Featherlite Trailers: Difference between revisions

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{{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 trailers,trailer]]s stockand trailers,a carrange trailers, motorcycle trailers, ATV trailers, utility trailers andof specialty trailers such as luxury horse trailers.

== History ==

The Featherlite brand namecompany was first established in 1973 whenin the[[Oklahoma]], companywhen it createdbuilt the first all-aluminum [[Trailer (vehicle)#Fifth wheel and gooseneck|gooseneck]] livestock trailer. WhileIn 1988 the brandcompany was startedacquired inby OklahomaConrad Climent, Featherlite Manufacturing Inc., located inof [[Grand Meadow, Minnesota]], acquired the brand and established itself as a company in 1988. The company relocatedrelocating to Cresco, Iowa in 1993. In 1998, the company changed its name to Featherlite, Inc.<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>

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]].<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> and supplies approximatelysupplying 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 [[DaleNASCAR EarnhardtSprint Jr.Cup]], [[Jeffteams.{{Citation Gordon]]needed|date=July and [[Jimmie Johnson]].2010}}

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>{{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 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 name="nascar1">{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/guides/sponsors/ |title=Nascar.Com |publisher=Nascar.Com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-17}}</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]].

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

== Products ==

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>

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.

Featherlite emphasizes the customizability of its trailers<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>. To demonstrate their trailers' versatility, Featherlite maintains a virtual horse trailer design system, the Configurator, on its web site.

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.

== 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:

* Medical office trailers

* Emergency response trailers

* Mobile command centers

* Event marketing and display trailers

* Mobile museums

* Mobile office trailers

* Communications trailers

* Remote broadcast trailers

* Race car haulers

* Vending trailers

* Kitchen trailers

* Mobile office trailers

* Hospitality trailers

* Teaching/Educational trailers

* Mobile interactive museums

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 ==

* NASCAR<ref name="nascar1"/>

Featherlite is a sponsor of the following organizations and events:

; Equine:

* [[American Quarter Horse Association]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aqha.com/partners/index.html |title=Partners |publisher=AQHA |date= |accessdate=2010-06-17}}</ref>

* Clinton Anderson Wahl Walkabout Tour

* Saddle Up! with Dennis Brouse

* [[Appaloosa Horse Club]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.appaloosa.com/association/sponsors.htm |title=ApHC Sponsors and Sponsorship Information |publisher=Appaloosa.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-17}}</ref>

* Iowa Equestrian Center

* Reis Ranch

; Auto/Racing:

* NASCAR<ref name="nascar1"/>

* IZOD [[Indycar Series]]

* [[Grand American Road Racing Association]]

* ARCA<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arcaracing.com/sponsors.php |title=Sponsors |publisher=ARCAracing.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-17}}</ref>

* Super Chevy Show

; Livestock:

* [[National Western Stock Show]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalwestern.com/nwss/sponsors/sponsors.php |title=Sponsors - National Western Stock Show |publisher=Nationalwestern.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-17}}</ref>

== Achievements ==

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

* Sponsor of NASCAR's "Most Improved Driver" award

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

{{refs}}

== External links ==

* {{official website|http://www.fthr.com/|Featherlite Trailers}}

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

[[Category:Trailer manufacturing companies]]

* {{official|http://www.fthr.com/}}

[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Iowa]]

* [http://www.featherlitespecialty.com/ Featherlite Specialty Trailers Home Page]

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

[[Category:Trailers| ]]