Aluminum vs. steel 6 x 14 single axle

[bmxdukie]

Hi folks.
Starting to gather info for a new project.
I currently pull a steel 6x 12' 1600lbs trailer for work. Ford 3.5 turbo. Horrible milage when pulling this.
Wanting to do a conversion on a new trailer for my wife and I to travel across country once a year to see family.
Basically, a rolling room to sleep in.
Would going with an aluminum 6 x14 be worth the extra money for weight savings and possibly fuel savings?
Thanks to all info anyone could give.

 

[KCStudly]

Fuel mileage will be affected more by frontal area and resulting wind resistance, than by rolling weight (although mountain passes will have an affect if you are grossly under powered... sounds like you have one of those newer Ford turbo V6's which should have plenty of get-up-and-go). What is the configuration of your current rig? Does it have a big frontal area and/or flat front wall? Maybe consider lifting roof or other aero treatments to keep the camper in the wind shadow of your TV.

 

[Tony Latham]

I currently pull a steel 6x 12' 1600lbs trailer for work. Ford 3.5 turbo. Horrible milage when pulling this.

I concur with KC on this. I pull my 1400-pound teardrop and get 18-19 MPG with my Tacoma. It's not the weight, it's the aerodynamic drag.

Tony

 

[bmxdukie]

I agree on that for sure. Having driven tractor trailers for a lot of my life i get it.
Pulling a bread box is lots of drag. Just wondered it the actual 500 to 800lb differance ( from what ive found on the web ) would really show up vs. The cost.
The set up i have now is a steel 6 x 12' steel v nose with 6'6" tall. Truck is at about double the fuel usage loaded or empty.

 

[Modstock]

I did some areo on mine.
1st was getting the trailer level and the front out of the wind with the proper drop hitch.
You have 6 inches more height than mine.
I put a truck shell on and did the snowboard for a wind deflector as far back as I could mount it. (To get the air over the front of the trailer).
I did gain mpg's by doing this as well as stability from passing semi trucks, wind guests.
Sounds like the truck could use a tune up. Spark plugs, coil packs maybe.
Is it lifted, bigger tires ?
Maybe the next trailer bring down the height to 6ft inside if you can.
Aluminum has one flaw. When it breaks, someone that can weld Aluminum is hard to come by vs. Steel.

 

[featherliteCT1]

Aluminum has one flaw. When it breaks, someone that can weld Aluminum is hard to come by

10+++++