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Back in the late seventies and early eighties, Sooner, Featherlite, Four Star, and many other horse trailer manufacturers created and launched an all-aluminum trailer line. These aluminum trailers were designed as solutions to the problem that all steel horse trailers were known to have back then...they deteriorated fairly quickly from rust.
aluminum horse trailersAt that time, it was true. And since most horse trailer manufacturers were nothing more than oversized weld shops, not a lot of attention was paid to the rust problem.
Nonetheless, companies such as Sooner, Featherlite, and Four Star introduced what has become known as the all-aluminum trailer. (It really isn't all aluminum, because steel was and is still used in the axles and the couplers).
Since aluminum was and is about three times the cost of steel, the aluminum trailers were much more expensive than the steel models. Customers immediately perceived that the aluminum trailers were better because they didn't rust, and they cost so much more.
What is little known, however, is that many of the all-aluminum horse trailer manufacturers quickly realized some drawbacks. Adjustments had to be made when some of the trailers began to actually break under the weight of their cargo and from the pounding of the road. Aluminum hinges broke on ramps. Aluminum dividers were breaking under impact of minor accidents.
Although steel had many advantages, (i.e., it was easy to work with, more readily available, easier to repair, held its shape [tensile strength]), it still rusted.
Some of the better manufacturers of steel horse trailers fought this by using heavier gauge steel. But, then the trailers became too heavy. So, they tried using better grade steel, with higher quality paints and under coatings. The trailer lasted much longer...but, it eventually showed rust. Most of the manufacturers of horse trailers back then were very small and didn't look down the road as to whether their trailers would last or not. |
