Buying a Trailer

Obviously, I was going to need a trailer. Borrowing a trailer last week certainly made getting Karen Ann to Lake Natoma much easier than car-topping (my original plan). But, I can't borrow a trailer all the time.

I've been watching Craigslist for several months without much success. I pestered the Coots group up in Oregon with a pretty steady stream of questions about trailers: is it worth it to build a trailer (generally, no), how about a utility trailer ( maybe as a last resort), small (cheap)Harbor Freight trailer (a few fans but consensus was, no), and other questions.

Tuesday evening I found a "galvanized trailer for 12' to 14' boat" for sale on Craigslist. I called Wednesday morning and left a message. When I didn't get a call back I figured the trailer had sold. But that afternoon, driving home from the light rail station, I heard a strange electronic beeping. I quickly checked the gauges and systems display in the Jeep but saw nothing amiss. I checked the phone and found a voice-mail message. The trailer owner had been out all day. I called back, the trailer was still available and we arranged for me to see it Friday morning.

I called this morning, got directions and drove up to Coloma. As I pulled into the yard and saw the trailer, I was pretty sure I'd be taking it home with me. Met Bill, his dog, and 2 cats and spent an enjoyable hour talking about trailers, boats, fishing and an assortment of other topics.

The trailer is a used Caulkins with 12" wheels, Bearing Buddies, lights, winch, and jack. Yes, it is used but Bill took good care of this trailer. I bought it.

We switched out the 2" ball I had with a 1-7/8" ball needed for the trailer, hooked it up and I went home. 15 minutes or so down the road, I stopped to check the hubs. They were cool to the touch! The hubs were still cool when I got home 45 minutes down U.S. 50 later.

I will install bunks to fit the Goat and I will build a light bar to mount on the transom so the lights will be more visible to following drivers. Other than that, I won't have to do anything to have the trailer ready to haul Karen Ann to new adventures.



Interesting side note here... I have been in the foothills more in the past month than in the last five years: Milling wood in Placerville (two recent trips); borrowing a trailer in Auburn (three recent trips); and buying the trailer today in Coloma (one trip).