Advice needed please.

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I was asked to build a smoker for a person and mount it to a trailer that he dragged out from somewhere. I tried to load the pics of the trailer but incase they don't show up, just know that the thing is rusty and has no lights. I am estimating that the weight of the smoker will be close to 1000 pounds. I am not sure what the rules are for trailers and towing here in NY but I am assuming that if that smoker was to break that trailer and hurt someone, I could be sued. Is that correct? I told him that I couldn't do it, which sucks because I love money. What would you all have done? Attached Images
Reply:I would have passed on it also... I enjoy money too but even more so I enjoy sleeping at night.
Reply:Only take on a job if you know what your doing....If you don't know what your doing, don't try and learn off someone else's stuff....
Reply:The pix of that trailer looks like it is already in the ONLY type of environment it should be considered for use in. Out in the woods, and off the roads.
Reply:Pass unless he wants to spend on turning that towable heap into a trailer fit for duty Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Second thought I would tow a heap of marshmallows on that thing! LolSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:"Hey man!   I'll build you a cooker for X$.   You can mount it to the trailer in your spare time and save yourself some money."That would have been my initial response.Lincoln Electric:Ranger GXT 250SA-200LN-25Pro MiG 256Pro Mig 180Esab CV 251Invertec 160Victor Torches”
Reply:My response would have been I woulda just turned around and got back in my truck and drove away not saying anything.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Yea build him the smoker , let him and a couple of his 6 pack helpers put it on the trailer,
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermikeMy response would have been I woulda just turned around and got back in my truck and drove away not saying anything.
Reply:Even Home Depot will not help secure your load.  Its on you - so they don't get sued.BTW, even if you unknowingly do something that causes harm to someone else (you didn't know it was illegal) you are still liable for the results.  Doing knowingly just makes you eligible for penalties and a worse judgement (civil and maybe criminal).Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX
Reply:One of the hardest lessons to learn when running your own business is to learn when to pass up a job.  You passed your first test.Now learn to recognize the joy of having dodged a bullet rather than the worry of losing the work.
Reply:It's simple.I'll build you a smoker on a custom trailer for $X.00 or I'll build you the same smoker and install it on your trailer for the same $X.00 + $Y.00.  Just make sure $Y.00 is sufficient to cover your liability insurance.Basically the approach is it's cheaper to build the appropriate trailer from scratch as part of the project than it is to modify or beef up his to make it adequate.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Could have asked him to load a ton of rock on it and see how safe it was at highway speed.
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauThe pix of that trailer looks like it is already in the ONLY type of environment it should be considered for use in. Out in the woods, and off the roads.
Reply:Do you think the trailer would support the smoker if you lightened it?  Take off the wheels, the axle and the tongue to reduce the curb weight.
Reply:you can't polish that turd bondo and paint will only do so much harbor fright 4 x 8 trailer cheep buying price make a dot aproved base to start from
Reply:How about you give him a price for the smoker that would cover the cost of a new trailer , you build a new frame ,with new 2500# axle and springs and coupler . Then tell buyer you had to modify his trailer to fit your design for smoker (cut up old trailer so he doesn't see it
Reply:Originally Posted by newburyDo you think the trailer would support the smoker if you lightened it?  Take off the wheels, the axle and the tongue to reduce the curb weight.
Reply:He could buy or have you build a trailer to the smokers specs and it will fit perfect. That one is a accident waiting to happen, not mention the tongue is soooooooooo long it is really scary .
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauOn second thought, that trailer will be just fine for this as long as you REPLACE ALL THE STEEL, USE A NEW AXLE, SPRINGS, HUBS AND WHEELS, AND A NEW COUPLER. I think that will work, and you still use the original trailer with all the aforementioned stuff replaced.
Reply:Originally Posted by gxbxcHow about you give him a price for the smoker that would cover the cost of a new trailer , you build a new frame ,with new 2500# axle and springs and coupler . Then tell buyer you had to modify his trailer to fit your design for smoker (cut up old trailer so he doesn't see it
Reply:Ever hear of nail soup? I once had a customer who always thought she could save money by starting from a piece of junk. Save some wheel nuts or something, build a proper smoker, use some angle iron from his trailer. Your customer will feel his superior intellect saved a fortune! Your work will be judged by your work. That seems like bad grammar. The truth is your building a smoker on that piece of junk, will give you the reputation of a cobber.Last edited by Willie B; 10-19-2014 at 07:52 PM.
Reply:In towns where city people have completely taken over local government, you can't get permits to build a house. Trust fund flatlanders running their adopted towns love the idea of open space, still, they love encouraging us woodchucks to repair, or restore our shacks. We routinely obtain permits for repairs, then build new homes over and around our shacks the trust funders wanted torn down. Then in the secrecy of the inside of our "repaired" home, we tear down the old shack. Not once have I heard them protest this technique. To me it's confusing, a bare building lot might be worth $10,000, that building lot with a shack on it that will cost $10,000 to have knocked down and cleaned up might bring $500,000.You don't have to be bright to have a trust fund.