30' 20K pound deck over trailer Aluminum or Steel?

[ddipert]

I'm shopping for a new deck over trailer.

I spoke to a shop who said they through that a Aluminum trailer was a better way to go. Why don't I see more aluminum trailer this size?

What are you guys seeing price wise on a 30' deck over trailer?

Thanks for the help and insight.
Dave

 

[Diamondpilot]

Price. Aluminum cost more.

I have a 30' aluminum 12,000# boat trailer I love.

Chris

 

[salopez]

That and al doesnt repair easily or cheap. Look at most deck over trailers on the road. Thing happen....dents, bends, and more.

 

[mikehaugen]

Aluminum trailers in general never really impressed me. Aluminum will corrode just like anything else, maybe more slowly but will still do it. I haven't really seen a huge difference in weight (at least not enough to outweigh the disadvantages- to me anyway). Steel is by far much more durable and as stated easier/ cheaper to repair. Also anything steel that you attach to it needs to be insulated or will cause more corrosion with the dissimilar metals- such as a spare tire carrier. To each his own, but I have never been interested in one personally.

 

[Rara Avis]

I'm shopping for a new deck over trailer.

I spoke to a shop who said they through that a Aluminum trailer was a better way to go. Why don't I see more aluminum trailer this size?

What are you guys seeing price wise on a 30' deck over trailer?

Thanks for the help and insight.
Dave

They are expensive...more than double the cost of the same in steel from PJ trailers
Alum-line Trailers
2012 PJ Gooseneck Trailer | MIDLAKES TRAILER SALES ROMULUS, NY

 

[Hay Dude]

Aluminum trailers in general never really impressed me. Aluminum will corrode just like anything else, maybe more slowly but will still do it. I haven't really seen a huge difference in weight (at least not enough to outweigh the disadvantages- to me anyway). Steel is by far much more durable and as stated easier/ cheaper to repair. Also anything steel that you attach to it needs to be insulated or will cause more corrosion with the dissimilar metals- such as a spare tire carrier. To each his own, but I have never been interested in one personally.

Good points.

I would never own an aluminum trailer (FOR MY NEEDS)unless you plan on it being a garage queen or very carefully/lightly loaded for recreational use (such as a boat in salt water or race car or a toy TLB).
You'll hate your aluminum trailer once you load boulders or rough materials on it or you damage it. Sounds like the salesman was trying to find a way to get you to spend more money. You know the old saying about aluminum: "half the weight/twice the price".
I'd get a steel trailer with an automotive style paint job. Not some powder coated crap like you see on some trailers....

 

[RDrancher]

Not some powder coated crap like you see on some trailers....

That's actually pretty funny. And yes, I'm being sarcastic.

 

[Hay Dude]

I have more powder coated JUNK than I know what to do with. Give me some good primer and auto grade finish any day. Dump body on my big dump is "powder coated" (like that's supposed to be a selling feature or something?) and it's trashed after only 5 years

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have to agree with the powder coat of trailers. I am in the trailer business and it just does not seem to last. Granted, its the prep that is the problem, not so much the powder coat itself but paint is easily fixed if scratched.

Chris

 

[slowzuki]

One other note, aluminium trailers crack when they get used a lot. You can weld it up but if its fatigued and not just overload it will just crack more and more.