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The Aluminum Trailer Company and Motiv Trailers
Archive for the ‘Blog’ Category
Monday, October 17th, 2011
I love the trailer business, most of the time. We get to build things that we can climb into and see at the end, from my office I can see the weld jig on line 1 and I can almost see the bay at the end of the line where some of our more complex and cool units get completed.
We have a great group of people that work here and also a great group of dealers and customers that we have built relationships with over the years. Most days I feel lucky to have a business like this. Yesterday was not one of those days. Yesterday I was reminded that not all things go well all of the time. We try really hard to get it right. Really hard. Then a customer will show up, find a couple things wrong with an $80,000 custom unit and tells us how horrible we are. Yesterday we were also in mediation on a legal case for a trailer that we built a while ago that is working great but the customer wants us to pay him a huge sum of money because his unprofitable business was interrupted for a few days.
As I lay in bed last night trying to sleep I kept thinking about these two customers. I realized after lying there for 20 minutes that I had to think about something else. I reached up and felt my sandpaper scalp and remembered the event that took place Wednesday night. There were 7 guys that came together to play a very small part in helping a family thru a really tough time, but it was more than just helping the Steiners or Isaac. This fundraiser showed the generosity of our (you) community. Many of our employees, customers and vendors gave just because they wanted to help.
Wednesday night was a really uplifting experience. I personally needed to do something for someone else to take my eyes off of some of the little things that get me down. I needed to see Isaac’s small frame to be reminded that life is hard and unfair and that I need to thank God for all the blessings that I have.
Thanks to everyone for helping us raise over $20,000 for the Steiners to help pay for insurance and travel expenses!
Blessings to you all.
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Tuesday, September 27th, 2011
Rob and Sarah Steiner are close personal friends of ours, and earlier this summer they learned that their 5 year old son Isaac has brain cancer. They have spent most of the summer down in Indianapolis at Riley’s Children’s Hospital and traveling back and forth for his treatments. Earlier in the month we sent an email out to our employees at ATC announcing that if we, as an ATC family, could raise $1200, Pete, Steve and Jeff would shave their heads. ATC has offered to match whatever amount is raised.
As part of our valued dealer body, you are also part of the ATC family and we thought we would at least let you all know what is going on around here. We wanted to share this with you so that you might have a little forewarning why some of us may be bald come October 13, and also provide you an opportunity to support this cause.
If you do choose to contribute toward this, we would like to know by the first week in October. Contributions to the “Steiner Fund” are completely tax deductible and checks are to be made out to Goshen Kiwanis Foundation. Or you can visit the Isaac Nation facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/TheIsaacNation?sk=app_4949752878. Regardless if you choose to contribute, please hold the Steiner family in your prayers during this challenging time. The shaving will happen on October 13th… and photos will be provided!
Much thanks for your thoughts and prayers,
Pete, Steve and Jeff
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Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Just the other day, ATC celebrated our 12th year in business. It’s hard to believe it was that long ago, but I guess what they say is true… time flies when you are having fun! We’ve always wondered about those first few trailers we had built back in the Fall of 1999. Well, just the other day we got photos of our very first trailer, and we humbly share them with you. Please note, if you see any manufacturing defects, please forward your concerns on to Steve directly… since he was the rookie installing the floors and running the screw gun!

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Friday, September 9th, 2011
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Friday, September 2nd, 2011
We don’t build a lot of translucent roofs here at ATC, but when we do it sure catches some attention! The lack of ceiling liner makes it a touch more difficult to have the neat clean finished look, especially when we have to run 120V wire. Our guys did an outstanding job on this one! Kudos to the guys on the line here at ATC!
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Thursday, August 18th, 2011
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| We have known for some time that our paint process on our steel frame trailers was in need of an upgrade. Over the past few months we had many paint manufacturers come in, promote their products and promise us the world. We were tempted to rush though the process and simply pick a new paint so that this “problem” could be checked off our list. And truth be told, that is what we would have done a few years ago.
This time around, we decided to dig a little deeper and conduct our own independent research. As part of our paint evaluation we brought in ten different samples of top coat paints, undercoat paints and bed liner-type spray on materials and put them though our own ATC salt spray chamber. We performed our complete paint testing to ASTM standards and our results were staggering. Some of the paints performed similar to our expectations while others did not even come close to the manufactures claim.
During the 60 day test period, every Wednesday at noon we opened the salt spray chamber, reviewed the samples and recorded the results. After 1500 salt spay hours we concluded our test and came out with a clear winner for the top coat paint and for the undercoat paint.
Effective immediately all steel frame trailers adhere to our new paint standards. Quality is not an accident, and we trust that you will notice a difference! |
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Thursday, August 11th, 2011
| Effective immediately ATC and Motiv Trailers will no longer use Scotch Locks on our Quest, RSX, SS, MSX, Stacker, and Snowmobile trailer models. We now use a much higher quality Molex Bell Cap for all 12v wire connections. This significant upgrade is something we have heard our dealers and retail customers asking for and we are confident this will drastically increase the quality in our 12v wiring system. ATC and Motiv pricing will remain unchanged. |
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Friday, July 29th, 2011

Here’s another exciting project that was built top to bottom right here at ATC. This 53′ custom Living Quarter trailer included bunk beds to sleep four in the front bedroom, a secondary sleeping room room over the bathroom, and kids attic video room tucked away up in the storage area of the trailer. This trailer also showcases our black stained oak hardwood cabinets, solid surface countertops and custom leather sleeper sofa.
If this isn’t quite what you’re looking for, let us know and we can custom-build your dream trailer. |
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Friday, July 22nd, 2011
Here’s yet another exciting marketing trailer by ATC! As shown, this customer also wanted to showcase their car while on the road. Most times this is done with large acrylic panels, but this customer chose to do it with large RV style windows. As you can see, this also creates quite a striking look.
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Friday, July 15th, 2011
Over the 4th of July break we were busy here at ATC! We took down 204 metal halide lamps in our factory and replaced them with 172 new compact fluorescent T5 lights. The old metal halide lamps consumed 785 kw of power each day and the new compact fluorescent T5 fixtures only consume 398 kw per day…. That’s a whopping 49% decrease in energy consumption! Even though this was a sizable investment, it will help ATC continue to control costs and stay price competitive in today’s marketplace. Isn’t it great when doing the responsible thing is also doing good business! Thanks for sharing in our small success and helping ATC to reduce our carbon footprint.
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Thursday, June 30th, 2011
| As many of you know ATC has made quite a name for ourselves building some big impressive units, but this week we want to showcase some of the smokin’ hot “little guys” who got us here.
The white ATC trailer highlights our new cast corner design, custom inboard axles, modified tear drop fenders and our 7” lower trim and 4” upper trim. This trailer came complete with a drive over person door integrated into the ramp door.
The silver MSX Motiv trailer sports the 2’ wedge nose, aluminum wheels, the big upper and lower trim, FMVSS lock, rear drop down jacks and a stainless steel front wedge.
Here at ATC we are passionate about trailer and we love them big and small. |
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Thursday, June 2nd, 2011
For those of you have been loyal ATC customers for some time, you may recall the “famed” t6 toy hauler LQ floor plan… Well over the years we have had many requests for this configuration and we’re getting ready to reintroduce it as one of our standard LQ floor plans. We completed a trailer last week that highlights the basic overview of what will become our new 16.5’ LQ floor plan. This plan features a front walk though bathroom, road side slide out, a private bunk bedroom and an integrated generator compartment forward on the road side. Check out these photos and stay tuned as we will be providing more info as it becomes available.
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Thursday, May 26th, 2011
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| You may already know that ATC provides some of the best engineered prints in the business, but did you also know that we do our own FEA (Finite Element Analysis) frame testing in-house. Not many companies out there go to this extent, let alone have the capability to do it with in-house degreed engineers. ATC’s FEA analysis capability assures you that we are not guessing with frame strength issues. ATC frames are designed and calculated to provide maximum strength with ideal optimization of material. Next time you’re in the market for a trailer, consider putting ATC’s engineering team to work for you! |
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Thursday, May 19th, 2011
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| Here’s one of the hottest new mobile marketing and kitchen trailers from ATC. This 28′ aluminum gooseneck trailer was designed per the customer spec, all the way down to the blue coin floor. A few notable highlights from this trailer include the new stage leg jacks and an integrated limit switch on the winch powered ramp and stage door. We will soon be updating our options so that limit switches will become a standard features on all winch powered doors. |
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Thursday, May 12th, 2011
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This Motiv gooseneck mobile marketing trailer was equipped with a ROM roll up rear door, aluminum removable steps and numerous concession windows. The graphics are the crowing touch that makes this mobile marketing trailer a total eye catcher. Call us today and we can help you custom design a trailer that will take your business mobile.
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This Motiv gooseneck mobile marketing trailer was equipped with a ROM roll up rear door, aluminum removable steps and numerous concession windows. The graphics are the crowing touch that makes this mobile marketing trailer a total eye catcher. Call us today and we can help you custom design a trailer that will take your business mobile.
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Thursday, April 28th, 2011
As you know ATC has a great design on our open aluminum car haulers, but did you know we also build some deck over designs. See your local dealer for more details.
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Thursday, April 21st, 2011
Many cargo trailer customers want the convenience of a ramp door but still need to have the ability to easily load their trailers from the rear with a bobcat or fork truck. To accomplish this, ATC has designed a new cargo/ramp combination door for our 7’ and 8.5’ SS and MSX trailers. This option comes complete with our rear stainless steel paddle locks and has a clean look to it. This new option is competitively priced… see your local dealer for full details.
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Thursday, April 14th, 2011
Trailers with drop down stage walls are rapidly growing in popularity. To help make our stage trailers better, we have redesigned our stage leg supports. These new stage legs are easier to use and much more cost competitive. Please see the attached photo for the new ATC stage leg design. Call your local dealer today to discuss any stage trailer questions.
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Thursday, April 7th, 2011
This recent 26′ ATC stacker is sure to turn some heads. This trailer features our new 7″ lower trim, redesigned cast corner, spread axles, ramp side door combo, Bard A/C with stainless steel cover and a tongue mounted Onan generator system. Please contact your local dealer to learn more about this trailer and the many other exciting things going on at ATC.
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Tuesday, March 29th, 2011
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| ATC and Motiv now offer a price competitive hot new look for your exterior fender design. This new option is called “Upgrade to Modified Exterior Tear Drop Fender” and proves to spice up the exterior look of your new ATC or Motiv Trailer. This new design has received rave reviews and we are proud to officially now offer this new feature. Please contact your local dealer with any questions on this new offering from ATC and Motiv Trailers. |
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Thursday, March 24th, 2011
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| ATC now offers a stylish new 36” tall ATP tapered gravel guard option for our open Concours trailer. This gravel guard can be installed at the factory or at the dealership of your choosing. The gravel guard is designed to install directly over top of the existing front rail of the trailer. See you local dealer for more information and for our outstanding pricing on this hot new option. |
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Friday, October 1st, 2010
ATC and Motiv Trailers are probably best known for our race car haulers and custom trailers. But did you know we also offer a wide selection of utility trailers? Our cargo utility trailers and equipment trailers are perfect for practically any type of hauling job, whether it’s light duty or ultra rugged! We even offer two different lines, designed to meet the needs of every type of customer.
For the more price conscious consumer, the Motiv Raven Lite cargo and utility trailer line offers exactly what you’re looking for with a price tag you’ll love. We designed the Raven Lite to be simple yet rugged, with the world class quality you’re used to in an ATC or Motiv Trailer. We offer models as small as a 5’ x 8’ up to 7’ x 16’, and available options such as aluminum frame upgrade, wedge nose, extra height, 3/8” plywood floor, and rear ramp door make these trailers perfect for your business without straining your budget.
For those of you that want a utility trailer that is more customized to your unique needs, the ATC SS cargo/utility trailer or the Motiv MSX trailer is the obvious choice. Our all-aluminum or steel tube construction will stand up to the most heavy-duty hauling, as well as everyday wear and tear. We start with the same cargo/utility trailer platform but allow unlimited options to meet all your utility requirements. So if you need ladder racks and shelving for your landscape or construction business, or cabinets for storage – go right ahead and add them! As always at ATC and Motiv, our top priority is designing and building your trailer exactly like you want it. Whether it’s a $200,000 race car transporter or a $2000 utility trailer, our team always pays the same attention to quality. Give us a call and let us meet your utility trailer needs – we promise you won’t be disappointed!
Tags: Aluminum Trailers, ATC, Cargo Trailers, Custom Trailers, Motiv Trailers Posted in Blog, Cargo Trailers, Custom Trailers, Uncategorized | Comments Off
Monday, September 27th, 2010
Well it’s that time of year again. Yes it is autumn. The time of football games both college and pro. Yes it the time that the leaves are such beautiful colors. It also means that Thanksgiving will be here soon. But for quite a few of you out there this time of year is bittersweet. You are the ones for which the race car season is over. No more victory laps. No more weekends of the smell of oil and tires. Just you and your car stored away for winter, and of course your race car trailer.
Why your race car trailer? Well I’m pretty sure that during the season it was your most neglected part of your race necessities. Therefore, now is the perfect time to take care of business. Need some refurbishing or even some major overhauls? We can help. We as in the Aluminum Trailer Company or www.aluminumtrailer.com. You see we build race car trailers, so we are especially suited to give your trailer the tender loving care that it needs. Our service department can do it all for you from minor adjustments to major overhauls.
Even if you think that your trailer is too far gone to care about, you’ll need at least some upgrades to it if you expect to sell it. Why sell it? Well to buy a brand, spanking new race car trailer before next season starts. Wouldn’t that be a nice Christmas Gift? Oh wait, that’s my story for December. See you then. Happy Trailering!
Tags: Aluminum Trailer, Aluminum Trailers, ATC, Car Hauler, Car Haulers, Custom Trailer, Custom Trailers, Gooseneck Car Haulers, Motiv Trailers, Open Car Haulers, Race Trailer, Race Trailers Posted in Blog, Car Haulers, Gooseneck Car Haulers, Open Car Hauler | Comments Off
Thursday, September 23rd, 2010
Today is the first day of autumn (9/23). That’s according to the weathermen, but I still believe that autumn is really September, October, and November. Regardless of which side of the debate you are on the fact is that summer is over and without a doubt it will eventually get colder. The cold means indoors with the fireplace going reading a good book and sipping some hot chocolate. Well that’s what the cold weather means for me anyway. That could be the end of it but apparently there are a group of people that actually likes being outside in the cold and snow. I call them nuts, but they call themselves snowmobile riders.
Yes those hardy souls they go out when most people stay in. There is one thing however that I really like about snowmobile people, they need snowmobile trailers. The reason for that is that I work building trailers and that includes snowmobile trailers. Check us out at www.aluminumtrailer.com.
We build some very nice snowmobile trailers and now is the time to get one (what did you think I was talking about autumn for?). It is too late to get a trailer when it is already snowing. You need to be getting one right now. A snowmobile trailer will get you to the best snow and the best trails. You will be out there just kicking it and having a blast. Me? I’ll be reading my book with my hot chocolate.
Happy Trailering!
Tags: Aluminum Trailers, ATC, Custom Trailers, Motiv Trailers, Snowmobile Trailers Posted in Blog, Custom Trailers, Snowmobile & ATV Trailers, Uncategorized | Comments Off
Thursday, September 9th, 2010
I know we’ve talked about this before but it just seems to me that if you own a motorcycle that you obviously drive than why would you need a trailer to haul it from place to place? Well it occurred to me that maybe I was being just a little harsh to the motorcycle riding community. I was also being a little short sighted regarding my own livelihood because I work at a company that makes motorcycle trailers. So let me just say I’m sorry to every bike addict out there that occasionally likes to haul their bike before they ride it.
Let’s also look at the very good reasons for why you would use a motorcycle trailer. Safety of course comes to mind, since you’ll be in your truck and not on your bike for many miles. Security as well, since your bike will be locked away in your trailer both on the road and after you ride your bike. But perhaps the biggest reason of all is to protect your investment, and the less really hard miles, the protection from the weather, and the piece of mind that your pride and joy is safe.
If you think this sounds good to you contact us at www.aluminumtrailer.com and we would be happy to build your motorcycle trailer for you. Happy Trailering !!
Tags: Aluminum Motorcycle Trailer, Aluminum Trailers, ATC, ATV Trailers, Custom Trailers, motiv, Motiv Trailers, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Trailer, Motorcycle Trailers Posted in Blog, Custom Trailers, Motorcycle Trailers, Uncategorized | Comments Off
Monday, July 26th, 2010
All great companies must continuously strive to reinvent their products in order to create more value and curb appeal. I’m proud to say that ATC/Motiv Trailers is a company that has never been satisfied with the status quo. Over the past 11 years in business we have been constantly searching for ways to improve our trailers. Yes, we have a great trailer, but there is always room for improvement. For the past year we have been locking ourselves in the office late hours, drinking lots of coffee and coming up with a host of fresh new ideas for our trailers.
I proud to announce that we are about ready to open the doors and introduce some great new things. Our first unveiling will be in September at the NATDA (North American Trailer Dealer Association) dealer show in Louisville, Kentucky. Our public unveiling will be at the PRI (Performance Racing Industry) show in Orlando, Florida in early December. We have a bag full of tricks and we cannot wait to share our ideas with our customers.
Stay tuned for more great stuff from ATC and Motiv. Don’t get too excited though, because we’ll probably top this again next year!
Tags: Aluminum Trailer, ATC, Custom Trailers, motiv, Motiv Trailers Posted in Blog, Custom Trailers, Uncategorized | Comments Off
Thursday, May 20th, 2010
ATC recently built this first of three custom crew trailers. There are so many different and specific needs for crew trailers in the oil field that ATC is willing to work with customers to get them exactly what their crew needs in a budget they can afford. This particular crew trailer eliminated the need for two trailers to have to be taken to the sight. We combined a parts and tool area in the back with heavy duty diamond plate. This allowed whatever tools and supplies needed to be forked onto the back. In the front enclosed area of the crew trailer there is plenty of room for the crew to relax and recharge safely for break time. With AC and Heat to keep the crew trailer comfortable the crew will be able be ready for the next demanding job. ATC had built hundreds of oil field crew trailers and would love to discuss your company trailer needs at any time. Feel free to give me a call and I will be glad to assist you. Please take a look at the many styles of crew trailers we have already designed and built from the ground up.
View our field service trailers from our website.
Tags: ATC, Custom Command Center, Motiv Trailers Posted in Blog | Comments Off
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
It’s hard to know where to begin when talking about custom, specialty trailer capabilities with The Aluminum Trailer Company and Motiv Trailers. I would like to say “we’ve done it all” but then again I’m sure there is a company out there that would love to prove me wrong. At The Aluminum Trailer Company and Motiv Trailers we have designated a group of employees for the purpose of solving your custom trailer needs. We have worked with many different companies in designing mobile medical, mobile offices, air support, marketing and vendor, custom concession, wine bottling trailers, mobile simulation, emergency response, field service, bunk, bathroom and mobile production trailers. By visiting our website at www.aluminumtrailer.com you will be able to view the impressive units we have produced. Hopefully, you will gain inspiration from the units we have completed to design the perfect trailer to meet your complex needs.
Tags: ATC, motiv, Specialty Trailers Posted in Blog | Comments Off
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