Seems to me it would be a matter of economy for the most part.  The all-aluminum trailers are lighter and if you are planning on traveling a lot with your trailer, an aluminum will save you fuel dollars in the long run.

The aluminum/steel skin trailers are a bit less expensive, but heavier.  You will have some issues with corrosion in the future, but if you stay ahead of it, you'll get many years of use out of it.

Depending on what you can afford, really.  I've seen some really nice aluminum/steel LQ trailers that are comparable to all aluminum. 

Steel rusts, aluminum corrodes, albeit slower than the steel rusts. In the NE rust belt, an aluminum trailer is longer lasting, and involves much less maintenance to remain intact. IN MY AREA, an all aluminum trailer is the one preferred by most owners.

I have had trailers of both metals. All of our steel trailers required a great deal of maintenance and repainting. Now that we've finally been able to obtain the two aluminum trailers we've wanted, we have life time investments that require only a fraction of the work to maintain. It took us a long time to get these trailers, and we greatly enjoy them with every usage. It's a pleasure to look at them and not see a ring of paint and rust, laying on the ground, mimicking the trailer's outline. We own only aluminum now, and would not consider another all steel or steel framed trailer.

Steel trailer owners in the rust free areas enjoy their quality products with few issues. It depends where you live, what you want and what you're willing to spend.

 Gard

I don't buy the better fuel economy argument with a lighter aluminum trailer.  I replaced my non-LQ trailer with a LQ trailer, which ended up being nearly 2x the weight of the non-LQ trailer.  Got the exact same mileage pulling either trailer. 

Weight is a factor in relation to the capacity of the towing rig, but my experience shows that weight doesn't have that much of an effect on fuel economy.

Previous post says they went back to all aluminum.

http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/forum/thread-view.asp?threadid=8620

I don't think they changed their model numbers, just the way they are built...not sure though.

 (quote) Previous post says they went back to all aluminum.

http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/forum/thread-view.asp?threadid=8620

I remember that post well!! I have not seen anything from "Sundowner" that says that they have gone to all aluminum, on all their models.... It's alway what "THEY" say.... Whoever "THEY" are... maybe it's someone in a big old room looking down on the qwhole world starting rumors and then watching everyone fuss and argue!!! Makes you wonder where Charles Phillips with five posts on this site got his priviliged info on 01-24-2008!! That's the only place I've read this, other than what people have posted afterwards about what "THEY" have said!

Here's my skinny on it. 3H BP and smaller - there's not too much weight difference because it takes more alum to create the same strength as steel.

With a 3H GN and larger ... the alum begins to enter the total weight. So with a 4H w/LQ... Alum makes a difference in weight over steel.

Alum skin is nice to have - it's lighter and lasts longer. It is also a brittle metal in that it will shred and is more likely to break in accidents; where as steel will dent and fold and stretch somewhat.

Alum is more difficult to have repaired as it takes special welding equipment and technique.

Alum STILL requires cleaning - just like steel.

It's standard now to use special liners and gaskets between steel and alum to prevent multi-metal contact and the ensuing corrosion.

My "ideal" trailer would be rumber or werm flooring over steel frame. Galvanealed steel interior for horse area, alum exterior. Fiberglass roof.

Aluminum, like many other alloys is blended into a product that suits the needs of the consumer. It is available in many "series" that allows usages in the kitchen, boat building, aerospace, automotive and construction industries. Its hardness ranges from a very soft and malleable product, to a hard rigid structure.

An aircraft is subject to many stresses, and the aluminum has to be able to stretch, flex and support tremendous weights without any failures. Boat hulls and structures take a tremendous amount of beating, in their transportation and usage. Dump truck bodies routinely have large heavy objects dumped into them, tons at a time. Tractor trailer, trailer frames have to support tens of tons of weight, under every type of usage. The cylinder temperatures and pressures of an automobile engine are extreem, and yet they are built to last hundreds of thousands of miles.

Aluminum routinely serves all of these usages competently, without difficulty. Using the proper type for its intended purpose is the key. If an aircraft skin and structure were not able to routinely flex without cracking and shredding, it would be falling from the sky. Boats would be sinking, dump truck loads would be scattered over the interstates, trailers would be parked, broken in half.

Any competently trained welder can effect an aluminum weld, using the same professional equipment he uses on steel. It does take more skill and experience than a back yard first timer might have.

Aluminum is a tough alloy. It's been around a long time and used successfully for many purposes. Don't be afraid of it; it will serve you well.

Gard

 I see what you're saying, BUT. I don't have alot of faith in some of these trailer dealers (salesmen/women)... Had one tell me three years ago that .."All of the Sundowner trailers are all aluminum, they don't build a steel frame trailer" That was in 2005. I myself don't care if they build them out of Play-Doh and KL93, if that works and it's what will sell and hold up to the abuses of livestock, then go for it.... I'm just saying that I've never seen a Sundowner publication-advertisement, that stated that they were only building the all aluminum trailer like that of the 761, 725, 710 etc. The trailers with the double DOT tape stripes on them. The steel frame trailers had a single tape stripe.

Here's a 2009, 727/8010.... Is it a steel frame or an aluminum frame??  http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/home/trailerdetail.asp?ID=172803

 Another 2009, 3 horse SL Horizon, steel frame or aluminum?  http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/home/trailerdetail.asp?ID=172462

 http://www.sundownertrailer.com/

Gard... I accept all that you said. However... a competent welder ... is not so easy to find that can ALSO address the specifics of a horse trailer; i.e., no rough welds, strength etc.

also you wrote:

Aluminum is a tough alloy. It's been around a long time and used successfully for many purposes. Don't be afraid of it; it will serve you well.

Yes. So why are not automobiles made out of alum?  The thickness of alum needed for the same strength (and flexibility if you will) increases the weight of the object.

Regardless.  Having seen the results of a 950 pound mare that kicked through a double-alum, rubber lined, insulated trailer wall of a VERY top of heap horse trailer leaves me with my fondness for steel interiors. Especially when I had a similar situation with a DIFFERENT 1000 pound mare that went bonkers in my steel walled trailer. Leaving it dented but not punctured.

Ya'll are scaring me!!! I had planned to order a new Sundowner 2H BP in the spring.. Earlier if i sell my existing one...Since I was under the impression that this was one of the top-of-the-line manufacturers, I was planning on custom ordering it to my needs, thinking it would (probably) be the last trailer that I ever own..... Now I'm not so sure that I should do that.. After reading this blog, i zipped off a note to the salesman that I've been talking to and asked about the alum or steel frame/components of Sundowners..... What are some of the better aluminum trailer manufacturers?

I've heard 4 star mentioned already, what are some of the others? I was under the impression that 4 star, bloomer, C&C, Exiss, Platinum and Sundowner were considered the better trailers.. Am I wrong?

Welcome to the H.T.W. forum, Jeff Hoppes.

http://www.pegasusvans.com/

There are applications that can be used to prevent immediate rusting on steel.

Powder coating, galvaneal, etc.

I remember camping on Padre Island and taking the car through the "bottom sprayers" at the car washes in CC / Port Aransas when we headed back to San Antonio. Of course, that was in the early 1980s when automakers weren't so careful about what or how they constructed US cars. 

So... your situation may warrant something different than what those in North Texas, AZ, NM,Utah, etc. may require.  Here in the north, we have constant wet. Frequent trips through high-bay car washes and regularly applied coats of auto wax helps. : )

Top of the line ADVERTISERS does not necessarily mean top of the line product.

A sales person for ANY product will always tell you how good their OWN product is. : )

Posted by gard:How thick was the aluminum sheeting used on the trailer? Some of the "Lite" trailers only have skins of fifty thousandths or less. Better built trailers have increasingly thicker skins. In addition, what was the wall stud thickness? 1", 1 1/2", thicker? Have you routinely seen holes in the sides of well built trailers that have enjoyed good reputations?

Top of the line prices, are not a true reflection of the trailer's construction and quality, as proven by various posters in this forum. More money doesn't always equate into a better product. Only a personal inspection and knowledge of the trailer, can lessen the chances of being sold an inadequate unit.

By definition, a horse trailer is built and sold for the transportation of horses. At Congress, I witnessed most potential customers more concerned with crown moldings, twinkling lights and curtain colours, than axle and tire ratings, hardware, weld quality and types of materials. I wonder if these buyer's priorities were the same when they purchased their homes. No house is any better than its foundation, and any structure is only as good as its weakest component.

With the costs of these trailers being anything but insignificant, due diligence is necessary to get what you need and what you're paying for.

Gard

I can't imagine how much pressure was involved for an animal to completely puncture those multiple layers. It must have been completely panicked and pumped full of adrenalin.

Gard