I have a new 20 footx7ft wide gooseneck stock trailer. I had it loaded to the hilt coming back from texas. my gas milage went to crap. I am seeing more and more aluminum stock trailers. I know they are about $5000 more but do you think they are worth the extra $. they are lighter and seem to have a lot more coverage when transporting cattle keeping the wind and elements off them. a 24 foot 7 wide is about $12,000 vs steel $8500
which trailer
- Thread starter plbcattle
- Start date
eric
Well-known member
I came across this very decision a couple months ago. It seems the more I looked at trailers, the more options and $$'s you can spend. I decided to just go with a plain ol' 16' bumper pull, brand new about $3K. I looked at goosenecks, aluminum, front hay storage and stuff like that. While that wouold probably be nice for some folks, I figured out that I probably won't use my trailer more than 4-6 times a yr, so hopefully the cheaper model will work out o k for me.
You can buy alot of fuel (or at least you used to could!) for the $3500 difference in price you mentioned. Is this something you are gonna use frequently, like every month or a couple times a month or so? Or are you like me and are just gonna haul a few calves to the vet once a yr and make 3-4 trips to the salebarn yearly?
You can buy alot of fuel (or at least you used to could!) for the $3500 difference in price you mentioned. Is this something you are gonna use frequently, like every month or a couple times a month or so? Or are you like me and are just gonna haul a few calves to the vet once a yr and make 3-4 trips to the salebarn yearly?
We're in the same boat. But we went with a 14 foot because of the obstacles to manuevering around this place. If I need more capacity I just haul them over to the dairy in small lots and load them in the 24 ft gooseneck.
dun
dun
If you use your trailor a lot then aluminium is the only way to go. We used to have steel trailors but now we have a 24' and a 28' alluminiun goosenecks. They are eaier to pull and we get a lot better gas miliage. Less wear and tear on the trucks is a better advantage then the milage.
twp
Active member
I used to sell trailers and the biggest thing to consider is Rust! If you don't want to bother with rust the buy alum. The value is usally better with alum, if you for some reason need to sell it it usally hold thier value a lot better than steel. Its kinda like buying a John Deere, the other tractor will do the job, but the deere will hold its value.
TheBullLady
Well-known member
twp.. in your opinion, what are a couple of the best built aluminum trailers on the market?
twp
Active member
If I was to buy one for everyday hauling, It would be between a Barrett and Wilson,(Thats taking cattle somewhere everyday because they are closely built like a pot). The next runners up would be goosenecks new alum, and a sundowner. I sold Gooseneck and Sundowners, When the Gooseneck brand first came out with thiers, it was built too much like thier steel and did not hold up very well, so they went back and redesined some things and it looks really good now. I personaly have a Sundowner and have been to the plant. They have a testing ground at the plant that you would not believe, They have an eight year warranty now and I had a crack in my floor and they put a whole new floor in it. I don't know how Barrett and Wilson's warranty are but its kinda like a buying a truck, its only as good as its dealer. If I were going to buy one for showing or taking cattle to the barn, My choice is a Sundowner. If it is steel, or second for alum, Gooseneck, Hands down.
