ssdeuce

I'm looking into buying an open trailer. How much fuel savings would I get buying aluminum over steal? Is it worth the extra $

Thanks!

clubracer6

I can't answer the fuel economy issue, but given the price difference between the two, I would think on the MPG issue alone, the aluminum trailer is not worth it.

I've been looking at this for a couple of months now and I can't justify the expense of a aluminum one. For the money those go for, you could get yourself an enclosed trailer.

John Shiels

I doubt 1/2 mpg then it depends on how many miles and how much fuel is. What is the difference in weight steel to aluminum?

69427

I would guess the mpg difference would be insignificant. The aero drag from your car sitting up in the breeze is the main issue, and that's the same for either trailer.

My FL aluminum trailer weighed 1350, while the previous (slightly shorter) steel trailer weighed 1600. Both were "flat floor" types, for lack of the correct description.

The aluminum trailer is obviously more expensive to buy, but the lighter weight makes it slightly easier on the tires and while going up a hill or braking. The aluminum trailers also have a very good resale value (which my steel trailers didn't), which makes the total expenditure more palatable.

Oh, yeah, with an aluminum trailer there's no periodic scraping and painting. My 12 year old FL trailer looked darn near brand new when I sold it.

GettReal

I get 14 mpg driving just my truck... 10mpg when Im towing my 18' steel trailer. Im guessing an aluminum trailer would give me maybe 12mpg??

so if you do the math.... saving 2 mpg x how many times you go to a track in a year = ??

now look at the difference in trailer price, my guess is that you are WAY better off getting a steel trailer.

All that said, Id like an aluminum trailer to make it easier on my 5.3 motor and my drivetrain and my brakes..

Bill Dearborn

I bought a 16 ft. steel trailer with a wood bed in 1993. It had a beaver tail built into it and I had the dealer weld up some ramp extensions so my ramps can go from 4 ft to 10 ft as needed. I had him add a tire rack and a wind break of fiberglass panels on the tire rack to protect the car from debris. After 18 years the trailer is still going strong. It has never been repainted and for 10 years it was stored outside.

The trailer weighs 1800 lbs and tucks nicely behind the Tahoe so there is far less air drag with the open trailer than there is with an enclosed trailer that would stick up several feet further into the wind stream. With the car and 4 wheels in the tire rack the total weight is 5500 lbx. If there is a 1000 lb difference in weight between the aluminum and steel trailers I suspect you might get 2 or 3 mpg more with the aluminum trailer. I used to tow the trailer and car with a 1991 Olds Bravada with a 160 HP engine that would get 15 mpg towing the trailer. Since then I have had two Tahoes that got 12 instead of 15 but they each weighed 1000 lbs more than the Bravada. However, they didn't work anywhere near as hard as the Bravada which only had a 4300 lb towing capacity and really busted a gut when pulling up a long steep hill at 40 mph in low gear with the tach reading 5000 rpm.

Bill

Last C5

I've towed both with my F350 Powerstroke and the fuel mileage difference is insignificant. The reason you buy an aluminum trailer is for reduced maintenance, far better resale value, and reduced tire wear. I've had aluminum horse trailers, boat trailers, utility trailers, and now an aluminum car trailer. I either made money or broke even on every one of them.

JDIllon

NONE! an open aluminum trailer is only going to be about 300lbs lighter than a steel open trailer. The size aluminum beams and material needed to get the same strength as steel adds weight to the aluminum trailer. Ad the extra cost of aluminum and it is hard to justify. Not true if you are considering a enclosed trailer, then the weight savings is considerable and worth the added cost. The average aluminum open trailer is going to be double the price of the same size steel trailer.
Note: Before you guys with aluminum trailer start blasting this post!!! I have been in the trailer business many years, and this is my opinion for what ever it is worth.??? JD

69427

It's worth what we paid for it.

JDIllon

I agree! good follow up on the lead! JD

ssdeuce

Thanks guys! I was thinking there wouldn't be much difference between the two.

AU N EGL

Dont forget to put a stone guard on the front of any open trailer

Donny Brass

I absolutely love my aluminum trailer and would not go back to steel........

I dunno why, but it just tows better

I have a dozen phone numbers of guys who want it if I ever get tired of owning it, so I can't be alone

WNeal

The guys I know that have open Aluminum trailers say the same thing.
I had a steel trailer and it was OK but just did not seem to be the same quality and needed more maintenance than the Aluminum