Featherlite Trailers
Encyclopedia
Featherlite Trailers is an all-aluminum trailer
manufacturer, located in Cresco
, Iowa
. It has the distinction of being the oldest all-aluminum trailer brand in the United States and manufactures horse trailers, stock trailers, car trailers, motorcycle trailers, ATV trailers, utility trailers and specialty trailers such as luxury horse trailers.
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 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.
Featherlite emphasizes the customizability of its trailers. 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.
Equine:
Auto/Racing:
Livestock:
Trailer (vehicle)
A trailer is generally an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle. Commonly, the term trailer refers to such vehicles used for transport of goods and materials....
manufacturer, located in Cresco
Cresco, Iowa
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,905 people, 1,652 households, and 1,004 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,184.1 people per square mile . There were 1,791 housing units at an average density of 543.1 per square mile...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. It has the distinction of being the oldest all-aluminum trailer brand in the United States and manufactures horse trailers, stock trailers, car trailers, motorcycle trailers, ATV trailers, utility trailers and specialty trailers such as luxury horse trailers.
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.Featherlite is closely associated with NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
. The company created the first ever custom aluminum race car semi trailer for NASCAR racer Dale Earnhardt
Dale Earnhardt
Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
and team owner Richard Childress
Richard Childress
Richard Childress is a former NASCAR driver and the current team owner of Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. As a business entrepreneur, Childress became one of the wealthiest men in North Carolina...
. Today Featherlite is the official trailer of NASCAR 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
Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
and Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
.
In 2006, Featherlite Trailers became a wholly owned subsidiary of Universal Trailer Corporation.
Products
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. 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
Featherlite is a sponsor of the following organizations and events:Equine:
- American Quarter Horse AssociationAmerican Quarter Horse AssociationThe American Quarter Horse Association , based in Amarillo, Texas, is an international organization dedicated to the preservation, improvement and record-keeping of the American Quarter Horse. The association sanctions many competitive events and maintains the official registry...
- Clinton Anderson Wahl Walkabout Tour
- Saddle Up! with Dennis Brouse
- Appaloosa Horse ClubAppaloosa Horse ClubThe Appaloosa Horse Club, located in Moscow, Idaho is dedicated to preserving and promoting the Appaloosa breed. The state of Idaho adopted the Appaloosa as its state horse in 1975. More than 630,000 Appaloosas have been registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club since its founding in 1938...
- Iowa Equestrian Center
- Reis Ranch
Auto/Racing:
- NASCAR
- IZOD Indycar SeriesIndyCar SeriesThe IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
- Grand American Road Racing AssociationGrand American Road Racing AssociationGRAND-AM Road Racing or GRAND-AM is an auto racing sanctioning body that was established in 1999 to organize road racing competitions in North America...
- ARCA
- Super Chevy Show
Livestock:
- National Western Stock ShowNational Western Stock ShowThe National Western Stock Show is held every January at the National Western Complex in Denver, Colorado. First held in 1906, it is the world's largest stock show by number of animals and offers the world’s only carload and pen cattle show in the historic Denver Union Stockyards.The stock show is...
Achievements
- Built first ever custom aluminum NASCAR race car transporter for Dale Earnhardt/Richard Childress Racing
- Sponsor of NASCAR's "Most Improved Driver" award