Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech trailers

I want to purchase a trailer and have a couple of questions.
1) what are the advantages/disadvantages of aluminum over steel or visa-versa.
2) it seems all two ups are 7'wide. Can tou easily get two bikes into a 6' if your willing to buy something a couple feet longer and possibly turn them slightly>

The heavier the trailer, the more fuel required to draw it around. Aluminum is as you know, lighter than steel, but you need to heed the areas where the aluminum and steel meet. The suspension to trailer area and every bolt are the main problem areas, especially if snow melting agents come into contact with the trailer. These areas are prone to corrosion from the dissimilar metals issues. On the other hand, the bonus of aluminum is it doesn't require paint. Aluminum is typically more expensive than steel, but in my one opinion, would be the way I would go if I could afford the extra $ for aluminum.



www.craigslist.org may have some good deals on used trailers.

I have both and there are advantages and disadvanages to both. Bucky pointed out most of them. I use my brother in laws aluminum snowmobile trailer from time to time when either of mine are loaded. It is light, no real suspension just the tires to absorb shock. The one steel one I have here isn't really mine a friend welded it up to haul his bike on. It's steel and has a mesh ramp the slides under the deck of the trailer and held in by a pin. Then just slide it out and it stops in place. He made a wedge shaped defector in the front that I think was a good idea, it helps keep road crap and stones from hitting the bike. It is hollow too and doubles as storage.

I have a 10x6 enclosed drop ramp from LA Cargo and have no problem fitting an 02 BA and an 07 T100 in there. The front ends are slightly staggered (18") so the bars don't hit.