bigdog Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 A little overkill at 20Ft unless one plans on towing two sevens. Seems a good price though. But the only issue with aluminum is that it needs to be a very stiff structure as Ali does not tolerate flexing at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky dawg Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 A little overkill at 20Ft unless one plans on towing two sevens. Seems a good price though. Check out the moto-snow-atv section for a little bit more 7 sized trailer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 I stumbled across these guys on eBay. This add will give you an idea on price. Sans the wood floor and walls, the trailer is all aluminum. I'm thinking sweepstakes winner as well; long term, one time purchase: http://www.ebay.com/itm/390779550792?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648 The $8K BIN price seems quite reasonable for an 8.5 x 20 aluminum enclosed trailer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmustang Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 I stumbled across these guys on eBay. This add will give you an idea on price. Sans the wood floor and walls, the trailer is all aluminum. I'm thinking sweepstakes winner as well; long term, one time purchase: http://www.ebay.com/itm/390779550792?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648 No mention of brakes on axles, that and I do not see a break-a-way box in any of the pictures. With any trailer you get, you WILL want electric (not surge) brakes on both axles. Bill S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 A little overkill at 20Ft unless one plans on towing two sevens. Seems a good price though. But the only issue with aluminum is that it needs to be a very stiff structure as Ali does not tolerate flexing at all. 20 is a bit more than what I want, but it was Backer's price that first attracted me. I'm looking at having an 8.5x16 built to spec; either by Becker or an outfit in the Dallas, TX. Dallas is closer and the trailer is cheaper, but steal construction and about 1,000 lbs heavier than the aluminum Becker. No mention of brakes on axles, that and I do not see a break-a-way box in any of the pictures. With any trailer you get, you WILL want electric (not surge) brakes on both axles. Bill S. I called Becker and spoke with a fellow named Chad. Seems the trailer does have dual electric brakes; that should be in the add. I didn't ask about a brake away box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffee break Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 I called Becker and spoke with a fellow named Chad. Seems the trailer does have dual electric brakes; that should be in the add. I didn't ask about a brake away box. What is a "brake away" box? It sounds like a safety feature, how and when does it work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 What is a "brake away" box? It sounds like a safety feature, how and when does it work? In short, the way I understand it, if you have electric brakes on the trailer, the 'brake away' box is a battery-power unit that, in the event of a disconnect from the tow vehicle, sends an electric signal to the brakes on the trailer to 'brake'. . . . . so, I think. :rofl: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Off Road SHO Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Xcarguy has it correct, there is a switch that is activated by separation of trailer from tow vehicle. That switch connects a battery on board the trailer with all the trailer's brakes, locking them on full, until that pull-out pin is put back into the switch, opening up the circuit. Highway DOT inspectors, if they have pulled you over for another reason, will always check to make sure they hear the "hum" of the magnets when they ask you to pull that break-away pin. I am upgrading the wiring pigtail on one of my 8 or 9 trailers (I've lost count) and will replace that break-away switch along with the 7 wire pigtail and add a junction box for the pigtail-to-trailer connection. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 My break-away box has a plastic trigger connected by a braided wire to my tow vehicle. If, God forbid, the trailer popped off its hitch AND the safety chains that connect the trailer to the tow vehicle also failed, the trailer wld be left behind. In that event, as the two units separated, the separate wire to the safety box wld trigger the electric brakes to be activated. On mine, there is a small motorcycle sized battery on my trailer that powers the elec brakes. I take it out and re-charge it before every trip. Also periodically pull the wire while stationary and then get in tow vehicle and try to pull my still hitched up trailer. If it doesn't want to move, elec brakes are working (I tend to do this on gravel/dirt driveway as threshold for dragging trailer w/locked brakes is much lower). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 Found this on 'flea'bay. Had to throw it in for grins and giggles. :ack: http://www.ebay.com/itm/AIRSTREAM-VENDING-TRAILER-1-OF-A-KIND-Custom-Built-OVER-25000-invested-/181331176690?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2a382e2cf2&item=181331176690&pt=RVs_Campers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmustang Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Found this on 'flea'bay. Had to throw it in for grins and giggles. :ack: http://www.ebay.com/itm/AIRSTREAM-VENDING-TRAILER-1-OF-A-KIND-Custom-Built-OVER-25000-invested-/181331176690?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2a382e2cf2&item=181331176690&pt=RVs_Campers Do you have a Dually Diesel to pull it with? :auto: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NVP66S Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 I just got a quote from an Aluma dealer. $2462 for a model 6810 with electric brakes. That's a 440 lbm empty weight flat bed. http://www.alumaklm.com/single-axle-utilities/item/11-6810-utility-trailer.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 NVP: Nice, but it looks pretty small. I think the Caterham's length is 122", suspect Westfield is around that as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhubbard422 Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 I keep looking at the 7712H (tilt) from Aluma. It's just a bit bigger and the tilt option might be the easy load option. Electric brakes are also possible on this model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NVP66S Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 (edited) According to the dealer, electric or surge brakes are available on the 6810T that I'm thinking of ordering. It doesn't show that on their web page. The price included the electric brakes and tilt options. And yes, Kitcat, the Westie is 11 ft long, but the wheelbase is 7'7" and I was thinking of letting it hang over a bit. If they had a 6812, I'd go for that. I like the 68" width better than the 77" width because I would use it for general transport of furniture, building materials, etc and the 77 inch bed is 8.5 feet wide outside the fenders, a handful in town. (Hey, I like small cars ) The 6812H looks good at 510 lbm. I might go for that. Edited February 26, 2014 by NVP66S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 NVP: My tie down straps and ratchet mechanisms take up at about 1' of extra space on each end of the car. How will you secure your Westfield on the trailer with so little room? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 You better hope the balance point is right too with no room to adjust. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted February 26, 2014 Author Share Posted February 26, 2014 (edited) Narrowing my search. Anybody familiar with Becker? http://www.beckercustomtrailers.com/ Okay, an update on Becker trailers. In short, Becker does not build the aluminum trailer they advertise. The trailers are actually built by a company called ATC which specializes in aluminum trailers, both spec and custom: http://www.aluminumtrailer.com/?gclid=CNCv_vyI6rwCFe87MgodKWoAwA ATC builds and sells two lines of trailers (Raven and Quest) to dealerships all over and each dealer, in turn, will slap their individual moniker on the trailer and call it theirs; such as the case with Becker. The ATC Raven line is the basic, entry-level, no frills trailer with very few options. The Quest line is pretty much an ‘anything goes’ type of trailer; you can customize to the depths of your desires and pockets. As stated, ATC also builds custom trailers, and have built a few of these for some well known companies; here’s a list taken straight from ATC’s web site: • Sunoco Racing Fuel • Oakley Sunglasses • Nissan • Ford Motor Group • Microsoft • Nabors Industries, LTD • Lockheed Martin • Jimmy Johnson • Bobby Labonte • E & J Gallow Wineries • Verizon • Farm Bureau Insurance • Applied Global Technoloies • Redbull • Golf Channel • Ferrara Fire Apparatus • Time/Warner • John Deere • Penske • Jack Roush Further research unearthed a dealer (Thibs Trailers) in Duson, LA who carries ATC trailers: http://www.thibstrailers.com/AboutUs.asp Where Becker will not easily work with me on the options I wanted, Thibs will, and for about the same money. I wanted a 7.5x16 vs. an 8.5x16, but according to Becker, this would move the price of the trailer up by a minimum of three grand. So, that meant I would go from a $8K 8.5x16 Raven to an $11K custom. Well, here is the actual quote from Thibs for a 7.5x16 Quest with the options I want: THIB'S TRAILERS INC Phone: (800)873-4906 Fax: (337)873-3903 906 S. FIELDSPAN DUSON, LA. 70529 glenmonte@thibstrailers.com http://www.thibstrailers.com SHANE xxxxxx Phone: xxxxxx Email: xxxxx Date: 2/25/14 Trailer Type: 2014 Quest Aluminum Trailers Color: Polar White Axles: (2) 3500# Torsion Width: 7.5 ft Length: 18 ft Height: 6.5 ft Warranty: 5 YR STR, 3 YR LTD, 1 YR ELEC WARRANTY Model #: QSTAB7516+0-2S3.5K $6,192.00 Standard Features: FRAME FULL PERIMETER ALUMINUM FRAME ALL TUBE CONSTRUCTION FLOOR DESIGN - FLAT 24" O/C FLOOR CROSSMEMBERS 16" O/C WALL SUPPORTS 5000# ZINC TOP WIND JACK FRONT DESIGN – FLAT FENDERS – ALUMINUM 7-WAY PLUG COUPLER - 2-5/16" 16" O/C ROOF CROSSMEMBERS - 1" x 2" (2) AXLES, 3500# SPRING, EZ LUBE, W/ BRAKES, ST205/75D15/LRC BIAS TIRE ON GREY MOD WHEEL INTERIOR FLOORING - ADVANTECH - 3/4" 3/8" PLYWOOD WALLS OPEN STUD CEILING (1) DOME LIGHT WITH WALL SWITCH - LED 2.5" ALUMINUM RADIUS WHEEL BOXES EXTERIOR (1) ROOF VENT 3" LOWER RUB RAIL TRIM 3" UPPER RUB RAIL TRIM .030 ALUMINUM RIVETS ON SEAMS AND TRIM ONE PIECE ALUMINUM ROOF DOUBLE REAR CARGO DOORS 24" ATP STONEGUARD WITH J-RAIL LED CLEARANCE & BRAKE LIGHTS COLOR MATCHED FRONT CORNERS 32" DOOR - 405 SERIES ENTRY - FLUSH LOCK LATCH Selected Options: 1 2' WEDGE (QST 5', 6', 7', 7.5') $190.00 18 ft UPGRADE TO 16" O/C FLOOR CROSSMEMBERS FROM 24" O/C / FT $234.00 18 ft 6" ADDITIONAL HEIGHT / FT $252.00 *** REAR DOOR OPENING DOES NOT EXCEED 7' HEIGHT UNLESS OPTIONED SEPARATELY *** *** ENTRANCE DOOR WILL NOT EXCEED 78" *** 1 UPGRADE FROM 3500# SPRING AXLES TO 3500# TORSION AXLES - TANDEM (QST 6' 7' 7.5' WIDE) $179.00 1 SPARE ST205/75R15/LRC ON GRAY WHEEL $137.00 4 UPGRADE TO ST205/75R15/LRC ON ALUMINUM WHEEL W/SS LUGNUTS FROM ST205/75D15/LRC (QST 5' 6' 7' 7.5' WIDE) $528.00 1 STANDARD REAR RAMP DOOR - POLY-BEAD LAMINATE FLOOR - 3000# RATED (7' & 7.5' Wide) $555.00 Includes Poly-Bead Laminate Transition Flap Aluminum Bar Locks and SS Hasps 1 ADD OFFSET ALUMINUM BAR LOCK TO ENTRANCE DOOR $83.00 *** Specify Left Hinge or Right Hinge *** 18 ft UPGRADE TO POLY-BEAD LAMINATE FLOOR FROM 3/4" ADVANTECH / FT (UP TO 8' WIDE UNITS) $522.00 INCLUDES BLACK-HEAD FLOOR SCREWS Total Price: $8,872.00 #20B15-860373 F.O.B Nappanee, IN There you have it. Price is relative. If shopping a low budget trailer, this isn’t it. If you are comparing apples to apples (aluminum trailers), ATC is extremely competitive in price (IMHO) and seems to offer a high-quality product. :cheers: Edited February 27, 2014 by xcarguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmustang Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 You can also contact ATC and have them build you a trailer to spec, cut out the middle man and his/her mark up at the same time. Bill S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NVP66S Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 NVP: My tie down straps and ratchet mechanisms take up at about 1' of extra space on each end of the car. How will you secure your Westfield on the trailer with so little room? I was planning to grab the wheels with 2 custom straps through each. In other words, grab the wheel, not the tire. But the discussion is moot now. I went to see the dealer yesterday and he had a nice used (almost new condition) Aluma A212 with ramps. It has a 79" X 144" deck and is rated for 3000 lb. I'm about to call him to buy that one and have him install electric brakes. Thanks for the comments. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now