Featherlite Trailers: Difference between revisions

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{{AdvertMore citations needed|date=MarchJuly 20092010}}

{{One source|date=March 2009}}

{{Infobox company|

| company_namename = Featherlite Inc.

| company_typetype = [[Private company|Private]]

| foundation = 1973

| ___location = [[Cresco, Iowa|Cresco]], [[Iowa]] USA

| industry = [[trailer =(vehicle)|Trailers]]

| homepage = [http://www.fthr.com/ www.fthr.com]

[[trailer (vehicle)|Trailers]],

[[Transportation]]

| homepage = [http://www.fthr.com/ www.fthr.com]

}}

'''Featherlite Trailers''' is an all-aluminum [[trailer (vehicle)|trailer]] manufacturer, located in [[Cresco, Iowa|Cresco]], [[Iowa]]. It has the distinction of beingis the oldest all-aluminum trailer brand in the United States.,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/Home/TRfeatherlite02.asp |title=Trailers |publisher=Horsetrailerworld.com |date=2002-01-04 |accessdate=2010-06-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mrtrailer.com/featherlite_factory.htm |title=Featherlite Trailer Factory Review, they make all types of great trailers, aluminum horse trailers, car haulers, NASCAR, cargo trailers and flatbeds. |publisher=Mrtrailer.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-17}}</ref> and today manufactures [[horse trailer]]s and a range of specialty trailers.

== History ==

The company was established in 1973 in [[Oklahoma]], when it built the first all-aluminum [[Trailer (vehicle)#Fifth wheel and gooseneck|gooseneck]] livestock trailer. In 1988 the company was acquired by Conrad Climent, Featherlite Manufacturing of [[Grand Meadow, Minnesota]], relocating to Cresco, Iowa in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.answers.com/topic/featherlite-inc |title=Featherlite, Inc.: Information from |publisher=Answers.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-17}}</ref>

The company created the first ever custom aluminum race car semi trailer for [[NASCAR]] racer [[Dale Earnhardt]] and team owner [[Richard Childress]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Aumann |first=Mark |url=http://www.nascar.com/news/120925/ups-game-changer-haulers/index.html|title=Haulers become teams' home away from home|work=[[NASCAR]]|date=2012-09-25|accessdate=2012-10-25}}</ref> Today Featherlite is the official trailer of NASCAR,<ref name="nascar1">{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/guides/sponsors/ |title=Nascar.Com |publisher=Nascar.Com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-17}}</ref> supplying 85% of the [[NASCAR Sprint Cup]] teams.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}

==History==

The Featherlite brand name was first established in 1973 when the company created the first all-aluminum gooseneck livestock trailer. While the brand was started in Oklahoma, Featherlite Manufacturing Inc., located in Grand Meadow, Minnesota, acquired the brand and established itself as a company in 1988. The company relocated to Cresco, Iowa in 1993. In 1998, the company changed its name to Featherlite, Inc.<ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/featherlite-inc</ref>

The Featherlite brand was acquired on December 31, 2019 by a newly formed corporation, Featherlite Trailer Manufacturing, LLC, owned by Tim Masud and Howard Palmer.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fthr.com/news/exiss-featherlite-and-sooner-brands-acquired-from-universal-trailer-corporation/ | title=Exiss, Featherlite and Sooner brands acquired from UTC | date=8 January 2020 }}</ref>

Featherlite is closely associated with [[NASCAR]]. The company created the first ever custom aluminum race car semi trailer for NASCAR racer [[Dale Earnhardt]] and team owner [[Richard Childress]]. Today Featherlite is the official trailer of NASCAR]]<ref>http://www.nascar.com/guides/sponsors/</ref> and supplies approximately 85 percent of NASCAR Sprint Cup teams with semi trailer race car haulers and vending trailers. Among the teams Featherlite has supplied are those of [[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]], [[Jeff Gordon]] and [[Jimmie Johnson]].

== Products ==

In 2006, Featherlite Trailers became a wholly-owned subsidiary of [[Universal Trailer Corporation]].

Featherlite manufactures a range of all-aluminum trailers, mainly using [[aluminum alloys]]. Types of trailers include horse trailers, livestock trailers, living quarters trailers, car trailers and utility trailers. Featherlite's Specialty Trailers division manufactures custom trailers for professional sports teams, medical businesses, the aerospace industry, government services, the U.S, military and many others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fthr.com/horse-trailer/features-benefits/perfectfit/ |title=PerfectFit for Horse Trailers &#124; Featherlite |publisher=Fthr.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-17}}</ref>

== Sponsorships ==

*NASCAR<ref name="nascar1"/>

==Products References ==

{{Reflist}}

Featherlite manufactures all-aluminum trailers, using [[aluminum alloys]] such as 6061-T6. Outside of race trailers, their most well-known products are horse trailers and livestock trailers. However, the company offers a range of trailers for other pursuits. Their other branches include car trailers, motorcycle trailers, ATV trailers, snowmobile trailers, commercial/utility trailers and specialty trailers.

== External links ==

Featherlite emphasizes the customizability of its trailers<ref>http://www.fthr.com/horse-trailer/features-benefits/perfectfit/</ref>. To demonstrate their trailers' versatility, Featherlite maintains a virtual horse trailer design system, the Configurator, on its web site.

<li>[*{{official website|http://www.fthr.com /|Featherlite Trailers Home Page]</li>}}

*[https://cargotrailersphoenix.com/ Enclosed Cargo Trailers]

[[Category:Trailer manufacturing companies]]

The most popular Featherlite trailer is its horse trailer Model 8541, a slant-load horse trailer that can be customized to haul 2 to 6 horses.

[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Iowa]]

==Specialty trailers==

Featherlite creates business-to-business specialty trailers for organizations ranging from corporations to sports teams to state and federal government. Among the types of trailers it has manufactured are:

<ul><li>Medical office trailers</li>

<li>Emergency response trailers</li>

<li>Mobile command centers</li>

<li>Event marketing and display trailers</li>

<li>Mobile museums</li>

<li>Mobile office trailers</li>

<li>Communications trailers</li>

<li>Remote broadcast trailers</li>

<li>Race car haulers</li>

<li>Vending trailers</li>

<li>Kitchen trailers</li>

<li>Mobile office trailers</li>

<li>Hospitality trailers</li>

<li>Teaching/Educational trailers</li>

<li>Mobile interactive museums</li></ul>

Clients of Featherlite Specialty Trailers have included Cessna, Indian Motorcycles, John Deere, Rubbermaid, Titleist, PGA, ESPN, Budweiser, Medtronic, the United States Coast Guard, the Dallas Cowboys, Major League Baseball, Harley-Davidson, Ford PowerStroke, Chevrolet, NASCAR, American Grand Am, Best Buy, Target, and DeWalt.

==Sponsorships==

Featherlite is a sponsor of the following organizations and events:

''Equine''

<ul><li>[[American Quarter Horse Association]]<ref>http://www.aqha.com/partners/index.html</ref></li>

<li>Clinton Anderson Wahl Walkabout Tour</li>

<li>Saddle Up! with Dennis Brouse</li>

<li>[[Appaloosa Horse Club]]<ref>http://www.appaloosa.com/association/sponsors.htm</ref></li>

<li>Iowa Equestrian Center</li>

<li>Reis Ranch</li></ul>

''Auto/Racing''

<ul><li>NASCAR<ref>http://www.nascar.com/guides/sponsors/</ref></li>

<li>IZOD [[Indycar Series]]</li>

<li>[[Grand American Road Racing Association]]</li>

<li>ARCA<ref>http://www.arcaracing.com/sponsors.php</ref></li>

<li>Super Chevy Show</li></ul>

''Livestock''

<ul><li>[[National Western Stock Show]]<ref>http://www.nationalwestern.com/nwss/sponsors/sponsors.php</ref></li></ul>

==Achievements==

<ul>

<li>Built first ever custom aluminum NASCAR race car transporter for Dale Earnhardt/Richard Childress Racing</li>

<li>Sponsor of NASCAR’s “Most Improved Driver” award</li>

</ul>

==References==

{{More footnotes|date=March 2009}}

<references/>

==External links==

<ul>

<li>[http://www.fthr.com Featherlite Trailers Home Page]</li>

<li>[http://www.featherlitespecialty.com/ Featherlite Specialty Trailers Home Page]</li>

<li>[http://www.fthr.com/trailer-shopping-tools/build-your-own-trailer/build-it.aspx Featherlite Configurator]</li>

</li>

[[Category:Trailers| ]]