Custom trailer price question

[kfh227]

I just asked for an estimate on a trailer.

Wanted 6'8"x10' with straight spring axle and removeable tongue. It's steel and they said it's 2x3 tubular steel construction.

What price should I expect. I am a bit worried because I think I'm going to get slammed for shipping as it's not made local.

[saltydawg]

I just asked for an estimate on a trailer.

Wanted 6'8"x10' with straight spring axle and removeable tongue. It's steel and they said it's 2x3 tubular steel construction.

What price should I expect. I am a bit worried because I think I'm going to get slammed for shipping as it's not made local.

Well the cost to build it is about 1000 bucks not including labor. I would figure a very fair price would 2k with size and tongue, but I will bet it would be around 2500, which still is not bad

edit if it was 5x8 with a normal tongue 1500 is fair, add things like brakes and the price goes up for larger trailers

[TimC]

My steel 5x8 was $1400 about five years ago built by a local independent welding shop. I supplied everything except the raw metal tubing. Since then I've added electric brakes, something I wished I had thought of when building.

Hope that helps.

[tony.latham]

What price should I expect. I am a bit worried because I think I'm going to get slammed for shipping as it's not made local.

I'll WAG (wild ass guess) it at about $2000 without shipping.

If you get slammed with shipping, I would suggest drawing something up and taking it around the block to a couple of welding fabricators. Every town has a few. Put the axle at 60/40 on the frame and have it bid with 2" x 3" 14 gauge steel for the frame. 4' for the tongue.



The steel for the last teardrop chassis I made (in 2019) was $260. Lights, rims fenders, etc was another $265. $150 for tires.

You can paint and wire it yourself of course and that'll save quite a bit.

And the other option is to learn to weld. It's a craft, not an art and it's not a steep learning curve. You can buy a decent MIG
welder for $500 or less. Here's my wife welding her son's chassis up:





Tony

[dogcatcher]

Around here, Abilene, Texas, a custom trailer will cost considerably more than a comparable "off the shelf" trailer from one of the larger trailer manufacturers. Welders command high dollar in the oilfield, the materials that I buy cost more than the manufacturers, because I cannot buy in bulk semi trailer loads. Same for tires, axles, springs etc.. The prices of "off the shelf" trailers have also increased quite a bit in the last 4 years. A 16 foot flatbed pipe rail trailer cost $1300 in 2017, today that same trailer sells for $1750.

My advice is find the trailer, then design and build around it. Or go the HF trailer route.