Trailer Questions

[Randy K. Crump]

Considering purchasing a 6 X 12 United Trailer for a musical group. It would have an aluminum frame and exterior sidewalls. The floor would be 3/4" plywood interior walls and floor. We are purchasing an aluminum trailer because it will need to sit outside all of the time. The exterior of the floor would be exposed to the weather. It will have to sit on grass when not in use. I am located in Illinois and we get all types of weather. The floor is real plywood and comes with a 25 year warranty. Questions: Is the floor going to rot out over time? If we coat the exterior of the floor with a coating, it will void the warranty. Will the aluminum corrode over time? Thanks!

 

[flying belgian]

I think it will be fine the way it is for the next 25 years.

 

[RCP]

The concern that I have is corrosion of the aluminum if it is exposed to road salt and grime. If you look at older aluminum trailers, such as stock trailers or box trailers, you will find significant corrosion if they were used in road salt states.

 

[MarkB_MI]

When you say "exterior of floor", do you mean the underside of the floor? If so, it will probably be fine; I've never seen an enclosed trailer where that didn't have a plywood floor with an exposed underside. The main thing is you can't have plywood exposed to rainwater, as that will quickly rot it out. The occasional drive in the rain won't be a problem because the plywood will dry out before rot has a chance to start.

If you do have rot problems, it will probably start in the edges of the plywood sheeting, where the end grain of the laminations is exposed. If you want to use a coating, put it on the edges. Most likely you'd need to remove the flooring to do this.

 

[DoubleR]

I have a 6ftx 10ft. inclosed trailer I brought new around 2002. Plywood floor still looks new. It lives outside here in Michigan. Might have been in the salt 3 to 4 times. Overall the trailer still looks good.

 

[jon f mn]

All aluminum enclosed trailers are fairly rare, are you sure the frame is aluminum? If its steel the first corrosion will be the aluminum side sheets due to the steel reacting with aluminum. If it is an all aluminum then you should have a lifetime trailer. Aluminum semi trailers run down the r I ad in all kinds of weather without significant corrosion.

 

[Randy K. Crump]

All aluminum enclosed trailers are fairly rare, are you sure the frame is aluminum? If its steel the first corrosion will be the aluminum side sheets due to the steel reacting with aluminum. If it is an all aluminum then you should have a lifetime trailer. Aluminum semi trailers run down the r I ad in all kinds of weather without significant corrosion.

The brochure says 2" X 4" Aluminum Main Rails.

 

[Tony in SD]

I have a 1997 enclosed trailer that has seen every kind of used, abuse, weather, road and construction help over loading it. Rarly was it parked inside. The original floor is still good. The outer aluminum shell is good. And so is the fiberglass roof. Brakes assembly, bearings, tires, lights & wiring have all been replaced at least once.

I’ve often have wondered about lifetime and/or 25 year warranties. Will the company still be in business in 2051? ie in 1975 I bought $500 worth of Craftsman mechanics tools. Still have them but the lifetime warranty is not what was promised 51 years later.

 

[UncleTom]

Aluminum trailers crack. My son had an aluminum trailer that had cracks in the frame. He quit counting cracks at 23 cracks.

 

[jon f mn]

The brochure says 2" X 4" Aluminum Main Rails.

Thats good, should last a long time then.

 

[4wdtom]

Considering purchasing a 6 X 12 United Trailer for a musical group. It would have an aluminum frame and exterior sidewalls. The floor would be 3/4" plywood interior walls and floor. We are purchasing an aluminum trailer because it will need to sit outside all of the time. The exterior of the floor would be exposed to the weather. It will have to sit on grass when not in use. I am located in Illinois and we get all types of weather. The floor is real plywood and comes with a 25 year warranty. Questions: Is the floor going to rot out over time? If we coat the exterior of the floor with a coating, it will void the warranty. Will the aluminum corrode over time? Thanks!

Cover the tires to keep the sun off of them.

 

[john in la]

I have an aluminum boat trailer that regularly gets submerged in salt water with no ill effects.
The thing with road salt is it comes with dirt and grime that keeps the salt in place.
Keep it clean and an aluminum trailer will last you a lifetime.

The floor is most likely marine grade plywood. Much better than plywood you buy at the lumber store. Also keep it clean and it will last a long time.

I will add.
They make 3 grades of trailers.
Painted steel
Galvanized steel
And aluminum
Painted Steel is the bottom of the line and aluminum is the top of the line.

 

[DoubleO7]

If the trailer will have a dedicated spot outside when not in use, I would dump a load of driveway gravel on that spot. Round-up the spot first and leave a hefty crown down the center of the spot. So that rain is sure to drain away from the underside of the trailer.

 

[DoubleO7]

Aluminum trailers crack. My son had an aluminum trailer that had cracks in the frame. He quit counting cracks at 23 cracks.

Ya have to know how to design it and how to weld it. Look at Featherlite trailer company. They would not still be here after 50 years if cracking was an inherent attribute of aluminum trailers.