by Kenneth Elliott
Should everything that you buy be new? I don’t think so, especially for something as expensive as a motorcycle trailer. Is there a difference between a used trailer and a new one? Yes, you may find more wear and tear from a used trailer but in most cases this is all that you will find. But these wear and tear problems are perfect opportunities to negotiate better prices.
Since you know that you are going to buy a motorcycle trailer used, now you need to know how to evaluate each trailer.
The trailer industry does not have a blue book that says how much a motorcycle trailer should be worth over a set amount of time. It all depends on the original price and wear and tear that has occurred during ownership. You also may be at the whelm of the seller. The seller may want a certain price because they want to make a profit. This is why you need to know what things to look for and what to stay away from when purchasing a used motorcycle trailer for sale. Once you know these items you have a better chance at negotiations.
At the start of evaluating a trailer you want to first look for obvious defects. Obvious defects are things like leaks and mold. Does the roof leak? Does the roof need to be resealed? Does the interior have water spots on the roof? Are there holes in the walls or floor boards. All of these can determine if you need to buy the camper or just walk away from the deal. Some problems can be corrected and some may just cost too much. For example, a mold problem may be something that a beginner owner may not want to deal with. If the camper is insulated the mold may be in the walls or in the insulation. This may be a cost that you may want to avoid.
Are there holes in the wall panels. If you find any holes be sure to make mental notes or jot them down for later use. Does the roof need to be repainted or resealed. Resealing a roof does not take a lot to do, but your seller may not know this. Correcting wholes in the wall panels should not be a major issue either. It is just like patching a hole in your house. You just need to go out and buy a kit and your half way there. You also need to take a look at all the plumbing underneath the trailer. Are the axles in good shape or are they rusted. How about the tires. Do they look like they are in good shape? Also, check the nuts on these tires. You don’t want to buy the trailer and find out that you can’t find the nuts on the tires as any local hardware store. You may think that this is a small thing, but if you break down in a small town you will think that this is a major deal.
Make sure the wheels have bolts that are easy to find at the local hardware store. There is nothing worse than having a tire blowout and not being able to change the tire because a bolt gets striped while you trying to change it. You manage to get the bolt off but you are unable to replace it nor is the local service station.
A used motorcycle camper trailer for sale is not an issue unless you don’t know how to evaluate the purchase. But once you have found and evaluated the purchase you will have a perfectly good trailer that you can hold on for years.
