Featherlite builds all-aluminum trailers for about any type of cargo or use. Our consumer trailers consist of horse, livestock, car, recreation (ATV, motorcycle and snowmobile) and commercial/utility trailers.
We also build specialty trailers for business-to-business applications and professional racing. These “specialty trailers” include 53-foot racecar transporters, event marketing and display trailers, hospitality trailers, office trailers, classroom trailers, medical trailers, mobile command centers, museum trailers, kitchen trailers, vending trailers and more. No matter the cargo, Featherlite can most likely build a trailer to haul it.
The Featherlite trailer brand name itself was founded in 1973 in Oklahoma, when it manufactured the first all-aluminum gooseneck trailer. Featherlite, Mfg., Inc., which later became Featherlite, Inc., was established in Grand Meadow, Minn., in 1988, after acquiring the Featherlite brand. Five years later and after rapid growth, Featherlite, Inc. moved its corporate headquarters to Cresco, Iowa, where one of its manufacturing plants had been located since 1979. In 2006, Featherlite, Inc. became a subsidiary of Universal Trailer Corporation.
Featherlite’s corporate headquarters and four manufacturing facilities are located in Cresco, Iowa, in the northeast part of the state. Its corporate office lies near the intersection of Highways 63 & 9.
Approximately 400 people.
Featherlite’s consumer trailers are sold through a dealer network of approximately 200, the largest aluminum trailer network in the industry. Featherlite’s dealers are primarily located in the United States and Canada. However, Featherlite also has dealerships in Australia, the Netherlands, Iceland and the United Kingdom with plans to expand to more regions in the future. Featherlite’s specialty trailers are sold direct through Featherlite’s specialty sales office at its corporate headquarters.
In the equine and livestock world, Featherlite is ‘official trailer’ of American Quarter Horse Association, the world’s largest single-breed horse registry and association, in addition to Appaloosa Horse Club and the National Western Stock Show, Rodeo & Horse Show. Featherlite is also a sponsor of the Clinton Anderson Wahl Walkabout Tour.
In auto racing, Featherlite is the ‘official trailer’ of NASCAR, IZOD IndyCar Series, Grand Am Road Racing, ARCA and Super Chevy Show.
Back in the early 1990’s, Featherlite was best known for building and customizing horse and livestock trailers. A group of Featherlite executives and engineers were invited to tour team owner Richard Childress’ race shop, after he realized Featherilte’s capabilities could be utilized in the design and building of a new breed of racecar transporters. From that meeting, the first Featherlite race transporter was custom designed and built in 1992 to haul the car of Dale Earnhardt. After this, more teams turned to Featherlite to take advantage of its customization and enhanced payload capacities, and Featherlite went on to become a sponsor of NASCAR in 1993. Today, approximately 85% of NASCAR teams use Featherlite transporters. As part of its partnership with NASCAR, Featherlite is the sponsor of the “NASCAR Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award.”
Aluminum trailers traditionally hold their value longer and with just minimum maintenance resist rust and corrosion. Plus, trailer owners report that aluminum Featherlites pull much easier, and because of the lighter aluminum construction of the trailer can offer fuel advantages and more payload capacity compared to a steel trailer.
Some aluminum manufacturers use heavy steel frames wrapped in aluminum sheeting. Featherlite
trailers, however, have an all aluminum frame and skin and use steel only in the axles and the gooseneck, as well as some stainless steel rivets.
Featherlite sells bumper pull (or drag), gooseneck and living quarters horse trailers. Two-horse bumper pulls are very popular today. A bumper pull is often more economical for many people and can be a great trailer for first time horse owners who have limited shows to attend or want a trailer for emergency trips or visits to the veterinarian. Bumper pull trailers are more compact, and therefore lighter and easier to tow with a wider range of vehicles. Three and 4-horse gooseneck trailers are also very popular for people hauling multiple horses. One of the reasons is these trailers can include a living quarters. The demand for living quarters, from the small 4 or 6-foot living quarters package to large customized living quarters, is high.
Featherlite has both enclosed and open car trailers. Lengths for Featherlite gooseneck and bumper pull car trailers range from 14-foot to 53-foot. All Featherlite trailers can be built with an array of options, in addition to the features that come standard with the trailer. They can be used for many purposes, including to haul racecars or collector cars. Featherlite car trailers can also be customized to be used as vending trailers, kitchen trailers, construction trailers and much more.
Featherlite livestock trailers are used by all types of farmers –from hobby farmers and 4-H families to large livestock operations and family farmers in between. We have livestock trailers of all sizes – from bumper pulls to goosenecks to 53-foot semi livestock trailers. Combination (or combo) trailers are also popular with farmers. They have features of both horse and livestock trailers, making them more versatile haulers.
People hauling ATVs, motorcycles, dirt bikes or snowmobiles are Featherlite’s top customers of recreational trailers. However, Featherlite’s recreational and utility trailers are designed to haul all types of cargo, including lawn mowers, construction equipment and supplies, furniture and much more.
Marketing executives often speak of the increasing cost they face to reach customers through the normal means, such as television and print advertising, plus the obstacles of getting customers to hear their message. With a mobile marketing trailer, they are able to better target their customers and create a situation where the customer seeks out the marketer. Via traditional mass media marketing methods, their message may or may not reach their target market. But with a mobile exhibit they can travel right to a targeted customer group to deliver their message.