Do you want a new Utility Trailer? Or, an OHV Hauler? We have plans for those, but the big question is: When should you build your new trailer? versus When should you just go out and buy one?
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These are great questions, and we have some opinions (not what you might first think). While this discussion is in the context of trailers, the same is true for Gantry Cranes, Shop Presses, and many other DIY things we can build or buy. Let&#;s look at several aspects of building a trailer one at a time. We will end with a conclusion for each.
Cost is one of the big reasons people give for wanting to build a trailer. Go look in a trailer yard and you might get sticker shock. Search the ads and you might find only overpriced junk. Often we feel it will cost less to build than to buy. Is that really true?
Almost all of the new trailers you see on a lot are factory built. Those factories buy their materials (steel, aluminum, etc.) at rock bottom prices because they purchase in very large quantities. They also use the materials more efficiently because they build many trailers so they don&#;t have as much scrap per unit. The same quantity pricing is true for all the components like Axles, Wheels, Tires, Hitches, bolts, wiring and more.
Conclusion: For raw materials and for purchasing components, unless you have some amazing hook-up with a supplier, a factory buys everything cheaper. Cost advantage for &#;Buy&#;.
Factories have to pay people to build trailers. They also pay to ship finished trailers to the dealer lots, and allow some profit margin for their retailers. They must make a profit too.
Do-it-Yourself builders, do pay a higher price for materials (and components), and it does take us a lot longer to build a trailer than a factory. But, we don&#;t pay shipping on the finished trailer, and we don&#;t pay retail profits. (Well, not on the finished trailer.) Our profit is effectively the pride of ownership, and a finished product that we made.
Labor, on the other hand, is something we pay in opportunity cost. Time we spend to build a trailer is not paid, but it&#;s time that takes away from something else. What is your time worth? That&#;s the cost of your labor. Yet, if you&#;re like me, the enjoyment of building and the satisfaction of producing something really great, is also part of the pay.
Conclusion: There is a good case for DIY with the lower financial cost of labor, but labor cost alone is not really a convincing reason. Satisfaction in your work, and pride of ownership, well, that&#;s another story. Cost advantage for &#;Build&#;.
We will go into more of the details below, but one big cost factor is getting what you want. If you buy a trailer, you might have to take what they have on the lot. If you want something custom, or if you want something not on the lot, then it might take some time. And, the extra options can be very expensive.
If you build a trailer, you can include more of the options you want, and adjust the size or Customize the trailer in other ways. The cost for these improvements is just the time and materials necessary. The one hiccup is that it takes a lot of time to build as comparing to buy.
Conclusion: If you want some special, or custom options, the DIY approach is attractive for cost. Cost advantage for &#;Build&#;.
On the other hand, it takes a lot more time to build than buy. Advantage for &#;Buy&#; &#; unless you have to wait for months and months for a custom option.
If you want or need a trailer that is just like the ones on the lot, then you should probably buy one. In the end, factoring in the cost of materials, components, time for fabricating, building, painting, and extra tools you buy, it&#;s likely to cost more to build than to buy.
Is it heresy to say that? Keep in mind that I&#;m talking about a factory standard trailer. If that fits your need, and it&#;s all that you want, then it&#;s probably better to just go out and buy one. If cost is a concern, search the ads on Craigslist and other places. It&#;s not uncommon to get a good deal on a standard type trailer.
Two other reasons to think twice before you build a trailer: Tools & Space. If you don&#;t have the right tools (or have access to needed tools), building will be much more difficult. Also, you will need plenty of space to setup and build a trailer.
Finally, if you need a trailer right now, it&#;s hard to build one really quick. Better to just buy (or rent) what you need, then worry about building something later. That is if you are so inclined.
Building a trailer is a wonderful experience. If you&#;re thinking about this kind of project, there are lots of reasons for building, and many may apply. Here are the reasons I see to build a trailer:
Conclusion: No question, if you want something different, if you want something really robust, if you want something you can be super proud of, and if you have a love of creating and building, DEFINITELY, Build It !!
The case for building over buying is one of ending up with something that truly fits your needs. As noted above, it&#;s not just a matter of cost, but also of enjoyment in the final product. In our plans, we show lots of options, and we encourage customization. Build a trailer that you&#;re proud of, and it will be a source of happiness for years to come.
I have always said, &#;Build it if you want something you can&#;t Buy.&#; That means quality, toughness, customizations, opportunity, education, pride of ownership, etc.. That&#;s why I build.
For your tiny house, the foundation is the key to almost all other parts of the project, so yes, build that to meet your needs. We have some great plans to start with including a 20&#;, a 24&#; and a 30&#;/32&#; option to choose from &#; and customize.
Another point that we sometimes dismiss &#; enjoying the process. The love of the journey! Learning and expanding in ways that provide enjoyment is pretty important. It adds richness to our lives. Don&#;t discount that.
I might add that there is also a priceless education that comes from building something, especially if that&#;s not what you do every day. Learning more about yourself and about how to do things will benefit you much farther than just the accomplishment of what you build. I say &#;priceless&#; because there is no better way to learn than to do-it-yourself!
Good Luck with All Your Projects!
Read more about &#;How to Buy the Best Flatbed Trailer.&#;
Flatbed bulkheads are important to cargo control. A bulkhead is affixed to the front end of a flatbed trailer to prevent forward movement of cargo and protect the driver carrying heavy loads.
There are two basic types of flatbed bulkheads, the wrap around and the flat.
Choosing the right bulkhead is important for the safety of both the driver and the cargo. In addition, you want something durable enough to stand up to shifting load while not adding weight to your trailer.
A flat bulkhead is sufficient if you won&#;t be loading cargo that requires additional reinforcement on the sides.
With the flat bulkhead, you&#;re not sacrificing any deck space, allowing pallets to be loaded up against the bulkhead.
Flat bulkheads are available in both corrugated or flat metal.
A wrap around bulkhead, or turnback bulkhead, has a return on either side which can provide extra support to help keep a load in place, and the turnback makes it easier to secure the load with side rail kits and panels.
Wrap arounds are available with returns of 10&#; or up to 24&#; in length.
Both bulkheads come DOT or Non-DOT rated.
Haiheyuan are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.
Many configurations are available depending on your needs, including bolt-on kits, steerable lift axles, and front and rear configurations.
They can be mounted between the spread axle or anywhere along the flatbed on either side.
Dunnage Racks provide storage on your semi-trailer flatbeds for the wood (or dunnage) while transporting unpalletized loads.
They&#;re mainly used on flatbed, drop-deck, and gooseneck trailers to free up space on your trailer bed to allow you to carry more cargo.
Dunnage racks come in many styles and configurations, including baskets styles with or without a floor, side mounts, cross trailer mounts, and can be designed to hold dunnage as needed.
Talk with your semi-trailer dealer near you to help with spec&#;ing a dunnage rack that works best for your needs.
A lift axle is a way to lift the tires off the road surface when they are not required to support a load, improving the efficiency of the trailer operation.
Lift axles are a great option that can save you money on tolls on your return trip with one less axle on the ground and reduce rolling resistance on the empty trailer.
A lift axle makes pivoting easier when turning and creates less tire scrub when pivoting on just one axle.
Bolt-on kits provide about 2&#;-4&#; of lift. Some stand-alone lift axles will get you a little more clearance
Benefits include:
Add a lift axle switch in the cab.
In addition to the ball valve typically used to lift the axle, we recommend running an electrical lift axle through the 7-way or auxiliary plug to a switch in your cab, eliminating your driver&#;s need to leave the truck.
Many configurations are available depending on your needs, including bolt-on kits, steerable lift axles, and front and rear configurations.
The advantages of a rear axle dump are similar to that of a lift axle, allowing you to pivot easier when making turns at your delivery or loading location.
Rear axle dumps are typically electrically operated and can be run through a standard 7-way plug; however, we recommend the auxiliary plug on the front to operate multiple switches.
Talk with the flatbed semi-trailer dealer near you to help with your lift axle and rear axle dumps.
On the front end, when spec&#;ing your flatbed trailer, there are many extras and customizations we can add to meet the needs of your business and keep your drivers safe. Some examples are:
Be sure to contact your semi-trailer dealer to spec your next flatbed.
Utility Keystone works hard at finding the best solution to meet the demands of your hauling requirements.
If you&#;d like more information on beavertail ramps, Moffett kits, or choosing the best flatbed trailer to fit your particular needs and application, give us a call or click the link below.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Custom Semi Trailers.