Aluminum vs Steel Horse Trailers

Aluminum horse trailers have taken the horse world by storm. In fact, some aluminum horse trailers don't even look aluminum, but their underlying frame is. Is it worth it to pay the extra money for aluminum or will good ole' steel do for you?

Aluminum horse trailers are popular because they are light and easy to haul. In most cases this is great, especially when it comes to yor gas mileage, but in some cases this can be a weakness. Not all aluminum trailers are created equally and some are weaker than others. Be careful when choosing aluminum without finding out what will happen if your horse were to give the side of the trailer a really good kick. Some of the less expensive and weaker trailers will dent and tear easily depending on the blow or multiple blows they receive. This can lead to shearing and tearing which can do major damage to a horse if it were to catch its hoof or brush against the tear.

In some cases the weight factor of the trailer is falsely advertised. Depending on the model of the trailer, the floor of the trailer may reinforced with additional aluminum. This can lead to the aluminum trailer weighing just as much as a similar steel trailer. You also need to be certain that you check the welds on the trailer as these can be difficult to fix once broken.

Steel trailers have their downfalls as well. Depending on the trailer, these trailers can be exceptionally heavy and with horses in the back your gas budget is going to run thin. They are also prone to rust, although many manufacturers have worked on several different sealants that are preventing rust more and more as technology increases. Steel trailers are also durable and easy to fix. Sure they might dent when your horse lays into kicking in it as he impatiently waits to get out of the trailer, but chances that the actual trailer is going to tear are minimal. The cost of steel trailers have also gone down. The galvanized steel, powder-coated steel and galvanized steel has become relatively inexpensive and rust has almost completely been eliminated.

When it comes down to which trailer is better than the other, it comes down to what you are willing to pay and what disadvantages you are willing to live with. An aluminum trailer is going to cost more, but you are able to save in fuel while a steel trailer is strong and easier to repair.

You will need to take into consideration the type of hitching point you would like, either a bumper pull from a rear mounted trailer hitch from your tow vehicle. Or a goose neck or fifth wheel mount that attaches within the bed for a greater load tolerance and improved handling and turning.

There are many additional questions that we answer on our equine forum and in our article base.

For more great trailer and equine information visit our links in our bio reference to help with further questions.