Posted 2008-07-23 9:03 AM (#88030) Subject: Aluminum Trailers - Best Ones?
Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 3
Location: Nokesville, Virginia
I'm going to have to go with an all aluminum trailer to stay with the truck I have (which is paid off, so it just makes sense!).
Which brand(s) are the best?
I have some very specific wants, some that are concrete, some give and take. My perfect trailer would be: 8' wide, 8' lq, separate toilet, couch, basic on other lq stuff fine, mangers with storage under, must be at least 4 horse, 5 horse I'd give kisses for (lol!), lots of ties on exterior, canopy.
Posted 2008-07-23 10:03 AM (#88042 - in reply to #88030) Subject: RE: Aluminum Trailers - Best Ones?
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
(QUOTE) I'm going to have to go with an all aluminum trailer to stay with the truck I have (which is paid off, so it just makes sense!).
Whattruck do you have? 350/3500 dually? That's alot of trailer you're talkin about!! 5 horse, 8' short wall LQ, 8' wide!! 30+' on the floor, 38+' total length...
Posted 2008-07-23 10:11 AM (#88044 - in reply to #88042) Subject: RE: Aluminum Trailers - Best Ones?
Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 3
Location: Nokesville, Virginia
Originally written by retento on 2008-07-23 1:57 AM
(QUOTE) I'm going to have to go with an all aluminum trailer to stay with the truck I have (which is paid off, so it just makes sense!).
Whattruck do you have? 350/3500 dually? That's alot of trailer you're talkin about!! 5 horse, 8' short wall LQ, 8' wide!! 30+' on the floor, 38+' total length...
Just an F250. A 4 horse all aluminum w/8' lq, 8' wide is within the specs. I keep hoping someone will know of a 5 horse that will work, but I'm starting to see that nope, isn't going to work.
Posted 2008-07-23 11:20 AM (#88061 - in reply to #88030) Subject: RE: Aluminum Trailers - Best Ones?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Newton, NJ
"Just an F250" is a pretty non-specific reference. I think for an 8' wide trailer, you might find a dually will give much more stability, but that 8' LQ adds a lot of weight even to an "aluminum" trailer. An extra stall is going to add substantially as well.
A friend of mine owns an F250 and tows a Bison - 3H slant with 8' LQ... nice trailer, but certainly nothing exceptional - steel frame, aluminum skin. Her hubby just installed some sort of power pac so she could get over the hills. Now she's got plenty of power, but gets about 5 MPG. The power pac was pretty pricey as well.
On the upside, with today's economy, there should be some really good bargains out there especially on a large trailer.
Posted 2008-07-23 2:27 PM (#88085 - in reply to #88061) Subject: RE: Aluminum Trailers - Best Ones?
Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 3
Location: Nokesville, Virginia
Originally written by jakey1 on 2008-07-23 12:40 AM
"Just an F250" is a pretty non-specific reference. I think for an 8' wide trailer, you might find a dually will give much more stability, but that 8' LQ adds a lot of weight even to an "aluminum" trailer. An extra stall is going to add substantially as well.
A friend of mine owns an F250 and tows a Bison - 3H slant with 8' LQ... nice trailer, but certainly nothing exceptional - steel frame, aluminum skin. Her hubby just installed some sort of power pac so she could get over the hills. Now she's got plenty of power, but gets about 5 MPG. The power pac was pretty pricey as well.
On the upside, with today's economy, there should be some really good bargains out there especially on a large trailer.
It's a 2003 F250, 6.0 Liter Diesel. I currently haul a 1991 Sundowner all steel 3H slant with dressing room and have hauled it full numerous times, once halfway across the country. The 250 got 14.1 mpg on a 1200 mile haul, full trailer, packed solid dressing room and bed of truck. The hairiest part of the drive was down the grades on the PA Turnpike, but it was never an 'out of control' type of scary. GVW of my current trailer full is going to be within a couple thousand of a 4H all aluminum, even with a small lq. We're going to be doing a bit of work on the 250 also if I do keep it to haul a larger trailer. Suspension and stability and the little air thingies on the rear.
Posted 2008-07-24 7:31 AM (#88165 - in reply to #88030) Subject: RE: Aluminum Trailers - Best Ones?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Newton, NJ
My daughter has an '03 F250 diesel, but I think hers is the 7.3. It was the last year it was available. She hauled all over the east coast and up into Canada with a big 8' wide GN, three Hackney ponies, two carriages, a four wheeler and all the other necessities when she was campaigning for a Combined Driving World Championship. She got great mileage and the truck served her quite well. She still has it, but says when she can afford it she will trade up to an F350 Heavy Duty. The trailer she used did not have a LQ and I know that can add a lot of weight.
Posted 2008-07-24 5:21 PM (#88203 - in reply to #88030) Subject: RE: Aluminum Trailers - Best Ones?
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
I have a 3h all aluminum with 10 LQ, 8' wide. Hayrack, generator + 20 gal tank, and the usual LQ amenities, awning. I pull it with a souped up program on a 7.3L powerstroke F350 4WD dually auto tranny with a 4'10 rear end. We also have a 3/4 ton 4WD gas burner with a 4.10 rear, standard tranny. I would not even start out with this trailer hooked to the 3/4 ton. I really don't think your F250 6L will work on the trailer you describe. Not being mean, just speakin the truth as I know it. I think your truck will lack the power, the tranny, the braking, and the suspension for what you describe...there are others out there that can give you more specifics, but just from our decades of hauling horses and cattle, you will be pushing the limits, JMHO... good luck in whatever you decide...
Aluminum Trailers - Best Ones?
