precious cargo carriers

Open or closed?
Open trailers have always been a popular choice in trailering. They area cost effective means of getting snowmobiles from point A to point B. With the increased use of aluminum as a construction material, these rolling platforms have achieved low weights. As an added bonus, aluminum is not susceptible to rust and corrosion like steel. But there are trade offs.

While aluminum is a durable and rugged material, it still is not as strong as steel construction. Steel trailers, though heavier, can handle much larger loads. With a couple hours' maintenance time at the beginning, middle andend of the season, you can keep your steelie in good shape for as many seasons as an aluminum trailer.

The down side of open trailers is the mess they can leave on your sleds.Without some kind of spray guard on the nose of the trailer or individual sled covers, what may have left home as a bright red Formula 500 Deluxemay arrive at the trail head as a salty brown sludge pile.

Enclosed trailers have many advantages over open models, besides the obvious protection from road grime. Primarily, enclosed trailers can b eused to keep your sled and gear safe and dry all year round. They make excellent storage units in the off season as well as in the dead of winter.

Closed trailers can also be used as a garage/workshop on the road. While most people won't opt for the monstrous fifth wheel rigs of the race circuit,even a two-place enclosed trailer can be used as a place to tune up a sled before your ride. Tools can be kept safely, without worry of theft, and a little space heater can keep your knuckles from frosting over when your gloves are off.

Just as open trailers have benefited from better materials technology,so have enclosed models. Fiberglass and aluminum have shaved many pounds from the big trailers, some of which are actually lighter than a large steelopen trailer.