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New User
Posts: 3
Location: Elizabethton, TN | Here is my dilemma, I am looking to buy a 3 horse slant load gooseneck trailer. I have found 2 that I am interested in. 1-1994 Trail-Et- 3horse slant GN, aluminum skin, steel frame, excellent condition, price-$7000. 2-2001 Adam- 3horse slant GN, all-aluminum, frame and skin, excellent condition, price-$10,000. Which would be the better deal, both are great trailers, both same dressing room, and rear tack. What is adavantage, disadvantage of all aluminum, and aluminum skin, steel frame. Which of these trailers will hold their resale value better, or trade value if I ever decide to trade up. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and God Bless. Steve |
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Member
Posts: 32
Location: Brazil, IN | In my opinion, steel frame versus alum. frame is a very close race, both are going to last a long time. However, I hae seen the Adam trailer line and am very impressed with the quality for the money. They are nice trailers. Given the choice between a Trail-Et and an Adam, I would definitely go with an Adam. Erin Pell |
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New User
Posts: 3
Location: Elizabethton, TN | PLEASE SOMEBODY THROW IN SOME INPUT. THANKS |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 565
Location: Michigan | I am familiar with both brands of trailers. Trail-Et has been around forever, well built trailer and few complaints. I think the only complaint I would have is the rust factor. The Adam is a nice trailer too. My personal choice would be all alumy. I got tired of the rust showing up on a year old trailer. My $.02. |
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Member
Posts: 46
Location: New Mexico | There is going to be very little rust on the trailer with steel frame and aluminum skin. Most of the steel will be covered by the aluminum skin. Make sure the all aluminum one is constructed out of good strong aluminum that won't crumple up in an accident. If you have quality aluminum, it won't weigh much less than an all steel so you won't gain anything there.
As far as resale, the older trailer might have less resale value a few years down the road. Seems like no matter what condition a trailer is in, if it has a few years on it, people are less apt to consider it.
I personally have no experience with either brand so can't help there. |
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Expert
Posts: 1723
Location: michigan | Steel/aluminum vs all aluminum has been beaten to death on this fourm so do a search. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 456
Location: south of Cowtown, TEXAS | Go with the Adam. |
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Location: Illinois | Don't forget to lift the mats on that all aluminum baby! A bad floor is not easily replaced. Nice thing about Trailet, it has a wood floor that is easy to replace. If your like me, you don't have time to clean the thing out after every use. Alluminum floors are not as forgiving.
FTguy |
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Regular
Posts: 97
Location: Middle Tennessee | I would go with the all aluminum trailer. I recently sold my 2000 Merhow (aluminum over a steel frame) and bought a 1997 all aluminum Sundowner. The Sundowner looks like new and my Merhow was starting to show some age on the door latches and a few other areas that were not aluminum. I also feel that the all aluminum trailer I have now tows better and feels quite a bit lighter. I must agree with an earlier post, as far as the year is concerned, you would be better off with the later model and the price sounds reasonable. If you wanted to, you could probably sell it in a few years for just about what you paid for it I got my 1997 Sundowner for a great price because of the year even though it is still like new, so it goes to show you, people are concerned about age regarless of condition. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 720
| 7 model years for $3000, I'm going with the newer one. And it's all aluminum too! H1 |
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Member
Posts: 14
Location: Bloxom, VA | No opinions on the trailers themselves, but I'd MUCH prefer a trailer that had a wood floor versus an aluminum floor. I looked at a FRP trailer with an aluminum floor and the cross members, etc were also aluminum. You could walk in the trailer and feel like you were walking up and down with every step (floor was wavy). This was a used trailer. Aluminum may not rust, but it does corrode and appears (atleast to me) to do so at the same rate as a steel one, the only real difference is it looks like white powder instead of bright ugly colored rust. I personally would go with the steel frame and aluminum skin. Good luck in your search! |
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Expert
Posts: 1719
Location: PA | I had a Trailet, aluminum over steel. While it was a nice hauling trailer, I did have rust issues. |
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