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View Full Version : Gator Made / Gator USA Trailers - Any Experiences?



paulkeith
12-17-2008, 06:06 PM
My dad and I had both been shopping for trailers separately lately, and we interestingly enough both kind of settled on this one ebay seller selling "gatormade" brand trailers up in kentucky, mostly because its somewhat local, and the prices are (seem) good.

On ebay, they've got a 16' utility/car/flatbed for $1295 brand new, without ramps. Specs as follows:

* WRAP AROUND STYLE TONGUE
* TONGUE GOES BACK TO FRONT SPRING HANGER(NO WEAK POINT IN TRAILER FRAME LIKE OTHER BRANDS)
* LOW PROFILE - HEAVY DUTY CONSTRUCTION
* TREATED WOOD FLOOR (SCREWED DOWN)
* (2) 3500 # AXLE 7000GVWR
* SAFETY BREAKAWAY KIT INSTALLED
* LIGHTS AND JACK INCLUDED
* 2 5/16 " A-FRAME STYLE COUPLER
* HEAVY DUTY CONSTRUCTION
* 1 BRAKE AXLE INCLUDED
* PREWIRED WITH 7 WAY CONNECTOR
* HEAVY DUTY WIRING
* DOT LEGAL LIGHTS FRONT AND REAR
* HEAVY DUTY SLIDE UNDER RAMP AND STORAGE
* HEAVY DUTY FENDER WITH CENTER SUPPORT
* (4) NEW 205-75-15 6 PLY TIRE AND WHEEL
* TUBE FRONT BUMPER RAIL


They also sell a similar one, pretty much identical but an 18 footer with ramps, for $1595.

Auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-16-FT-UTILITY-CAR-HAULER-FLATBED-TRAILER_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66 Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c2 93Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZ item400017720071QQitemZ400017720071QQptZMotorsQ5fT railers

So what gives? Why are these so cheap? Are they complete garbage, or is it just a damn good deal?

I've consistently watched used trailers sell on ebay and the southeast craigslists for more than that. There was even an 18 foot carhauler here on MC that sold at $1900.

Does anyone have any experience with this brand? I'm no veteran trailer owner, but if the trailer matches that spec list for that price, its a pretty damn good deal. Are there some key features missing that I'm not thinking of?

Paul

edit: also interested in any trailer talk in general. What do you tow your junk with? What doesn't it have that you wish it did? what did you pay for it?

canadian_driver
12-17-2008, 09:10 PM
:popcorn:

1fox2go
12-17-2008, 09:21 PM
Friend of ours has one and we use it 30' goose neck, only problem i heard about it was the brakes, his would get stuck and and the bearings burn up, happened to him twice, not sure if they warrantied it or not but I will ask for you

paulkeith
12-17-2008, 11:20 PM
did a little digging on pirate and some truck forums, feedback surprisingly seems generally good, but also seems most of those cases were larger goosenecks.

Still welcoming any input. Who bought what?

Pearce
12-18-2008, 12:00 AM
I would say that is not as heavy duty as they say maybe. They only have brakes on one axle, the wiring may not be all in conduit. The way the frame is put together is the easier way to do it. You may be able to get one like that from Tow Pro in Duluth for near the same price.

See how they did the frame on this one, it is one piece of steel from the tongue back with extra support. I like these better, but what your lookin at will also get the job done

paulkeith
12-18-2008, 12:49 AM
hmm, interesting point. I've seen quite a few designs done the way the gator is done, including the kaufman 16 foot car hauler, retails for $2100.

http://www.kaufmantrailers.com/heavy-equipment-trailer-store/secure/images/products/173.jpg

They all harp on the fact that the beam attached to the tongue runs back to the front leaf mount, making it 'stronger'.

The design you showed I think would be stronger, provided that the tongue beams aren't butt welded to the frame beams...which is apparently pretty common.



Tow Pro huh. I'll give them a holler tomorrow.

Foxmotorsport
12-18-2008, 04:04 AM
Looks pretty decent to me...

Def look at the tongue construction, I've seen some that would make me scared to put a lawn tractor on. Here's a pic of mine.. lil bit of overkill... but overkill is good right? :D

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n12/foxmotorsport/FAMILY/000_0723.jpg

Sudz
12-18-2008, 11:37 PM
June ‘07 drove down to Lexington, NC from Philly, PA to pick up my wood deck 18 ½’ Car Hauler (16 + 2 ½ dovetail)

paid $2,055 with all options – i noticed they discontinued my model and the prices went up

i’m happy with it

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c364/-Sudz/100_0009.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c364/-Sudz/100_0036.jpg

ATL ZJ
12-18-2008, 11:49 PM
Here are some pictures of my trailer. I paid $900 for it 2.5 years ago. It kind of sucks, but I need to start taking care of it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/atlzj/buggy%20project/DSCI0535.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/atlzj/buggy%20project/DSCI0529.jpg

paulkeith
12-19-2008, 10:07 AM
Cam, what are the specs on yours? 7klbs? brakes?

where'd you find it? craigslist?

ATL ZJ
12-19-2008, 10:42 AM
Craigslist. 7k, brakes on both axles, HD coupler, slide out ramps, AL deck (obviously). Also came with a hand winch, which has been awesome to have. The negatives are no fenders, ugly welding in a few spots, and a custom deck width= widened axles that are not a standard width and therefore not easily replaceable.

paulkeith
12-19-2008, 11:35 AM
k, give it to me. for $1.

cLAYH
01-02-2009, 03:07 PM
You'll want brakes on both axles for hauling a jeep. Also those tires are barely adequate for that trailer, budget on replacing them after a season. Get a spare tire on rim in the deal.

I and 2 buddies, bought matching H&H tilt deck trailers 3 years ago. We got that same size tire on it and all of us have had tire problems. I changed mine out after one season to a bigger tire and a higher load range, went with "d", originals were "c"s. I never bought a spare with it as it looked to be a 4.5 on 5 bolt pattern same as my jeep and I've got lots of old rims like that kicking around. Wrong! Turned out to be some goofy 4.75 on 5 pattern. Tried several different tire shops for rims and couldn't get one. Had to go back to the dealer in the end. Also had problems with the lights and eventually just replaced them with LED units.

I still use it, a lot. Have a small grass cutting company so it gets used quite a bit and overall has been a handy trailer but you get what you pay for if you are willing to do some upgrades down the road it might work out good for you.

Or take that money and buy a used high end name brand trailer.....

nate
01-02-2009, 04:41 PM
I'd get brakes on both axles as well.

This is what I have: http://www.bigbubbastrailers.com/auto.php# #7

In the pic it's the 12k version with 8 lug wheels. Mine only has 5200lb axles on it (6 lug) and it's registered as a 10k. Some states require a CDL if the trailer can haul over 10k so I didn't want to mess with that.

Keep in mine a 7k trailer is enough for a ZJ, but barely. I didn't want to worry if I had enough trailer if I towed a diesel truck, etc so I went bigger.

SaturnICL
01-02-2009, 05:46 PM
Do yourself a favor and either get one with the tong jack mounted further back or when you get it move it. First time you let the tail gate down on your truck if you don't smash the sh#$ out of your hand the tailgate will have a nice dent. I sufferd the first of the two:eek:

cLAYH
01-02-2009, 06:57 PM
7K is plenty for a ZJ. Don't forget that 10-15% of the weight ends up on the truck. I do wish that I went with a heavier duty trailer though, just for that odd time that you cann't pass up that wicked deal.......

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u92/clayhardock/2003%20Ddoge%20Dually/DSCN1695.jpg

paulkeith
01-03-2009, 12:19 AM
yeah, i'm starting to think i want a 10k. GA requires a CDL for trailers over 10k, but with an exception for a GCWR of under 26,000, so i should be OK.

Ds4x4
01-03-2009, 01:17 AM
they sure are Perty.. and i like the older dodge pulling the new one.. nice