Featherlite pioneered the first all aluminum gooseneck trailer back in 1973, and the company was officially established that same year in Oklahoma before eventually settling in Minnesota for a stretch. One of Featherlite's dealers in the 1970s was based out of Cresco, Iowa, and that connection led Featherlite to start building trailers in Cresco in 1979. The company expanded its manufacturing facilities in 1985, 1992, and 1995, and since 1993, Cresco, Iowa has been the official home and headquarters of Featherlite Trailers.
Since that first trailer rolled out in 1973, trailer buyers across North America have looked to Featherlite for superior value across a wide range of innovative all aluminum trailer lines. Today Featherlite's lineup is the widest in the industry, covering car trailers, horse trailers, stock trailers, recreational trailers, and utility trailers, along with business to business specialty trailers and professional race transporters like event marketing trailers, command centers, medical trailers, and other custom builds.
In 1992, Featherlite built its first semi race car transporter for RCR team owner Richard Childress and NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt. Not long after, Featherlite was building large race transporters for teams across the sport and eventually branched out into large scale, custom specialty transporters and trailers for a wide range of clients. Featherlite remains a sponsor and official trailer of NASCAR today.
Featherlite manufactures thousands of trailers every year out of its Cresco operations, with a workforce of more than 400 people working across 310,000 square feet of facilities. Their motto, "Safe. Secure. Smart.", reflects the company's focus on the customer and its commitment to safety, durability, innovation, and towability. Over 100 Featherlite dealers serve customers throughout the U.S. and Canada with car, horse, livestock, and rec and utility trailers, and Featherlite's highly customized transporters are sold directly out of the company's specialty trailer sales office in Cresco.
Featherlite builds its horse trailers around one idea, protecting you and your horses on every trip down the road, whether that's to a horse show, the rodeo, or out on the trails. Heavy duty all aluminum construction delivers a smooth, secure ride built for the long haul, backed by a 10 year limited structural warranty on most new trailers, a strong statement of confidence from a company that's been at this for more than fifty years. Horse trailers come in bumper pull, gooseneck, and living quarters configurations to fit whatever kind of hauling you do.
Standard features across much of the horse trailer lineup include adjustable saddle racks, aerodynamic v nose designs on many bumper pull models to cut wind drag, and all aluminum construction that resists rust and corrosion while keeping weight down for a smoother tow and better payload capacity. Aluminum wheels help the trailer hold its factory look and its value over time, while dressing rooms come finished with thick, durable turf. E-Z Lube axles make bearing maintenance quick and simple, and horse dividers get a heavy duty spring standard to strengthen the hold backs and make the dividers easier to use.
Sealed LED lights, often in dual wraparound configuration, add visibility and last longer than conventional lighting. Light Flo drop down feed doors allow up to 90 percent more airflow and light into the horse area with a heavier duty frame and hinges. Padded stall dividers come standard on most horse trailers for extra cushion and safety, and Featherlite's exclusive Pierce and Roll roof system drives high strength rivets into the aluminum without ever fully piercing the roof's skin, forming a secure, water resistant crown around each rivet to cut down on leak points compared to standard riveting. Roof vents down the center of the trailer keep air circulating for horse comfort, and floors on many models are covered in 3/4 inch thick rubber mats for comfort and stability without curling or rolling.
Full length, one piece running boards give a wide, consistent platform for checking on horses or livestock, standard on select trailers and widths. All Featherlite trailers meet federal safety standards and are built in compliance with the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers. Featherlite's patented spring loaded slam latch dividers offer a quick, secure lock without needing hands near the fastening point, and lock into a recessed catch in the wall so there's nothing protruding that could injure a horse. Rubber coated tie rings help dampen trailer noise to keep horses calmer, with one exterior tie ring per horse per side standard on 9000 Series trailers. The sleek Wave side panel design is also standard on the 9000 Series, and a wiring harness bundles all wires into a protective, watertight jacket for easier hookup and less wear over time.
Buyers can further customize their trailer with a range of options, including exterior colors like black, burgundy, champagne, charcoal, indigo blue, red, and silver, along with black aluminum wheels, a carpeted boot box for extra storage and seating, dual colored side sheets, Easy Care porous flooring that eliminates the need for bedding or cleaning under mats, 12 volt fans in the horse area, a choice of hay rack styles, polished aluminum side panels, a removable bottom half divider for a makeshift tack area, a roof vent in the dressing room, a swing out saddle rack, trailer graphics in blue, red, or silver, and white aluminum lining and insulation for the walls or ceiling.
