thanks guys - this was a huge help. you ever get that feeling of being pressured but dont know enough to explain your opinion? well this was such a situation. i'd pay $1000 for them to take off the egg and replace the trailer - but not for a spot weld with the egg still attached (which i had heard is risky as it could damage the glass).
this helps me decide to hold off and do the darned thing myself. i want to replace the wiring and water lines as well so i may as well wait a few months to move into a house (a huge part of my wanting to rent a house is to have a garage and my tools out of storage so i can do things myself), remove the frame myself with some help from friends, and as suggested, take it to a welder, then
paint it myself with Rust Bullet or something similar.
i guess i just needed to hear what some of the seasoned veterans here thought. thank you all so much for your valuable input. i'll chime in again once i begin the work in earnest!