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The Aluminum Trailer Company and Motiv Trailers
Archive for April, 2009
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
 So, unless you’ve been living on the moon for the past six months, you know our economy is in a recession. The RV and trailer industry has been especially hard-hit. We’ve been luckier than most here at ATC and Motiv Trailers – but our business is still slower than we’d like. So just like everyone else, we are trying to “think outside the box” a little and be creative in our efforts to boost activity. One route we’re exploring is a brand new cargo trailer line – the Motiv Raven steel cargo trailer. This trailer is designed to be competitively priced in the tough cargo trailer market, while remaining the superior built product that Motiv is famous for. We’ve included Dexter leaf-spring axles, a flat top aluminum roof, hat post walls and ceiling, Advantech flooring with a 25 year warranty, and bias ply tires. All these features keep the prices low and the lead times short! We are introducing the Raven car hauler in 5′, 6′, and 7′ models, with lengths available from 8′ all the way to 16′ long. We have also come up with a short list of popular options that you can add to give these trailers a little extra zip – things like 6″ extra height, upgrade to vinyl or 3/8″ plywood walls and ceiling, rear ramp doors, radial tires, and 12″ extended tongue. These lightweight steel cargo trailer are designed to be production friendly, which keeps the price amazingly low for such a super quality trailer! So if you’re looking for an easy way to boost your sales a little, get a few Motiv Ravens to sit on your lot. You’ll be amazed at how fast they disappear…
Tags: Aluminum Trailer, ATC, Cargo Trailers, Motiv Trailers
Posted in Blog, Cargo Trailers | Comments Off
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
There are many choices available in aluminum car haulers. You know the benefits of aluminum, lighter weight, resistant to road salt and corrosion. You know you want an aluminum car hauler, but the choices still seem endless. Here are a few things to look for as you compare different aluminum car haulers.
First, look at the foundation of the aluminum car hauler, the frame. Is it a full perimeter frame with 16′ floor joists that provides the greatest strength, construction just like your home or is the frame of the aluminum car hauler made with main rails running on the interior of the trailer and outriggers? What materials are being used? Is it structural aluminum of the appropriate size and thickness to support the rigors of transporting or is it basic tube steel made with a cheaper aluminum alloy? Is the frame of the aluminum car hauler completely aluminum designed and engineered from the ground up as an aluminum trailer or is it a steel construction frame with aluminum substituted in some high visibility areas?
Secondly, check out the manufacturer of aluminum car haulers. At Aluminum Trailer Company, we started with building aluminum car haulers from the ground up. Our engineering and design teams have years of experience working with aluminum. That’s all we do.
When you are in the market for aluminum car haulers, look for an ATC authorized dealer. Visit our website at www.aluminumtrailer.com for a complete list of dealers along with galleries of many unique aluminum car haulers and an array of other enclosed all aluminum trailers
Tags: Aluminum Trailer, ATC, Car Haulers
Posted in Blog, Car Haulers | Comments Off
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
ATC and Motiv Trailers is becoming fairly well known for our custom and commercial trailers, as well as our stellar enclosed car haulers. But did you know that we also build RV trailers too? We offer several RV trailer packages and modules in both steel and aluminum – and they’re pretty darn fine ones at that! If you’re looking for a toy hauler, our t1 or t2 module is designed with everything you need to travel in style. Both packages are available on our steel RSX and MSX, and the all-aluminum Quest and SS models…and they’re loaded with classy features like black appliances, brushed nickel kitchen and bathroom fixtures, glass shower, and RV style toilets.
If you’re into sheer RV trailer luxury, check out our 12′ and 14′ LQ Packages. They come standard with all the great stuff listed above, plus solid hand-crafted cabinetry and woodwork, hydraulic slide-outs, premium queen-sized mattresses, and awesome décor. And of course all this goes on top of the superior ATC and Motiv craftsmanship that goes into each and every trailer we build.
And did you know that ATC and Motiv is RVIA certified? The RVIA (Recreational Vehicle Industry Association) maintains a strict standard of quality for RV trailer manufacturers they certify. When you get your ATC or Motiv trailer with an RVIA seal on it, you can rest assured it was made with the utmost attention to quality in the electrical, plumbing, heating, and safety systems. Just one more way we exceed your expectations.
Tags: Aluminum Trailer, ATC, Living Quarters, Motiv Trailers
Posted in Blog, Living Quarters | Comments Off
Monday, April 27th, 2009
 Four years ago the Aluminum Trailer Company began to build its first Dog House trailer. With our company being located in Indiana I had never even heard the term Dog House trailer. Nabors well service was looking for a way to lighten their load and design a dog house trailer that would be better for their service crews (Rough Necks).
When I ended up seeing my first dog house trailer I could see how they got their name. As you look at the back of a dog house trailer it would have one entry door with a round top roof looking much like a dog house for two legged creatures. If you take a moment to see (picture) what Nabors and ATC designed looked nothing like a dog house trailer of the past. This trailer was designed to be pulled with a ¾ ton truck, it was very rugged, and provided a great environment for the crews to get break from the harsh elements they work in.
I had the opportunity to deliver the first Aluminum Trailer Company Dog House trailer to Nabors. It was great opportunity to meat some of the staff at the corporate offices in Houston Texas. The attached picture is of the very first trailer we delivered them. As the corporate leaders toured the custom dog house trailer they decided to add even more features to keep their crews happy. For instance we added a microwave, refrigerator, generator and air conditioning. Nabors now has the nicest Dog House trailer in the industry. If your company needs to build one dog house trailer or a fleet of dog house trailers please give us a call. ATC can produce an inexpensive base unit or the dog house trailer with everything you could ever want.
Tags: Aluminum Trailer, ATC, Custom Trailers, Motiv Trailers
Posted in Blog, Custom Trailers | Comments Off
Friday, April 24th, 2009
RV trailers are growing in popularity. Their versatility as a recreational vehicle for the family and a trailer to haul the family toys, all terrain vehicles, motorcycles or off road bikes makes the RV trailer a perfect purchase for many traveling families.
There are 2 basic types of RV trailer: the garage/cargo area and the living quarters are separated with a hard partition wall or to maximize the utility of the space, the living quarters are incorporated into the garage/cargo area. This kind of arrangement includes fold away beds, removable tables, and shared cabinet space. Depending on your RV trailer need will dictate the type best suited for you.
Cargo carrying capacity is the biggest concern in determining the RV trailer to fit your needs. Living quarter amenities add considerable weight to RV trailers so make sure you have sufficient carrying capacity left to haul your cargo. Consider purchasing a trailer with higher GVWR than you think you will need. Be sure your tow vehicle is rated appropriately.
You will also want to make sure the cargo area footprint is large enough for your stuff. Consider putting all of your cargo as you would like to arrange it on an open space and measure the footprint. Maximum exterior width for RV trailers is 102″, which equates to approximately 98″ of interior width. You will need to take into consideration the rear door opening to make sure the cargo will fit.
Finally, think about how you will be using the trailer while at your destination. Will the vehicles be parked inside when not in use, is there an exterior awning to “expand” the living space?
RV trailers are an economical way to take your toys with you on family vacations. Consider these few tips before making your purchase.
Tags: Aluminum Trailer, ATC, Living Quarters, Motiv Trailers
Posted in Blog, Living Quarters | Comments Off
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
ATC and Motiv Trailers build a full line of ATV trailers. If you are looking for a simple trailer to haul one or two ATVs, we typically build those in our 6′ or 7.5′ wide trailer models. If you want to take the whole gang with you and pack 4 or more ATVs, you’ll probably find our 8.5′ wide trailer most appealing.
It seems that the new trend in ATV trailers is to add some of the amenities of home. Many of our ATV trailers now come equipped with 110v lighting, windows, stereo equipment, flat screen TV’s and sleeping accommodations. When you’re roughing it out in the back 40, those comfortable amenities of home sure come in handy.
We can build your ATV trailer on either a steel frame or aluminum frame. Please check out our full line of ATV trailers on our website at www.aluminumtrailer.com for full details. We typically use either our Car Hauler models or our Motorcycle Hauler models to accommodate the common ATV customer. Feel free to give us a call and let our knowledgeable sales staff help steer you in the right direction.
Tags: Aluminum Trailer, ATC, ATV Trailers, Motiv Trailers
Posted in Blog, Snowmobile & ATV Trailers | Comments Off
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
It is not always convenient on a job site to work without having a lab on location. Equally as often, there is not money available to have a lab at every job site where its services may be needed. Whether your lab consists of data collection, testing equipment, computer processing or quality control; a mobile lab trailer can help ensure that the data that is collected is accurate and dependable. So many different applications require the function of a lab, it just makes sense to have a lab trailer that can move as the job site moves.
When there is a crew of professional lab technicians, their effectiveness is multiplied tremendously when that crew is made mobile. Moving specialized equipment quickly and easily can also make that equipment more functional for a variety of job sites if their service is not always needed on site. Adding one mobile lab could save the time and expense of setting up a lab location at multiple sites.
ATC & Motiv trailers have the experience and production capabilities to build a specialized lab trailer for you that will fit your function as well as meet the specific requirements that are needed for your specific lab type. Get in touch with us to find out more about how we can work with you to design a lab trailer for you!
Tags: Aluminum Trailer, ATC, Custom Trailers, Motiv Trailers, Office and Lab Trailer
Posted in Blog, Custom Trailers | Comments Off
Tuesday, April 21st, 2009
Let me suggest items you should look for in an Open Car Hauler Trailer.
The first question you need to answer is your preference for aluminum or steel. Steel trailers will be less expensive than their aluminum counterpart, but weighs more and is susceptible to corrosion from road salt, grime, and the weather, whereas aluminum is corrosion resistant and will generally last longer and look better under the same conditions.
The next important question to answer is what are your weight requirements? Do you have the right tow vehicle for the weight rating of the trailer? What is the weight of the vehicle you will load on the trailer? An 18′ open car hauler trailer can weigh anywhere from 1,200# to 2,000# depending on whether it is made of aluminum or steel, and options selected. You are fine with tandem 3,500# axles if your vehicle and cargo weight less than 5,000#, but you may want to consider heavier axles to increase the carrying capacity of your trailer if your vehicle weighs more than 5,000# or if you are intending to haul other cargo with the vehicle that would exceed 5,000# in weight.
You will also want to know some specific measurements of your vehicle, ground clearance, wheel base, door clearance, overall length and width are all important to insure your car can be properly loaded and secured on your new open car hauler trailer.
Equipped with this information, you’re now ready to start looking at trailers. There are many brands of open car hauler trailers available. Different brands offer different specialties. Look for the following: ramp dimensions, load ratings, and ramp storage; deck height, stabilizer jacks for loading, removable or permanently fastened fenders, radial tires or bias ply, LED or incandescent lighting. All of these differ with brands and will have a significant impact on your experience with your open car hauler trailer.
Tags: Aluminum Trailer, ATC, Car Hauler, Open Car Haulers
Posted in Blog, Car Haulers, Open Car Hauler | Comments Off
Monday, April 20th, 2009
It’s one of those annoying facts of life – sooner or later, everyone has to answer the call of nature. It’s especially irritating when you’re at the racetrack, or on a job site, where decent facilities aren’t always readily available. And from a woman’s perspective, let me tell you, it can be REALLY tough to find an acceptable place to take care of business! And don’t even get me started on the long lines you typically have to wait in.
That’s why ATC and Motiv Trailers offer a great variety of bathroom trailers to choose from! You can have a clean, private place to use the restroom…right inside your trailer. We have designed a number of awesome bathroom packages to fit anybody’s needs. If you want to keep it simple, the S1 or S2 bathroom package added to your tag trailer is the perfect way to go. The wedge nose design maximizes your trailer storage space, and you can even add a shower with the S3 bathroom trailer package. Another extremely popular option we offer is the GN3 Walkaround Bathroom trailer. This design, available on all of our gooseneck trailers, has the bathroom tucked up against the riser wall and still leaves room for stairs leading up to the bunk. Our racer customers love this floorplan for the track…it leaves plenty of room in the garage for your cars and provides quick and easy bathroom access. You can use the restroom and even wash up, right there in the comfort and privacy of your own trailer. Oh, and did I mention that the GN3 comes with your choice of oak or aluminum cabinets, 12V sconce lights, RV style toilet, medicine cabinet with mirror, and glass shower door? Ladies, trust me, this is a classy addition to your trailer…and gentlemen, need I tell you how happy this will make the women in your life? Of course, we also offer these bathroom packages on our custom trailers – they are an excellent addition to any mobile office or lab trailers, command centers, and even kitchen/vending trailers. Yes, once again, we take care of all your needs here at ATC and Motiv…even the ones that aren’t often talked about!
Tags: Aluminum Trailer, ATC, Custom Trailers, Living Quarter Trailers, Motiv Trailers
Posted in Blog, Custom Trailers, Living Quarters | Comments Off
Thursday, April 16th, 2009
If you are looking for a trailer to haul your Ferrari, Mazzariti, or a group of pet monkeys, The Aluminum Trailer Company (ATC) can meet your needs and exceed your expectations. However, since you have expensive tastes in automobiles or primates, you probably are not simply interested in having a trailer that gets the job done; you want it to look good while doing it! If you have ever had a great tasting sausage you might understand that while it tastes good you might not want to know how it was made or what went into it, which if you keep reading you will see that it really does relate to trailers. Here’s how:
ATC builds great looking trailers, but what about how it was made or what went into it? The key question to ask is, “This trailer looks good on the dealer lot, but what about months later and many miles down the road”? ATC builds trailers that look great, and the quality is not simply an airbrushed Vogue cover girl pretty, it actually begins when our sales team takes the initial request and passes the request on to our top-notched engineering team. Our engineers don’t just make a drawing, but the actually take into account the strength and weight of each piece of material that goes into your trailer and when they are done they will run a FEA on your trailer to ensure that it will hold up to the use, or in the case of the rambunctious primates, the abuse that the trailer will be subjugated to. Oh, I forgot to say that FEA (finite element analysis) , which looks like this to geeks  j = 1,…,n., and to the rest of us simply means that we make sure that the trailer drawing will actually work in real life. The bottom line is that ATC make great trailers that are built as well as they look!
Tags: Aluminum Trailer, ATC, Motiv Trailers
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Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
Recently ATC built a new quality trailer for Barrett displays. Barrett called ATC with a very short timeline. They needed a quality trailer with some custom features in 3 weeks. ATC’s team rose to the challenge. As Mr. Barrett viewed his quality trailer for the first time his words were this looks very nice, I am very happy with the quality and craftsmanship. Barrett will now take this trailer and turn it into a mobile command center for disaster response. With ATC’s quick response to build a new trailer complete in three weeks and this unit be an exceptional quality trailer, Barrett is planning on doing more and more business with ATC. The Aluminum Trailer Company can build just about any custom steel or aluminum framed enclosed trailer that you will ever want or need. When you need a quality trailer custom built for you to put your designs to work or you would like a complete turn key quality trailer call ATC at 574-773-2440. To view some of the amazing quality trailers we have already completed go to www.aluminumtrailer/custom.com
Tags: Aluminum Trailer, ATC, Custom Trailers, Motiv Trailers
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
If you’re into racing, by necessity, you’re probably also into car hauler trailers…and you know there is a huge variety of them out there. More than likely you have purchased more than one – and if so, you know that one of the first decisions you have to make is whether to build your trailer out of aluminum or steel. Steel frame trailers have been around longer and certainly cost less than aluminum; however, aluminum has become extremely popular for all types of trailers, including car haulers.
What are the advantages, you ask? Why would anyone pay more for aluminum? Well, the first one most people talk about is the weight difference. Aluminum is definitely lighter than steel. The average aluminum frame is 10 to 20 percent lighter than the identical steel frame. However, that isn’t the only benefit. One of the best things about aluminum is its rust and corrosion resistance. Your aluminum trailer will maintain its beautiful appearance year after year with very little upkeep, while you would have to keep a constant watch on your steel trailer for rust. This also makes the resale value of an aluminum trailer higher than steel.
Another thing to keep in mind with aluminum car hauler trailers is that once you enter the arena of aluminum trailers, you are looking at a whole new realm of quality, fit and finish. Once a company commits to building an aluminum trailer, they quickly learn to step up to a much greater level. This is especially true at ATC, where the Quest, our aluminum car hauler trailer, is the only true all-aluminum trailer on the market today. Give us a call today and let us show you how awesome an all-aluminum trailer can be!
Tags: Aluminum Trailer, ATC, Car Hauler, Motiv Trailers
Posted in Blog, Car Haulers | Comments Off
Monday, April 13th, 2009
There are a few things to keep in mind when looking for an ATV trailer. Trailer to ground clearances are essential on your ATV trailer. You will transport your ATV over all kinds of terrain, you want to make sure your tow vehicle and trailer can get you there. Check the ramp door surface, you will be operating your ATV in all kinds of terrain, water, sand, mud, snow…all things which make for a slippery surface so you will want to make sure the finished surface on the ramp door will not be able to maintain grip with these items on it. Front access. Some ATVs do not operate in reverse. How will you exit the ATV trailer if your ATV doe not go backwards. Tie downs are also essential. Do you haul different ATVs, multiple ATVs…more is better when it comes to tie downs. Check to make sure they are properly fastened. 500 pound D rings screwed through a plywood floor will pull out on a 500 pound load. Check for backer supports where all tie downs are located in the floor or on the walls. These are just a few things to look for in your next ATV trailer.
Tags: Aluminum Trailer, ATC, ATV Trailers, Motiv Trailers
Posted in Blog, Snowmobile & ATV Trailers | Comments Off
Friday, April 10th, 2009
If you have found this page then most likely you were looking for custom built trailers. If indeed you were looking for custom built trailers: how to find them, who makes them, where to get them- then you have come to the right place.
At ATC & Motiv Trailers we specialize in custom built trailers. No matter what your idea is, how big or how small, we can take your idea and make it a reality. With a staff that is used to working with customized trailers you get to work with people that are used to thinking outside of the box. Sometimes a trailer can’t be built exactly the way you imagined it because of legal or structural limitations. However, when you work on designing a custom built trailer from us you will have a team member whose goal is to understand your project. With a full understanding of your goals and our knowledge of trailers and custom designed trailers, we can design a unit for you that fulfills all of your requirements.
So no matter what are you looking for in a custom built trailer, rest assured you have found the right place. Take some time and browse through or site or give us a call and we will be more than happy to answer any questions that may have.
Tags: Aluminum Trailer, ATC, Custom Trailers, Motiv Trailers
Posted in Blog, Custom Trailers | Comments Off
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009
If you call most trailer manufacturers to inquire about a specialty trailer, you’ll find it’s really not something they’re excited to build. The bigger companies in the trailer market prefer to crank out standard trailers, the same thing every time. It’s much more difficult and time-consuming to build a quality specialty trailer. But here at ATC and Motiv, we love the challenge! Specialty trailers ARE our specialty. Our engineering team is highly qualified and experienced in trailer design, and our production workers are accustomed to highly technical builds. If you check out our website, you can see examples of specialty trailers we’ve built – concession and vending trailers, medical college teaching trailers, mobile chemical lab trailers, and all types of military and communication trailers. We’ve designed salmon tagging trailers, a mobile air traffic control trailer, oil field dog house trailers…the list goes on and on. We have even custom designed and built a trailer specifically to transport a pet monkey – complete with cages, runs, cameras, and entertainment! There is nothing that we can’t do…in fact, our slogan here is “Our only limitation is your imagination.” So if you need a specialty trailer, don’t waste your time with any other manufacturer – come straight to the experts here at ATC and Motiv!
Tags: Aluminum Trailer, ATC, Custom Trailers, Motiv Trailers
Posted in Blog, Custom Trailers | Comments Off
Monday, April 6th, 2009
How many cars do you have to haul? Did you remember to add up the golf cart, motorcycles, and ATV’s too? Now that you have taken a full inventory you probably realize — it’s time to step up to a gooseneck car hauler.
Many people are at first intimidated by a gooseneck car hauler, they see the size and a new type of coupling mechanism and it is something that is unfamiliar; scary! A better understanding of how each system works helps to eliminate this fear and help a customer make a better decision.
The biggest difference between a tag tow behind trailer and a gooseneck trailer is the design of the hitching mechanism. The purpose of having the hitch in the bed is to enable the truck to carry the weight of the trailer directly over its own axles by the location of the gooseneck coupler. This not only makes for a better ride for your cargo, it also makes for a smoother safer pull in your truck. The second benefit to a gooseneck car hauler is the location of the pivot point of the trailer. A normal gooseneck or fifth wheel installation is in the bed of the truck instead of behind the truck. This provides for smoother, sharper turning capabilities on a longer trailer. Whether you choose the gooseneck (ball style) coupler or a fifth wheel plate, both mechanisms assure a positive lock between the trailer and your truck.
So, when you realize it’s time to step up to a larger trailer, don’t be afraid to consider a gooseneck car hauler for your hauling needs. When you are ready, give us a call and let us know how we can help fill your needs in a gooseneck car hauler.
Tags: Aluminum Trailer, ATC, Gooseneck Trailers, Motiv Trailers
Posted in Blog, Gooseneck Car Haulers, Gooseneck Trailers | Comments Off
Thursday, April 2nd, 2009
No matter what kind of precious cargo you have to carry, we have an aluminum cargo trailer to fit the bill. Here at ATC we build everything from a 6′ x 12′ aluminum cargo trailer all the way up to a 53′ aluminum cargo trailer.
One of the big advantages of our aluminum cargo trailer is the lightweight design. With a lightweight design you can pull our trailer will smaller tow vehicles and save fuel in the process. Our engineering team designed our aluminum cargo trailer out of all tube construction which means that strength and longevity are a standard features.
Another reason our aluminum cargo trailers have been so popular is because our aluminum frame is retardant to rust and corrosion. That means whether you own the trailer for one year of fifteen years, you will be proud of the appearance. It also means that you will be guaranteed to never spend a Saturday afternoon repainting the rust on your steel frame. I don’t know about you, but that sure doesn’t sounds like the relaxing Saturday afternoon that I enjoy.
Check out our innovative line of aluminum cargo trailers on our website. You can find us at www.aluminumtrailer.com Thanks for your interest and please give us a call if we can help answer any further questions for you.
Tags: Aluminum Trailer, ATC, Cargo Trailers, Motiv Trailers
Posted in Blog, Cargo Trailers | Comments Off
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