Talk me into or out of an aluminum frame enclosed trailer

I'm shopping enclosed trailers in the 20'-22' range. Found an aluminum frame Nash brand trailer that looks great.  I assume an aluminum enclosed trailer would weigh less and make for slightly easier towing. Anything else I should be aware of?

Can you figure out what it actually weighs? A lot of times the weight difference versus a steel frame trailer is surprisingly small. Which is not to say it's a bad idea, but if the aluminum frame has a big price premium it might not be worth the expense unless you're super limited on tow capacity or something.

To use enough al for strength, I imagine w height savings is minimal. 
For quality of construction, and lower maint. for longevity , I hear the higher price is worth every penny! If you can afford the extra coin, I doubt you'd regret it. 

I bought an ATC 20ft enclosed back in 2017, well before the prices went sky high.  The paper work listed an empty weight of 2300 lbs. That is way less than any steel trailer of the same size. Most weigh around 4000 lbs  +/- 200 lbs. The weight on my trailer is pretty close to the listed weigh as I could tell when I first pulled it home.  Taking off from a light my Ford F150 3.5L Ecoboost had no trouble keeping up with traffic. It was only when speeds got up over 45 mph that the aero drag of the enclosed could be felt when accelerating up to speed. 

Our 20ft + v nose steel frame trailer is listed at 3200lbs, we've never weighed it to verify though. I think the ATC trailers are usually actually pretty light, but as you said are big money these days. The cheaper, more generic aluminum trailers tend to only be a few hundred pounds lighter than comparable steel from what I've seen. Also tow with an ecoboost f150, it has no problem keeping up with traffic with the steel trailer, for that matter it'll pretty much keep up with traffic with a 3000lb car in the trailer too, so I'm not sure how good of a benchmark that is.

In reply to dps214 :

Don't know any brand names on trailers,  but agree on the 3.5 "eco" boost. What a false name. Would pull my 5000 trailer, with 2000 in it without noticing any power loss. Got 11 mpg for that trip, and I've mentioned the 12,500 factory tow rating is a totally false number, but the engine... power all day long. 

The main reason I'm considering this aluminum trailer is because the price is actually lower than most of the similar steel trailers I've been looking at. 

I've had a 20' ATC that I bought used for $6500 for about 5 years.  It is excellent and a notable difference in towing from same size steel trailers I have used.  The trailer you are looking at looks excellent, I don't see a downside if the price is similar. 

I have a 20' CargoPro aluminum enclosed and they list its curb weight at 2,500 lbs (ish, I don't remember the actual number offhand) - the point was to have something light enough that a big SUV could safely pull it, which is indeed the case.

$7500 for the one in the OP.  Going to check it out tomorrow AM. Built by Nashcar, who is out of business now. Hoping it checks out well so I can bring it home.  Seller says it was originally purchased by Ganassi Racing. Seems a bit small for anything they'd use.  Weight is "just over 3000 lbs". 
 

anyone know if those roof cutouts for vents are the same size as needed for a rooftop a/c unit?

In reply to Lof8 - Andy :

I could see a Race Team using it to move around display cars for promotions.   Send out an employee with a non-CDL truck and trailer combo with boxes of promotional merch to the cell phone place for their big "TENT EVENT WITH A GANASSI RACE CAR!!!!"

Lof8 - Andy said:

anyone know if those roof cutouts for vents are the same size as needed for a rooftop a/c unit?

That size is a standard, so probably, but you'll need to take a tape measure and check if you want to be 100% sure.