Trailer exteriors: Screws or screwless? / Cargo South trailers

[wearcd]

Is there a downside to a screwless trailer exterior? Also, does anyone have any knowledge/experience with Cargo South trailers? Thanks, Brethren!

[Rod Livingston]

I have been looking for a trailer for a while now and the main thing is you get what you pay for! Don't go cheap on what ever you get because in the long run or even short run, you want a good trailer.

[Curly Tails]

I have no experience with Cargo South trailers, but the screws in exterior siding do not look as good if you are applying team graphics or wrapping the trailer . I know this because our graphics did not stay tight around each screw on the side of the trailer. You will see some fit and finish issues between trailer manufactures depending on what you want to spend. Cargo South is a pretty big name though. Just do a search on Cargo South trailer problems and see if anything pops up on Google.

[BigBellyBBQ]

i have been at thier plant and the procedure looks good, call Shane at 229 425 1522 he is a rep for several companies and will take you to show you how they all are made then you can pick which company fits your needs...but get it ordered asap as it takes awhile for them to make it..tell Shane you got his number from me, he gave me great service rep for the company I bought from..Pete

[JerBQ]

I have no experience with Cargo South, but I can tell you I love my trailer with screwless exterior. It's a 7x14' all aluminum (even the frame) v-nose snowmobile trailer I bought in 2006. I use it year round as a sled and cargo hauler, work trailer, etc. and it looks as good as new. The smooth exterior looks great, no rusty or loose screws to deal with, easy to wash and wax, very easy to put big stickers on. I'm on salty roads all winter with it and it just cleans up beautifully. I would not even consider one with screws. JMHO

[drbbq]

Yeah rusty, loose, and missing screws are a reality. I like the screwless on my ciurrent trailer a lot and would definitely do it again.

[Capn Kev]

I have no experience with Cargo South, but I can tell you that I absolutely love my Extreme BBQ Trailer, and it has a screwless exterior. Talk to James... he can hook you up!

Kev

[Slamdunkpro]

Originally Posted by Capn Kev

I have no experience with Cargo South, but I can tell you that I absolutely love my Extreme BBQ Trailer, and it has a screwless exterior. Talk to James... he can hook you up!

Kev

Extreme trailers are riveted - same issue as screw heads when wrapping.

[wearcd]

Originally Posted by Capn Kev

I have no experience with Cargo South, but I can tell you that I absolutely love my Extreme BBQ Trailer, and it has a screwless exterior. Talk to James... he can hook you up!

Kev

Those are certainly beautiful trailers, but they are $$$!!!

[wearcd]

Originally Posted by Slamdunkpro

Extreme trailers are riveted - same issue as screw heads when wrapping.

Riveted? Are you sure? Looks pretty smooth to me?

[wearcd]

Originally Posted by JerBQ

I have no experience with Cargo South, but I can tell you I love my trailer with screwless exterior. It's a 7x14' all aluminum (even the frame) v-nose snowmobile trailer I bought in 2006. I use it year round as a sled and cargo hauler, work trailer, etc. and it looks as good as new. The smooth exterior looks great, no rusty or loose screws to deal with, easy to wash and wax, very easy to put big stickers on. I'm on salty roads all winter with it and it just cleans up beautifully. I would not even consider one with screws. JMHO

There's a guy here who sells a "Livin' Lite" brand all aluminum trailer. They are really nice as well, and are very unique toy haulers with beds that fold out of the side of the trailer like pop-up campers. They do have screws in the exterior, though.
I was curious if a screwless exterior loosened up or someting after a time. It seems they would be quicker to build, thus less costly, so I couldn't figure out why any company would take the time and spend the money for labor to put all those screws in unless there was some down-side to screwless. I certainly like a screwless exterior much better!

[Capn Kev]

Originally Posted by Slamdunkpro

Extreme trailers are riveted - same issue as screw heads when wrapping.

Rivets are a lot better than screws, and are barely noticeable. Here's a pic of mine when it was being built so you can get a feel for how it looks: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=89859

[Slamdunkpro]

Originally Posted by wearcd

Riveted? Are you sure? Looks pretty smooth to me?

The two Extremes I've wrapped have been overlapped panels with rivets. Screws and rivets have about the same profile as far as wrapping is concerned. You either heat the vinyl with a heat gun and work it down around the rivet or, if you do a lot of wraps there are spinners that attach to a drill and friction heats and works the vinyl down.

With screws you either treat them as rivets or remove them and replace them after you've applied the vinyl.

[wearcd]

Originally Posted by Capn Kev

Rivets are a lot better than screws, and are barely noticeable. Here's a pic of mine when it was being built so you can get a feel for how it looks: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=89859

Very nice! I believe I followed that thread, as a a matter of fact!

[Butcher BBQ]

Lots here are talking about going screw-less so you can put stickers or a wrap on the trailer. One thing to keep in mind is the Interstate Commerce laws. A couple years ago when the cops started issuing tickets to truck and trailer units that didn't have D.O.T. numbers, log books, and health cards (for the driver). There has been several folks get tickets for this. If you're planning on staying in your home state your fine. Only applies if your cross state lines.