Cheap Trailer

Arkman

Chief Petty Officer
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Oct 22, 2008
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400
I just picked up a new (well new to me) 16' aluminum lund boat. It doesn't have a trailer and I'm on really tight budget. Does anyone have any advice on where to get a really cheap trailer? I have looked on craigslist and stuff but everything is 2x what I paid for my boat. I dont need much, just something really simple. Thanks for the advice.

Josh
 

mthieme

Captain
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Oct 6, 2007
Messages
3,270
Re: Cheap Trailer

Yeah, but I'm afraid it's over 1000 miles from you.
Be patient, something will surface.
 

Arkman

Chief Petty Officer
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Oct 22, 2008
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400
Re: Cheap Trailer

Mail it? haha. I've never been very good with that being patient thing.

Thanks for the response!
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Re: Cheap Trailer

craigslist, i find them all the time. i even buy them, to get the trailer, and give the boat that are on them away.
 

Arkman

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Oct 22, 2008
Messages
400
Re: Cheap Trailer

Budget wise I guess my hope is to get one for free. I know that is a tall order but I have been looking around farms and such with a lot of garbage on them trying to see if there might be a trailer. So far no luck. If I had to spend money at it, at this point no more than 50. With that being said, I live in Minnesota and we have already had snow this year. Yeah, I know:eek: So come spring time I will up my budget. But I'd really like one now to hold it while I work on it, but I'm thinking I will just build a little stand for now.

I have found a couple on freecycle but they come with a boat, and they are sort of far away. If it was in my area I would take it and try to give the boat away but I dont like the idea of trying to travel a long distance with a really crappy boat on a trailer I'm not too sure about.

Thanks for the reply!

Josh
 

reelfishin

Captain
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Mar 19, 2007
Messages
3,050
Re: Cheap Trailer

Keep your eyes peeled on Craigslist for a free boat with a suitable trailer, dump the boat and keep the trailer. Most local dumps will take whole boats and only charge by the ton. The most I've paid to dump a complete 20' trihull was $38 last spring. That made for a pretty inexpensive super clean full roller Load Rite trailer for my 18' Starcraft.

I've even opted to cut up or crush a few smaller boats and put them out for trash collection. They take anything under 4' long here and under 30lbs in weight. A circular saw makes quick work of a glass boat. I put a 15' boat out in two trash cans last month.
 

Arkman

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 22, 2008
Messages
400
Re: Cheap Trailer

wow, i thought it would be way more expensive to pick up a trailer and dump the boat. I might have to look into that.

Thanks!
Josh
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Re: Cheap Trailer

a chain saw, and water hose makes a combo for cutting up a boat also, keeps the dust down.
 

bowman316

Lieutenant Commander
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Oct 21, 2008
Messages
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Re: Cheap Trailer

also try to get trailers or trailer parts at junk yards and try to make a trailer.

instead of dumping a boat, you may be able to sell it to a scrap metal yard, if the boat is aluminum.
 

mthieme

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3,270
Re: Cheap Trailer

a chain saw, and water hose makes a combo for cutting up a boat also, keeps the dust down.

I've tried every kind of saw except for a chainsaw. I figured it would be messy and hard on the saw - at least the chain. Any problems with the dust clogging up the oiler and brake? or is there no dust - at least compared to a concrete saw - which was the last saw I tried. A sawzall has been the best thing I've found so far, but transoms are tough along with thicker glass (> 1/2").
Any issues looking like a porcipine or having to pick out bits of fiberglass anywhere on your body?
 

reelfishin

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Mar 19, 2007
Messages
3,050
Re: Cheap Trailer

I've tried every kind of saw except for a chainsaw. I figured it would be messy and hard on the saw - at least the chain. Any problems with the dust clogging up the oiler and brake? or is there no dust - at least compared to a concrete saw - which was the last saw I tried. A sawzall has been the best thing I've found so far, but transoms are tough along with thicker glass (> 1/2").
Any issues looking like a porcipine or having to pick out bits of fiberglass anywhere on your body?

I use an old 15 amp circular saw with the guard removed and an extended handle added to keep a better distance from the dust. Wetting down the area can help keep dust down but its more or less for cutting with a chainsaw.
I find it too hard on the saw blade on a lesser chainsaw, I have a Stihl rescue saw with a carbide saw chain and non roller bar for cutting up trash, that thing will cut through a steel door let alone a glass boat.

The circular saw is still the fastest but you need to wear a dust mask at the very minimum. I like those cheap disposable jump suits they use in hazmat sites, they keep 90% of the dust off you skin and clothes, and you don't have to wash them. Even a cheap dust suit from a body shop supply will work wonders too, and their really cheap. I've done a few with just a dust mask and trash bag for a cover along with a plastic trash bag hat.
It's messy but it can be done pretty quickly. A circular saw with a good demolition blade will zip through metal, glass and wood in seconds.

Lately, I've been just dumping most at the landfill, unless it's a bigger boat, it's never been more than $38, and that's far better than wearing fiberglass for a week after. Even on a boat that I take to the landfill, I'll remove any 'loose weight' for local trash pickup to save me a few bucks. You will be surprised how much weight you can get off a boat with a hammer and prybar without having to get itchy.
 

CATransplant

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Feb 26, 2005
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6,319
Re: Cheap Trailer

I've found that giveaway trailers generally end up costing more than one you buy. Every one I've ever bought ended up with new tires, bearings, winch, lights, plus new rollers and bunks and paint. Add up the costs and see how much all that will cost.

I quit taking them for that reason. Instead, I look for one for around $200-250 that's in good shape. There are always trailers on Craig's List in that price range.
 

tashasdaddy

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Re: Cheap Trailer

also if dumping, if the boat has a built in tank, it has to be removed.
 

CATransplant

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Re: Cheap Trailer

Looking at the OP's location, I see that the Craig's List in that area doesn't have as many boats and trailers as in the Twin Cities.

Fortunately, boating season is over in northern Minnesota for about four months. Time to flip that Lund upside down to keep the snow out of it and start stalking the ads during the winter. Patience has its reward. Sometime in the next few months a trailer will probably show up on CL.

If it's a Lund fishing boat, it doesn't weight all that much, so the length of the trailer will be more important than its capacity. There are tons of 16' aluminum boats around, so a trailer should come on the market eventually, I'm sure. Wintertime is the perfect time to buy stuff for boating in Minnesota. Guys need cash sometimes, so they sell stuff.
 

Arkman

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Oct 22, 2008
Messages
400
Re: Cheap Trailer

thanks for the reply guys. I ended up finding someone that no longer wanted their boat. Its an old 1958 lund boat. Kinda neat looking but too much work for me. It also came with a trailer that is in good shape. New tires and bearing. The only problem is no lights. Easy enough fix. Paid 100 bucks for the boat and trailer and I'm going to recycle the boat so I think i will make out ok on this one.

thanks again,
Josh
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Messages
51,019
Re: Cheap Trailer

put it on craigslist, for $100 it will go. any aluminum boat is worth $100.
 
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