Casket Trailer To Die For

No matter what you think about Ray Iben's casket motorcycle trailer -- whether it's cool or in poor taste -- you have to admit it's clever. And efficient, since it's narrow to fit behind a motorcycle yet roomy to hold a lot of stuff.

The Viola, Iowa, man has been trying to sell his casket trailer since spring. (See today's Ramblin' column in The Gazette). He paid $3,000 for the casket in addition to buying and modifying the trailer it sits on, so  his $2,400 asking price sounds like a bargain. He can use the money to re-roof his house.

Besides, Ray and his wife, Linda, bought a small camper trailer to pull behind the motorcycle. They don't need two trailers.

Ray, 55, couldn't find a funeral home that would sell him the casket so he bought this one from a wholesaler. It's the genuine article, made by "Casket Royale of Hampton Falls, N.H. That's why Ray had to removed the velvety interior lining and the pillow.

Ray's custom work on the trailer includes key locks on each half of the lid for security, front and back side identification lights, a rear brake light, Maltese cross shaped turn lights on the back and a pair of chrome skulls to give the trailer a sinister touch.

One of Ray's rules in building the casket trailer was that he would not let anyone recline inside it for pictures. That still didn't that people wouldn't ask or make jokes about it or snap pictures.

"We've had a few people looking, quite a few bites," Ray says. "But everybody who wanted to buy it wanted to pay by the month. We aren't a credit union."

If you're interested in buying Ray's casket trailer, however, let me know. Send an e-mail to dave.rasdal@gazcomm.com and I can get you in touch with Ray.

For the right person, this would be a motorcycle trailer to die for.