Non camper trailers....looking for one

[Guest Close Guest]

I'm a newbie to the site and have had my '120' for about 2 years and been off road, oooohhhh....twice...........in that time; zero mods to standard 4L GXL and only now making time to get out of town often with very young kids. I am slowly getting there.....I am going camping to Kalbari and Ningaloo in September and am on the lookout for a trailer to buy proably second hand....I dont need a camper trailer, just a regular old covered (optional) 6x4 (or so) trailer I can use to throw tent, bags, etc into for next few trips and maybe grow up into something bigger and better over time...or replace as i get braver and the kids get older.....where can you old hands recommend i go in WA for this......every time i go look, its seems to start at about 3k for a 'good' non camping one...surely there must be better value out there????

[Deeptank Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Deeptank]

Why not just get a roof rack if all you want is extra space? Towing a trailer through hard terrain is no laugh... Here in Victoria some tracks are so narrow you can forget about turning around if you hit a bad patch when towing a trailer. I love the idea of a camp trailer, but the thought of towing it and having it limit where I can go will keep me sleeping in a tent for years to come. The idea of towing a trailer off-road just to haul stuff (i.e. not a camper for sleeping in) would not float my boat at all.

Of course this isn't to say, "I'm right, you're wrong" - just my thoughts.

Be interested to know which way you end up going and how it works out! :wink:

[Just*Managing Member Find all posts View Profile Close Just*Managing]

keep an eye out in Quokka. I've occassionally seen a camper trailer for sale for under $2k. The camper part itself was rubbish but at least twice, I would have thought it was good value for the trailer alone. I considered them when looking at the ebay camper that fit on your trailer.Ended up going a different way but there were some bargains out there. Patience is the key (& time on Thursday morning when Quokka comes out definitely helps)

[Guest Close Guest]

Not sure if they are over there but I can HIGHLY recommend to NOT ever use MODERN TRAILERS (SA).

They seem to have the knack of building the biggest crap I have ever seen, and their customer service when you complain about structural defects from new is telling the client to: F*&^ off.

[whiteman Member Find all posts View Profile Close whiteman]

I use my Nth Qld built 6x4 for non serious off road and it works well. All I've done is put better tyres on it and made sure everything is tight and well greased. No breakages as yet. Cost $1,000 new 5 years ago.

[leachy_9 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close leachy_9]

There has been significant increases in the cost of steel and labour over the past couple of years. The latest increase in the wholesale steel price was in July.
So you will find the cost of trailers from 5, 3 or even 1 year ago has little relevance to what you will pay for a new trailer today.
For this reason camper trailers have held their value very well. I know of people who have sold second hand camper trailers for more than they paid new.

I have a trailer and use it with a tent as you described, see thread:
http://www.pradopoint.com/viewtopic.php?t=3848&start=0

When I first started looking I was thinking of a similar price range to yourself. Though after looking at the quality of what was available. I decided to bite the bullet, spent more dollars, and got something that would last and to which I could add a camper top later.


Leachy

[HGMonaro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close HGMonaro]

my general purpose 6x4 (with 18" high sides so it can hold a full metre of dirt/mulch/etc which I have done several times) was about $800 a few years ago.

$3K for a trailer with a lid (usually refered to as tradesmans) is highway robbery...

Just found where I bought mine and current price is $990 (18 sided 6'x4' with checkerplate floor) so have gone up a bit from when I got it. Here's their site so you can see what they charge for some options for comparision --> http://www.carac.com.au/

Having said all that, it still comes down to supply and demand!