Which Materials Enhance Trailer Durability?

Truck trailers move cargo across vast distances efficiently, and the durability of truck trailers is vital for the secure transportation of goods in a manner that saves fuel. Loss of valuable cargo during transit is a significant risk that no business wants to experience.

A robust-built trailer that can tolerate the weather and road conditions during the journey of moving products from one location to another without spillage or damage can make business operations smooth and efficient and help it deliver better services than its competitors.

Moreover, a durable trailer would be less likely to break down and would need less maintenance which would contribute to cutting down unnecessary expenses. In this blog post, we will explore which materials can increase the durability of the trailer so that your goods can be transported safely and efficiently while reducing transportation costs and contributing to the overall profitability of the business.

What To Consider While Selecting a Durable Material For A Trailer?

If you are looking for a material that is long-lasting and sturdy for your truck trailer, then aluminum and steel are two options between which you should make your choice. Most trailers are manufactured by utilizing these metals. In order to make a choice, you should assess the durability of the metal in multiple aspects, like,

Payload Limit

Truck trailers are available in a variety of payload limits. The payload limit is mainly determined by railer size and axle type. Trailers can incorporate a tandem axle or a single axle. A thicker axle is capable of bearing more weight. When it comes to aluminum and steel materials, steel has a higher payload.

The design of a trailer also affects load-bearing capacity. Enclosed trailers have more payload than utility trailers. Hence it is crucial to consider the type and weight of the cargo that you will be transporting so that you can make a choice between an aluminum or steel truck trailer.

Road Handling

Moving products over large distances means that your trailer will probably encounter a wide variety of road conditions. From moist road surfaces to rough roads, your truck trailer should be able to adapt accordingly and maneuver well for the whole journey to ensure the safe transit of your cargo.

A lighter material used in the construction of a trailer would mean that it would handle much more effortlessly on the road, and the trailer would be able to make sharp turns even while carrying a heavy load. A lighter material means greater control over your truck which ultimately means less risk of accident or overturning of the vehicle.

Cost

For any business, whether large or small, minimizing costs is an essential concern. Investing in a fleet of trailer trucks that are costly would mean a significantly longer return on investment period. Truck trailer material that rusts easily would also mean greater maintenance costs.

Aluminum Vs. Steel Trailers

Aluminum Trailers

Upsides

Corrosion Resistant

Aluminum, unlike steel, does not rust at all. This is a major advantage that aluminum has over steel. No rust means that the maintenance cost of aluminum trailers is significantly lower compared to steel trailers.

Lightweight

Aluminum is three times lighter than steel. As a result, aluminum trailers are much more maneuverable on the road. With an aluminum trailer, you can turn around corners sharply. A lighter aluminum frame also reduces the riding weight so a truck can travel faster on the road, which means your goods reach their destination faster.

Long-lasting

When it comes to useful life, aluminum has the edge over steel as it is rust-resistant and is able to tolerate rainy weather and moisture quite well. This means that it will not corrode or need repairs, and for a business, that means less downtime and disruption due to repairs. This is particularly helpful for

Customizable Sizes

Aluminum trailers are available in a variety of sizes that cater to heavy-duty or light loads. This versatility is not present in steel trailers, and steel trailers are not available in a variety of sizes. This diversity of sizes also means

Portable

Aluminum trailers being relatively light, are easy to move from one place to another without much significant hassle. For large businesses that depend on the fast-paced flow of goods, an aluminum trailer can be left.

Downsides

Costly

Aluminum may be light, but it weighs heavily on the pocket. An aluminum trailer is more expensive than a steel one. For businesses looking to save on costs, aluminum trailers can result in heavy expenditures that cuts into the profit.

Steel Trailers

Upsides

Affordable

Steel trailers are much cheaper than aluminum trailers. Their cheaper cost means that you can[purchase more of them and build your transport fleet quickly.

Stronger and Rigid

Being significantly heavier than aluminum, steel is capable of carrying more payload.

Therefore for heavy-weight cargo, steel trailers are much more suitable.

Downsides

Rusts in The Long-Term

A significant disadvantage of steel is that it is not corrosion-resistant, which means that it will rust over the years and would need to be replaced. In large fleets, this may potentially be a risky problem as it can compromise the safety of the trailer. A higher replacement cost will contribute to a greater running expense, and that can raise transportation expenses.

A Lower Market Value in Resale Market

Don't expect to earn a hefty amount when you go to the used market to sell your steel trailer. In contrast to an aluminum trailer, a used steel trailer would not fetch a lot of money as steel is not corrosion-resistant like aluminum.

How To Make Steel Trailers Last Longer?

A major problem with steel trailers is that, over the years, they start rusting. A possible way to prevent this is to opt for the purchase of galvanized steel trailers. Galvanized steel trailers have a coating of zinc on the steel that prevents rusting. This can lengthen the life of a steel trailer.

When it comes to making a choice between aluminum and steel, you need to consider a variety of factors. However, aluminum is definitely the preferable option due to its lightweight and corrosion resistance as well as a more excellent resale value in the used market.

Therefore if you want to maintain a sizable fleet to transport your products at a lesser fuel cost, it is best to sign up for a reliable truck trailer exporter that specializes in the manufacture of aluminum trailers.