Enclosed cargo trailers... steel vs aluminum?

[jdom84]

I have been looking at purchasing an enclosed car hauler/cargo trailers and have several options, but was wondering if its worth the extra for an all aluminum instead of steel/alum? Do they hold up better or worse? I have only ever owned steel trailers which the paint falls off and they get rusty but because there isn't much moisture here the rust doesn't destroy them for many many years. We are moving 1000 miles away to build a new shop/home and will be using the trailer to haul all our stuff and then tool storage and materials hauler when we are building. I usually go for the best bang for the buck type deals but because we are moving from a frozen desert to wetter and rainier place, I am thinking I might want the all aluminum? I looked at a used 24' steel/alum trailer and the undercarriage was completely rusted out, not sure where it came from though...

here are a few of the trailers I have in my area and in my budget, but every dollar we save on the trailer is another we can spend on the house. These are all new trailers because I cannot find anything used worth purchasing in my area.

8.5x20 10k steel/alum v-nose
price: $8700
weight: #3200
capacity: #6700
15" 10ply tires
16" centers wall/roof/floor
1 piece alum roof

8.5x24 10k steel/alum v-nose
price: $9200
weight: #3740
capacity: #6160
15" 10ply tires
16" centers wall/roof/floor
1 piece alum roof

8.5x24 12k steel/alum v-nose
price: $10k
weight: #4000? not listed and it was custom ordered so I couldn't find actual numbers
capacity: #8000?
16" 10 ply tires
16" centers wall/roof/floor

8.5x20 7k all aluminum v-nose
price: $9400
weight: #2280
capacity: #4780
15" 10 ply tires
16" centers wall/roof/floor
1 piece alum roof
screw-less bonded sides

8.5x20 10k all aluminum v-nose
price: $11300
weight: #2840
capacity: #7150
15" 10 ply tires
16" centers wall/roof/floor
1 piece alum roof
screw-less bonded sides


Thoughts or experiences?

 

[Redlands Okie]

Steel bound to last a shorter time. Guess it depends on the prices and your budget. I will say this though. Unless your pulling the trailor a lot and you need the aerodynamics the V nose is sure a lot of wasted space inside.

 

[fried1765]

I have been looking at purchasing an enclosed car hauler/cargo trailers and have several options, but was wondering if its worth the extra for an all aluminum instead of steel/alum? Do they hold up better or worse? I have only ever owned steel trailers which the paint falls off and they get rusty but because there isn't much moisture here the rust doesn't destroy them for many many years. We are moving 1000 miles away to build a new shop/home and will be using the trailer to haul all our stuff and then tool storage and materials hauler when we are building. I usually go for the best bang for the buck type deals but because we are moving from a frozen desert to wetter and rainier place, I am thinking I might want the all aluminum? I looked at a used 24' steel/alum trailer and the undercarriage was completely rusted out, not sure where it came from though...

here are a few of the trailers I have in my area and in my budget, but every dollar we save on the trailer is another we can spend on the house. These are all new trailers because I cannot find anything used worth purchasing in my area.

8.5x20 10k steel/alum v-nose
price: $8700
weight: #3200
capacity: #6700
15" 10ply tires
16" centers wall/roof/floor
1 piece alum roof

8.5x24 10k steel/alum v-nose
price: $9200
weight: #3740
capacity: #6160
15" 10ply tires
16" centers wall/roof/floor
1 piece alum roof

8.5x24 12k steel/alum v-nose
price: $10k
weight: #4000? not listed and it was custom ordered so I couldn't find actual numbers
capacity: #8000?
16" 10 ply tires
16" centers wall/roof/floor

8.5x20 7k all aluminum v-nose
price: $9400
weight: #2280
capacity: #4780
15" 10 ply tires
16" centers wall/roof/floor
1 piece alum roof
screw-less bonded sides

8.5x20 10k all aluminum v-nose
price: $11300
weight: #2840
capacity: #7150
15" 10 ply tires
16" centers wall/roof/floor
1 piece alum roof
screw-less bonded sides


Thoughts or experiences?

Wow!
I am shocked at those prices!
I have an 8.5 x16 capacity 5000# Haulmark that I bought in 2013.
New then, it was $4200.

I think the issue for you is how long you plan to keep the trailer.
From your use description, it would seem like you might not keep it for more than 4 or 5 years.
That said; I would buy the least expensive (steel) trailer, and sell it when you no longer need it.

My steel trailer lives near the salt water, but it is most often stored safely inside a steel building.

 

[jdom84]

Steel bound to last a shorter time. Guess it depends on the prices and your budget. I will say this though. Unless your pulling the trailor a lot and you need the aerodynamics the V nose is sure a lot of wasted space inside.

the flat nose and bubble nose trailers are actually more expensive around here... and we have at-least 3000 miles to put on it just moving all our crap we plan to keep...

Wow!
I am shocked at those prices!
I have an 8.5 x16 capacity 5000# Haulmark that I bought in 2013.
New then, it was $4200.

I think the issue for you is how long you plan to keep the trailer.
From your use description, it would seem like you might not keep it for more than 4 or 5 years.
That said; I would buy the least expensive (steel) trailer, and sell it when you no longer need it.

My steel trailer lives near the salt water, but it is most often stored safely inside a steel building.

8.5x16 7k steel/alum is $6500... not sure why but trailers are expensive up here in the frozen north! If trailers come up for sale as used they usually need work/tires and go for slightly less than new prices. last week saw a 1998 8x18 7k for $5k. I dont think it was $5k new... I usually buy something with the thought to keep it long term but resale is always in the back of my mind if there was an emergency and I needed the cash. I have also checked many dealers on the moving route and in several different states for prices.. cant seem to find anything better, also no sales tax here.

So, keep long term = aluminum. Short term = steel. No concerns with aluminum frame trailers eventually cracking and falling apart with heavy use?

I assume resale on aluminum trailers is higher also? like the boats and RV's? those things don't seem to depreciate much...

 

[fried1765]

the flat nose and bubble nose trailers are actually more expensive around here... and we have at-least 3000 miles to put on it just moving all our crap we plan to keep...




8.5x16 7k steel/alum is $6500... not sure why but trailers are expensive up here in the frozen north! If trailers come up for sale as used they usually need work/tires and go for slightly less than new prices. last week saw a 1998 8x18 7k for $5k. I dont think it was $5k new... I usually buy something with the thought to keep it long term but resale is always in the back of my mind if there was an emergency and I needed the cash. I have also checked many dealers on the moving route and in several different states for prices.. cant seem to find anything better, also no sales tax here.

So, keep long term = aluminum. Short term = steel. No concerns with aluminum frame trailers eventually cracking and falling apart with heavy use?

I assume resale on aluminum trailers is higher also? like the boats and RV's? those things don't seem to depreciate much...

I think the reason that trailers are so expensive up there is that most are built far away.
Seems like some around the Elkhart IN. area, but most all across the South.

 

[bullbreaker]

Besides pro's and cons of materials mentioned you should be looking at torsion axles vs leaf springs . I have both and like torsion axle system better for larger cargo's and horse trailers .

 

[Redlands Okie]

Torsions axels can give a smoother ride for sure. But need to stay on relative smooth roads. They have less ability to move up and down enough to support a load when going over something like a curb.

 

[Fallon]

Torsions axels can give a smoother ride for sure. But need to stay on relative smooth roads. They have less ability to move up and down enough to support a load when going over something like a curb.

It's more an issue of being able to equalize. Leaf springs are connected & will transfer load between them when 1 hits a speed bump. A torsion axle will end up taking the weight that's suppose to spread across 2 axles. I prefer torsion for single axle trailers though.

 

[fried1765]

Besides pro's and cons of materials mentioned you should be looking at torsion axles vs leaf springs . I have both and like torsion axle system better for larger cargo's and horse trailers .

Yup!
Torsion!

 

[zing]

I think the reason that trailers are so expensive up there is that most are built far away.
Seems like some around the Elkhart IN. area, but most all across the South.

Part of the increased price of late is the tariffs on steel and aluminum. I'm not making a political comment on right or wrong/good or bad, just a statement of reality. If you were watching trailer prices over the last year and a half, they jumped by 100-200 dollars at a time, multiple times as the manufacturers tried to settle on the new cost of materials. Across the board there will be a few hundred dollars added to the cost of every aluminum trailer to cover the increased cost of the aluminum.

 

[War Eagle 2]

............................. I will say this though. Unless your pulling the trailor a lot and you need the aerodynamics the V nose is sure a lot of wasted space inside.

I don't know about all brands of trailers but on my Diamond V nose cargo trailer the V nose area does not count in the trailer sizing. As an example my 16' x 7' V nose has the flat area that measures 16' x 7' and the V nose section adds 3' to the total covered area of the trailer. You can't store a lot in the V nose section but it also doesn't take anything away from the trailer advertised size of 16' x 7'.

 

[jdom84]

I don't know about all brands of trailers but on my Diamond V nose cargo trailer the V nose area does not count in the trailer sizing. As an example my 16' x 7' V nose has the flat area that measures 16' x 7' and the V nose section adds 3' to the total covered area of the trailer. You can't store a lot in the V nose section but it also doesn't take anything away from the trailer advertised size of 16' x 7'.

this has been the case with the ones I have looked at. i think the V-nose sled trailers is where you loose the space...

 

[jdom84]

well I just picked up a 2 year old 8.5x20 10k steel/alum v nose for $6,000. rock chips already rusting on the frame and some rust on places the paint came off like back door hinges. Overall, in pretty good shape but lets hope it holds up for the adventure that's ahead!

 

[Redlands Okie]

Congrats on the purchase.

 

[jdom84]

Congrats on the purchase.

Thanks! Getting it home was another story... almost felt like I just paid to get punched in the face! 30+ mph winds on ice covered roads and an empty cargo trailer...

 

[bullbreaker]

Alrite not trying to derail thread but no one has responded on here since 3/3/19 . Just a quick comment : I have a steel 8.5x20 v nose Continental 2005 small car carrier thats been great . A couple days ago I go to checking and knowtice the plastic roof vent on my 14x7 cargo (Ariseing) 2018 completely destroyed /cracked etc . Called trailer headquarters and they said part out of warrantee (been over a year). I wasnt trying to nickle and dime them but felt this part even in Fla sun should last over a year . On my 2005 Continental i have yet to replace my roof vent covers (2) . Anyhow i ordered this steel 14"x14" from https://www.amazon.com/Ventline-BV0...er+roof+vent&qid=1560812584&s=gateway&sr=8-10 looks well made . Plastic vents were like $17 . This one was like $22.50 plus tax with Prime . The one I bought claims to be aluminum , to me it looks like galvanized steel, way heavier than the plastic also . Been rainin heavy here for a couple days . When it breaks going to install new one . I dont care if the steel one is darker inside or what but as for me I wont ever buy a plastic cargo/camper roof vent again 14"x14" . I felt like the cargo vent they put on mine I got a bad run of plastic , or what they are kicking out nowadays too cut corners is cwap !

 

[timswi]

Alrite not trying to derail thread but no one has responded on here since 3/3/19 . Just a quick comment : I have a steel 8.5x20 v nose Continental 2005 small car carrier thats been great . A couple days ago I go to checking and knowtice the plastic roof vent on my 14x7 cargo (Ariseing) 2018 completely destroyed /cracked etc . Called trailer headquarters and they said part out of warrantee (been over a year). I wasnt trying to nickle and dime them but felt this part even in Fla sun should last over a year . On my 2005 Continental i have yet to replace my roof vent covers (2) . Anyhow i ordered this steel 14"x14" from https://www.amazon.com/Ventline-BV0...er+roof+vent&qid=1560812584&s=gateway&sr=8-10 looks well made . Plastic vents were like $17 . This one was like $22.50 plus tax with Prime . The one I bought claims to be aluminum , to me it looks like galvanized steel, way heavier than the plastic also . Been rainin heavy here for a couple days . When it breaks going to install new one . I dont care if the steel one is darker inside or what but as for me I wont ever buy a plastic cargo/camper roof vent again 14"x14" . I felt like the cargo vent they put on mine I got a bad run of plastic , or what they are kicking out nowadays too cut corners is cwap !

I have the Max Air covers on my camper--Those plastic vents don't hold up well in the weather. The covers protect the vents from UV and branches etc.

 

[bullbreaker]

Will check it out , thanks !

 

[deserteagle71]

I dont care if the steel one is darker inside or what but as for me I wont ever buy a plastic cargo/camper roof vent again 14"x14" . I felt like the cargo vent they put on mine I got a bad run of plastic , or what they are kicking out nowadays too cut corners is cwap !

Learned that lesson years ago. Changed every one of the vents over to metal. No more problems since. Those plastic ones always cracked/broke at the most inopportune time!

 

[Copperhead]

I was playing around with getting a small enclosed trailer. Primarily to haul my bike around, but also light duty hauling of stuff to keep it out of the weather. Saw a fairly nice 6x12 single axle unit on a local dealer website. Doolittle Bullitt model with a V nose and rear ramp. Side entry door and full undercoating. Figured I would check it out and see if it was worth it or look for something else.

The dealer had it listed for $3400. I got over there last Saturday and took a look. There was some slight cosmetic damage on left side from a hailstorm the month before. Barely noticeable. Roof was solid and I got inside and bundled the trailer up and looked for any light coming thru. All tight. Dealer knocked down the price to $2500 because of the cosmetic hail damage. I had them install E-trac at 2 ft and 4 ft heights the full length of the inside on both sides and install 6 recessed tie downs in the floor. Also having them install a spare tire carrier inside the V nose along with spare tire. Total cost I wrote the check for was $2960. I pay the taxes on the sale when I register it with the county.

Sometimes a good deal shows up.