I need to purchase a trailer to tow my newly purchased bike and haul a small amount of household goods from Ok to Florida... would love to ride the bike, but moving the family to Florida. Anyway, my question is for folks that have bought cargo trailers in the past.

Are trailer dealers negotiable like new car dealers? Just looking to be best prepared when I start shopping next month. If bottom line price is not negotiable, what about extras such as interior lights, vents, e-track, etc?

Thanks!

Boomer

 

I think an independant dealer will haggle prices with you but most chains would not. Check out some of the shops like Northern Tool, Tractor Supply and others for their prices on-line and watch for sales. I think Hope Depot and Lowes may also sell them. I bought a 6 x 10 enclosed V-nose with a loading ramp from Fleet Farm and scored a good deal on it. WE scored an additional 10% off by applying for one of their credit cards the same day. We used the card for the purchase, paid it off and haven't used it since.

 

Been my experience that they don't haggle much.

TBS - check out their inventories for leftover models, they tend to offer markdowns on those. May not get the color you want, but....

Also, from what I understand - trailer sales are waaaay down in the last couple of years due to the economy. So, you may get a better deal right now if you're patient...the internet is your friend. Don't be afraid to drive for a deal if it makes sense, that's happened to some of my friends, too. Good luck with your purchase.....

 

You sure have nothing to lose by trying a bit of haggling. i'm sure you wont be the first to ask the places you go if theyd come down a bit. Good luck. Ya might check ebay for dealers in your area sell trailers.

 

Rent one from u-haul! You will probably want to build a crate or some kind of protection for the bike to keep your house hold goods from damaging the bike!
I was checking on trailers a few years ago for a move cross country and was leaning towards an 8x14 or 16 with tandem axle,side door,rear ramp door,vent and interior lights and I'm thinking it was around $3K but I could be way off! Check on craigs list if your set on buying one!

 

My best friend has a trailer behind his bike that he modified to carry his dog with him. The dog is a chick magnet. I don't know how many times we've come out of a store or diner to find a dozen woman standing around the trailer oogling over the dog. I tell my wife if I ever end up single I'm buying atrailer and getting another dog.

 

doggy trailers are cool

 

I need to purchase a trailer vice renting since I will be living out of a hotel for a few weeks while looking for a home to buy. Long story, but I'll give you the reader's digest version.... I am in the Marine Corps and moving back to CONUS from Okinawa. I have crap in storage in Cherry Point, NC, Crap coming from Okinawa as well as a bunch of crap stored at my parents in Oklahoma. My daughters are now in college and I need to give them their crap back that is currently in storage in NC and on a slow boat from Okinawa... so a enclosed trailer is a must.

From what I have seen, most of the trailers hold their value really well. The ones I have seen on E BAY and CL don't seem to be much cheaper than new. The only cheap ones are crap. Thinking I'll go new since I will be using this thing a lot for at least a year.

Thanks for the advice!

Boomer

 

Since you have a little time, keep checking Craigslist, and the adds, people often sell trailers at a good price. Too bad you aren't already in Fl., I could give you a couple of places to check. I agree about U Haul, they want too much for one way trailer rentals, almost as much as their trucks.

 

I doubt they are to negotiable. I tried in the past at 6 different dealers and no one budged. I waited and found www.pro-lineperformance.com and they beat their prices between $1-2k. Mine is a 2008 Proline 7x14 V-nose tandem $3950 delivered to my doorstep. I left the factory door step to my doorstep 4 days after it was built. It has made a cross country trip from VA to ID and other then the 6k lbs it weighed with everything in it you didn't know it was back there, smooth and trails great. Depending on how much stuff you are bringing I would make something to block off the bike too. A buddy of mine had a heavy duty cargo net bolted between the bike and his HHG's and it was fine for a cross country trip. Well here is mine with a J&S wheel chock.

My move in NOV from ID to Seattle



No the bike is not strapped down and no I didn't drive it like this....lol!!




The day it was delivered in 07