Used vs. New? Aluminum vs. Steel? Flat vs. Curved roof?

[bookcrazzzy]

I'm back with specific questions about buying a cargo trailer. I've got some money coming to me from a small inheritance but I don't know how much and I'm hoping it will be enough to buy our cargo trailer. Actually, I'm hoping it will be enough to buy our dream cargo trailer (all aluminum, curved roof, v-nose, with all the options we want) but thinking of the options if it isn't!

I "shopped" around the three states in my area on Craigslist yesterday to get an idea of what is available in used trailers in our area and was kind of surprised at what I found. First of all, there were NO all aluminum trailers of any kind. Second, there weren't very many v-nose trailers either and the majority of them were black. They looked really good but we aren't chickens and would rather not be cooked like one. On the other hand, it was pretty easy to spot the higher quality trailers just from the pics and there were some pretty good deals out there, especially if we sacrifice the v-nose requirement.

I also "shopped" new trailers, both aluminum and steel, on a couple of sites where you could "build" a trailer and get a quote along with specs.

One of my biggest concerns is that most v-nose trailers have flat roofs, even the high-end models! There are a few with curved roofs, but they are few and far between. Can anyone tell me why this is? More importantly, if we buy a flat-roof v-nose that is otherwise a medium or commercial line trailer, will we regret it? I know curved is stronger but just how important is it?

I would also love to hear from Prem and any other aluminum owners about their experience with them and their answer to "is it worth the extra money?" Weight is really important to us because we want to haul the trailer into the mountains and all over the place eventually and we also know the costs of higher weight in case and wear-and-tear will be higher. However, we could save a lot if we went for a used steel trailer if we could find one that would meet our needs. Any insights would be extremely welcome.

Thanks thanks thanks!

Margie

[vtx1029]

I believe United, Featherlite, Aluma, Neo MFG, and Stealth all have round top aluminum trailers.

This was one thing we were looking for as well. Being we get a lot of snow. We were going back and forth between 2 trailers one with a flat roof and one with the round top both with a 5'wedge. The flat top had a 1" more head clearance so we went with that. But I do notice some pooling of water on the roof Hoping that when we add insulation that will be decreased. Our old steel round top never had a problem with standing water.

IMO a commerical line vs another line is just fancy language the salesman can use to get you to spend more $$$. Look at the material being used ie: frame size, floor wall and roof spacing, thickness of side aluminum...

Our trailer is 750lbs lighter then our steel trailer. I don't have any real numbers to compare the old trailer to the new one yet. We'd be happy if we can get 1-2 mpg better.

As for your question why flat roofs are more common is probably because a flat roof is easier to manufacture

[jwhite]

This web site will give you alot of info about trailer companies.
http://www.trailershopper.com/
I found that every specialty product I wanted for building my trailer I bought off ebay,you also can find alot of trailers being sold on Ebay you can search by the amount of miles from your home.
I found the best way to save on gas MPG is to drive 55-60 if I drive 65-75 I get 2-3 MPG less.

[pete42]

I too like the aluminum trailers but I wouldn't rule out a steel one if it has all the other things yu want.

Have you tried looking at the RNR trailers?
all aluminum look at their website for number it's not the best site but they make some really great trailers and are easy to work with.

pete

[capt4903]

i've got an ALUMA LTD 6 x 10 all aluminum trailer ('cept axle and coupler) with the motorcycle package....it's a v-nose with the rounded roof edges you desire...love the trailer!....upgraded from a steel framed unit from H & H.....went from 9 mpg with the steel frame unit to 11 mpg with the alum unit being towed by my chevy 1500 silverado traveling to sturgis.....same scooter and camping gear.....
i did purchase the steel frame trailer used and the aluma trailer new....my ALUMA was pricey, but very high quality.....$5300.00 one year ago.....

[bookcrazzzy]

Thanks everybody, for the advice. I feel ready to negotiate now or I would if I only had the money! Hopefully soon!

[Wolfscout]

I just bought a steel 6X12 one that I'm working on ( in my AV )
I wanted to know I had strength to haul the weight I might would load. (not saying aluminium isn't but my confidence and security means more.)
it is a beast compared to weight.. the price one pays sometimes.

[dwgriff1]

I think it is better to do what you can afford than to hold out for perfection.

My experience is that weight matters less than we might think, given that the tow vehicle has the capacity.

Sometimes I get better mileage with a loaded trailer than an empty one.

My steel 6 by 12 is not perfection, but it is paid for and will work fine -- for me.

dave

[bookcrazzzy]

Dave,

If I was one to hold out for perfection, I wouldn't be married now would I?

I guess I should have mentioned that we'll be using the CT for short trips at first but my husband retires in 2 years and then we will be taking some 1-3 month trips. We expect to use this CT for many years so we're trying to consider long term costs vs. initial outlay. Also, we'll be hauling it in the mountains a whole lot of the time, we're thinking 7' x 16' and our tow vehicle is a 2010 GMC Sierra 1500 4WD with 4.8L V8 and 4 spd automatic.

We're figuring on a plumbing-free setup and a minimal kitchen for the first two years, then more of a kitchen when we take the longer trips. You know, use it as a hard-shelled tent and add to it as we figure out what we really need. Insulation, electrical and a bed are the only initial requirements. We think non-permanent, portable alternatives for shower, etc will work for us even when we go on the longer trips but we might wind up putting in a bathroom eventually. We're just taking the go-minimal-add-it-only-if-you're-sure-you-need-it approach, keeping both weight, hassle and $ in mind.

Also, my husband is a pilot so his mindset is based on everything having to justify its weight. It has taken me years to convince him that I'm worth my weight!

I think I've read at least 80% of the posts under CT Conversions and I'm amazed at what I've learned. It has been a lot of fun too to see all of the conversions and the stories behind them. This site is just amazing and there is nothing else like it on the net!

Thanks everyone for your help!

Margie

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Hi Bookcrazzzy

Aluminum vs. Steel ... is really a no brainer.
Airstream trailers which last 100+ years are made out of airplane quality aluminum thats the difference. The whole difference & nothing but the difference. That is also why they cost up the wazoo

Aluminum CT's are made out of low quality recycled Beer cans or something like that?
Low quality, light weight !! If your goal is to have something light for low milage and light service, little temperature change, for a few years...Then a Aluminum CT is your best choice. If you want something to go 20 years and 200,000 miles, then get a steel CT or even better get an Airstream. That light weight Aluminum will fall apart like a cheap $3 suit , especially if you are using it in extreme heat and cold, like ZERO deg to 120 etc....it will not hold up, unless its built by Airstream. Its all about the Quality of the Aluminum.

I hope I did not hurt anybody's feelings, especially those who are great fans of Aluminum CT's and

http://overthetopcargotrailer.blogspot.com/

P.S. The best way to make a small fortune in Real Estate is to start out with a LARGE fortune !!

Jerry

[vreihen]

Aluminum CT's are made out of low quality recycled Beer cans or something like that?

Like anything else, you get what you pay for. My aluminum Featherlite came from the factory with 0.040" skin, whereas the cargo trailer industry uses 0.030" standard on steel trailers. The only component on the entire trailer that feels "cheap" is the foam gasket around the screen door, and it bears mentioning that they buy those doors from the RV industry and don't manufacture them in-house AFAIK. Featherlite provides 8-year warranties on their new trailers, and I didn't see any mention of a nickel deposit anywhere on their web site.

If you want something to go 20 years and 200,000 miles, then get a steel CT or even better get an Airstream.

Here's some differing opinions:

http://www.hdforums.com/forum/general-harley-davidson-chat/176156-beware-of-lark-trailers-junk.html

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93198&page=2

http://local.yahoo.com/info-36302867-lark-united-manufacturing-douglas;_ylt=AglI78ZTiItUjxuyA773FuWKNcIF;_ylv=3?tab=reviews&allreviews=1#reviews

http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Lark.United.Manufacturing.912-260-1658/review/list

I hope I did not hurt anybody's feelings, especially those who are great fans of Aluminum CT's and

No hurt feelings here. As my friends will attest, I'm not one to jump into major purchases without doing online research in detail that borders on obsessive-compulsive. (I could write a thesis about the CT industry from everything that I read last summer!) The above links are owner criticisms from just one of the many brands that I researched and was considering for my own purchase. I'm not saying that my choice was correct or would even be the correct choice for anyone else here. I'm just encouraging people to do their homework, and don't be afraid to use Google to look for what other people have experienced with the trailers/products that they are considering.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm taking a kitchen spoon and going outside to spend some time massaging hail dents out of the roof of my trailer. We had a severe t-storm come through here last month, and it dropped golfball-sized hail that damaged 80% of all the cars on many dealer's lots. I got away easy with only a few dings in the trailer roof.....

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

I wanna respond about LARK trailers.....

I got my trailer direct from the LARK Factory , by accident as I first had purchased a unit from their biggest & oldest dealer , which went off to make their own trailers. That dealer was a 100% joke, I had called them 5 times that I was coming from california to PU trailer.... They promised trailer was done.....Nothing was done....The dealer was all bullshit !!!

They were next door to the LARK factory, when I went into to LARK warehouse to see their sales manager, I also meet Grandpa Lark , his son the owner and some other family members who all work there for many years at that family run business. LARK is the initials of the owners 4 children, they are SUPPER friendly & professional people who take the greatest pride in their work... If you don't act like a Jack-ASS, I could not see how they would not bend over backwards to solve your problem.
I had contacted 20 trailer dealers- they all tried to screw me, LARK who was in a position to screw me "BENT- OVER- BACKWARDS with great SERVICE" & Price and had me on the road in 3 hours , with 6 modifications that I wanted, They even gave me the $250 I lost on the FLAKE next door as an extra bonus.

I would however guess that they have agreements with their many dealers to do lots of those fix up stuff & the dealers are all as FLAKY as $3 bills. Their biggest dealer opened up a mickey mouse factory next door, it was not even 10% of what the LARK factory had....., they ripped me off for $250.... The LARK factory saved my Bacon !!!!

Im putting about $20k into their 2007 LARK trailer...so Im putting my money where my mouth is.....I have taken their trailer apart to rebuilt it, so I know what I'm talking about.... Nothing wrong with their quality of work....

http://overthetopcargotrailer.blogspot.com/


Jerry