You might want to read this thread, and ask the dealer about warranties on the undercoating stuff they are pushing.

http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/forum/thread-view.asp?threadid=8760&posts=142

All aluminum, period. Steal will rust, it is just how long do you have to wait. Cracked undercoating or powder coating on steal will trap water and never dry completly which means a quicker rusting frame.  I do believe that to be true.

Are you serious?  This is a fairly major purchase for most equestrians.  Please take some time and do your due diligence.  That thread is packed with excellent information about the MASSIVE issues plaguing the trailers that are steel framed, aluminum skinned with undercoating.

If you want steel go all steel, if you want aluminum go ALL aluminum...don't mix the two.  You'll need to do your research on this topic also, as stated in the aforementioned thread not every salesman will be honest about their product.

I thought the same thing when I read that response. Oh Well.

"too much to sift through" I say they are ...Trolling. LOL!

I've owned both and I currently have a Logan Coach which is Steel framed/aluminum skinned. I guess time will tell.

But doing a quick search here on HTW, I searched on several all Aluminum trailers and compared their 2008 prices to the resale price on 2000 and 1998 prices. (Doing the best I could to pick similar trailers, 4h GN No LQ, Drop Windows both sides) They held a 40% residual value of what the new trailer sells for.

I then looked at the Sundowner (Same Configuration) Their 10 year old trailers are selling for about 53% of the cost of a new 2008 trailer

Definitely not a scientific survey.  Just a quick look at 8-10 trailers in brands listing. But comparable 1998 trailers are selling for about the same price. The selling price of the new all aluminum is higher.  Maybe the cost of Aluminum has increased more than steel. And maybe that will be reflected in the resale value of the 2008 trailers 10 years from now.

I excluded LQ trailers, because I think some of the resale value is based on the conversion that was done. And most of the Aluminum trailers have custom conversions done by Outlaw and other recognized names, where as most steel framed trailer have in house conversions. And your question was not about which LQ retain their value best.

Aluminum vs Steel has become a emotional issue that owners defend very strongly. Pick one that has the features you like , the dealer & warranty to stand behind it and go enjoy it.  I hope you are not buying it this year to resale next year. And 10 years from now the percent of depreciation won't be that much different.

All aluminum! No question about it! I have had two, one I pulled for 15 years and got within $2000 of what I paid for it! And, NO RUST, ect. Looking forward to 15 years or more years from the new one, and after that, I'll be too old to care!