Aluminum Car Hauler

chuck machinist

Well-known Member
Im looking at an open aluminum car hauler to run my 5300# tractor to rides and plow demos , and have used the equivalent hauler[16ft twin axle ] in steel. Is there really any difference, other than the material used to build them. Thanks in advance.Chuck
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The aluminum trailer should be a lot lighter so it can carry more weight with the same axles. Otherwise there'd be no point in making aluminum trailers. What size axles are on the trailer? If they're 3500 lbs. you should be OK. On a steel trailer you might be pushing the max. weight limit.
 
the difference is in your wallet, is it worth the money to trade for the extra weight, unless you use it a lot for hauling..
 
You might want to look for a steel trailer with 6000 lb. axles. 6100 lbs. plus the trailer is close to capacity if not over. Is the trailer in the picture the one you're looking at? Hard to say for sure but the A frame for the hitch looks a little small.
 
The trailer shown is the steel one I sold. ,It had twin 3500# axles. I sold her, and she pulled well. I was looking for more capacity, and I wanted to get away from the 14"radials and go for the larger tires. Thanks for your insight. I am most appreciative. Chuck
 
So you're at 7000# total capacity and the tractor weighs 5300. That leaves 1700 for the trailer to weigh. That steel one weighs considerably more than that. Go alum or go 10,000 gvw steel. You are pushing it with this one.
 
Aluminum has many advantages, less weight, no rust, no paint just to name a few. They also retain their resale better. They do have to be made and welded correctly tho or they can break up more than a steel. You get what you pay for applies even more to aluminum trailers than steel. An aluminum trailer could certainly be the last one you need to buy unless you want to go bigger. I built these 2 about 15 years ago and they are still going strong.
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You know, I just happen to have the stuff to build a car hauler type trailer and have been looking for an excuse to do it. It will be for sale if your interested. It will be made from heavy wall pipe and will be stout. I can make it to your specks too since it's not started yet. Only problem is it will be in MN. My e-mail is open.
 
I was told by the company I purchaed my trailer from that most steel trailers weight roughly 100 lb per foot lenth of trailer, so my 20" trailer should be around 2000 lbs.
 
You must have a very light weight steel trailer. My new 24 foot 7 ton trailer is steel and it came from the factory at 4,200 lbs.
 
I had to reread his statement and they build their car trailers with dual 3500# axels around 100 lbs per foot of trailer, mine is actually a 20" bumper hitch with 5000# axels so it actually weighs more than 100# per foot of trailer length. Bumper hitch vs. gooseneck would also make a huge difference too.
 

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