Should I or should I not- Chevy lwb trailer..

[68gmsee]

Found a lwb pickup bed converted into a trailer. The guy says he'll sell and asked me to make him an offer. I have no idea what to offer.

It has 3 good tires, the sheetmetal is okay but has some dents. Nothing that can't be fixed up. Theres no rust through that I could see and it's set on trailing arms with axle and six lug wheels. Needs shocks.

Oh, and the tailgate is not original it's out of a 73+ truck.

Any ideas what should offer? I'll post some pics tomorrow.

[Spray-Bomb]

$50 bucks

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by Spray-Bomb

$50 bucks

Well, I guess that would be a start. They always say if they want an offer, give a low one. You can always go up if they decline..

I don't think he'll go that low though. He made a comment about 3 new tires. Two on the trailer and a spare that he paid $150 for. And, he also commented about a trailer tongue jack he had bought that cost about $30 or $40. He's sort of prepping me up I think.

I saw one a few years ago that some guy had painted the same color as his truck. Looked good...

If it had been a short wheel base, I would have made him an offer an then haggled with him. But a long wheel base? Not sure how that would look with a short wheel base pulling it. Just a thought.

[67_C-30]

If you have a use for it, I'd go $150 - $200. Being that scrap is currently $10.00/hundred, its worth $80 junked. Mine weighs a touch over 800# with the shell. I plan to paint mine to match my '69 C/10, and use it as a camper/parts storage for swap meets and maybe board meets!

[68gmsee]

Thanks for the pics.

67_C-30, the one I'm looking at is in about the same condition as yours.

I like the tool box idea and for sure the camper top. I haven't done a lot of camping, but it would be nice to have for long trips.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by 68gmsee

Thanks for the pics.

67_C-30, the one I'm looking at is in about the same condition as yours.

I like the tool box idea and for sure the camper top. I haven't done a lot of camping, but it would be nice to have for long trips.

Mine has a plastic tool box that mounts in the same location as camino's also. The PO tool it off to keep, but ended up telling me to take it on as well. it is in the bed, but I'm going to put it back on after i paint it. The PO has had mine inspected and registered. There's a metal tag with a ID number on it.

They are cool with the wiring spliced into to the factory taillight harness. I've seen some with trailer type lights added on, but they look much cooler when the truck taillights and blinkers work on the trailer.

[caminokid]

Originally Posted by 67_C-30

Mine has a plastic tool box that mounts in the same location as camino's also. The PO tool it off to keep, but ended up telling me to take it on as well. it is in the bed, but I'm going to put it back on after i paint it. The PO has had mine inspected and registered. There's a metal tag with a ID number on it.

They are cool with the wiring spliced into to the factory taillight harness. I've seen some with trailer type lights added on, but they look much cooler when the truck taillights and blinkers work on the trailer.

I did the same thing. I just unplugged the factory harness from the cab and going to use it. I am using the numbers off my cab I scrapped for the trailer. This way I already have a title and all I have to do is get retitled as a trailer.

when you got that...I seem to remember you saying you had the toolbox for it. I think thats where I got the idea.

[caminokid]

Tell him you will give him the tires back! I took whats left of my 69 LWB and turned it into a trailer.

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by caminokid

Tell him you will give him the tires back! I took whats left of my 69 LWB and turned it into a trailer.

Well, if I did that, then I'd have to get some tires for it. I guess I could pick some up for $20 each, but then I'd have to also get the rims to go with them. So, I'd still wind up spending clost to what he spent on the tires.

I may try offering him what he paid for the tires, and tongue jack plus a little extra. Should be around $175.00.

Re: your 69 trailer. Do you still have it? If you do, can you post a pic?

[caminokid]

I was in the middle of building it here. I need to get more pics of it when i am totally finished.

[90\87Formula]

I'd say $100.00-$150.00. You can get a tongue jack at Harbor Freight for around $20.00 if he wants to keep his.
With coil springs, it will bounce around a little more than if it had leaf springs.

[ETsC10]

I've been down this road before...a bunch. (long post, I'm sure...sorry)

Does it have a title; and if so, is it a truck title or trailer title. A trailer without any title is pretty much worth $50 or less and even then, you still have to find a way of putting a license plate on it and crossing your fingers or just using it on private property.

67_C-30 did it right... Here in Washington, when you make a trailer, you have to provide a legitimate title (matching the truck's frame) and then take the trailer to the State Patrol who inspects it for safety, stamps the frame with a new VIN and then issues a new title for the trailer.
In Washington, it is classified as a NEW* trailer and the cost of tabs is appropriate for the age* of the trailer... tab costs can be quite high.
Next thing...if you plan on highway driving; is it still rolling on it's old RE gears? If not (drop out), then you have to figure on how to lube the bearings (google EZ-lube or figure on packing your bearings regularly). If it still has the stock gears installed, you're pulling a lot of resistance and that can chomp into your MPG a lot.

If it will hook up to your truck, tow it first. Some trailers back up awful and fishtail on the freeways. Make sure he left a lot of frame...the longer the yoke the better it will handle.

If all of the above works out to your liking, I would pay the dude what he needs to break even...after all, he did donate the labor, getting it this far...

Is the tow ball size normal? Is there a place to hook safety chains? Does he have extra parts he just hasn't put on yet?
Q's,Q's and more Q's but..

Good, sound, titled trailers are at a premium!

Oh, and it doesn't matter what you pull it with! It will still be ultra cool!

Good luck! ET

...sorry about the long post...this is a subject I wish someone had tutored
me about before I had to learn the hard way...several times.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by ETsC10

I've been down this road before...a bunch. (long post, I'm sure...sorry)

Does it have a title; and if so, is it a truck title or trailer title. A trailer without any title is pretty much worth $50 or less and even then, you still have to find a way of putting a license plate on it and crossing your fingers or just using it on private property.

67_C-30 did it right... Here in Washington, when you make a trailer, you have to provide a legitimate title (matching the truck's frame) and then take the trailer to the State Patrol who inspects it for safety, stamps the frame with a new VIN and then issues a new title for the trailer.
In Washington, it is classified as a NEW* trailer and the cost of tabs is appropriate for the age* of the trailer... tab costs can be quite high.
Next thing...if you plan on highway driving; is it still rolling on it's old RE gears? If not (drop out), then you have to figure on how to lube the bearings (google EZ-lube or figure on packing your bearings regularly). If it still has the stock gears installed, you're pulling a lot of resistance and that can chomp into your MPG a lot.

If it will hook up to your truck, tow it first. Some trailers back up awful and fishtail on the freeways. Make sure he left a lot of frame...the longer the yoke the better it will handle.

If all of the above works out to your liking, I would pay the dude what he needs to break even...after all, he did donate the labor, getting it this far...

Is the tow ball size normal? Is there a place to hook safety chains? Does he have extra parts he just hasn't put on yet?
Q's,Q's and more Q's but..

Good, sound, titled trailers are at a premium!

Oh, and it doesn't matter what you pull it with! It will still be ultra cool!

Good luck! ET

...sorry about the long post...this is a subject I wish someone had tutored
me about before I had to learn the hard way...several times.

Excellent post! Never apologize for a very informative post, even if it is long! I have been thinking about the gears. I thought about taking them out and brazing up the hole where pinion comes out in the front and filling it back up with 90W. Mine pulls very good and straight, but I haven't had it loaded. Its got coils, but it also has some funky helper springs in front and rear of the axle.

[caminokid]

Originally Posted by 67_C-30

Excellent post! Never apologize for a very informative post, even if it is long! I have been thinking about the gears. I thought about taking them out and brazing up the hole where pinion comes out in the front and filling it back up with 90W. Mine pulls very good and straight, but I haven't had it loaded. Its got coils, but it also has some funky helper springs in front and rear of the axle.

Those funky helpers really do help. I have had that truck loaded as far as having 4200 on it. Almost dragging the ground. I am leaving the helpers on. I will put some better shocks on it so it dont bounce so much unloaded.

[68gmsee]

ETsC10, that's some good info to know. I didnt even think to check to see if it had the chain hookups. I'll make a list.

He did tell me he has a title and had it weighed and registered as a trailer. I also have a 12 foot trailer so, if I get it, I won't be doing a lot of heavy hauling with it.

[Blue_71]

LOL i hadnt even noticed that all 3 pics show it beside wreckers.. 2 with mine and one next to a rollback at work

the loaded pic of mine, is 4120 lbs of steel according to the scales at the steel recycler. thats on stock regular duty 1/2 ton leaves. i have seriously considered something like a 5000 lb trailer axle and some leaves added from springs i have sitting around

what etsc10 said about the tongue is why mine is made the way it is... thats almost a full truck frame, never completly cut in two untill the very end

[Olden Days]

I will chime in here with some things that are negatives about pickup bed trailers. First, all the stuff ETsC10 said, especially the gears take a lot more than you might imagine to pull. They are very heavy too for the limited size of cargo capacity but the biggest draw back is how high it is. Been there done that and still have it but don't use it (much) because it is too difficult to work out of with that high floor. IMHO trailers should be as low to the ground as you can legally get them. Especially if your getting up there in age as myself. Just something to think about.