Considerations Before Buying Used Trailers

When considering buying used trailers, used tractors, used cars or anything second-hand, there some basic considerations that will always apply. Whilst there will always be a small element of risk in a second-hand purchase, this can be minimised by doing as much research as possible in advance. It is also worth bearing in mind that buying a new trailer will not always represent good value, due to the rapid depreciation in value of some products.

So where to start when looking for a used trailer? Your primary concern must be to refine your understanding of exactly what you need your trailer for, so you can get the best matched trailer for your purpose. There are a lot of options on the market, both new and second-hand, so it will really help to narrow down the choices by closely considering the trailer specifications that you need.

Taking a little time to understand trailer design will help enable you to decide what size of trailer you need. The smallest trailers have just a single axle, which may be all you need if your loads are light and you need to maximise manoeuvrability. Double axle trailers generally have a higher load capacity than single axle ones and are considered to ride more smoothly. In addition, the extra wheels will improve stability when the trailer is unhitched. For extremely large loads there are triple axle trailers available. These heavy-duty trailers can carry very heavy weights, but will be more awkward to manoeuvre and have more complex braking systems.

Clearly, the weight and size of what you need to transport are of primary importance in determining what size of trailer you need. Beyond that, other considerations will be determined by the capacity of your towing vehicle, the terrain it is to be used on, the nature of your load, whether there are security issues or not and the amount of money you have to spend.

The load carrying capacities of both trailer and towing vehicle ought to be listed in the user manuals of both vehicles. If for any reason you find this information doesn't tally up with your calculations, then call the manufacturers to check the figures, as there may be a safety issue attached to the intended carrying capacity of either towing vehicle or trailer. If you are working on a farm, then it is likely that the trailer will need to be able to accommodate movement over rough terrain. The number of axles and their strength and condition will be an important consideration for trailers designed for off-road and rough terrain use.

As well as the size of your load, the nature of your load presents other considerations. If your load is valuable and the trailer will be stored outside, then you may want to consider the relative security of some kind of box trailer which has doors and can be locked. If you need to transport horses or other livestock, this presents other issues that you will need to check up on, both in terms of the nature of the trailer specifications and legal requirements for towing livestock. Legislation has recently changed, so check with the Driving Standards Agency for clarification.

Once you have narrowed down your considerations as much as possible, talk to a dealer to further clarify your needs. A good dealer will advise you on things you may have forgotten to include in your initial evaluations, and will offer you a range of trailers to choose from that will fit both your needs and your budget.