I'm looking for a 14', steel frame, tandem axle, enclosed cargo trailer.

I went to Beck's Trailers in St. John's, MI yesterday. They carry "Legend" trailers. In particular, I looked at a Legend, Cyclone Thunder model. Nice-looking trailer, I guess. Short V-nose also, with a ramp rear door. Plan on using it to move household stuff around, tools, car parts, motorcycles, etc. We haggled for a while and the best price I could get him down to was about $4500.00 plus tax. I tried for "$4000.00 out the door and he did the "ask the manager" think and said we weren't even close.

So I plan on looking at these trailers:
U.S.A. Trailer Sales

...where they have a 14" tandem for $3600.00

And this place: Cargo | Flatbed, Dump, Utility, and Enclosed Cargo Trailers for Sale in Milan Michigan

...where they have similar prices on craigslist, hope that it's not a bait and switch.

So what do I look for in a cargo trailer and does anyone have any brand-specific knowledge?

Only experience I had was my dad's Wells Cargo trailer he used to haul a Shriner's Model T car in for parades. We made up ramps and I put an electric winch in it to make loading easier and it worked out fine. He hauled it with a Buick LeSabre and it hauled real nice and never had any problems with it. He kept it outdoors in his driveway and it weathered very well with no sign of deteriation over several years. It still looked like new when he sold it. I know he paid a good price for it and not sure how thet compare with other brands.

Whatever you get don't walk away from it for one minute without having several high quality locks on it, trailer theft around here is going through the roof. I put bolt-cutter proof motorcycle locks through the holes on both rear wheels that wrap around the leaf springs. I then use a tongue lock and I padlock the safety chains after wrapping them around the tongue so they can't be attached to a truck bumper to tow it. If there is a tree or steel post nearby I padlock it with through-hardened (not surface hardened) flat link security chain.

A couple tips - One piece aluminum roofs are less likely to distort and leak over time. Rubber roofs don't age well either. If you are going to use it for storage at all, make sure it has vents installed to prevent condensation. It is often cheaper and easier to have extras like interior lighting or tie down points installed at the factory. Buddy of mine just picked up a Wells Cargo 16 footer, and it seems like a well made trailer. He saved quite a bit by ordering it from the manufacturer, and picking it up himself at a distributer in PA. They wanted an additional $500 to deliver it to the dealer in CT., not counting the dealers mark up as well.

Larry

Take a drive down to Elkhart, IN and look around there. Do a Google search first. Most major manufacturers of utility trailers either has a plant or an affiliated plant making them in Elkhart or near there. Some of the mfgrs. will sell direct and some won't. The big difference in enclosed utility trailer construction quality is in the frame, axles and brakes. Check out the engineering specifications in a comparison. IMHO, the drop down rear ramp is far better for general use than the double door version. The other big center for manufacture is in Southern Idaho. I have a single axle (but up graded) and have hauled two heavy Harley Touring Bikes all over the West with no problems. Mine was made in Idaho. Check out ebay as they always have several pages of enclosed trailers offered. .........

Going to look at this one Monday if it doesn't sell first. I like the plywood walls and floor. The new Legend trailers I've looked at all have OSB floors and walls.

Enclosed Trailer 7x16 Haulmark

I've had a 10' single axle haul mark for about 8 years,it seems to be holding up well,though it mostly sits as tool storage anymore.

I've owned 2 Cargo-Mate trailers. One was 21ft. with living quarters. The other is a 10ft Cargo-Mate. Both were/are well built and durable. The only complaint is the tires that came with them. They were China made and didn't last long. They are worth a look.

Hubby got an Interstate trailer custom made in 97 that is still holding up well. 16' long with double HD torsion sprung axles, extra height roof, three rows of tie-back track on walls, removable motorcycle wheel chocks, flush d-rings in floor, HD rear ramp and extra wide side door, upgraded interior lighting, flip down stabilizer legs at the corners. The torsion sprung axles are much better handling than leaf springs, especially on bumps when empty. Cost was 5000 back then.

Believe what the previous poster said about trailer thieves. Had several attempts.

I like that one! Great price for a quality unit. Fresh HD tires, beautiful paint and a drop down rear ramp. I say take $3500 with you and come back with it. ......... :-)

I think I'll take your advice and look at it tomorrow. Looks like a good trailer. More than what I need.

I've hauled an 18' Pace all over the country for 10 years without a problem. I'm sure we overloaded it more than once, but it still worked fine.