Nicholas Fluhart

Here’s a nice compact trailer I recently flipped (“flipped” meaning bought and sold, as opposed to having turned it over in the road). I purchased it in combination with a Honda 300 Fourtrax ATV at $500 for the pair. My plan was to fix up the old trailer for resale and part-out the ATV. With this in mind, I immediately got to work on the trailer.

First, I stripped the old dead paint from the metal surfaces before rolling it into the shop. Then I pulled the wheels, lights, etc. to ready it for paint.

Then I began painting the steel surfaces with a good semi-gloss black paint that does not require primer. I also inspected and painted the hubs, hitch, and chains with a good quality silver.

The next to tackle was the lights and the floor. I rewired the lights using heat-shrink connectors and replaced any bulbs that needed it. One thing that I like to install on my trailers are marker lights, particularly on the front of the fenders so they are easy to see in a rear-view mirror.  I also installed a new connector. On the floor, I used a low gloss black to seal the wood.

And that wraps up the project. Now we’ll see how it’s used.

The great thing about this trailer is that it tilts. This eliminates the need for loading ramps. The axle is far enough to the rear that it appropriates the load correctly and does not “fish tail” while pulling it down the highway. The overall length is just long enough for your ATV and an ice chest or tool box. Overall, a very handy trailer. It sold very quickly for $400. So I basically had $100 invested in the ATV that came with it. Not bad. Until next time…