So, you’re running a small business or maintaining your property, and you need a durable, reliable, and well-designed trailer. However, you don’t want to spend extra on a heavy-duty unit that’s bigger than you need.

Trailer manufacturer Diamond C realized that many dump trailer users faced similar challenges. So, the company developed a solution.

The Baseline Trailer Series

Diamond C launched this new series in July of 2024 to make dependable trailers more accessible. Baseline trailers offer the same quality and durability as the company’s premium trailers at a lower price.

“Basics Done Best”

Making core Diamond C quality and functionality more affordable is the guiding philosophy behind Baseline series trailers. The company’s designers focused on accommodating the budgets of businesses and individuals who didn’t need the advanced features of their premium trailers.

They prioritized essential functionality for tasks like equipment hauling and material dumping. The reliability and longevity of features, like tilt-decks for easier loading, were crucial to smaller landscaping, construction, and general hauling businesses.

Baseline Trailer Models

Heavy-hauling commercial companies can afford the Premium Series’ stronger suspension systems, heavier axles, and Engineered Beam Technology. Those features easily pay for themselves in tonnage and hours worked.

The Baseline series takes out the features smaller, lighter-hauling companies don’t need but maintains the solid frame, dependable wiring harness, and DM coating system that ensure durability and reliable performance. These trailers provide everything these users need at a price within their budget:

The Tale of the Tape

A head-to-head comparison of the Diamond C Premium and Baseline series shows the same across comparisons for equipment trailers, tilt trailers, and dump trailers. One series is bigger and beefier. The other is less expensive.

So, Who’s the Winner?

Isn’t it obvious? The winner is every contractor or property owner who’s waited for something like the Baseline series to come along. Diamond C will likely also do well, which is what happens when a company sees a change whose time has come.

Get to Know the Baseline Series at Flaman.

Take advantage of your chance to see Diamond C design, engineering, and functionality in a more compact, budget-friendly working trailer. Call or visit your nearest Flaman Trailers location and ask to learn more about the Baseline series.

Helping Aluminum Live Up to Its Promise.

Aluminum-frame trailers may be more expensive than steel-frame models, but they make up the difference in many ways. They’re lighter, so you can pay less for fuel or load more cargo. They’re flexible, so dings and dents are easy to fix. They’re strong enough to carry all but the heaviest of loads.

Finally, their rust-resistant qualities give them a head start on a long life, retaining much of their value for years to come. With a little help from you, they can be one of the soundest investments you’ve ever made.

Here are three tips for keeping all the above-mentioned aluminum trailer benefits for a long, enjoyable time.

Regularly Clean Your Trailer.

Carefully remove any dirt, grease, or debris. At first, this may seem less imperative with aluminum, which usually does a great job of protecting itself. Whereas steel rusts when exposed to oxygen, aluminum instantly forms a thin, protective oxide layer. As luck would have it, that oxide layer takes on the same blueish-grey hue of the aluminum beneath it.

However, aluminum can still be damaged by certain types of contaminants. This is especially true in a horse and livestock trailer. If you own one, you’ll also want to wash all waste and urine off your floor. It’s highly corrosive. Fortunately, aluminum decks are easy to hose off, especially if they tilt. Farm animals aren’t the only corrosion risks a trailer can carry. For example, concrete has a pH value of 12.5 to 13.5, so it’s alkaline enough to cause surface pitting. Aluminum trailers can also corrode after they’re exposed to moisture and road salt.

Keep It Dry and Check for Damage.

After cleaning, be sure to dry all surfaces completely before you tackle any maintenance tasks like applying wax or touch-up paint. Although corrosion can pose a threat to aluminum, it is notably less than the threat steel trailers face. But you’ll still have to check for grease, dirt, and debris and ensure your trailer fully dries off after cleaning.

As you dry your trailer, inspect it for any damage. Check the frame, axles, runners, and wiring areas for signs of wear and tear or cracks. If you notice any issues, it’s best to get them fixed as soon as you can. Taking care of small problems right away saves you the expense and trouble of fixing extensive damage later.

Grease the Wheel Bearings and Hinges

If you have an aluminum trailer, you’ll want to keep your hinges lubricated. It's important to grease the wheel bearings and other moving parts of your trailer regularly. Reducing resistance and preventing friction will inhibit rust and ensure everything runs smoothly.

Thinking Aluminum? Think of Flaman.

If you’re considering buying an aluminum-frame trailer, there’s a good chance its rust-resistance weighed into your decision. That quality yields a lot of desirable benefits, including longevity, like-new looks and higher resale value.

Would you like to get all those benefits in an aluminum trailer that meets your requirements and fits into your budget? Call or visit your nearest Flaman Trailers location. There are 12 of them across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Our wide selection of aluminum models includes enclosed cargo trailers and utility trailers with single or tandem axles.

Talk to our trailer experts about the right unit for your needs, including customization, financing, and rental options. Of course, our certified service is always ready with inspection, repairs, and maintenance to keep you on the road for years to come.

Which are better, steel-frame trailers or aluminum-frame trailers?

The debate started in the 1970s, when aluminum trailers entered a market entirely owned by steel. Half a decade later, neither option has made the other obsolete. That’s because there is no best trailer choice for everyone, but there is a best trailer option for you.

Flaman Trailers wants you to find your ideal trailer based on what you haul, the roads you travel, and how much you’ll use it. Here’s our head-to-head comparison. We promise to be impartial. After all, we do sell both.

HAULING CAPACITY

There are three hauling capacity measures to understand – trailer weight, maximum cargo capacity, and GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR is a sum of the first two measures, which you can check against your tow vehicle’s GVWR to eliminate any risk of overexerting it.

GVWR important to know, especially if you’re hauling heavy farm or industrial equipment. Once you get into these heavier hauls, steel is the only way to go. For instance, the steel-frame Behnke Step Deck Air Ramp Equipment Trailer has a GVWR of 90,000 lbs. Meanwhile, heavier aluminum trailers like the ATC 8.5'X24' Enclosed Car Hauler and the Aluma Heavy Tilt Utility Trailer have GVWRs of 11,400 lbs. and 9,990 lbs. respectively.

Because steel-frame trailers can support more weight per square foot, cargo can be stacked higher than it can on an aluminum frame, which is why enclosed steel trailers can be built taller.

However, aluminum-frame trailers have a superior weight-to-cargo ratio. Being 10-15% lighter than similar-sized steel-frame trailers, they can carry more cargo within your GVWR limit. Aluminum trailers can easily handle that extra weight for one good reason ...

CONSTRUCTION

Strength and Flexibility

There’s no doubt steel is the stronger, more solid of the two materials. But that doesn’t mean aluminum should be equated with crinkly foil wrap and easily crushed beer cans. The aluminum used in trailer frames isn’t made to crumple. It’s made to flex, giving it strength that far exceeds many expectations.

Aluminum trailers aren’t made from pure aluminum, but rather a high-grade alloy blending 95% aluminum with stronger metals like titanium, copper, zinc and chromium. That alloy is further strengthened by an engineered extrusion process. Heated until it becomes malleable, the alloy is pushed like toothpaste through specially cut dyes. It emerges in specifically shaped lengths, which are cooled, cut, and processed to become lightweight trailer parts.

Not only are these parts lightweight, but their strength is concentrated where it’s needed, with three times the flexibility of steel. That gives the material a judo-like ability to redirect whatever force comes at it. If it does bend or get dented, the damage can easily be worked out. Some damage can even work itself out.

Conversely, steel is known for its higher modulus of elasticity - the measure of how much weight or force it can take before it starts to bend. It absorbs its blows like a prize fighter who won’t take a backward step, and it can eventually pay the same toll. Being more rigid and prone to cracking and brittleness over time. Although it can carry heavier cargo, steel fatigues at lower levels than aluminum. And if it bends, it stays bent until it’s mechanically straightened.

Rust and Corrosion Resistance

Because steel alloys contain iron (along with other metals and elements like carbon, chromium, manganese, tungsten, and vanadium), they’re naturally vulnerable to oxidation. That’s most apparent in northern climates like our own, where moisture, snow, and road salt accelerate the process. So, manufacturers coat steel frames with layers of zinc and paint. However, flying gravel or stress bending can compromise those protective layers, allowing rust and corrosion to move in.

Is aluminum the answer?

Yes and no. Aluminum itself doesn’t rust, but the other metals in its alloy can. So, composing alloy blends that give you extra strength without rust is an exacting science. Aluminum trailer manufacturers have invested heavily in that science, and they’ve set high standards for rust-resistance that hold up even in winters like ours.

However, you still need to look out for other forms of corrosion. More on that below.

Rust-proof steel?

Some trailer parts can be made from rust-proof stainless steel, but building an entire frame from it is costly. Stainless steel is difficult to cut and form, and its denser composition takes up more of your recommended GVWR weight. So, you’d need to pay even more for a vehicle powerful enough to pull it and burn more gas or diesel in the process.

COSTS

Purchase

Extrusion may do wonders, but it’s an expensive process. So many haulers opt for steel-frame trailers. They save money on the purchase and can protect their investment with proper maintenance practices – most of them common sense.

Maintenance and Repairs

Spraying your steel-frame undercarriage with a hose or pressure washer can remove dirt, sand, salt or other road debris that can cause rust or corrosion. Then inspect your trailer for cracks, frame dents, loose screws and bolts, or any sign of the rust or corrosion that can creep into those areas. If you don’t already have a protective layer, consider applying a galvanized coating or rust inhibitor. While you’re looking, don’t forget to lubricate all your moving parts. It’s all easier and more effective if your trailer’s stored someplace dry between hauling trips.

Steel trailers usually come with wooden decks, so you’ll need to check for signs of rot, as well. But the main issue is rust. If it gets out of hand, you may have to go to the considerable trouble and expense of stripping your frame’s zinc protective coating layer then applying a new one, as well as a new coat of paint.

Thanks to aluminum trailers’ rust-resistant composition, caring for them is generally a less laborious experience. For instance, you can wash an aluminum deck with a hose and leave it dry. But don’t forget there are other forms of corrosion that could eventually leave your aluminum looking yellow and dingey. Some maintenance procedures for controlling that work better than others. You can read more about them here.

Longevity

Aluminum’s rust-resistant qualities give it a definite edge when it comes to longevity. Manufacturers of aluminum trailers tout their long-lasting like-new appearance, their ability to retain 80% of their value over time, and their generally longer warranties, including lifetime on some models.

On top of all the rust resistance, comparatively easy maintenance, and easily repairable damages, aluminum is ecological, as well. The Aluminum Association touts this ponderable statistic: “Nearly 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today.”

That point made, there is still plenty of long-term love for steel-frame trailers. Online forums have received stories of these units soldiering on over heavily-salted roads for decades. One respondent to a 2011 forum said steel-frame trailers on his farm dated back to the 1950s and were still operational.

Of course, there are always plenty of partisan opinions. Knocks on aluminum trailers include broken welds and other structural failures. An aluminum-frame proponent vowed never to buy a steel frame trailer again unless he could find one that was, “dirt cheap.”

The Beauty of Choice

No doubt, each comment was based on real user experience, which is subject to several variables like quality of manufacturing and how much care was given to the trailer in question. Steel is strong and plentiful. Aluminum is light and rust-resistant. Even dedicated steel or aluminum-frame manufacturers will concede the other metal’s qualities. That’s why you can find steel axles under aluminum trailers and aluminum roofs on top of steel trailers.

So, the steel vs. aluminum debate joins a host of similar arguments: Coke vs. Pepsi, Ford vs. Chevy, PC vs. Apple, and on and on. It always starts with finding something you love, taking care of it, and hitting the road with it every chance you get, as far as the road will take it.

Find the Steel or Aluminum Trailer for You at Flaman Trailers.

With our network of ten dealerships across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, Flaman Trailers is Western Canada’s largest trailer dealer. Whether you’re in the market for a steel or aluminum trailer, or haven’t decided yet, our trailer experts can help you find the model that suits your needs and budget.

Our buying power and working relationships with leading manufacturers across North America assure you a wide selection of flat deck, enclosed, utility, ag transport, livestock and dump trailers to choose from. We back them up with the trailer repair, maintenance, inspection, and customization of our certified service department and parts professionals.

Looking for a trailer for a short-term job? Contact your nearest Flaman Rentals location today.

Have a tractor, skid steer, mini excavator, or heavy materials to move? Flaman has the flat deck or dump trailer to put under your load, but we also carry the parts and accessories to keep it securely in place.

Wrap it Up: Chains

Flaman offers 3/8”, 5/8”, and 1/2“ Grade 70 Chain.

Identified by the golden colour of their rust and corrosion-resistant chromate coating, G70 chains are the load-securing standard of the trucking and transport industry.

That approval is an acknowledgement of their working strength. For example, the 5/16” G70 thickness is rated for 4,700 lbs. (about 2131.88 kg). of working strength, with 3/8” chains capable of 8,500 lbs. (about 3855.53 kg).

We offer your choice of pre-cut 16-foot chain assemblies with grab hooks on each end or custom chain lengths that require grab hooks, clevises, or lip hooks.

Tighten it Down: Load Binders

Also called chain binders, these cost-effective tightening tools are available in your choice of standard cantilever or ratchet actions. Flaman carries 5/16" and 3/8” binders, both options having two hooks on either side.

Lever load binders are cost-effective and have a much simpler design, but they require more strength to tighten down. These binders are ideal for tying down skid steers or other equipment you move on a regular basis. That repetitive use will help you become familiar with the tie-down points and use a set chain length every time you secure your machine.

Ratchet binders are easy for anyone to operate. Just start with the threaded hooks all the way out, manually add tension to the chain, hook both ends of the binder on, and ratchet everything tight. The moving parts do require a little more maintenance but spraying white lithium grease on the threads and mechanism will often take care of it.

Lock it in Place: Load Binder Locks

Once you’ve tightened your chains with a lever load binder, how do you prevent the handle from releasing? Our Load Binder Locks are small but mighty. With their versatile two-position adjustment and a quick-release cotter pin, they hold a load together on the bumpiest roads.

When is it time for new chains and binders?

Inspect your chains and binders regularly for any damage to the hooks, chain links, or load binder. If you see any cracked or worn equipment that poses a safety hazard, it’s time to replace it.

Supplies for a Secure Haul

Need new or replacement equipment to haul heavy equipment or cargo? Looking to add it to your purchase of a top-brand lowboy, highboy, bumper pull, pintle hitch, or a fifth wheel trailer?

Drop by your nearest Flaman dealer. Check out our selection of chains, hooks, binders, and locks, and hit the road with a secure load.

There is a reason why utility trailers show up in the parking lot of large box stores just before the snow melts. As the seasons change and spring is right around the corner, naturally we start to think about all the things we need to do once the snow goes away and we can spend more time outside.

Spring is the time that new trailer inventory starts to arrive, and the in-season deals take effect. The main benefit to purchasing a utility trailer right now is that you can guarantee you will have one throughout the busy spring and summer seasons when you are outside the most.

To be honest, there is never really a bad time to purchase a lightweight utility trailer. Given the versatility and low cost, in comparison to other types of trailers, utility trailers can be seen at the best bang for your buck given the amount of days throughout the year you can put them to use. Below is a list of what you may find yourself doing with your new utility trailer season by season:

Spring:

• Cashing in on your overflowing recycling at Sarcan
• Hauling away garbage that piled up in the garage over winter
• Cleaning up any visible yard refuse now that the snow has melted
• Hauling the snowmobiles away for summer storage
• Pulling out the golf cart, motorcycles, and ATVs for the season
• Taking the garden tractor or zero turn lawn mower in for annual service

Summer:

• Transporting lumber and supplies for summer projects like building a deck or raised garden boxes & flower beds
• Hauling things to and from the lake or cabin
• Taking the golf cart, ATVs, or motorcycles out for the days you’ve spent all winter dreaming about
• Supporting local bottle drives for the kids’ sport’s teams
• Hauling firewood and other yard material such as dirt or gravel

Fall:

• Cleaning up leaves, lawn clippings, and branches in the yard before winter
• Hunting trips
• Putting the ATVs away for the winter and pulling the snowmobiles out
• Helping your kids move out or parents move in

Winter:

• Moving the ice fishing shack around
• Easily transporting your snowblower or quad with a blade
• Hauling the snowmobiles around

Be confident that any season really is a good time to buy a new utility trailer from Flaman, as it is an investment that you can use year-round. The best deal and selections are being offered right now as new models are landing weekly. Why wait?

It is important to remember that even with utility trailers, you get what you pay for. The best price does not always reflect the best deal. When you buy from Flaman:

• You’ll be looked after by a knowledgeable industry expert.
  
• You’ll have access to heavier duty, better built, and higher quality trailers that are built to last.
• You’ll be supported by a qualified service department with after-sales support and an abundance of stocked parts.

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If you are interested in purchasing a steel or aluminum utility trailer, give us a call or talk to one of our Trailer specialists at your nearest Flaman location.

But what makes Diamond C’s trailers different?

ENGINEERED BEAM TECHNOLOGY

Diamond C engineers I-Beams, optimizes them and then builds specifically for each trailer configuration, just like the semi-trailer manufacturers have been doing for decades. These engineered I-Beam frames are taller, stronger, and lighter than the industry standard for deck-over and flatbed trailers.

Depending on the model, the beams on gooseneck trailers range from 14-18″ tall, and the beams on compatible dump and equipment trailer models range from 10-12″ tall. Standard steel will buckle and break at 36 ksi, and the beams are built using steel rated at 50 ksi minimum, so it springs back no matter what load you put on it.

Diamond C FMAX216 Gooseneck Trailer with 18″ Engineered Beam

Diamond C Heavy Duty Low Profile Dump Trailer

THE CAMBER

The deck and frame have a slight camber when not loaded. When loaded, it flexes as necessary to level but never sags like traditional goosenecks do.This helps secure the load and prevents your load from swaying.

Model FMAX307 Gooseneck Trailer

ENGINEERED NECK

You’ll notice our goosenecks look very different than normal flatbed gooseneck trailer necks do. This is by design. Our curved 12″ Engineered Neck design distributes force throughout the neck so there is no concentration of stress in the corners like on traditional goosenecks. These Engineered Necks come standard on any gooseneck Fleetneck series trailer, and well as on most of our bumper-pull trailers featuring our optional Gooseneck package upgrade.

Check out the neck stress test flyer below, which compares the Diamond C Engineered Neck with a traditional I-Beam neck on the same gooseneck trailer:

DOWNLOAD NECK STRESS TEST

Model FMAX212 Gooseneck Trailer

Model LPD Dump Trailer

MAX RAMPS

Diamond C's unique Max Ramps are designed with versatility in mind. They can be stowed flat to provide an unobstructed loading surface, allowing the end user to use the full length of the bed to haul longer material. They can also be stowed in an upright position for added security & stability for equipment being transported on the dovetail.

From the materials used to the design of the springs and hinges, Diamond c Max Ramps are unlike any other two wide ramp system on the market. The two-part hinge system (one inside the body and one outside the body) distributes weight while loading and helps to prevent the ramps from kicking up or the dovetail from sagging.

FEATURES

1. 44″ wide ramps for MAX versatility (37″ wide on model LPX)
2. Self cleaning dovetail
3. 50 ksi steel ramp frames x 4 frames per ramp for MAX strength
4. HD Spring loaded for easy lifting from deck and from ground
5. Aggressive angled cleats for traction in the slickest conditions

When in the stowed position, Max Ramps provide a flat, unobstructed loading surface, which allows you to the use full length of the trailed bed to haul longer material. Max Ramps can also be stowed in the upright position during transport if you have equipment with a pull behind mower for example that needs to be transported on the dovetail. Max Ramps provide a safe and stable full-width loading experience.

View our full Diamond C lineup and see the Diamond C difference for yourself.

Every year the Flaman Trailer Division gather to enhance our product knowledge and customer processes.

We bring our partner suppliers from across North America to train with us on their products, new technology and industry trends. We focus our team on customer service and set our product line up for the spring. It is a once a year boot camp for the trailer division to get focused and this year did not disappoint!

As a result of this meeting we have a new additions to our line up. In the spring expect the following new and exciting products:

• Hook lift Dump Trailer from Southland Trailers - A powered lift to service multiple job-sites at once

• Blackwood Decking from Diamond C IC - Non slip rubber decking inserts. Great deck grip!

• Quest Car haulers from ATC IC - These Leading edge trailers will now be stocked at multiple locations

• Express Aluminum Enclosed Cargo trailers from High Country - Lighter but just as strong an industry shift is happening and we are leading the charge now stocking in Saskatchewan

• Detachable Gooseneck Equipment Haulers from Behnke, B-B Trailers - Big equipment no problem call us to determine your needs

• Travalum stock trailers - top quality trailers available at all locations

Prior to getting down to work, we like to get the team primed and focused with some teambuilding. So what do you do in the Canadian Rockies? We went Ice Climbing and Dog Sledding (No salesman or dogs were harmed). After a day in the great Canadian outdoors everyone was recharged to learn for the rest of week.

All in all another successful meeting helping Flaman Trailers reach higher, providing new product offering and more focus on our customers.

SW

“This is a damn fine trailer”  I thought to myself.  So  I took a closer look at the welds and the convenience features on the unit (some installed by us).  I started to really critic the unit looking at the decking for cracks and other imperfections; I looked under the frame at the paint coverage; I followed the wiring harness (note I wrote wiring harness not strand wiring) along the frame paying attention to how it was secured and protected.  Everything on this trailer was perfect. No matter how hard I looked I could not find any problems with the trailer.  Quite honestly, this is not an exception to the rule, it is the rule: Trailtech product has outstanding consistent quality. 

Call me bias (Trailtech is Canadian built, and a brand FGC has a longstanding history with) but I believe the quality that goes into to trailers built in Canada, for Canadian conditions is underappreciated. To address this I decided to give you reasons as a Canadian consumer why you should buy a Canadian built Trailtech.

1)      Quality of Build.  As in many products there are a good, better and best for light industrial trailers. At Flaman Group of Companies  we sell products that fit into all three categories in order to meet the various needs of various customers.  These categories are differentiated by features and quality which ultimately means different pricing.  Trailtech as a brand offers a good, better and best  models for each category. Where I believe they really shine (and customers have been voting this way with their dollars) is in the best category.  The Premier and Industrial series generally have no equal in the market place.  If you need a reliable trailer as a tool for your business, to me it makes sense to invest in a Trailtech that will always do what you need and last the test of time.

2)      Canadian weather and road conditions. They are awful, both our roads and our weather and many trailer brands are built for the warm flat highways of the southern states as opposed to the gravel and pitted frozen highways of the Canadian north.  For these conditions you need paint that can absorb some of the mechanical impact of road rocks at -40 and a RV plug that will not shatter when you fight to plug it into your tow vehicle.   Trailtech based in Gravelburg SK lives in and understands these conditions.  A Trailtech trailer is made to deal with this weather without fuss.

3)      Warranty: We sell thousands of Trailtech products every year.  They get horribly abused by some customers (another story) and yet we rarely hear of any issues. That said no company is perfect.  The product is built by people and people make mistakes (as we all do).  What defines a product and company is what they do when that happens. It has been my experience that between Trailtech and Flaman when a mistake happens that affects the customer,  the Trailtech and Flaman people always make it right.

Lastly Americans market buy American all the time to support American companies and American workers. Let me be shameless and proudly yell the same thing: Buy Canadian!  Yes I am a hypocrite as we sell many American brands across many of our divisions( including the Trailer Division).  Being a leader in retail we need to provide the leading products in their appropriate categories in order to provide the best customer experience to our customers. That said, there are Canadian products that we sell that are the best in their categories (Trailtech is one of them)…Buy Canadian and support Canadians.

 So if you are in the market for your first trailer or are adding one to your fleet. Think about Canadian quality.  Quality comes with a cost but I believe it is worth it.