Why Aluminium?
Mild Steel is one of the most durable metals available - it is affordable, strong, easy to work with BUT…it corrodes!
Stainless Steel is strong enough and looks good - it is not as durable as mild steel, more difficult to work with BUT…it is very expensive!
Aluminium (especially in its structural marine grades) is durable, easy to work with and RESISTANT TO CORROSION. It is not as strong as mild or stainless steel and is marginally more expensive than mild steel. To compare with the strength of steel it is necessary to increase the thickness of material.
Most steel trailer manufacturers use between 1.00mm - 1.60mm thickness of material. To ensure an extremely robust aluminium trailer we choose to use 3.00mm structural aluminium with the added strength of 5 bar tread pattern design in our sheet sections. It is considerably lighter weighing about half the weight of comparable mild steel components.
Though it has a significant resistance to corrosion, aluminium is still susceptible to electrolysis (a form of corrosion) when used in contact with dissimilar metals or extreme adverse conditions (more so in the lower grades of metal) and care must be taken at the point of manufacture.
Our new heavy duty structural aluminium chassis option has proven to be most popular for offroad use having been tried and tested for three years in extreme conditions. With the option of an aluminium chassis comes the further reduced potential for electrolysis between dissimilar metals and the benefits of an all aluminium trailer.
Though aluminium in mill finish form offers excellent resistance to corrosion by comparison (refer to the common "tinnie" - it is not uncommon to see one in excellent condition even after 20 odd years full exposure to the sea), a powder coated finish offers further 2 fold protection, full submersion in chromate liquid then a durable baked on powder coating.
The Painted Steel Trailer Scenario
Go out and spend between $1200 and $1500 and buy yourself a decent painted trailer. Give it only a couple of weeks of exposure to the elements and watch the orange stains leech from all the inaccessible nooks as the rusting commences. What ever you do don't leave green waste in it or you will increase the rust rate by about 100%. 12 Months or so and your trailer is already starting to look pretty daggy! Give it a couple of years or so before the rust has effected the trailer structure before you really start to worry as your trailer has become unsafe. So start fixing if up - new floor, maybe new sides, possibly a section or two of chassis - whoa hang on!! Your maintenance costs are creeping up toward the cost of a new trailer. Start again…
How do I get some decent mileage out of my painted steel trailer?
Get a quality anti corrosion fluid, e.g. Fisholene - get it into every nook and crannie and don't stop. Protect it as much as you can from the elements.
Hot Dipped Galvanised Steel Trailer
The only way to go if you want a steel trailer BUT - hot dipped galvanizing is expensive, especially for trailers and you have the added cost of freight. All up it usually adds about $500 to the cost. If you want colour you have even further expense. Hot dipped galvanizing usually leaves an industrial uneven finish to the metal, often with sharp dags of dried zinc.
The Aluminium Trailer
The most significant feature is corrosion resistance. Refer to the average aluminium "tinnie" fully exposed to the harshest environment of all salt water/salt air, then add submersion in a chromate bath (process applied prior to baking on powder coat) and you have an extremely durable product with a colour of your choice. Other advantages are the noticeable difference in weight between aluminium and steel, and the cost! The cost of a powder coated aluminium trailer is comparable to a quality hot dipped galvanized trailer. N.B. It is not necessary for an aluminium trailer to be powder coated to ensure longevity. Powder coating is an option for those who require a colour other than mill finished aluminium.