Posted 2009-01-15 6:46 PM (#97588) Subject: Tell me about CATO Classic
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
a friend of mine has repossed a 1996 Cato Classic 6 horse trailer. It needs some work to spruce it up.
He is wondering what it's worth. He thinks he is going to sell it for more than I think it's worth. But what do I know.
I've pulled up numerous other 5 & 6 horse trailers, all were newer and shown him what they are selling for on the market. I'm just trying to find out a little more info for him
Is Cato still in business? I don't see anything on this website or elsewhere on the internet after 2002. Which leads me to speculate they are gone.
Did they build a good trailer?
The trailer looks like a monster to me. 6 horses, Mid & rear tack, large dressing room. It's 33 feet on the box floor. I gotta believe it weighs a ton. but it only has Load Range E tires on two axles. The axles are clear at the back , so it's gotta put a lot of weight on the pin.
My friend is going to put new tires on it. Go through the brakes and bearings, new weather stripping on all doors and all the drop windows. Fix all the lights, probably a new battery for the electric jack. Acid wash or some how clean the exterior and wash out the interior. I hate to see him put a lot of effort into some thing that doesn't have a lot of resell. I think he is upside down already. He can only improve the resell so much on a 13 year old trailer. And there are only so many people looking for that big of a rig.
Posted 2009-01-16 9:26 AM (#97609 - in reply to #97588) Subject: RE: Tell me about CATO Classic
Regular
Posts: 64 Location: Oklahoma City
We just sold a 1997 Hart aluminum 6 horse, 7'6" wide that had been completely reconditioned for $14,500 and felt fortunate to get it. You are correct, the market on the older, bigger trailers is tough. Cato built a good trailer, but they are not real well known in this part of the country. That also will slow down the sale of it.
Posted 2009-01-16 3:04 PM (#97637 - in reply to #97588) Subject: RE: Tell me about CATO Classic
Elite Veteran
Posts: 720
Be sure and check the normal spots for cracks- especially the rear end. And Cato was notorious for "under tire"ing a trailer. And then sometimes they'd put 14PR on the ground, and a 10PR on spare.
Posted 2009-01-17 8:49 AM (#97663 - in reply to #97637) Subject: RE: Tell me about CATO Classic
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
I went and looked at the trailer. It has some really old and cracked 235/85/16 tires. But the trailer sticker spec'd out 750 x 16 tires. Who ever owned it prior to having it repossesed probably took off the good tires and put on the oldest tires they had around the barn.
I think you probably could use Load Range E 235/85/16 tires and be with in weight specs. There is no LQ. so it would be just horses and trailer.
Tell me about CATO Classic
