"Bison LQ Trailers? We were just told today that they were the #1 selling trailer last year. "

Thats funny, I had a Sundowner dealership and a unrelated Sooner dealership tell me that their product was the # 1 seller last year! So which is it? What facts are the dealers basing their statistics on?

Like everyone says, you'll find people who have had problems with every brand. Get what is affordable to you and what has the features you need and want. Look at previous threads on here and see if there is anything that you have overlooked on them. Enjoy.

The Trail-Express and Aluma-Sport are steel frame aluminum skin. The Stratus model is all aluminum...

Since pretty much everyone is privately held, there isn't much verifiable data out there. But- I had two different large & respected trailer manufacturers tell me Bison was making more LQs than anyone (one of them you mentioned, and the other one is probably number 2)

Many sales people, in an effort to make a sale, will tell you anything that will enhance their position. With a little prior knowledge, it is quite easy to spot a sales pitch from an informative discussion. There are honest people willing to accurately describe their wares. There are some persons that know little, and say whatever you want to hear. Before you even try to evaluate the product you're seeking, you should first know the type of person with whom you are communicating. It may take a second or third try before you can  find a legitimate representative.

A few weeks ago I was trailer shopping, and looked at a trailer that was advertised as "NEW", being less than one year old. The factory placarded ID tag indicated it was built in Mar of 11. The installed ST Chinese tires being sold as new, already had half of their expected life span spent in the parking lot.

You cannot depend on sales people, to provide you with all the relevant information you need, and should know before making a purchase.

I know a little about sales, having been in the business for several decades. It is a welcomed treat, to meet an honest representative that is knowledgeable about his product. In today's environment, many sales people, like horse dealers, are vagabonds, moving about as conditions dictate. When you need a follow up for a problem or an explanation, frequently they are long gone.

You can learn a lot from a knowledgeable representative, or get burnt by a shady sales effort. It's best to know the people with whom you are dealing.

I purchased a Bison Trail hand last year and like it. They are pretty popular around here for a more inexpensive weekend warrior like myself. My complaints with the Trail Hand series so far are as follows: ~It has the real thin aluminum skin and dents easily on outside. ~The dividers in-between the horses heads don't run high enough or far enough back to prevent some larger horses from "sticking their head over" if not tied short and they are nosey. ~The face guards are pretty lightweight. I have no complaints with the living quarters part so far. I ride with people that have used them since 2007, and have pretty good luck, so I took the chance. So far I am satified. I paid $23,000 (bought in June 2012- mfg. date Feb. 2012)for a brand new 8'SW, 3 horse, fold out couch, electric awning, stove top, etc. Next closest thing to that price for the same features was $30,000 around here. I can live with those complaints for $7Ksavings. You have to decide if it's worth it to you. I also use a stock trailer for local riding, so Bison is only used for overnight trips. The "high end" trailer people may look down on you a little, depending on your crowd. Just my observations so far. I went to this from a 2000 2 horse Sundowner Valuelite. (By the way, I got almost $8k on that Sundowner on a trade and it wasn't on the dealers lot for more than a couple months :)

Not to highjack thread, but would really like to know where they got the statistics to say Bison was #1 in retail sales? Were they talking on their lot or nationally? Were they talking about #1 saler in their class? In their state? Not complaining but curious. I just don't understand how 3 different trailer representatives can state that to consumers without something to back it up. I would think somewhere, there is an "official" annual record kept of #  of units manufactured & # of units sold of each and every trailer brand made.

Aluminum is sold by the pound. Labour is paid for by the hour. Every business has overhead expenses, that can vary from their competitors, but are still figured in the costs of producing a product, and meaning a great deal in the final profit.

A trailer of X dimensions needs a certain amount of material to construct the unit, and it takes x amount of labour to effect its construction. Management has taken decades of research to lower productions costs, to make their sales the most profitable as possible. The only way to lower these expenditures, is to reduce the material, labour and overhead costs.

Less expensive materials can be used. A thinner product, a less expensive strength can be substituted. These changes are very difficult to detect after the trailer is built. Smaller amounts of products can be used. Less expensive assembly techniques can be substituted. If two equally sized trailers sit side by side and one weighs many hundreds of pounds more, which do you think will be more durable? If a door frame on one has extra gussets and the other doesn't, which do you think is more susceptible to racking? If one manufacturer has solid door frames and the other doesn't, which will provide the best long term durability?

If one has door hinges of large bosses and nylon inserts, do you think it will be more durable than a thin boss with a steel pin against the aluminum hinge? Do you think a door with two hinges is as strongly located as one of twice as many hinges? Do you think a skin attached only by tape is as strong as one with tape and rivets. Do you think a quick, poorly run welded bead, splattered into place, is as strong as one put down with skill and time?

Two new trailers sitting in a lot are very similar looking. A few years down the line, things will drastically change and the least expensive new price, may not be the best value. It has been stated that a used trailer is the best value. I concur. If a decade old trailer is in good shape, it proves its construction was solid and it was well maintained. That can be added to the "BEST" lists, of which everyone is so concerned. A poorly built trailer will show its problems with age, with parts wearing out and breaking.

Two good trailers, because they share common materials and construction costs will be similarly priced. One that is significantly less expensive, will have specific reasons why it is so. Before it is considered and purchased, one should perform diligence to know why there are disparities in costs. Some manufactures over charge based on name brands, bling and hype. The middle of the road manufacturers, because there are many, can be compared more accurately, model to model. Due diligence...due diligence.

As is true with most any product.  Driving vehicles also.  I also drive a Chevy Equinox for work.  While I'm sure a Volvo, Cadilac, Lincoln, Mercedes to be more safe, constructed of better materials and perhaps better labor, the Equinox has worked fine for me.

When comparing a $23K Bison trailer to a $50k+ 4-star/platium/etc trailer obviously they aren't comparable.  They are less than half the price for a reason.  Just as an Equinox is not comparable to a Escalade.

Everyone has different budgets and priorities in life.  For my use of weekend camping/riding the Bison is doing fine.

For my budget and priorities in my early 40's with a paid for Bison trailer fits me like a glove.  I also don't know that I would drop $50k+ on a trailer even if I had it in cash.  I'm a weekend trailrider.  I'm not "living" in my living quarters.

Different strokes for different folks.  I'm not ashamed to be an "Equinox" kind of guy.  They're building those Bisons for a reason......people are buying them!  I also don't have "caution show horses" on the back door either.