Posted 2010-04-13 10:20 AM (#118751) Subject: Where are all of the older trailers?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
I am considering purchasing a 2002 3 horse with an LQ, the trailer is in very good shape and I will maintain it well. As I have been looking through HTW I have noticed there are not a lot of mid 90's LQ trailers about. I just wanted to take a look to see what 15 year old trailers were selling for. I know a lot of people that have stock trailers that are 15, 20, even 25 years old going strong. How come I don't see more 15 year old LQ horse trailers on HTW, were there far fewer made in the 90's, do people hold on to them, are they all in the horse trailer grave yard? Is it reasonable to think a well maintained 3 horse with a 8' LQ could be worth $12 to $14 k at 20 years old?
Posted 2010-04-13 10:54 AM (#118753 - in reply to #118751) Subject: RE: Where are all of the older trailers?
Veteran
Posts: 144 Location: Hickory Hills, IL
Because listing them on HTW costs money and these older trailers are hard to finance and not very expensive. Also most dealers don't really want them because they are harder to sell.:-)I was in the same boat looking for a LQ trailer...
Posted 2010-04-13 11:22 AM (#118756 - in reply to #118751) Subject: RE: Where are all of the older trailers?
Veteran
Posts: 229
blackcows, I've wanted an LQ for about 20 years and have been looking at them that long. Way back then, not too many manufacturers and dealers had them, especially in the PNW. I have been looking at HTW almost daily for seven years. I have seen and still see quite a few older and in awesome condition Sundowners and 4 Stars. I've recently seen some very good 4 Stars that were mid to late 90's.
Posted 2010-04-13 1:38 PM (#118761 - in reply to #118751) Subject: RE: Where are all of the older trailers?
Veteran
Posts: 197 Location: MT
I think the reason you don't see many mid 90's living quarters is
1. The mid 90's are not worth that much and people are holding on to them or just selling them private just around where they live ( so they don't have to pay the website).
2. The mid 90's are not near as nice and most people look at mid 90's and than look at early 2000's and would rather spend little bit more and get a trailer that isn't almost 20 years old. So there fore mid 90's just don't sell that fast on this site.
3. Financing is available for a mid 90's lq trailer but here is a real key, who wants to borrow money and by the time you pay your trailer its 20 years old (or older).
Now to answer the question is a 20 year old 3 lq horse trailer worth 20K not to me it is not. If you look and not rush into a decision about a horse trailer you'll find a 2000-2004 for 20-25K and not have to settle for one that is almost 20 years old.
Posted 2010-04-13 1:46 PM (#118763 - in reply to #118761) Subject: RE: Where are all of the older trailers?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
Originally written by brew26 on 2010-04-13 1:38 PM Now to answer the question is a 20 year old 3 lq horse trailer worth 20K not to me it is not. If you look and not rush into a decision about a horse trailer you'll find a 2000-2004 for 20-25K and not have to settle for one that is almost 20 years old.
That is what I am doing...I am just thinking long term, cause I'm crazy like that. You actually hit my price range and my years pretty close. I think I have found an 02 Exiss 3 horse with a mid tack and 8 foot short wall, professional conversion, toliet, shower, nice and clean for an 02...can buy it for $18k. I was just doing a little homework trying to figure out if I bought this trailer...used it for 10 years until my daughters graduated would it be realistic to think I would I have a 20 year old trailer worth 12k to 15k.
Posted 2010-04-13 2:11 PM (#118764 - in reply to #118751) Subject: RE: Where are all of the older trailers?
Veteran
Posts: 144 Location: Hickory Hills, IL
Take good care of it and just about any LQ trailer is worth minimum $12K, and aluminum just keeps getting more expensive. Our 1999 4'SW 4horse we bought for $9,900 3 years ago we were offered 10K on trade in just last week. Ours is just a weekender with a fridge- no running water (if ours was an 8' SW I would keep it forever).
Posted 2010-04-13 3:48 PM (#118765 - in reply to #118751) Subject: RE: Where are all of the older trailers?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
In the early 90's, there wasn't the popularity and availability of all aluminum, fully equipped LQ trailers. There were fewer built annually then, than there are now. The pickups had much less available power to pull a heavy LQ, and this part of the industry was basically in its infancy.
By the mid 90's, the aluminum trailers became even more popular. The big three were engineering their pick ups with more powerful motors and load capacities. With more powerful, readily available tow vehicles, people began to want more in their trailers. As the newest models were introduced, competitors strove to build theirs larger and with even more amenities.
You will find many of the fully equipped LQ trailers were built around 95' and later. With the popularity of diesel pick ups, the market for larger trailers has continued to expand.
Most of the early aluminum trailers have done very well, maintaining both their structural integrity and appearances. The gloom and doom of various aluminum maladies, professed by the steel trailer manufacturers, has had little veracity. There are many 15 year old aluminum trailers in excellent repair, that have well survived with minimal maintenance. Their lower depreciation values are a bonus, and in most cases, the trailers have become a wise investment.
Posted 2010-04-13 9:17 PM (#118772 - in reply to #118751) Subject: RE: Where are all of the older trailers?
Veteran
Posts: 188 Location: Ingalls, Ks
They are out there, you just need to be patient. I just sold a mid 90's Featherlite for a little less than 20k not too long ago. The people that bought it were very happy to have a well built trailer that has been taken care of. Some of the older trailers were built better than the new ones. You need to do your own homework, but in my opinion some of the older units are worth as much as some of the bargain line new trailers. Especially in aluminum! They may be heavy, but well built. I've had 2 older Featherlites and they were both great! Watch out for the FRP trailers though. IMO, good luck!
Posted 2010-04-13 11:38 PM (#118779 - in reply to #118751) Subject: RE: Where are all of the older trailers?
Member
Posts: 31
Watch real close these older gooseneck trailers. Most of them are called a "low neck trailers", meaning the gooseneck is not set high enough to clear the new pickup beds. The newer Ford, Dodge and Chevrolet have a higher bed than those mid 90 trucks. If you raise your adjustable coupler high enough to give you the 8" or 9" above the tail gate then your trailer is set to high in the front and that does not work well on the rubber ride axles. That rear axle takes most of the load. A trailer with rubber ride axles is designed to run somewhat level or raised in the front slightly. Before you buy an older gooseneck, hook up and see how it sets. Be careful......there is not much market for those older goosenecks with the low neck unless you have a flat bed on your truck. Good Luck.
Posted 2010-04-17 1:52 PM (#118961 - in reply to #118751) Subject: RE: Where are all of the older trailers?
New User
Posts: 2
Location: Central Texas
By chance we found a 1996 Sooner, full LQ package, three-horse slant on Craigslist. It's turning out to be a terrific trailer...very well built and maintained. We got a great deal on it from it's original owner. It took about a year to find it, but the money we have saved has made it well worth the wait. Good luck...
Posted 2010-04-17 4:24 PM (#118962 - in reply to #118751) Subject: RE: Where are all of the older trailers?
Regular
Posts: 71 Location: Edmond OK
I bought a 94 steel Diamond D trailer off of HTW with a LQ last fall. It had been well cared for and I got a great deal on it. I love it! And the best part is - it's PAID FOR!
Where are all of the older trailers?
