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| So WLC I really didn't want to name them the other day until I had time to run this by all parties involved. In the livestock trailer world you have steel and then aluminum. To different price points, both will do the job, but some are better for winter hauling (aluminum). To me truck engine hp. displacement isn't a problem in today's world pulling. There is enough power to kill yourself pulling a trailer loaded. I've pulled aluminum trailers since 1992', loved them other than the constant rattling. Best tool to gather a couple of sections is an aluminum trailer.
In that time, we have also used steel, I'm not in love with any of them nor aluminum. But they are a far cry from 2-ton stock trucks. No more roping cows and backing up to a bank and loading them. No more putting a plank across the seat and opening the doors to fit enough cowboys to haul them to an unload location. Thanks for A/C and 4 doors.
So, problem I've seen in trailer industry is everyone wants to cheapen product up, let's leave out some floor screws, lets cheapen the paint up and not primer them or clean mill scale off. Only have to get out of main warranty a few years. Put the burden of fixing faults on dealer, then if you haul cattle or lend trailer out. They can conveniently call that commercial use and it voids warranty.
So, trailer sales used to be made up with lots of mom & pop dealers, made a living off them. Then they took on flatbed installations for trucks, got to keep the shop busy. Then take on selling a ranch hand bumper. Well to today in my area the automotive sales groups industry has bought into that segment of the market. So, we have mega dealerships selling the three major brand of trucks, now have control over flatbeds and trailers. They have even banged into the ATV market. No more making a deal with them, take it or leave it.
Same thing happened to agricultural equipment industry, I remember talking to local JD dealer in or about early 90's. He asked me to come back as service manager, told me industry was going to be changing and mega stores. I declined his offer, as I didn't want to work in that setting. Maybe I messed up by not taking the offer, but I don't think so as I still despise that business model. Finally, the trailer industry is following the equipment industry got to have mega dealer.
So just for your amusement here is a couple of pics of two current steel trailers. The Titan is now four years old; no problems paint is still holding good. The new Travalong by it. I guess time will tell. Also, pics of a trailer I tell everyone to run from, Swift built. Had it 4 years turned in to rust bucket with a hitch on it. Tubing rotting right away, the paint started to come off it the day I drove it home from dealer in Colorado. Didn't even make it across Wyoming and rusting away in a snowstorm.
Ntex tells me I need to try an Easley trailer, but no dealers close and a long way's down south. I did have a good talk with Shelby trailer flooring about that brand and a few others. Maybe put it on our wish list.
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 (Swift (full).jpg)
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 Trailers (full).jpg (128KB - 113 downloads)
Swift (full).jpg (140KB - 100 downloads)
Swift 2 (full).jpg (143KB - 120 downloads)
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WLC, trailer flooring......
