go aluminum and up grade, you ll better be off less weight . last longer

 

I live in an area with road salting and steel trailers do not last at all here. Go with the aluminum if you plan on keeping it for awhile.

 

Aluminum is my vote...

 

Steel trailer sounds like a disaster, it will start rotting day 1. Aluminum requires some attention too but at least it won't rot out from the inside.

 

Currently on my 10th 7x16 enclosed since 1988...They have all been steel...Only had 1 problem with 1 of them...The 2009 Haulmark was built with extremely brittle chinese metal, and the frame cracked around the axle U shackle...Other than that, nothing wrong with steel...IMO

 

Another vote for all aluminum. I have had both and after several years to keep a steel trailer in good condition takes a lot more work. Aluminum is no issue it can be coated with salt for longer than you want but won’t show signs of deterioration and still look great. Another big difference is fuel economy with the tow vehicle. My aluminum with two sleds is so lite my fuel mileage is virtually the same as without a trailer. Not so with steel, add 1000 lbs and you will see the difference. You can upgrade by adding a heater for very little money.

 

I have bought 4 aluminum trailers in the past 17 years...the 3 I sold I got almost what I paid for them. The trailers kept getting more expensive and the used ones aren't rusty POS...I would vote for aluminum

 

Aluminum with a galvanized axle is a great choice.

Photo for reference

Jeff B In Maine

Sent from rotary dial device using Tapatalk... whatevah that is.

 

Here is the steel frame one. Inside really nice with heater and insulated. Aluminum a bit more bare bones.

 

Steel frame

 

Aluminum.

 

Have to say the steel one is tempting and a very nice trailer. I’ve just seen too many steel frame trailers rust out to the point it’s a huge job to bring them back. Depends how long you plan on keeping it. If it’s for a long time then aluminum.

 

I wanted to include the picture cause that steel one sure looks nice. I think for the most part it’s going to have to be aluminum.

 

I've stripped aluminum trailers down to replace the stringers for the axle. The u bolts rotted the aluminum. Once a steel trailer starts to go it's tough to slow down and a extra thousand pounds is gas being burned.

 

Galvonic corrosion. There should be a strip of rubber (at the least) between the steel and aluminum !

 

For the same money you'd be crazy not to buy the aluminum trailer in my opinion. My buddy had a steel trailer and after 4 years the hinges on the rear door rotted completely thru. It was fixed sold and replaced with an aluminum trailer. I myself also have a Neo aluminum 7x23.

 

I should just post my questions here instead of trying to figure stuff out like this on my own. Thanks a bunch guys - no question I’m going aluminum. Exactly the info I was looking for.

 

Good choice. Maybe you'll have to replace the steel axles eventually but that's 10 years down the road. And keep an eye on the brakes as they can get corroded quite easily from the salt. Yearly inspection would be smart imo.

 

alum. all the way. i wouldn't even look at a steel trailer. another thing we do is fluid film the axle and whole under neath of the trailer. makes a huge difference. no oxidation, no rust on the axles and brake backer plates, etc. it's a messy job but i have access to a oil drain pit in a old garage, so having the trailer over this makes it much easier. shops that do this here charge around $200 money well spent.

 

I do the exact same thing. Fluid film spayed on and then use a paint brush to get a nice even layer before every winter. $10 in fluid film, $3 for a brush, 30 minutes of time. Single axle for me so it's pretty easy.

And aluminum is the way to go.

 

I use Cosmoline, it dries into a hard wax. You might have to touch it up once in a while but I've never had to. Depends on the road conditions of course.
RP-342 "HEAVY" Military-Grade Rust Preventive Spray

 

I fluid filmed my steel axle on the Galvanized trailer I have. It's still looking good after 15 years under there. Fluid film does sell a brush on product for applications like this one. That's what I used. The brush on one which is more water resistant. And then for touch ups I use the spray on product.

 

Go with the aluminum and insulate it yourself.

I have an aluminum and insulated trailer (6.5' X 16' inside), and my Big Buddy propane heater makes it warm and toasty inside rather quickly. It also has AC power so I plug it into the house (or a generator) and use a portable electric heater as well.

Also, spray my axle annually with Krown oil, FWIW.

 

you mean kroil right?

 

I have a 7' x 29' inline made out of aluminum. Its made several trips to Wyoming and Colorado and many more to the U.P. of Michigan. After 13 years one of the steel axles broke at the bracket and then in 1/2. The aluminum still looks great. So I am hanging 2 brand new axles under and will continue to use this trailer. If this was a steel trailer the frame would probably look like the steel axles.

 

just my opinion: I have zero interest in a steel snowmobile trailer because I haven't seen one yet that is built with heavy enough steel that it wont be rotted out in 8-10 years. If they're telling you that big of a trailer is only 1000 lbs heavier in steel than aluminum that tells me its thin crap steel. Also I don't know what your pulling it with but that big a trailer in steel loaded with sleds and gear in my opinion requires a 3/4 ton truck. If I had to spend a $1000 more to get an aluminum trailer with at least 3500lb axles I would do it no questions asked. If you do go aluminum make sure you take the steel suspension off every couple years and grease between the mating surfaces.

 

If we're just talking axles then Cosmoline is tougher than Fluid Film. But I do like Fluid Film for lighter-duty applications (such as shock-shafts in summer storage and ladies use lanolin for nipple creme). Good luck getting Cosmoline off your hands, it's nasty stuff. I've never tried Krown. Anything is better than nothing, which is what the vast majority of people do.

 

Yeah, Maine is like a whole other country, so it doesn't count. LOL

We have at least 10 Krown application shops in Western New York and Krown is the # 1 rust proofer in Canada; that doesn't necessarily mean that they are the best though.

What I liked about Krown was the guarantee. I had some bubbling on my quarter panel on 2015 Ram and they paid to replace the entire quarter panel and all of the associated body work and paint.

WOW !

 

My dad's old open trailer is completely galvanized. He likes it because it's lasted very well over the years and it's over built, so sometimes he used it to haul hay overloaded.

That's one thing I would like galvanized steel over, if your prone to overloading a trailer. I'd much rather have that than aluminum. But I don't use my trailer for anything other than sleds, maybe a couch or something in the summer. So I'm for aluminum trailers.

 

I only know a few guys that have ever purchased steel framed sled trailers. They each went to aluminum the next time. My one buddy use to joke that he didn’t like to even walk near his (new) steel trailer, because he could hear it rusting. I have one insulated aluminum trailer and one that isn’t. Neither has heat, but if I want heat I use one of those cheap sunflower looking heaters that mounts to the top of a bbq grill propane tank. Insulated or not, that little $40 heater makes it pretty warm in either of them. I have a generator and a bullet heater if need be too, but that makes it’s 150 degrees in there in about a minute and it’s unbearable