What is my 2007 M trailer worth?

[apsaunders]

I purchased a 26 back during the summer. Of course a trailer came with it. Just to give me peace of mind I had replaced: the axle, hubs, bearings, and brakes at the tune of $1300. Peace of mind has not come! I just can't get past the point of towing a $30K boat on two wheels.

I have read all the arguments, pros and cons in every archive there is on here. My mind is made up to sell the trailer and go with a new aluminum tandem axle trailer. My plan is to use the funds from the sale of the old trailer to offset the price of the new one (ouch).

Any suggestions on what my trailer is worth? I have looked out across the internet, but have not found any.
Sleepless in Atlanta

[Russ]

What would it cost to add another axle and 2 wheels to the existing trailer? Unless it's in poor condition, I would figure upgrading the existing would be cheaper. Aluminum is nice, but not the end all.

--Russ

[mastreb]

I'm not sure what it's worth. I'd pay about $2000 for one in perfect condition. More than that and I'd buy a better trailer.

[apsaunders]

Trailer is like new. Previous owner hardly ever used it. No rust that I'm aware of. I had a trailer company replace all the vital parts before I ever got on the highway. I also had the lights changed and added a spare tire.

I have considered all the options...adding second axle, moving original forward, moving brakes to rear axle. I have almost memorized all the posts on this forum. It still comes down to two things.

One is peace of mind. I pull my boat with a f250 diesel. Sometimes I forget the boat is even back there. That truck is a hoss! If the trailer turned upside down I probably wouldn't know it for several miles. Okay, I am exaggerating, but that truck is a work horse.

The second is, my job is so demanding, time off is at a premium. I do not want to be stuck on the side of the road working on a trailer. I want to use what little bit of time I have enjoying my boat.

Sorry guys, just can't get past those two wheels.

[Catigale]

A new trailer is 3000, so a used one is worth 1500 tops, in my book.

[mastreb]

I have to say, the stock trailer gets a lot of hate on this forum, and perhaps deservedly so, but I'm two years into using it and I just haven't had a lick of trouble with it other than shabby built quality on the lights.

I like the maneuverability of two wheels. Living in an urban area as I do I'm always having to get it into really tight spots, and it just goes.

Yes, it's flexible and it's light, and I guess that might scare people, but the bottom line is that the trailer is a "system" with the boat. It's supposed to flex and settle with the boat on it.

Behind my truck to I don't feel a thing. It just tows. the boat seems quite solid. I've just not seen anyone reporting any damage to their boat due to the trailer failing despite its numerous supposed faults. I've not seen an axle fall off or a wheel take flight or anything like that. Even if you burnt a wheel and seized it, it's not going to damage the boat and you're $500 away from a new axle and wheels.

Stranded by the side of the road? Unhitch, leave it, call a flatbed, and have it towed to the closest trailer repair yard. Yeah, it's a bit of cash, but certainly less than preemptively replacing the trailer with a new one.

I guess I'm saying I'd use it 'til it breaks, and then replace it. I simply don't understand the concern.

Is there a specific incident that somebody knows of that I'm missing?

[cptron]

I'm with mastreb on this one. I have had my trailer and 26M for a little over a year and it was delivered to me towed behind a car for 10 hours. That same weekend we trailered it to California from Missouri. Then around to different lakes in Misouri and then to Florida from Missouri for a couple of weeks of sailing and finally we moved from Missouri to North Carolina. We now travel up to 3-4 hours on the road each weekend to get it into the water. I haven't even lubed the bearings yet and it has not given me any trouble at all. I guess that needs to be at the top of the next to do list. But for now I am too busy having fun with the boat.

[Ormonddude]

I am just going to say used trailers have very low resale and here in florida a steal trailer is even lower - I would offer like $500 and when you said No I would buy a used aluminum for around a grand and retro fit it - so i would use it until you see a problem starting like rust

[RobertB]

Trailer is like new. Previous owner hardly ever used it. No rust that I'm aware of. I had a trailer company replace all the vital parts before I ever got on the highway. I also had the lights changed and added a spare tire.

I have considered all the options...adding second axle, moving original forward, moving brakes to rear axle. I have almost memorized all the posts on this forum. It still comes down to two things.

One is peace of mind. I pull my boat with a f250 diesel. Sometimes I forget the boat is even back there. That truck is a hoss! If the trailer turned upside down I probably wouldn't know it for several miles. Okay, I am exaggerating, but that truck is a work horse.

The second is, my job is so demanding, time off is at a premium. I do not want to be stuck on the side of the road working on a trailer. I want to use what little bit of time I have enjoying my boat.

Sorry guys, just can't get past those two wheels.

The stock trailer as others have said is really part of a system with the whole boat. If you want two axles, what is the difference in adding one to the existing trailer vs buying a new trailer with two? The mod is about $1000. A new trailer is a whole lot more.
As far as selling your trailer, it is only going to work with the one type of boat - very limited market.

[Tomfoolery]

I know this isn't what you want to hear, and it's not what you asked, but if you had a trailer shop replace the axle, they know exactly what they put on it. Have them get another one exactly like it, move the original forward or back, and add the second. Put on some longer fenders and use it.

I've never understood the vitriol even the OEM steel trailer gets, a la glorified shipping cradle. Yes it's light, but the boat is an integral part of the system, like a pole trailer (the logs or poles are what gives it strength - the long tube, if even present, just connects the two halves). My OEM trailer is too light for the boat (3500 lb gross), but the POs added a second axle, and it tow like a dream.

Oh, and don't be too impressed with the larger main beams and cross members of the typical aluminium trialer over steel trailers - aluminium has about 1/3 the stiffness (called Young's modulus), so members have to be larger. Not for strength, as aluminium can be made far stronger than common steels used for general work like buildings, bridges, and trailers, but for stiffness, which doesn't change when you make aluminium or steel alloys stronger. That's why bicycle frames use such large tubes when made with aluminium.

But it you're going to sell it no matter what, then I wouldn't pay more than 1/2 of new, and probably a fair bit less, as you can't always see the rot, like in the steel tongue tube - a common failure area on these trailers, from what I've seen here.

[apsaunders]

In reference to the trailer being part of the system....I replaced the original axle because the tires and hubs were so hot I couldn't touch them. With the new axle the tires are still so hot you can't touch. It leads me to believe there is too much weight on the single axle.

I want to thank everyone who participated in this thread. Because of all your counsel, I decided to keep the trailer and add the second axle, and make use of what I already have.

[Sumner]

...I want to thank everyone who participated in this thread. Because of all your counsel, I decided to keep the trailer and add the second axle, and make use of what I already have.

If you are launching the majority of the time in fresh water I'd add the second axle. If salt water I think I would go to the aluminum trailer.

We pulled our S with the original single axle no brakes to Canada and back and it was OK, but I didn't consider it safe, especially with the no brakes and we had to buy tires on the trip as they were noticeably wearing. Adding the second axle and brakes was a huge improvement for our combination and I feel even better with the third bunk addition. We do have the boat loaded very heavy on the trailer though and I'm sure it now would exceed recommended weight limits for a single axle and two tires.

Sounds like the stock M trailer might tow better than the earlier trailers. Knowing how I load things down though I still feel that if we had a M we would end up with two axles,

Sum

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[Tomfoolery]

The single axle on the OEM trailer almost certainly IS overloaded, which is a real problem with those trailers. Mine is rated 3500 lb, but I don't think it's ever less than 4000 lb. And just because a tire or axle/bearing combo is rated 1750 lb each doesn't mean it's a good idea to run them right at that load, and I don't have a lot of faith in how those ratings are arrived at in the first place.

My OEM trailer has the second axle added, so it' has 4 tires each rated 1760 lb. They run nice and cool. Tracks nice and straight with a relatively light tongue load, too. The POs did it, and it was a selling point for me. Disc brakes on one axle seem fine, but I may add them to the other one anyway, as I tow with a Highlander with factory two package (5000 lb, but I'm not so sure I'd want to tow something that heavy with it) and you can never have enough braking.

Oh, and just because you've already made up your mind, don't think the discussion is over. Welcome to MacGregorSailors.com.

[Fxwg80hd]

Since the trailer is only worth something to another MacGregor owner ( or ), you have a limited market. Most MacGregor owners in the market for another trailer are not in the market for a factory trailer.

You will be lucky if you can get more than $800 for it and given the limited market, it will take a while to even get that.

I was lucky and sold mine to another owner who needed a trailer in good shape to sell his . I think I got $600 for it and it was in very good shape.

[DaveB]

Peace of mind works for me, I bought a Aluminum tandem trailer 4 years ago (weight 998 lbs, 5500 lb load) added Stainless steel front axel surge brakes (add 80 lbs more).
I had to replace the brake axel as the plate that was welded on the axel for brakes was not galvinized and rusted to bits.
I wash down every trip but trailer sitting in parking lot for 4-5 days has taken it's rust with it.
I only launch in Salt water and if you do go with Tandem axels be sure you coat the Brake brackets with galvinized paint 3 coats than use a rubber liquid like Elect. liquid tape to protect it.(use Stainless Steel bolts every were you can)
I never have to worry about the trailer towing and can cruise 70 mph with ease with no sway.(Tow with 1999 F150 extended cab 4.2 litter 6 cylinder, standard trans. Manifactor rates towing #2000 lbs. Had to replace clutch once).
You have a flat/blowout you still have the other tire with 1750 lbs load so you can get off the road safely.
Your Trailer can be adapted to many power boats by changeing the bed mounts. I would think $800 or less for the early M trailers and $ 1200 for the Aluminum later ones both in very good condition.
Going to cost you more thru toll booths but well worth it.
Dave

I purchased a 26 back during the summer. Of course a trailer came with it. Just to give me peace of mind I had replaced: the axle, hubs, bearings, and brakes at the tune of $1300. Peace of mind has not come! I just can't get past the point of towing a $30K boat on two wheels.

I have read all the arguments, pros and cons in every archive there is on here. My mind is made up to sell the trailer and go with a new aluminum tandem axle trailer. My plan is to use the funds from the sale of the old trailer to offset the price of the new one (ouch).

Any suggestions on what my trailer is worth? I have looked out across the internet, but have not found any.
Sleepless in Atlanta