Why Choose Aluminium For Your Custom Trailer

When considering the design of a custom trailer, the choice of construction material is an important factor that often goes unnoticed. Among the available options, aluminium stands out due to the unique properties that make it ideal for trailer construction. But why aluminium? In this blog, we explore its unique advantages in-depth, making it the top choice for your custom trailer. 

You're probably thinking, "Why not just use steel or any other material?" It's a valid question. Let's look at steel versus aluminium to gain some perspective. Sure, steel has its perks. It's strong, readily available, and may seem like a cost-effective choice initially. But here's the catch. Steel is susceptible to rust, and its heavyweight can impact the trailer's efficiency, resulting in higher fuel consumption. 



Now consider aluminium. It's lighter than steel but equally durable. It resists rust naturally, extending the trailer's life span. So, what would you choose: a heavy, rust-prone trailer or a lighter, rust-resistant one?

Aluminium offers an array of properties, making it an excellent choice for constructing durable, high-performing trailers. 

Unlike other materials that require additional treatments to prevent rust, aluminium forms a protective oxide layer on its surface when exposed to air. This property ensures that an aluminium trailer will maintain its structural integrity and appearance for a long time. 

An aluminium trailer not only offers durability and performance, but it’s also a solid investment. Due to its desirable properties and longevity, aluminium trailers often retain a high resale value. This factor provides an additional financial incentive for choosing aluminium as the preferred material for a custom trailer. 

Lastly, aluminium trailers require less maintenance than those made from other materials. They do not require regular painting or rust prevention treatments, resulting in significant time, money and effort savings over the trailer's lifespan. 

Unlike many other materials, aluminium can be recycled indefinitely without losing its properties. This attribute reduces the environmental footprint of aluminium trailers. 

As mentioned earlier, the lightweight nature of aluminium improves fuel efficiency. In turn, this reduces the carbon footprint of aluminium trailers, contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly operation. 

While aluminium might be pricier than some other materials upfront, its longevity, low maintenance requirements and high resale value make it a cost-effective choice in the long run. When you factor in the savings from improved fuel efficiency, the economic argument for aluminium becomes even more compelling. 

Whether you need racks, toolboxes, tie-down points or other specialised features, aluminium trailers offer flexibility in customisation. With the ability to weld and shape aluminium, custom trailer builders can bring your vision to life, resulting in a trailer that meets your specifications. 

Thanks to its sturdy and lightweight nature, aluminium trailers are more responsive to manoeuvre and easier to stop, providing enhanced safety. Furthermore, in the unfortunate event of a collision, aluminium tends to absorb and disperse the force better than steel, reducing the potential damage. 

From boat trailers to builder trailers — the team at Rod’s Engineering and Lifetime Trailers can build just about anything out of aluminium. Based on the Sunshine Coast, we design and manufacture high-quality aluminium custom trailers for homeowners and tradespeople. Get in touch today to receive a free quote for your custom trailer.