So I have a trailer that needs rewiring. Is $250 to much to pay to have it done. That includes parts and labor.

I know I could go to napa and get the parts $60-$80 dollars. So the labor is roughly 2hrs at $85.

I am thinking of just paying the shop and not dealing with it.

The wiring is about $20 years old and just needs to be removed and replaced. This would include lights and all.


Just wondering if this seems about right.

Parts cost and double it is common practice. Imo

This is a job I would end up doing myself, since I've literally wired more than 200 trailers in my lifetime.

If it includes all of the proper hardware including good tail lights and marker lights, all properly grounded, $250 might not be a bad price.

If the rig is 20 years old, you might have rust around where the light housings' nuts and bolts are, causing an issue with grounding. That's why I bring that up.

Something else to consider-
Are the brake lines the rubber coated, flexible type? If they are that old and that type, chances are they need to be replaced as well. They typically follow the same path as the wiring. You may be able to save some money by doing it at the same time.

Thanks guys.

Yes it is a complete job. There are no marker lights on it. No brakes either. Trailer does have rust. The whole light system is shot. So it is a complete job. Do not know if the lights are led. Guessing not as I did not ask. I trust the shops work. Just wondering about the price.

Sounds like it is in the ball park. Which I figured it was. Probably take 20 mins to remove the old. And an hour to an 1-1/2 to reinstall.

I'd pay $250 to have that done in a heart beat. Paying $160 or so to let someone else lay on the ground under the trailer pulling wires through is a no brainer to me. The older I get the more willing I become to pay to have things done I use to do on my own.

Kind of my way of keeping the Trump economy rolling!

I rewired an old trailer I sold last year with a $20 kit and it took about two hours start to finish (running lights, side markers, stop/turns, no brakes). If that is all you are really getting for $250, and you are capable of doing it yourself, have the time, and desire, then I'd say save the money. It's not a very hard job. If none of those apply, then $250 is probably what it's going to cost anywhere. Most shops wouldn't want to bother to do it for much less.

quote:

Originally posted by lastmanstanding:
I'd pay $250 to have that done in a heart beat. Paying $160 or so to let someone else lay on the ground under the trailer pulling wires through is a no brainer to me. The older I get the more willing I become to pay to have things done I use to do on my own.

Kind of my way of keeping the Trump economy rolling!

I have the same feeling as I get older.

Yes, if they're going to use heatshrink butt connectors, properly attach the wiring, run all of the wiring, and use LED lights, $250 sounds fair to me.

Here is another way to evaluate DIY vs hiring a reputable pro. For the roughly $170 in labor:

Are you physically able to do it yourself and do it in a manner that the work product is safe? You've already answered that so go to #2.

Would you enjoy doing it. If yes, stop here. If no, go to #3.

How many hours would it take you to do it (not them to do it) including going to the store 1x to 3x? What price do you put on your time? If you have to buy any one time use tools add that on top of the hours * hourly worth. I usually use $50/hr.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
There are no marker lights on it. No brakes either.

For the way you use it or will use it, should there be marker lights or brakes on it? 16' dual axle trailer seems like something you could wind up with a big load needing trailer brakes.

ok guys that is all good. As I said the shop is trustworthy and does good work. I will check with them on Led lights.

Do the led lights require different wires, connectors, etc. Are they a lot more expensive?

Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
ok guys that is all good. As I said the shop is trustworthy and does good work. I will check with them on Led lights.

Do the led lights require different wires, connectors, etc. Are they a lot more expensive?

Thanks.

They're a little more expensive but not much. They should use the same wiring and connectors. The bulbs last much much longer than the traditional bulbs.

Tator, the trailer has two 3500# axles. Probably weighs under 1500#.
My hauls are usually 4500# or less including the trailer. More over around 3500#.

It is a factory built trailer. Never came with marker lights.

Great, thanks Jimmy

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
ok guys that is all good. As I said the shop is trustworthy and does good work. I will check with them on Led lights.

Do the led lights require different wires, connectors, etc. Are they a lot more expensive?

Thanks.

They're a little more expensive but not much. They should use the same wiring and connectors. The bulbs last much much longer than the traditional bulbs.

This is true. They also use less power.

If you go with LED brake/turn signal bulb setup, you may need to change the turn signal relay on your tow vehicle. If the turn signals flash fast, then a change is needed. There are relays made for LED setups.

Given everything posted above, I don't think $250 is unreasonable at all for that work. Of course I'm far too anal retentive to let anyone else work on my stuff, so whatever the cost or savings, I'd be doing it myself.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
It is a factory built trailer. Never came with marker lights.

That's different than the question of "should it have marker lights?" It's the opportune time if the answer is yes. Etrailer.com has a good page on it

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Tator, the trailer has two 3500# axles. Probably weighs under 1500#.
My hauls are usually 4500# or less including the trailer. More over around 3500#.

Acccording to AAA's website on trailer brakes, in NJ (I think that's where you live) you need:

quote:

Brakes are required on all wheels for all trailers or semitrailers with a gross weight over 3,000 pounds; provided. The gross weight of any such trailer without brakes shall not exceed 40% of the gross weight of the towing vehicle.

I will tell you this. Two years ago, I completely rewired my 16 foot dual axle trailer and looking back on it, I would gladly pay two and half bills to have someone else do it.

Now that we're all in agreement he should just pay the shop to re-wire it, let's talk about the brakes. Am I the only one who thinks it's insane that any reputable company would sell a 7000-pound rated dual-axle flatbed trailer without brakes?

quote:

Originally posted by bigwagon:
Now that we're all in agreement he should just pay the shop to re-wire it, let's talk about the brakes. Am I the only one who thinks it's insane that any reputable company would sell a 7000-pound rated dual-axle flatbed trailer without brakes?

Times change. When I was a kid, we pulled trailers all over this part of the world w/o brakes on the trailer.
BUT: we didn’t have near the traffic and we were not pulling these trailers near as fast as we are these days. Also, I think we had better drivers then (don’t out drive the capabilities of your equipment, look and plan WAY down the road, pay attention, DRIVE the vehicle)
I do believe brakes are mandated now and do not disagree with that decision considering what we have today in terms of vehicle saturation and driver skill/attention)

I knew as soon as I read the post that you would get bombarded with " do it yourself " posts . There's a reason you asked about paying to have it done and that's your business . If you trust the shop's work , then that's a decent price for parts and labor .

quote:

Originally posted by bigwagon:
Now that we're all in agreement he should just pay the shop to re-wire it, let's talk about the brakes. Am I the only one who thinks it's insane that any reputable company would sell a 7000-pound rated dual-axle flatbed trailer without brakes?

You are not the only one. I don't think I have ever seen a dual axle trailer with that tow rating without brakes. Crazy.