ALUMINUM vs. STEEL/Aluminum TRAILERS

[Bobby Brannon]

Ronnie Young build's a GREAT trailer at Performax Trailer in Texas. Just give him a call @ 888-441-0402

[james schaechter]

I have been looking at this also. I haven't purchased an alum one yet, but driving to Florida and back from Illinois was rough on our steel frame alum skin trailer. Mine is a 2000, but I am told that they treat the steel and protect it from the alum skin to prevent electrolysis.

It seems that the alum deal would be a good investment if you plan on keeping them a long time and I may just do that. I liked the looks of the Optimas, but the local Pace dealer said that they have had problems with the Optimas. PACE has a silver arrow alum model, but i have only seen a couple.

One brand that has gotten good reviews from all dealers and racers that have had them is an ATC brand. I am told that they use a boxed perimeter fram that doesn't rely on the box to keep it's strength.

Maybe there are some others with first hand info, but I would say to take some time doing research. It takes me awhile to make such a large purchase so I will be looking for awhile. I can tell you that I hope PACE silver arrow makes my list. PACE has been awesome with mine. They come by the trailer and fix stuff for free at the track whenever I am at a NAtional. They don't ask questions, if it is a PACE, they come by and do stuff for free. It is a nice touch for sure.

[John Lang]

Mr. James Schaechter says about the PACE warrenty it's the best!!! I'm on my third Pace American and it's just great! They tend to be a little heavier only when when you buy the Big Foot, which i did, i use it for business also and like the HD end. At div and Nat events they have crews as Jim said that will repair anything that they can free. At Joliet they replaced a fender (Alum) no cost, thanks to Ill, toll booth width.. John Lang

[joe176]

Two guys I know had problems with ATC. One had the side door rot out which they warrantied and the other had the walls seperating which they replaced. I have a Motorsports which has since sold out to Goldrush.

[Ron Brown]

Chuck, These guys are telling you straight. Pace has a great warranty, and their construction is great in places the average person doesn't think about but makes for a long lasting unit. Experience, there's nothing like it when it comes to spending this kind of money. So read and listen as you do your shopping, ask LOTS of questions before you buy.

[John Duzac]

Talking about PACE trailer Warranty: My trailer is bumper pull type and only 3 years old. It is a steel trailer with aluminum sides and NOT a Pace trailer made by Cargo Express, of Elkhart Indiana. I have two curb side doors and it seemed that both doors have rottened out and holes developed in the doors. This is a very unsightly mess as you can imagine.

The doors were made by a company called Nappanee Window and due to the economy went out of business as of October 2008.

I then contacted Cargo Express about buying two new doors, only to find that Cargo Express sold out to PACE Trailer. I explained the situation to them and they asked for the VIN number to the trailer. The cost on the doors was about $600.00 give or take. After about a week, I again contacted them and was told that my trailer was in fact made by Cargo Express and although they (PACE) did not make that treiler, they (PACE) was going to replace the two doors at a no charge cost to me, including the shipping. The representative told me he talked with management and explained to them what happened. It was the position of PACE that they were not going to see one of their customers have to pay for new doors that were only 3 years old and obviously under warranty.

In my opinion PACE Trailer is tops and high on my Christmas card list. Thank you PACE Trailer.

[Myron Piatek]

I've been happy with my Pace also. It did develop a roof leak within a year, but was fixed under warrenty. Many years later, I resealed the roof seams with some HD commercial stuff I got and haven't had a problem with water since. But as mentioned by others, their national event at-track service is almost unbelievable. I've had broken handles/locks, damaged trim, missing screws, etc. replaced for free over the years.

When I bought it, I ordered 6,000lb axles/brakes and went with a 26', which was all one step more than what I figured I'd need. It worked out well, the 6,000lb axles/16" tires last much longer than the 5,200lb units even though the trailer never weighs more than 10,000lbs loaded and the bigger brakes are safer and make it easier on the tow truck brakes.

Well before moving south from Vermont around 5 years ago I sold trailers in New England. Featherlite, Exiss, Pace, Classic, and even Gold Rush. I personally purchased a 32' Featherlite gooseneck in I think fall of 1999. It was one of the very first 4940 models to roll out of Iowa. (Bumper pull model is the 4926 if I remember correctly) I pulled mine with a 3/4 ton Chevy. No duals. It towed like a dream, but obviously was cheapened up a bit for the price point. It was a Monday-Friday trailer. (You can tell on the VIN # what day of the week it was completed) The workers left it on Friday, finished it on Monday. They never finished sealing the roof, and the first good rain my race car got a shower. It had diamond plate flooring that egg-crated between the crossmembers due to the weight of the car. My aluminum ramp extensions also cracked at the hinges. Now being a dealer I did get warranty repairs without questions!
That all aside I towed many different brands of trailers to NHRA, IHRA, Nascar, and racing events all over the northeast. Without a doubt the best trailer for quality and ease of towing is a Gold Rush. If you can afford one, even a used one, it will be money well spent. In the north all aluminum is the way to go. If you have any specific questions feel free to sent me a message. I still have good contacts at the dealers I worked for in Connecticut & Mass.