hitches and axles

[Deb]

Am looking into buying a double wide MH. I will set it on a permanent foundation. When they do this they remove the hitch and axles??? Is there any value in these for me - can I ask for $$ for them or trade for an upgrade or something?

[Eugene]

Oh yes. there is $$ in them there axles! About $50.00 per axle!

[Mark]

Depends on the home. Some homes the hitch is not removable (though you can always have it torched off). The axles aren't include, but most dealers will let you buy them (some people use them to make cargo trailers).

Note that in a lot of cases, not all the axles are removed, so you may still have a set.

[rmurray]

Most manufactured homes are sold without the wheels and axles...If you want them..the dealer will add the value back to the price...not going to help you here..

The hitches have no value...

[Eugene]

What Murry and Mark are saying might be the common practice, but the wheels axles and hitch (complete running gear assembly) is required by code and belong to the purchaser. In fact there are several class action law suits going on across the country in cases where dealers have removed them from homes at the time of purchase.
In case you don't believe me, check the code yourself
3280.901 through 904
go to www.hud.gov
search for manufactured housing.
you can find the standards there!

[rmurray]

I would like to know more about those class action suits...Never heard of them...There has been talk of these for decades...but none have ever been actually filed..This has been a common area of discussion since the HUD code went into effect...the code allows for the use of reconditioned running gear...ackowledging the fact that the running gear is temporary..This is the only used part allowed on a HUD code home..

Since most lenders require the running gear be removed...and..most consumers have no use for the running gear..it has been tradition since 1977 to sell homes without the running gear...The credit involved is part of the basic pricing system in the industry..Final retail prices reflect the fact that the dealer is going to sell the axles and obtain a small amount of income..The cost of handling the axles and tires is about 1/2 of the potential sales price...All dealers would be happy to sell the axles..for the additional cost that he/she has reduced the selling price by...I have never heard of a dealer who gets his fun and recreation from removing axles and selling them...All the consumer has to do is ask..

[Danny]

I worked for a company in the mid 80's that was prosecuting for the cost of the wheels and axiles if the home was repoed (selling mortgaged property) but now the dealers make money from it so they implemented this..
the dealer is not the one to physically remove the w/a , our crews are , (contractor)
we have had more trouble since this process has been in effect,
axile bearings seizing up, wheels and hubs running off and even a few fires on the axiles due to bearing seizure, not to mention workers comp claims
this is one process (recycling axiles)the industry should stop
and then when the customer wants to move their home , it cost extra to reinstall them to transport the home.
the dealers tell the customers they can borrow them when they need to move , but how can they borrow something that is on another home at the plant! HMMMMM!
my 3 cents