Posted 2017-06-18 2:37 PM (#170090) Subject: Steel or Aluminum Chassis 3 horse BP Trailer?
New User
Posts: 1
Hi all, My wife is looking to buy a 3 Horse, Bumper pull Trailer to pull behind our Dodge Ram 1500.
She has narrowed her selection down to 2 trailers both of which are about the same price. One is a new 2017 and has a Steel Chassis with a Dry Weight of 4000 lb's. The other trailer is a lightly used, 2015 with an Aluminum Chassis which has a Dry Weight of 3150 lb's.
I will freely admit that I know very little about Trailers so any help would be gratefully received
Posted 2017-06-19 2:30 PM (#170099 - in reply to #170090) Subject: RE: Steel or Aluminum Chassis 3 horse BP Trailer?
Veteran
Posts: 185
Location: riverside ca
I would guess those are not the real weights of the trailers, or they are very different trailers. normally 2-3 horse trailers made of aluminum are withing in 200-300 lbs of a steel trailer. I personally would go with a steel trailer, mind you I live in California so weather conditions have alot to do with it. On top of that steel trailers are cheaper to get intially, easier/cheaper to fix if you need to. the weight savings just dont really make that much difference. On a side note, you are getting a pretty big bumper pull trailer to pull with a 1/2 ton truck I personally would not tow it except under the best conditions.
Posted 2017-11-28 1:42 PM (#170859 - in reply to #170090) Subject: RE: Steel or Aluminum Chassis 3 horse BP Trailer?
New User
Posts: 2
I would be careful pulling a 3h bumper pull with that truck. I personally have experienced what it is like to NOT have enough truck to pull
a trailer. good luck.
Posted 2017-11-28 2:46 PM (#170860 - in reply to #170090) Subject: RE: Steel or Aluminum Chassis 3 horse BP Trailer?
Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont
2017 Ram 1500 has a maximum towing capacity of 10,640 pounds....other model years may be quite LESS
If you tow like many people, you'd be better off with an Aluminum trailer...because it will just SIT for weeks on end for most of your years of ownership...
SOME 3 horse bumper pulls have have had load balancing issues