Deciding on a material for customer made trailers requires careful thought.
Both steel and aluminium have their strengths. What matters, is how those strengths align with your priorities, and the pressing needs of your business.
Highlighted concerns
Define essential factors with the following questions:
- What haul type and cargo weight will the trailers be handling?
- Is your focus on short-term budget or long-term costs and returns?
- What terrain will your trailers be traversing?
- How corrosive are the working conditions?
- Have you factored in maintenance needs?
Your answers, combined with the information below, should make deciding on the material best suited to your trailer fleet that bit easier.
If the choice is still up in the air, Custom Quip Engineering (CQE) has decades of combined experience designing and manufacturing customised equipment.
Know that aluminium and steel trailers do differ, in terms of performance strengths, response to environment, and required care.
Weight
Aluminium and aluminium alloys weigh less than steel. As a result, aluminium trailers are notably lighter than steel trailers, allowing more haulage before reaching capacity limit.
While steel trailers weigh more, they offer a durable assist. Known as the go-to option for heavier loads, steel is a sturdy and ever-popular choice for industrial environments.
Fuel efficiency
The lighter weight of aluminium trailers makes them more cost efficient in terms of fuel—especially if transporting lesser loads or spending time in transit with an empty trailer.
A steel trailer of the same design would weigh more and carry less for the same amount of fuel. Of course, the weight of what your fleet will be hauling matters.
Steel trailers are common for heavier loads. This ability that could theoretically reduce the number of trips, making fuel-efficiency a matter of logistics.
Durability
Durable is a word commonly used to describe steel trailers. If your fleet will experience the impact force of heavy hauls, you might want to consider steel.
A key component of their market popularity, along with the stability they provide to your haul, durability is the strongest selling point for steel trailers.
Aluminium trailers also delivery durability when well-constructed, but for a business moving constant heavy loads, steel is the preferred standard.
Corrosion
Aluminium is must more resistant to corrosion than steel. For those in the market for a trailer fleet with reduced maintenance, this can be a strong selling point.
Steel trailers are much more prone to rust. As a result, a steel trailer fleet will require you invest in additional protection and maintenance across the years.
How your trailers are going to be used is also relevant, in terms of corrosion risk. If your haul is more likely to cause rust, take care to protect steel structures.
Weather
Certain environments facilitate rust. In these locations, aluminium trailers require less care, being resistant to corrosion. For steel trailers, coastal climes especially can be rough.
Aluminium trailers handle constant rain and humidity better so if your fleet is working and driving in a location where conditions facilitate rust, aluminium is popular.
If steel trailers are better suited to your load sizes and non-negotiable, invest in quality protective coatings, keep up maintenance, and schedule regular checks for rust.
In terms of Australian summer conditions, steel holds more heat. Aluminium is better at cooling, and the lighter weight proves less taxing on vehicles during sweltering days.
Maintenance
Steel’s vulnerability to corrosion means a steel trailer fleet requires more maintenance on average than an aluminium trailer fleet.
Make sure you factor care requirements into your decision. Protective options for steel trailers should be a priority, to help combat potential corrosion.
Remember, maintenance can be outsourced. At CQE, we maintain trailer fleets for businesses, with many in the transport, agriculture, and mining sectors.
Repairs
The scale of repairs and how the repair should be approached differs between materials.
Aluminium trailers are more vulnerable to impact. Since aluminium is more flexible, smaller dents can be simpler to reset. Larger repairs may need specialised care.
Steel is sturdier, and less likely to bend out of shape or crack as it can withstand and absorb more force. If it does give in the future, the repair may require welding.
Terrain
The lightweight nature of aluminium trailers means they offer superior ability to manoeuvre, making them easier to steer through busy sites.
If constantly facing rougher terrain, be aware steel is known for enabling stability. Steel trailers can better handle tough conditions, even when the load is heavy.
In contrast, aluminium trailers with a heavy haul may end up at risk of structural issues when faced with repeated shocks and vibrations over harsh terrain.
Cost
A fleet of aluminium trailers will cost more at point of purchase then a fleet of steel trailers. If a strict upfront budget is a consideration, you may lean toward steel.
Aluminium trailers cost more upfront, but due to their corrosion resistance and reduced maintenance needs, ongoing service costs are lower.
If your business plan includes resale of the trailers at a later date, an aluminium fleet is likely to offer better returns than a steel fleet.
The takeaway
Main points to keep in mind when deciding between aluminium and steel for your trailer fleet:
- Aluminium trailers
Lighter weight, resistant to rust, fewer maintenance requirements, and higher resale. Aluminium trailers handle humid and coastal climes better.
- Steel trailers
High durability, stable journey, more maintenance required, and cheaper purchase price. Steel trailers suit heavier hauls and rougher terrain.
Designed to your needs
Our team will help you choose the best material and design for the weight capacity you need, suited to the journeys your trailer fleet will undertake.
As a West Australian privately owned business, we can create a customised design for your fleet that will be built in-house, ensuring exceptional workmanship.
Custom Quip Engineering can also address future servicing, repairs and maintenance, including blast and paint.
If looking for trailers to rent or trailers for sale in Perth, our team can assist. To discuss a potential trailer design in more detail, reach out to us.
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