Re: Buying a team trailer - Advice please?
 

Thanks for the tip Dick! I've been checking CraigsList pretty regularly and hadn't seen this one. I called them and am going to meet them this weekend and take a look at it. If it checks out, we'll buy it. Thanks again!

P.S. Anyone have a line on getting custom graphics painted/vinyl on the sides?

Re: Buying a team trailer - Advice please?
 

one with a ramp and a light and a vent.!! and a lot of places to tie things down!
and maybe brakes.

Re: Buying a team trailer - Advice please?
 

We bought a 6 x 10 2 years ago and our only regret is that we didnt purchase it earlier. Ours is a Cargo Mate froma large dealer in Indianapolis.

We have double doors and a side door, and made an aluminum ramp for the back.

If you can assure a vehicle to pull it, go for something that is over 6' inside to make it easier to load and unload.

We added several "D" rings on the floor and walls and roof supports to give us places to attach tie down straps. Ask the dealer where the suppports run in the walls so you can use self-tapping screws to connect into something solid.

We also installed an 8" wide shelf along one side, about 12" from the roof. This gives us a place for tubing, banners, etc.

We added a small plastic storage box on the front to put a steel cable (for locking the trailer to utility poles when parked remotely), a small jack, lug wrench, etc., and mounted a spare tire to the frame. This keeps everything together, and also keeps it out of the trailer.

Make sure everything in the trailer is secured before pulling it. I have a "personal rule" that i wont pull a trailer that i didn't load myself or check before i drive away. 500 pounds sliding across a trailer at the wrong time can rip the trailer off of the hitch and cause a serious accident.

Lastly, we used a company called TKO graphics to do the lettering. We provided digital files of what we wanted and placement and they created the decals and then applied them. We chose decals over paint.

Good luck!

Re: Buying a team trailer - Advice please?
 

Maybe we could form a blown transmission group. Mine blew on the way to Lone Star a few years back. It was an adventure getting into Houston.
Yee Haw!

Re: Buying a team trailer - Advice please?
 

our team doesn't have a trailer(yet :) ) but my youth group has a nice 5X8 that pulls nice with everything i have used(have not try the minivan just 15 and 12 passenger vans i don't know what brand it is... i can look when i am there later to day... we put a lot in that thing going on trip on our trip this last spring we had over 2000 LBS in it and it pulled great! and we got about 14 MPG with the 12 passenger van(which is doing great!) oh and it is a single axle and as someone on here said for just taking bots places thats all you need! as far as a team trailer i would say(like lots of people have said) one that you can get 2 or more robots in and tools and all that fun stuff.

hope this helps a bit

Re: Buying a team trailer - Advice please?
 

Wow! Thanks for all the terrific advice!

I'm happy to announce that the Foley Freeze now owns a robot trailer! It's the 5x8 unit Dick pointed us towards. We met with the owner today and looked it over. It's in great condition, white, with new tires and we picked it up for $1,000. That leaves money leftover for some nice graphics, shelves, a spare tire, plate, internal tie-down hardware, internal lights, etc. Should be a nice "pimped out ride" when we're done with it!

Chris, if you can give me a number or web site for TKO, and if anyone else has advice for the graphics that's much appreciated. We look forward to driving to our next event pulling the new toy.

Thanks again all!
John

Re: Buying a team trailer - Advice please?
 

Good deal, I hope! One bit of advice: Get someone qualified to check out the hubs and bearings and make sure everything there is properly greased and adjusted and good-to-go. If it has new tires, there's no telling how many miles it has on it. Bearings and maintenance are cheap compared to a breakdown. Make sure the tires are trailer-rated.

Hose it down and check for any little leaks in the seams or door gaskets.

Don't forget ball lock, hitch lock, door locks, etc. It's a rough world out there.

EDIT: Is this the TKO Graphix? http://www.tkographix.com/

Re: Buying a team trailer - Advice please?
 

HI John,

We used www.fastsigns.com and were very pleased with the result of the vinyl lettering

QUESTION for all: Who own's your trailer? Most teams are not setup as legal entities and can't register or get insurance for the trailer, and most schools don't want anything to do with it. So how does your team handle registration and insurance?

Re: Buying a team trailer - Advice please?
 

We purchased a 7 X 16 trailer last year and have enjoyed it. Fold down ramp and side access door, dual axles with brakes. A little big, but we have plenty of space to tie down everything. I put it with my ford explorer and the trailer is licensed with the county fleet of vehicles and covered under the BOE insurance for theft or anything while not attached. My insurance covers liability.