(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Gatormade trailers

Yesterday's Tractor Forums
R

RCP

Well-known Member
Location
Grove City Pa
Looking to buy a new gooseneck equipment trailer and one of the leading candidates is Gatormade from Kentucky. Does anyone have any experience with this brand? I am especially interested in their powder coat they use on the trailers.
 
There are a lot of Gatormade trailers in my area. I have several friends that own them. They are a really good trailer but, on the dovetail trailers the ramps are too heavy. One of my friends just sold his for that reason. I just bought a new tilt bed gooseneck 26ft. The reason I didn't buy a Gator was because of the powder coating. It does not hold up. it flakes off, water gets behind it and can't dry out and causes it to rust. I bought a Kaufman built in North Carolina. They still paint theirs. Very happy with it. They delivered it to my door. I work on a lot of trailers, truck beds and equipment. I have nothing good to say about powder coating. I am working on a dump bed and a lowboy right now that the powder coating has peeled off and left a rusty mess.
 
If I have a choice I want paint. Powder coat can be good but most people will not spend the time and money to clean the steel enough to hold the powder coat
 
I will never have a powder coated trailer. Once water and salt gets behind it it is game over. Soon you will be pulling it off in sheets.
 
Years ago, a friend had a PJ trailer, after a few years the powder coat could be pulled off like dead skin and PJ would not do anything to help fix the problem. When I expressed this concern to Gatormade, they said they do it in house and had improved upon the process and all is good. However, they offer no warranty on the powdercoat.
 
Welding man said:
There are a lot of Gatormade trailers in my area. I have several friends that own them. They are a really good trailer but, on the dovetail trailers the ramps are too heavy. One of my friends just sold his for that reason. I just bought a new tilt bed gooseneck 26ft. The reason I didn't buy a Gator was because of the powder coating. It does not hold up. it flakes off, water gets behind it and can't dry out and causes it to rust. I bought a Kaufman built in North Carolina. They still paint theirs. Very happy with it. They delivered it to my door. I work on a lot of trailers, truck beds and equipment. I have nothing good to say about powder coating. I am working on a dump bed and a lowboy right now that the powder coating has peeled off and left a rusty mess.
Click to expand...
I agree with you powder coat looks good until you have it for 6 months and it starts peeling off because of poor preparation. 🧑‍🌾
 
Why not get a galvanized trailer they don't need painting and the galvanize is self healing to a point for scratches. They do cost a bit more I believe from what I was told by a few guys with detaches and step decks back about 10 years ago now.
 
We have a local place that will dip anything you have In galvanize. But I live close to the coast.
You can submerge a galvanized trailer in salt water (boat trailer) and not hurt it. I find it is well worth the extra cost.

A internet search will bring up several manufacturers that sell galvanized equipment trailers.
 
I would think if you asked most any of them would be able to get it done. I know they do semi trailer with it. They need to do it after it is built before they put some things on like probably the jack,wheels and tires, hubs or else put the nuts on the studs so they don't fill the threads, they might even need to be dipped before the axles are on. There would be the job of the trailer maker and coating company on that part.
 
On small trailers only the frame is galvanized. If it bolts to the frame and or is a replaceable item it is not galvanized including the axle and springs.

Aluminum is best as it is not a coating but it is hard to beat a galvanized steel trailer.
Around here where we deal with salt water you would be hard pressed to find a painted boat trailer new or used.
 
john in la said:
On small trailers only the frame is galvanized. If it bolts to the frame and or is a replaceable item it is not galvanized including the axle and springs.

Aluminum is best as it is not a coating but it is hard to beat a galvanized steel trailer.
Around here where we deal with salt water you would be hard pressed to find a painted boat trailer new or used.
Click to expand...
My internet search did not find any dealers of galvanized trailers in the size range I am looking within 300 miles of me. They seem to be more popular in the coastal regions, but even then, not in the size range I want. I have found that Buckeye trailer uses primer plus 2 coats of urethane paint, that seems to be my best option locally. An aluminum trailer is not in my budget.
 
Some manufacturers would probably have to send it out for that and then they could send it to a dealer closer to you with a load of them in your direction. Or you can go pick it up your self. Then like you said a good distance from you. It always seems to be a compromise between convenience and what we want.
 
caterpillar guy said:
Why not get a galvanized trailer they don't need painting and the galvanize is self healing to a point for scratches. They do cost a bit more I believe from what I was told by a few guys with detaches and step decks back about 10 years ago now.
Click to expand...
I found a somewhat local trailer manufacturer that will do galvanizing, the price is approximately $1 per pound of trailer, the trailers I want weight about 5500#. That is way out of my budget.
 
That seems awful high I mean at that rate a semi trailer would cost in the 10-15000.00 plus to do. I'm sure the ones I saw were not that costly for that option since.I suppose it would also vary with the number of them. IF you did 100 of them I would expect it to be a lot cheaper.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Yesterday's Tractor Forums
Buy Tractor Parts Here Buy Tractor Manuals Here

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2025 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top