Aluminum Trailers???

[hammersley]

I just got back from BC - BTW - went 1300 miles and averaged 19. 6. Great to see diesel fuel a lot cheaper than gas - but my curiosity was really taken by these aluminum trailers I saw at teh attached site. Why don't we see more of these here??? I know the cost is greater, BUT, the light weight is great and NO PAINTING.



http://www.expresstrailer.com

 

[bmoeller]

Other than a show, I haven't seen one being used yet. But they are available here. Here's one example- http://www.fthr.com/trailers/specs.asp?sltSegment=Com&sltBodyStyle=FB&sltSeries=4&strModelID=11

 

[RBachant]

Cost is probably the biggest reason. I was quoted over $15,000 for a 30' gooseneck trailer 20,000gvw. You can almost but three steel trailers for that kind of money. WAY too expensive!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jrandol]

Aluminum trailers weigh about 20% less than a similar equipped steel trailer. So for a little 16 car hauler the weight savings is really minimal, add that into the large increase of production costs of an aluminum trailer and the fact that if you do have problems with a weld you just dont take it to any welding shop that is why you dont see alot of these. I use to sell for a trailer manufacturing company, we never got into this market mainly for the production costs and the lack of demand. Only Hotshotters have interest in this type of trailer as the weight savings of a 40 GN is significant. Lots of $$$ though

 

[hammersley]

smaller utility trailers seem great

If the average guy is looking for say a 5x8 trailer - these aluminum are fantastic - you can move them yourself - and they appear to be a very long lived trailer - afterall this technology has really been proven on jetboats - aluminum can take a beating AND last.