Is aluminum lighter then the steel trailers?
- Thread starter SpencerA
- Start date
Apples to apples on trailer size and configuration, aluminum trailers are lighter by hundreds and hundreds of pounds.
Poke around some trailer manufacter websites for steel and aluminum trailers to find the weights.
Poke around some trailer manufacter websites for steel and aluminum trailers to find the weights.
Aluminum is ~1/3 the weight of steel, about 15 years ago aluminum trailers were half the weight of steel and both were equally durable. If you discount coating failure on the steel trailers. Now days the steel trailers are much closer weight wise but to get there the steel trailers utilize very thin wall tube and formed studs and thus have sacrificed durability to be at a competitive sale price point. If you want a disposable trailer you are only going to keep for a year or two, steel is fine. If you want a trailer that will last you buy a quality aluminum one. That's how I see it, I bought a featherlight.
Here is the ? is lighter better. Windy day on icey road which trailer will stay on the road.
Yes lighter is better. Think about it, fuel economy is better if your not dragging needless weight, will tow smoother without the detrimental bad feedback that a heavy trailer returns to the tow vehicle when making lane changes or evasive maneuvers.
All of them will be fine. I live in Alaska and have driven in hurricane force winds on average icy roads with no issues. Also driven on Roads so slick, if you stopped you slide off the road. Still no issues. If those two extream conditions happened to occur symotaniously your screwed regardless of weight.
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robertyoke
Well-known member
ouch.....thats going to leave a mark! I have seen several aluminum trailers with cracked frames, usually just outside the welded area.
aluminum or steel.....you do get what you pay for! buy a well built trailer that meets your needed application.
aluminum or steel.....you do get what you pay for! buy a well built trailer that meets your needed application.
How about a steel trailer which has had the undercarriage coated from day one with Line-X? I know it can't compete weight-wise but how about corrosion resistance?
I ask only because I thought there was a manufacturer out there that did this but I'm not for sure. I want to say H&H trailers once did this.
I ask only because I thought there was a manufacturer out there that did this but I'm not for sure. I want to say H&H trailers once did this.
When I bought my charmac the dealer told me there was 500 pounds and $2000 difference. The aluminum looks the same over time where the steel looks like a rust bucket.
In my experience, the truck gets the same mileage regardless of weight (all else being equal) and it becomes an issue of aerodynamics and frontal area instead.
I'd still buy the aluminum, based only on how it looks after being dragged through the salt. They are near zero maintenance, where I wouldn't leave ANY salt on a steel trailer for any length of time if you want it to last.
Just my 2 cents.
I'd still buy the aluminum, based only on how it looks after being dragged through the salt. They are near zero maintenance, where I wouldn't leave ANY salt on a steel trailer for any length of time if you want it to last.
Just my 2 cents.
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Big_T_Roose
Member
The only people that benifit from aluminum trailers are truckers who can haul more goods with the weight savings of an aluminum trailer. You will never see a difference between a steel and aluminum trailer as far a MPG goes.
I disagree, respectfully of course, While that may well be a nearly true statement for the flat landers, ( on the flat you will still see a difference just not as pronounced) common sense would tell you it is easier to pull 2000 #'s (Aluminum Trailer) up a mountain pass than say 2500 #'s (Steel Trailer) up the same pass. So over the life of the trailer you will make up the cost difference in fuel economy, not to mention wear parts. It is much easier on your brakes and transmission to slow and stop a 2000 #'s (Aluminum Trailer) coming down a mountain pass than say 2500 #'s (Steel Trailer) down the same pass.
Over the life of the trailer it will save you money by buying the lighter, well built Aluminum Trailer. I must stress the well built part because not all the manufactures welds are worth the premium they want to charge for the aluminum.
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SpencerA
Member
Well put
My source is my experience, Have more than 100,000+ miles on my Feather Lite and Multiple round trips to the Lower 48 States and Canada from Alaska to back up my opinions. You are entitled to yours. Even a couple tenths of a mile per gallon better over 100,000 plus miles would have paid off for me, and I guarantee it was / is more than that. If you drive less then it may not pay off for you, and you and you alone can make that decision, but for me regardless of the fuel and wear and tear points I will not own a steel trailer for anything other than heavy hauls (i.e. building materials and heavy equipment, etc.). For light loads; sleds, hot shot trucking outfits, ATV's etc. Aluminum is the ticket. My $0.02
alum-steel
I have a 04 haulmark steel that looks like new no rust just well maintained.
you have to put a little paint on every year get a airless & paint it no rust.As far as weight in the wind I like a little more, but I have a deisel to pull with so its good for me. Thinking snow I'm ready to ride.
I have a 04 haulmark steel that looks like new no rust just well maintained.
you have to put a little paint on every year get a airless & paint it no rust.As far as weight in the wind I like a little more, but I have a deisel to pull with so its good for me. Thinking snow I'm ready to ride.
I think one of the big questions is, what kind of truck are you pulling with, gas or diesel? If you are pulling with a diesel truck, the extra weight of a steel trailer will not be nearly as noticable as if you are pulling with a gas truck. This goes for both power and mileage. I ordered a new aluminum inline this year and the weight difference is almost 1,000 pounds lighter than a steel trailer of equal size.
Make sure you get the scale net weight of the trailer you are buying if your goal is to get a light trailer. Big differences. A Triton 24' aluminum trailer is much lighter than a Featherlite of the same size. I wanted a really nice light weight trailer to haul my 4 sled. Ended up with a tricked out 24' Featherlite, started with a 22' steel Mirage. Both of those trailers are about the same weight. The Featherlite is loaded up with Furnace, fuel rig, cabinets, bed/benches so it is actually heavier than the stripped out Mirage. Scale weight is listed right at 4000lbs for the Feather, a little less for the Mirage if you can believe it. Probably weighs 4600-4700 empty with all the extras. A Triton is like 2800lbs striped. That trailer tows nice though, I really like it. Especially with all the add ons.
Post up some pics of your new trailer!
As you know the Triton and Mirage is nowhere near to the quality of your Featherlite, as can obviously be seen by looking at the construction materials and craftsmanship.
