Aluminum trailers

[Dave Ficacci]

Originally Posted by Steve Polhill

Ron

If you are thinking that a lighter trailer = better mileage, It would take you MANY years to make up the difference in the cost of the trailer with fuel savings.

Think of it this way. If your Motorhome got 10 MPG Now with a regular trailer it would take 50 Gal of fuel to go 500 Miles. 50 Gallons x $2.70 per gallon = $135 each way. Now say your new Alum trailer gets you another MPG to 11 MPG, the same trip would take 45.5 gallons of fuel . So 45.5 Gallons x $2.70 = $122.85 each way so you would save $12.15, or $24.30 round trip. That means if you bought a $15,000 Alum trailer, over say the $9000 Steel trailer that I bought, You would have to go 246,914 miles to make up the difference is price. And knowing how much you travel in a year I'd say roughly 3000 miles, it would take you over 82 years to cover that much.

Just to put things in perspective.

If you are going to put things in perspective...do it all the way.

Towing that steel piece of sh!t behind you puts additional wear and tear on your truck/motorhome's engine/tires/frame/brakes etc. It will also go through trailer tires faster... Put a price on that..

Think resale. In 10 years that 9000 steal trailer will be worth 3000...if it hasnt fallen apart yet. The 15000 aluminum one will still pull in 10k.

Goldrush and T&E are the only way to fly.

[Greg Turk]

Thank you Steve , its much clearer now!!

[Greg Turk]

Steve.....Why you gotto be like that????
Thankx for the extra eyes...my search ended a couple of weeks ago
I'll send you a PM with pix
later....
Turkman

[rseibenick]

The main reason I am looking for lighter Aluminum trailer , is my RV can not haul a lot of weight. It is a 94 Allergo Bay 35 ft. DP with a 5.9 Cummins 190 HP Turbocharged and intercooled engine with a 4 speed Allison transmission. Book says not to tow over 6000 lbs. I am going to redo the hitch and make it stronger, but with a lighter trailer would hopefully not put me over the total GVCW limit of my RV. I will usually have a 2300 to 2500 car in the trailer. Thanks for all of the ideas and infomation. Ron.

[rseibenick]

Been looking at the ATC , Featherlite and Gold rush trailers. I also ran across the Nash and Rance aluminum trailers. Anyone have any info on these brands.

[Jim Carter]

Originally Posted by rseibenick

The main reason I am looking for lighter Aluminum trailer , is my RV can not haul a lot of weight. It is a 94 Allergo Bay 35 ft. DP with a 5.9 Cummins 190 HP Turbocharged and intercooled engine with a 4 speed Allison transmission. Book says not to tow over 6000 lbs. I am going to redo the hitch and make it stronger, but with a lighter trailer would hopefully not put me over the total GVCW limit of my RV. I will usually have a 2300 to 2500 car in the trailer. Thanks for all of the ideas and infomation. Ron.

Your concern over trailer weight, while towing with an RV is well founded and THE second best reason to go aluminum. You can also pick up a used (oops), pre-owned aluminum trailer for close to the same price of a "new" steel unit. The first best reason is enhanced RESALE value. The depreciation on aluminum trailer value will typically level off after it is a few years old and just flat line.
BTW:
Talk to Johnny D at DRC when you are ready to beef up that hitch. He makes a nice "Do It Yourself" hitch kit that is well designed and engineered for RV's.

Dave Ficacci knows what he is talking about from his own personal experience.
Keep that open trailer until you can get the aluminum unit.

I bought a used Motorsports trailer and am very happy with it. They are no longer in business but they are serviced by Goldrush. Pre-owned units are out there.

Just my two cents.

JimmieC

[Ryan Horensky]

I have a 24' ATC and I am very happy with it. The trailer is loaded with options and about 3500lbs. I would def recommend an ATC to anyone. Prob the best value for your money as far as an aluminum trailer goes. There are alot of good companies out there like...Gold rush, T&E, Pace, Featherlite, Etc, But I would def check out ATC if you're in the market for an aluminum trailer. Give Bryan Sorce a call at Sorce's Trailer Sales. He could fill you in on the options available for an ATC Trailer if that's the path you want to go down.
570-683-6198.

[JJ3159]

i have a used 28ft atc for 9900 gilloglyresale.com there is pics of the trailer.

[Jack Matyas]

Originally Posted by Dave Ficacci

If you are going to put things in perspective...do it all the way.

Towing that steel piece of sh!t behind you puts additional wear and tear on your truck/motorhome's engine/tires/frame/brakes etc. It will also go through trailer tires faster... Put a price on that..

Think resale. In 10 years that 9000 steal trailer will be worth 3000...if it hasnt fallen apart yet. The 15000 aluminum one will still pull in 10k.

Goldrush and T&E are the only way to fly.

Dave -- I agree -- whatever you are towing with will be used much harder towing a steel trailer and the steel unit will be valued much less when sold 10 years later but its been my experience that after 10 years a aluminum unit such as a Goldrush / Motorsport / Featherlite etc. will be valued at what it sold for new or very close .

[Mike Voth]

We've used Classic Trailers for years. They are more affordable than most any "big name" trailer on the market today. Lighter weight, pulls great, and best of all, we never have to fix anything on them. Our current trailer, purchased some 10 years ago, is still in great shape. We bought it bare and put an aluminum floor and cabinets in it ourselves, and I wired it for 110 so we have adequate lighting and other amenities. We're very happy with our Classic Trailer. I've seen so many Pace service guys at races fixing there trailers. At a D5 race a few years back (I think it was Great Bend), the entire tongue snapped off and had to be welded back on.

If we buy another one, it will be a Classic, as we've have zero concerns with the previous two owned.

As stated repeatedly on this forum..."just my 2 cents worth"