Featherlite Trailers: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:18, 27 December 2013

Revision as of 01:28, 27 December 2013

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{{Advert|date=March 2009}}

{{Refimprove|date=July 2010}}

{{Infobox company|

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| foundation = 1973

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

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

[[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, stock trailers, car trailers, motorcycle trailers, ATV trailers, utility trailers and specialtya trailersrange suchof as luxury horsespeciality trailers.

'''Featherlite Trailers''' is an all-aluminum [[trailer (vehicle)|trailer]] manufacturer, located in [[Cresco, Iowa|Cresco]], [[Iowa]]. It has the distinction of being 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 manufactures [[horse trailer]]s, stock trailers, car trailers, motorcycle trailers, ATV trailers, utility trailers and specialty trailers such as luxury horse trailers.

== History ==

The Featherlite brand namecompany was first established in 1973 in [[Oklahoma]], when theit company createdbuilt the first all-aluminum gooseneck livestock trailer. WhileIn 1988 the brandcompany was startedacquired in Oklahoma,by 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 the [[NASCAR Sprint Cup]] teams with semi trailer race car haulers and vending trailers.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} 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]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}

== Products ==

Featherlite manufactures a range of all-aluminum trailers, mainly using [[aluminum alloys]]. Featherlite emphasizes the customizability of its trailers, maintaining a virtual horse trailer design system on its web site.<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.

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.

== Sponsorships ==

*[[American ARCAQuarter Horse Association]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wwwsiteexec.arcaracingaqha.com/sponsorspartners/index.phphtml |title=SponsorsPartners |publisher=ARCAracing.comAQHA |date= |accessdate=20102011-0601-1701}}</ref>

* [[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>

Featherlite is a sponsor of the following organizations and events:

* [[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>

* NASCAR<ref name="nascar1"/>

; Equine:

* [[American Quarter Horse Association]]ARCA<ref>{{cite web|url=http://siteexecwww.aqhaarcaracing.com/partners/indexsponsors.htmlphp |title=PartnersSponsors |publisher=AQHAARCAracing.com |date= |accessdate=20112010-0106-0117}}</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}}

== External links ==

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

* [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]]