What to look out for in a used trailer

If it is a wooden bed, has it been "re-surfaced"? Did they put a new deck over the old one? If so, that means the original deck underneath is rotted.

Tires - tires on dual-axle trailers wear quickly, so if there is any wear on the tires, either request new ones, or a price reduction to cover the cost of new tires.

Wiring - obviously check that all the lights work, but also check on the condition of the wiring. The wires may be almost worn out.

Spring loaded gate - if the trailer has a spring-assisted gate, check out the condition of the spring and cables, even if you have to remove paneling.

Brakes - if the trailer is large enough to require brakes, make sure that they work. Especially if your Motor Vehicle Department requires an inspection of the trailer to register it.

Hope this helps you.

That helps, thanks Tvov.

The trailer I'm considering is made of steel throughout. The floor has recently been tarred, apparently to reduce susceptibility to rust. I'm a bit wary of that. It could be hiding serious rust?

The first thing I always look at is the axels. If the trailer you're looking at is a tandem make sure all the tires are in line. If the back tires are canted outward it means they were carying a heavy load and didn't center the weight over the axles. If they were carrying a heavy load and turned too hard on a black top or concrete surface it can make a wheel bend out causing damage to the axle or hub. Just remember to deduct the price of a new axel + installation from price.

What shape are the tires in? Does it come with a spare? You mentioned they retared the floor. Is there any way you can check out the condition by getting under the trailer? If it has a brake, check to see what shape it's in. Go over it with a dicriminating eye, deduct $ for every problem. If they don't like your offer you don't need to pay good money for problems. Move on to the next one.

This particular trailer is not a tandem. I'll definitely crawl underneath it to check for rust there. Am taking another look at it today.

Thanks for everybody's help with things to look for.