questions about buying a bare bones fishing trailer

[bigredbobber]

OK, I found a trailer that was stripped for parts for $100.00. OF course I'm gonna try to bargain with him. Only things left are the axle, buddy bearings, 12 inch wheels and the frame for an 18 foot bass tracker. The rest was taken for another trailer. It has no title. Supposedly the frame, bearings and wheels are in good shape with no rust.

The guy wants to sell it for parts. I'm thinking it would be a decent base for either a canoe/kayak trailer or possibly a teardrop camper plus a front storage for fishing/hunting gear.

If I buy it without a title, modify it as I want possibly shortening the tongue, builidng a camper on top, etc. Should it be a problem getting it registered after all that? I imagine it shouldn't from what I've read, but I've never done this before.

Since he wants to sell it for parts, should I get him to write a receipt for the parts he's selling me instead of describing it as a trailer. Basically, it's boxed metal bars, wheels and an axle. All the boating parts have been removed. That way I can have a receipt for the parts I've purchased as proof of ownership and home construction.

Rev. , YAL, anybody.. your input is greatly welcomed.

Thanks in advance for any advice. I'm looking for a long term project that can be made cheap and with mostly recycled, salvaged parts and still be safe for camping or towing behind a vehicle for long trips.

here's the link: http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/boa/1839352851.html There's a pic of what he's selling.

[Branch_Office]

Well, I went to the State Police headquarters to ask the same question. The main thing they told me was if I could show a receipt where I had purchased a new axle, etc then bring the trailer to them and they would stamp a new vin number and I could go to MV and get a title for it. Will have to see if that works or not but that is what they said. I was told by someone else buy the axle and have the receipt, don't use it and return after title so I am not sure yet.

$100 sounds high for what you are describing. You can find them on Craigs List for that price all in one piece with no title and sometimes with the title. So to me he would have to come down more...just my 2 cents.

[Hobie1Kenobie]

I decided to go the easy route for mine. I found a guy selling a double pwc trailer in New Orleans. I was patient to find someone with registration. I do like the notion of starting from scratch however and have even considered building them for people as yet another hobby. I cut 1' out of the overall width with no problems. I can still fit my pro and my outback on the trailer no problem (even though I didn't have my pro angler at the time of the modifications). It did make the overall length of the trailer a bit shorter as well but my rod rack is built into the bed of my pickup so there's no need for a gear box.

I can comfortably haul my gear as well as another person's yak & gear which is very nice. Thibodaux mafia "roll deep".

[Razoryak]

H1K - You got any pics of your trailer you can post?

[bigredbobber]

I'd prolly offer $50.00 for the parts. Thanks for the tips B_O. and H1K. I wonder if the Troopers take a handwritten receipt for a used axle, etc. from a private seller. Guess I'll be making some phone calls. No use throwing money away these days or any day.

[Yellow Submarine]

What a &%$#@* nightmare. I bought a Flying Scot sailboat several years ago from an 80 year old gentleman. The boat was a true find well worth the price I paid. Only problem it was in Cinncinnati, Ohio. So I hauled up there, put new tires on it greased the bearings and drove it back. The boat sat in a garage for 40 years, and the paint was still glossy, but It had no licence plate, never did. I took me almost a year to get all the info and paperwork needed to get the reluctant state of Louisiana to sign off on it, so I can get a license plate. when I went to apply for a license plate I automatically got a ticket and it had pending deadline date with increasing charges, the more time you took to legalize it the more it cost.. a bill of sale is nothing but a piece of paper to the state of louisiana.. cheaper to buy already legal with all the necessary papers registration.......

[marshdaddy]

I wouldn't buy anything with 12 inch wheels unless you don't plan on travelling very far. Be sure to get the bill of sale notarized if you do buy. Without the notary, it's a useless piece of paper.

[Psycho Joe]

When I start to rig out a trailer for my kayak, I will be starting here.

http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/trailer-trailer-accessories/1195-lb-capacity-48-inch-x-96-inch-heavy-duty-foldable-utility-trailer-with-12-inch-wheels-90154.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/trailer-trailer-accessories/1720-lb-capacity-super-duty-48-inch-x-96-inch-utility-trailer-with-12-inch-five-lug-wheels-and-tires-94564.html

[Hobie1Kenobie]

H1K - You got any pics of your trailer you can post?



Here are a few pics. The middle one is where I welded the axle. Not a pretty weld but it works. The rest of the pieces I cut to fit the dimensions of the new axle. Pretty simple really, tear it down and build it up again.

[Hobie1Kenobie]

Here is one more that shows the separation between the kayaks. I seem to recall making the outside diameter 7' 6" (meaning from outside fender to outside fender). The rails that the kayaks sit on are adjustable as well via u bolts.

Hope this helps.

[bigredbobber]

The more I hear about it , the more expensive this "cheap" trailer will cost. PJ, I've lookEd at those, too. I guess it would be a smarter route to go for a teardrop camper. But YS did have a good point about buying a trailer with registration and skip the headaches. I'm itching for a fall/winter project to start to keep busy and out of trouble when I'm not working, fishing or hunting. My hopes are to roll out a nice camper out of my garage by springtime

Marshdaddy, what's a good radius for a trailer I'd drag around LA to Florida and beyond? I know little to nothing about trailers (except how to hook em up to cars) as if you couldn't tell. ;)
I always appreciate the advice I get here from more experienced people that have done (or at least considered) some of the crazy stuff I think up.

[Kurt_Loup]

I won't even consider buying another used trailer without a title and the seller coming with me to the DMV to do the deal. First trailer that my brother and I got with an aluminum jon boat had a VIN number on an aluminum plate that was too corroded to make out all the numbers. My brother, who is a policeman, brought the trailer to the state police to see about getting a new VIN number. No dice. Gave that trailer away. The next trailer I purchased was a bay boat trailer with a permanent license plate. I obtained a notarized bill of sale and the original statement of origin from the seller. The trailer was originally purchased for $1900 in 1996 as noted on the SOO. This is important later. My MIL works at the DMV, but wasn't there the first time I tried to register it so I see someone else. I'm thinking I will go ahead and see someone else because I believe I have everything in order. Wrong. The statement of origin was signed "Robert" by the seller. On the notarized bill of sale, the seller signed "Bob". I was told the only way I was getting this titled was to have a judge declare that Robert and Bob are the same person. I decide I better wait until my MIL is back at work. I go back and the Robert/Bob issue is resolved. New problems surface. DMV records only go back 10 years. No records of the VIN number, plate number or taxes being paid are in the computer. The trailer has a legal permanent plate on it, but no record of the plate. Supervisors get involved and I'm SOL getting trailer titled unless I pay the taxes on the original $1900. By the way, I paid $100 for the trailer. Luckily, I was able to sell it to someone for a bit of a profit even though they were aware of my trouble getting it titled.

[bigredbobber]

Thanks for sharing your story, Kurt. You've got me convinced it isn't worth it.