Posted 2011-06-24 9:13 AM (#135103) Subject: Aluminum trailers on rough roads
Member
Posts: 37 Location: Northern Nevada
I'm thinking of going from all steel to an aluminum trailer. I travel to trailheads on dirts roads that sometimes require 4WD and are usually pretty washboardy. Generally 15 miles or less. Somebody mentioned to me that aluminum trailers aren't built for that sort of thing. That they'll twist and tweak and break welds. Anybody have an opinion on that?
Posted 2011-06-24 10:47 AM (#135108 - in reply to #135103) Subject: RE: Aluminum trailers on rough roads
Veteran
Posts: 229
flyin'horse, horsecamper here in the heart of the PNW (Medord, OR)says, "Not True". We have many trail riders out here. Both Featherlite and Exiss are pretty big out here and I have never heard of breaking any trailers, and these brands are mid range trailers. I owned a little 2H Featherlite LQ and when I drove out to the mountains, I was loaded, 2 horses, and 48 gallons of water (not counting the 40 gal in the LQ) and 4 bales of hay on the roof. I went anywhere that didn't tear off the waste water piping. The engineers who design the trailers and specify the grade of aluminum know what they are doing. The welders know how to weld the aluminum. Yes, eventually the aluminum stock trailers get destroyed, but they are subjected to abuse, very heavy loading in addition to rough terrain. The only thing that I might suggest, and this would be for any trailer that would be subjected to alot of torque, would be the type of door closure. My prefered closure would be cam lock, not butterfly. The Trailer Place (Don Johnson's) in Walla Walla Washington is one of, if not the, biggest seller of trailers in the PNW. They have sold Featherlite's for many years. They also do warranty service, repairs and fabrication. If there was a problem, they'd know it. They also have sold Trails West, an all steel trailer, for many years. I asked them the same question that you are asking. They said, "Not True". They said that sometimes the all steel, or aluminum over steel manufacturers make this claim as a sales pitch.
Posted 2011-06-24 12:43 PM (#135111 - in reply to #135103) Subject: RE: Aluminum trailers on rough roads
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
Well, we take ours elk hunting hauling the mules, water, all our gear, hay and water on top, and alot of other junk (!) and we go down some road we have to chain up, and they are not short roads. Trailer is 10 years old now and not a structural issue so far. Main thing is we have to watch not to drag of our holding tank dump valves...come close on that before. I'd get an aluminum trailer if it suited my needs....better resale and rust issues solved.
Posted 2011-06-24 2:16 PM (#135115 - in reply to #135108) Subject: RE: Aluminum trailers on rough roads
Member
Posts: 37 Location: Northern Nevada
Interesting, I was hoping somebody would tell me that's a myth as I'm considering a used 2 horse Exiss w/4' shortwall. I have a 3H Trailswest right now. I'm not not sure what the difference is in the latches that you mention though. Thanks for the input.
Posted 2011-06-24 3:28 PM (#135116 - in reply to #135103) Subject: RE: Aluminum trailers on rough roads
Member
Posts: 12
Aluminum trailers will handle the conditions if it's built right. Make sure they use square tubing and not "C" channel for their frame and walls. An interlocking aluminum floor like Shadow Trailers uses will also makes a difference.
Posted 2011-06-24 5:29 PM (#135117 - in reply to #135103) Subject: RE: Aluminum trailers on rough roads
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
You are more likely to rattle the LQ to pieces than the aluminum frame/body.
I had a couple of Classic all aluminum trailers that I towed all over Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. Often had the problem of how to get turned around at the end of a forest service road. And I can only remember breaking one weld on the fender.
My current trailer is a 2006 Logan, Which is a steel frame aluminum skin and it is also holding up well. It's pretty common to have to drive in 20 miles of Forest Service road to trail heads in my area,
Posted 2011-06-25 5:19 PM (#135128 - in reply to #135123) Subject: RE: Aluminum trailers on rough roads
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
When I took the photo, I had hoped it would show how steep the grade was we had to climb up. But you just don't see the steepness in the photo. The road we came in on is the road you can see on the left of the photo. Switchback road climbs up from the valley floor and over a mountain similar to what is behind the truck. then a few more miles along the top to the trail head that we use.
Maybe this photo give you an idea of the climb and view out the side window.
Posted 2011-06-25 10:22 PM (#135134 - in reply to #135132) Subject: RE: Aluminum trailers on rough roads
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
I'm sure that you have some very comparable scenry in Northern Nevada. These photos happen to be over in Eastern Utah.
I've seen the ranchers fly down wash board roads at 40-50 mph while I creep down them at 15-20 mph. I'm sure that will have an bigger effect on how the trailer last. If you drive reasonably, The mid range aluminum should last just fine. Like other stated, my biggest problem has always been the sewer holding tanks under the trailer more than the any of the welds.
Posted 2011-06-27 4:38 AM (#135182 - in reply to #135103) Subject: RE: Aluminum trailers on rough roads
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
A well built aluminum trailer is as safe and strong as a steel trailer. Depending on where you live, it can also be a source of much less maintenance. Most of the dreaded aluminum failures you read about, are perpetrated by the manufacturers of the steel trailers. Next time you're on the open road, look at the commercial long haul trailers being pulled. Most are aluminum framed and construction.
Posted 2011-06-27 3:45 PM (#135209 - in reply to #135103) Subject: RE: Aluminum trailers on rough roads
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402 Location: Valentine, NE
Been around aluminum trailers and bad roads for 30+ years. In my experience, it usually is not the road that leads to failure, it is the abuse due to lack of maintenance, letting doors slam into stops, animal abuse, and/or driver error (curbs, tree branches, rocks, etc.). We have a very light built Exiss Sport...working fine until I let 2 hfrs out the side door==they decided they wanted to come out together....have to replace the uprights now...my bad...
I will say that years ago, when the industry was learning the ropes, some of the trailers got a bad rap as to rivets coming lose and poor quality design/welds not holding. I really think all these problems are now behind us on most brands.
Aluminum trailers on rough roads
