Ok... so I live in the Pacific North west, we get 40 inches of rain per year.  That means for about 9 months out of said year, it is probably raining.

I have been looking at the new Trails west all steel trailers.  Yes the paint job is great etc etc.  But given that, I'm worried that it would get 'cancer' in 10 years, where an aluminum wouldn't.

Is it worth the investment in aluminum now?  The steel trailers seem to be quieter than aluminum, and more sturdy.  I'm looking for opinions from anyone other than a Trails West dealer, not that they arent being honest, but I know they can be a bit biased.... But that is just part of the job.

ours is aluminum with a steel frame

I have a galvanized steel Logan Coach now, and am selling it and buying another galvanized Logan Coach with living quarters.  My trailer has sat outside, in the wet part of the Pacific Northwest, and the only rust on it is on the non-galvanized areas (hitch receiver, etc).  I have to agree with whoever said the steel trailers "feel" more solid.  I looked at all sorts of trailers before deciding to go with another steel Logan. 

I am probably going to get flamed for this opinion, but it seems to me there is a huge bias towards alumininum because its the "in" thing.  Roofing nails are made out of galvanized steel....because they don't rust.  How many rusted galvanized steel stock tanks have you seen?  Me personally....none. 

On the flip side, why don't we see aluminum cars, if there is so much weight savings in these days of the importance of fuel economy?  I think its because structurally aluminum isn't as good a strength material as steel.  Look at high performance bicycles.  You can get really light bicycles made out of aluminum, but you better not do any serious single track mountain bike riding, you'll rattle it apart.  Good mountain bikes are made out of steel.  Now there's a sport that pays attention to weight!   (Hubby rides both mountain and road bikes - both are steel, and not because it was cheaper)

Anything is going to last longer if you take care of it and keep it under cover, do maintenance and repairs as needed, etc.  When trailer shopping one needs to look at all the features.  Obviously I am a little biased towards the Logans, but I can't imagine giving up the drop down windows on both sides of the trailer for my horses' comfort. 

Just my two cents worth....Am I the only pro-steel forum member?

Aren't horse trailers made on a production line as well?  I'm sorry, but if aluminum really was a better material, we'd see it in cars by now.  Think Saturn with the "plastic" body panels. 

 It is NOT in the interest of auto manufacturers to sell us cars that don't rust out. So, I don't see the prevalence of the steel auto as any sort of "proof" that steel is a superior material (to aluminum) for horse trailer construction. YIMV, etc.

Anybody replace a car because it rusted out?  I haven't. 

I have been told that steel trailers don't really weigh that much more than aluminum ones.  As explained to me, aluminum is lighter but weaker.  So more material has to be used in an aluminum trailer than a steel. Given the added reinforcement needed for an aluminum trailer, the difference in weight isn't that much.  By that I mean "not as much difference as people think".

Alumium makes sense if rust is an issue and if every pound counts.  But the added cost?  Yikes.

 Just remember though, Steel and Aluminum prices get higher every day- so If you think you might want to get a steel now,and maybe upgrade to aluminum later, you think prices are high now? You will probably wish you had chosen more wisely earlier. My friend is dealing with this right now.

Just get what you want the first time. You will save sooooo much money in the long run. Also, don't go the cheap route and think it will do. Get the trailer you want and need. I went cheap- 3 horse trailers later, I am finally happy. It is worth the extra money!

I'm thinkin about an all plastic trailer,no rust, no blossoming,light and recyclable.

Somethin i can pull with a bicycle and save fuel.

After much debate, I finally bought a trailer! YIPPIE.  And I am so friggin happy about the choice I made. 

I decided on an 04 Classic Monarch 3 horse slant w/ 2 foot extended dress room (only 200 miles on it.  The little rubber 'spikey deals' on the tires were still intact!).  ALL ALuminum except for the jack and hitch.  Couldn't be happier.  This trailer just SHINES!!!  And it was LESS money than the brand new trails west all Steel trailer I was looking at.

19ft on the floor, 27ft overall, pulls AWESOME!  The only problem is that they didnt' use it much, so the gooseneck hitch is a bit hard to close, have to hit it with a block.  I used a bunch of WD 40 yesterday to cure the problem, helped a bit... Guess I just have to keep doing the WD 40 thing.

I did a lot of talking with people IN the metal industry about the pro's and cons between steel and Aluminum.

This is what the presedent of the company I work for had to say:  (Keep in mind I work for a metal manufacturing and fab company that works with steel 90% and aluminum 10% of the time):
"Aluminum is the industry standard for horse trailers now.  Aluminum is definitely the way to go over steel.  Any steel trailer dealer is going to tell you about the superior strength of steel over aluminum.  When they talk about strengths of materials, it all depends on the application.  Steel is superior to aluminum in some ways, where aluminum is superior to steel in others.  You don't want a steel trailer.  Go for all Aluminum, don't get a hybrid." 

Even with galvinized, electrocoated, enamel porcilin, sun baked, kiln dried, super space age processed paints or whatever they are... Paint will chip, the galvinization will scrape off, there are going to be inperfections, and you will have rust.

Wih I would have read this before I bought My new steel horse trailer.Oh well maybe next year!

I can't wait till they build trucks out of alumenimum.That will be a great improvement.

An aluminum truck,running on hambuger grease,lubricated with catsup and protected with mustard.With pickle wheels.Little dingleballs on the windows.

You want fries with that?