Hi! we are finally buying our first brand new trailer in about 6 weeks. I've been searching alot online to see whats out there locally in our price range in Aluminium trailers. (we live in the Fraser Valley in BC) I've searched plenty of Forums but haven't really found alot of info on the Maverick trailers. The trailer I am looking at is a Maverick 3 horse Aluminium and the Circle J Runabout (no drop down windows). The difference in the two that stands out the most is the Mavericks newer model has now made there trailer wider and stall width wider. The part I'm having a hard time with is it isn't triple wall construction. It is a bit less expensive than the Circle J. The Circle J has the triple wall construction but the stall width is a funky size. Wider in the front than the back etc....Buying an Aluminium trailer is important as we are pulling with a 3/4 ton full size Ford van. My gelding is a solid 16.1 hh so stall width is important. Any help would be appreciated! 

Hello, I am also from the Fraser Valley B.C. and I am also looking for a lightweight aluminum trailer to tow behind a Ford E350 van.  I would be interested in if you have found out any more info on this topic...I too am looking into a two horse Circle J trailer.

Thanks!

"all trailers are steel frame, and tongue, with aluminum struts and walls. I am not sure if aluminum would take the flex of towing."

Sorry, but these statements are not accurate, as well proven by past and present constructions.

Hi

I recently got my 1st new trailer. I bought the Circle J Runabout. I love it.

I pull it with a Mazda B4000 and it pulls and stops excellent. I only haul one horse so keeps it way below towing limit. I don't use it in winter though. Not enough truck to hold trailer on ice. Neighbor hauls it with his big truck but mentions lightness of trailer causes it to travel more on ice. He prefers a steel trailer.

 I looked at Maverick as well but liked the construction of the Circle J better.

Good luck

Steve, nothing to be sorry about. An "all aluminum" trailer, usually isn't. As you said there are steel additions; a steel box area that supports the axles and is bolted to the aluminum frame. The second is a steel sub assembly that holds and supports the pin for the hitch. This is bolted or riveted to the underside of the goose area of a GN. A third area is sometimes utilised where the box transitions to the GN area. Steel may be found in this construction with the longer and heavier GN trailers.

Many horse trailers have a full aluminum frame and over the decades have proven their mettle with trouble free travels. One only has to look at over the road tractor trailers to see the majority being constructed of aluminum. Bored on a long trip one day, I counted the types of trailer constructions I encountered during my travels. In blocks of 50 each, three countings resulted in  4, 9, and 5 of each being of steel fabrication. The rest were aluminum.

Aluminum can flex, so can steel. Have you ever been parked on a bridge, and felt it vibrate whenever traffic traversed its length? Buildings sway in heavy winds. Airplane wings constantly flex during their flights. Park a pickup on a non level surface and observe the body line as compared to the bed. Many times they will no longer line up. If these materials were constructed rigidly, they could break and fail.