I am looking to buy a used 3h GN slant load trailer.  Already, I've gotten so much good info from these pages.  I have a list of "must haves" and "wants".  But I'm not sure of the advantages of the frame material... all aluminum, steel or alum over steel.  I've got a F250 diesel, so don't think towing weight will be an issue.  Opinions, experiences???

thanks!

I've got a aluminum skin steel frame sundowner.  Needs an acid bath but otherwise looks great.  Having pulled a couple times during the snow season makes me really glad I got the aluminum.  The frame is starting to rust in spots, not bad though for the trailer being 12 yrs old. An all aluminum would might be a little better, but there is still steel on those models in areas too so you still get rust stains. The trailer spends the whole time outside too. 

To put it in a nutshell, steel rusts and aluminum oxidizes(a.k.a. white rust). Many of today's steel trailer manufacturers are using paints to withstand the elements thus creating a longer life span for that particular trailer. An aluminum trailer can have problems with "white rust" if not taken care of properly, especially on an all alumy floor. Manure/urine mixes with that and the "white rust" can lead to pitting, not a good thing. It is a personal preference and becoming more educated on a steel or alumy trailer is key to your purchase.

My last trailer was a steel/alum combo. Liked the trailer, a newer trailer at that, but the beginning rust on the frame , I didn't like. The trailer I currently own is an all alumy one and I love it.

Good luck!!

If you meant "lighter trailer" being an all aluminum trailer I don't think there is much difference in weight vs an all steel trailer. What, maybe 100lbs?

When I still lived in southern MI, I bought a 4Star aluminum due to the frustration of my all steel trailers wanting to rust so easily.  Altho I don't have that trailer anymore, I do still have an all aluminum (Silverlite - VERY nicely made trailer) here in NW MT.  Due to my side business of mobile tack shop, I am looking to sell this one for a larger trailer for more inventory room & this time will undoubtably go w/all steel since we are a dry climate & do not use salt on the roads here, therefore I don't have to worry about the rust.  (I am leaning very heavily towards a TrailsWest w/their "dandy" full midtack w/doors on each side.)  If you are in IN, you are dealing w/all that dang salt....so I would probably go w/aluminum, but be religious about keeping your aluminum floor clean - or go aluminum & get either the Rumbar or WERM flooring. 

Hi,

My steel stock trailer rusts from rainwater sitting in nooks and crannies! I just bought a new Sooner all aluminum 4 horse goose neck but I live on the salt water in FL.

Just ask yourself this

Self - "I wonder why more major automobile manufactures don't use aluminum frames?  Especially on HD trucks"

listen, first if you live in a hunid area like S. Fl. steel is a non starer. You make an investment and watch rust aound you.

I've had all three steel, alum. over a steel frame and two alum. trailers.

The alum. won hands down. You couldn't compare a steel trailer with alum.

Now I am not wanting to start a battle with anyone, but it is not wise to look at trailer purchasing in this light. Now with that said, I am by no means saying that aluminum can not be used as a structural member, it just takes more of it at more cost with just the right combination of materials.  Which in sense makes the all aluminum trailers noticeably higher in price than steel trailers.  Plus it explains why there is such a wide variance of pricing in the all aluminum market, more material stronger(heavier) trailer and higher price(for the most part neglecting purchasing power).  While in the steel framed aluminum skinned market there is a very narrow variance in pricing, which is directly the result of the amount of 'standards' on the said trailer.  Therefore if done correctly an aluminum framed trailer will last, but not as long as the equally designed steel frame.  The biggest concern with steel framed trailers is how the steel frame gets protected. 

 So all you really need to figure out is how long are you wanting to keep this trailer before upgrading?  I would say if it is within the 10-15 yr range take your pick over that I would not have a clue do to not knowing the actual design of many different aluminum trailers.  I am also not saying that at that 15 year mark that the trailer is just going to break in half, that is just when I would really start getting worried about it.  That is what is bad about aluminum when it starts to fatigue you can not visually see it as you mostly can in steel.

Now stepping into my flame suit

 Inferiority complex?? Aluminum is great in many applications, such as a truck flat bed, or a bed for a dump truck. Also, aluminum will not replace steel in an actual truck frame anytime soon, as it takes twice as much aluminum to make it structurally sound. And there has never been an all aluminum horse trailer made. The box/body of the trailer is aluminum. Whereas the axles, suspension and actual main gooseneck frame and the hitch that all see the actual radial and stress loads are made from steel. I don't have a problem in the world with aluminum trailers. I think they are nicer looking, and are overall easier to clean. And I would like to have one too, but the weight savings everybody tries to tout is bogus, as 10-15% is the max you will save over a steel/aluminum trailer.