Building your own trailer can cost less than buying one, especially for heavy duty designs. Steel costs $150-$600. You provide the labor but can customize it. Buying a kit can also save over a factory-built trailer by avoiding their costs. The tradeoff is your time to build it.
Considerations for Building a Trailer
To build a trailer, start from scratch or buy a kit. Get tools and materials. Search for plans or visit a home store. Building trailers can be profitable. Kits cut costs of finished trailers by avoiding overhead. But you still work for free.
Buying Versus Building: Factors to Consider
If you want a standard trailer, buying is likely cheaper than building when you factor in materials, time and tools. Consider used trailers if cost matters. Building requires space and more tools. For special needs or quality, building may save money.
Trailer Specifications & Customization
Basic trailers haul household items. Bigger ones move equipment. Most flatbeds are 16-20 feet. Enclosed trailers often 20-24 feet. Capacity matters more than length. Buying mass-produced trailers cuts some corners on components to save costs. Consider build quality if you need durability.
Building saves little on a basic trailer after materials, axle, coupler, lights. But you get what you want like custom stake pockets. It’s satisfying to build your own specialized trailer. If you buy, ask manufacturers to match your needs. Their experience helps.