Pretty hard jack knife.
IF the trailer would have been steel the trailer would have only bent and the boat would have been badly damaged because the truck would have been pushed much harder into the boat.
The aluminum trailer tore when the boat and truck made contact.
To me it looks like the best results from a real bad situation.

If they are hit hard enough it doesn't matter if they are steel or aluminum. Ruined is ruined. I had a trailer that was hit on the back right corner while I was making a right hand turn. The drive guard saved the boat, but the trailer was a total loss.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...7a539148d0.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...7c71a40701.jpg

The drive guard did it`s job perfectly it looks like

Did it protect the drives? Looks close!

I agree. It absolutely did it's job causing the other car to hit the trailer instead of the rear corner of the boat or directly on the drives. It probably helped the other driver as well making the accident bumper vs trailer instead of windshield or hood vs drives. The witness following the car that hit me said the person was traveling at 50mph and never hit the brakes. The driver evidently tried to go around me and just misjudged it.


The stbd drive had some damage on the outside, but all of the internals were OK and able to be used again as spare parts.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...cfaaafee11.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...df1572983c.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...3637d645ce.jpg

Would be nice to know the real story not speculation........but not sure much can be said to explain the trailer breaking like that besides "Someone overloaded with a different boat than designed for".

Trying to stay open minded and learn but both aluminum and steel have advantages and disadvantages especially when designed properly. I honestly do not believe there's one that's so far superior to another or obviously that would become the only material used today.....

Ouch.
Aluminum can be great, if it is properly engineered, but way too easy to screw up (been there, upgraded mine several times and regretted this a bit - in the end this trailer cost me almost exactly the same as a steel trailer).
I must admit, offshorexcursion is right, steel has it's disadvantages as well, but I believe it is much more forgiving material (IMO).

Appears to be in the St. Louis area based on the signs. I texted Rusty to see what happened.

Bet the farm the steal in the drivers seat is bent from the guys ass cheeks during Jack knife!!!

Trailer broke which then jack knifed truck. No one hurt. Boat was headed to Florida.