Looking for new equipment trailer

Birdmayon · Mar 3, 2018

Looking for new equipment trailer - aluminum or galvanized?!?

I致e currently got a 7k landscaping trailer that is a total POS. It is bent and rusted and just too far gone for me to put time or money into it. I知 looking for a 10k trailer, 16-18 ft, preferably with the equipment style ramps with built in supports. I壇 sort of settled on a Big Tex ET10, really nice trailer, however it is painted. I don稚 have a barn or garage to store it in. Was thinking about building a carport style roof to park it under, but I don稚 really feel like messing with that, nor do I want to look at it everyday. So then I started looking at aluminum and galvanized equipment trailers that I could potentially just leave out in the weather uncovered. H and H makes a really nice looking 10k 18 ft trailer and Load Rite makes a galvanized 10k 18 ft trailer. I致e read about concerns of eventual cracking with aluminum trailers (although a lot of folks have had great luck with them as well ). I will only be using the trailer occasionally, maybe 6 times a year. I may use it more often in the future if I start off-roading my Jeep. Doubt that stress cracking in aluminum would ever be an issue for me but who knows. The galvanized trailer seems to have everything going for it, longevity of steel but rust proof. But I don稚 know how good galvanization really is. I probably should致e started off by saying that I HATE rust. Looking to get a trailer that will last me a LONG time, and wanted to hear opinions on aluminum vs galvanized steel, and any personal experiences with H&H or Load Rite brands.

terryknight · Mar 5, 2018

Aluminum trailers are expensive. Dad had a featherlite care hauler and it was nice, but it was also heavier than i thought it would be. it only weighed ~400 less than our tilting steel one that was 1.5 ft longer. i had a featherlite enclosed GN it was really nice. and if I had to buy a new enclosed GN i would again look at a featherlite. I was looking at a new 22' all aluminum 14K trailer but man are they pricey. i will stick with steel. my only experience with galvanized has been boat trailers. don't breath the fumes when welding. since you are in MD take a look at ritchie brothers auctions in North East MD they have one 3/27. they sometimes have been some galvanized trailers there don't know about pricing. and if you aren't opposed to a steel trailer i have a 10K 20' one I'd like to sell

best pics i have

RyeThomas · Mar 5, 2018

Buy a steel one, you can read for days about paint vs powder coat vs etc, etc finish. Keep it simple, Once you get it home Fluid Film it (or whatever Metal protectant you choose) and don’t look back.

3rd Coast · Mar 5, 2018

Hey OP, I wouldn't sweat it this much with your usage in mind. Save your money and buy steel. Should be able to get a great trailer for $2500. My dad bought a steel car hauler over 20 years ago when I was in highschool and it isn't rusted even a little bit. We live in the rust belt. Sure the paint is faded but we've easily got the $2k worth of use out of it. Just used it last weekend to pull my new tractor home from the dealer. He used it a couple weeks before that to bring home an old 60s Chevy for a friend. Point is, it's never needed anything in the 20 years except some tires.

Of course if you want something fancier id go for the aluminum. Around my neck of the woods aluminum typically goes for twice the cost of steel. I own a half ton truck so that weight savings might be the difference I need to pull a particular setup. Also, you should consider the resale value of aluminum haulers. I dont think any other trailer can command such high prices in the used market.

Redbug · Mar 5, 2018

Steel is easier for the average guy to weld on and fix than aluminum.

Birdmayon · Mar 9, 2018

Thanks for the feedback. Decided that I could live with steel, I’ll just try to keep after any rust. Couldn’t justify dropping an additional $1-3k for galvanized or aluminum. Going with an 18’ Big Tex 10ET with monster ramps.