• 2h straight load, mangers with door to full tack room between horse/tack area
• no ramp
• kept outside
• original tires, bearings, breaks (he claims they have been checked)

He is asking $5,800. From my limited research, it seems the 2H similar straight load Featherlites in general are listed online for no less than $7,000 - but what are they actually selling for? Is this a good deal?

I read through old threads and I will be sure to check under the mats for corrosion if urine has not been washed out properly. In photo’s, the trailer looks immaculate.

Some people seem to believe aluminum floors are horrible - how do they compare to wood floors if cared for properly? Other than surface corrosion, is there anything structural to check to be sure the aluminum flooring is safe in this 12 year old trailer?

[AllWeatherGal]

Bargain. I paid $6,000 last year for a 2006 with ramp. I didn’t check under the mats until I washed it this past summer and there is some corrosion, but per experts, nothing dangerous and nothing that can’t be patched safely.

I really like the trailer’s configuration and am happy to have all aluminum in Florida. I still got a pretty big truck to pull, but always happier with less weight.

I’m looking at reburbishing all the windows and adding a fan, but I think this is a darn nice little trailer.

[Angelico]

My little rig is a Featherlite and I absolutely love it. They hold their value, mine is twenty years old and I still get good offers on it.

[RubyTuesday]

It’s a good deal at that price. I prefer my 4Star over my Featherlite any day of the week, it’s built much better (my Featherlite is a 2002) but for the price I don’t know if you’ll do much better without extensive searching and waiting. You can always make a lower offer and see if he takes it.

[cutter99]

Go get that trailer! It sounds like a bargain.

I have a 1999 Featherlite 16 foot gooseneck stock trailer that I was able to pick up for $6500, and I thought that was a steal!

The older Featherlites- older than 2004 when Featherlite was purchased by Universal- are very well built!

[GoForAGallop]

I’ll be the voice of dissent here.

1. I’m not sure you could get me to take a trailer with a manger no matter how good a deal. Your mileage might vary, of course.

2. I would not trust 11 year old tires that have been stored out side, no matter what their mileage. So factor new tires (5) into the price, which is going to decrease the value of the deal.

3. I’m equally as suspicious of the 11 year old “original” bearings and brakes. You’ll probably want to factor new ones into the price as well…not the most expensive, but again, decreases the “good deal.”

4. You don’t list your location, but that aluminum floor could be worth jabbing a screwdriver into after 11 years of being stored outside with minimal use. I actually prefer things like older trailers and cars (and heck, horses for that matter!) to be in regular use, because I can assume that along with that regular use comes regular safety checks and early-catching and repair of any issues. A trailer that sits in the backyard most of the year usually doesn’t get that same level of care.

For my money, I’d keep looking.

[moonriverfarm]

Love mine. Would never own another slant load. My TBs love this trailer and I love the mangers and tack room. Mine is a 2002 and I paid $6000 for it seven years ago. They hold their value well.

[RubyTuesday]

[QUOTE=GoForAGallop;7248750]
I’ll be the voice of dissent here.

1. I’m not sure you could get me to take a trailer with a manger no matter how good a deal. Your mileage might vary, of course.

2. I would not trust 11 year old tires that have been stored out side, no matter what their mileage. So factor new tires (5) into the price, which is going to decrease the value of the deal.

3. I’m equally as suspicious of the 11 year old “original” bearings and brakes. You’ll probably want to factor new ones into the price as well…not the most expensive, but again, decreases the “good deal.”

4. You don’t list your location, but that aluminum floor could be worth jabbing a screwdriver into after 11 years of being stored outside with minimal use. I actually prefer things like older trailers and cars (and heck, horses for that matter!) to be in regular use, because I can assume that along with that regular use comes regular safety checks and early-catching and repair of any issues. A trailer that sits in the backyard most of the year usually doesn’t get that same level of care.

For my money, I’d keep looking.[/QUOTE]

ANY tires, bearings and brakes on used trailers should be assessed. Hell, I’ve seen tires on brand new vehicles that were crap. And again, a good reason to make a lower offer and maybe have a trailer place have a peek at the condition to see if it is sound.

[GoForAGallop]

[QUOTE=RubyTuesday;7248834]
ANY tires, bearings and brakes on used trailers should be assessed. Hell, I’ve seen tires on brand new vehicles that were crap. And again, a good reason to make a lower offer and maybe have a trailer place have a peek at the condition to see if it is sound.[/QUOTE]

Well, obviously. But the OP is specifically asking whether an 11 year old trailer whose owner boasts that everything is original is a good deal or not…and I simply said that all those “original” parts are going to need to be replaced, which will factor into the “good dealness” of the whole thing.

[To_the_MAX]

A trailer is one of those things that doesn’t do well not being used, especially sitting outside. I just spent about $700 putting new tires on my trailer because it sat for approximately 2 1/2 years and my tires were totally shot. I guarantee you’re definitely going to need to do that AT THE LEAST with an 11 year old trailer. They are most likely pretty dry rotted at this point so I’d factor that into your price as well.

[RubyTuesday]

[QUOTE=To the MAX;7248886]
A trailer is one of those things that doesn’t do well not being used, especially sitting outside. I just spent about $700 putting new tires on my trailer because it sat for approximately 2 1/2 years and my tires were totally shot. I guarantee you’re definitely going to need to do that AT THE LEAST with an 11 year old trailer. They are most likely pretty dry rotted at this point so I’d factor that into your price as well.[/QUOTE]

When getting new tires, it’s a good idea to apply tire dressing periodically, especially if it is going to be sitting out in the sun. It helps to preserve the sidewalls and it looks good too.

[Senszuri]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

Luckily my hunny is a professional welder/mechanic/fabricator by profession. That decreases my cost on any used trailer to replace bearings/brakes/etc. because he gets parts at cost and does the work for me.

The current owner said he had sprayed down the tires several times per year and they are not dry rotted. He also said even when he wasn’t using the trailer, he would move it periodically so the trailer didn’t sit without moving for too long. It is stored outside in the midwest - subject to snow, rain, etc. We are going to look at the trailer tomorrow, I think the trailer’s condition in person will speak to how it was cared for.

My biggest concern was the aluminum flooring as I had never owned one before.

[Gestalt]

A well built trailer can take a lot of abuse, misuse and no use. I don’t like aluminum floors, I think they make a trailer noisier and they trap poo and pee. I always hosed mine out and lifted the mats (if I wasn’t going to use it within the next day or two). But I did this with the wood floor trailer too.

[Senszuri]

Well… we bought it! The trailer looked damn near brand new in person, definitely did not look like it was stored outdoors. Tires are in excellent condition, no corrosion under the mats or under the trailer… it really looks great. We will do a thorough inspection of the bearings/brakes/etc. before it’s used to haul horses.

I called the retired gentleman who was selling it on CL on Monday (a few hours after it was posted), and he offered to hold it for me until we could see it today. He turned down a few offers that were $500 over his asking price if he would sell it to them rather than holding it for me, but he turned them down “because he gave his word he would hold it.” AND he met us part way, driving 2 hours rather than making us go all the way to his farm. AND he insisted on buying new straps for the trailer (to clip the horses in) because his were dirty.

He said something along the lines of “If more people kept their word and thought of others the world would be a better place.”

Sweetest. Man. Ever. :o

[fatappy]

Yay!!

I just had a very similar experience. 2003 equispirit. I called the guy on Monday and told him I wanted it, but I wouldn’t be able to drive down to see it for almost a week! I said I understood if he got a better offer (because I offered him $1000 less than his asking price). He said, you called first, as far as I am concerned, it’s sold.

1 week later, I looked at it, he got his check. Happy. Happy.

Now I just need a truck, and used car salesmen don’t seem to be nearly as kind.