An aluminum all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trailer is a device used to transport an ATV behind a vehicle. Manufactured of lightweight material, an aluminum ATV trailer is much lighter than a comparably sized steel trailer. One of the benefits of an aluminum ATV trailer is the resistance to rust in areas that use salt and chloride on the roadways in wintertime. The greatest benefit of the aluminum ATV trailer for many owners is the reduction in fuel cost when towing the lightweight trailer. These trailers are commonly offered in single to multiple vehicle placement versions, as well as tilt-bed and ramp-on models.
For many buyers, an aluminum ATV trailer is a very common accessory when purchasing an ATV. Since many ATV owners do not live next to a specific riding area, the need to trailer the ATV is a necessity when the urge to ride presents itself. A steel trailer is not only heavy and costly to tow behind a vehicle, it can rust when used on the snow-covered roads that are laden with salt or chloride to cut through ice in the winter time. It is necessary to wash any salt or slush off of an aluminum ATV trailer as soon as possible since this material can cause the trailer to corrode if left in place.
Another benefit in choosing an aluminum ATV trailer over a steel version is the lack of need for trailer brakes. A heavy, steel trailer typically requires the addition of trailer brakes to allow the operator of the tow vehicle to slow without fishtailing or jackknifing the heavy trailer. The lighter, aluminum trailer does not commonly display these handling troubles when braking heavily. This saves not only the additional cost of the braking components on the trailer axles, but it also saves the addition of the trailer braking connections and controls on the tow vehicle.
There are usually two types of loading styles on an aluminum ATV trailer, from the rear and from the side. Ramps used on the rear of the trailer allow the vehicles to be loaded lengthwise on the trailer, while side ramps allow the machines to be carried crossways on the trailer. On smaller, two-vehicle capacity versions of the trailer, a tilting bed allows the rider to simply drive up on to the trailer bed without the use of ramps. Once loaded, the machines can be secured with straps to undergo safe towing.