Cimarron’s Story: Founded in 2000 in Chickasha, Oklahoma, Cimarron Trailers quickly built a reputation for high-end, all-aluminum horse and livestock trailers. Known for polished finishes, interlocking extrusions, and dealer-based distribution, Cimarron has become a go-to brand for riders who want premium aluminum craftsmanship.

Double D Trailers’ Story: Since 1997, Double D Trailers has focused on building safer, more innovative trailers using modern materials and patented designs like SafeTack®, SafeBump®, and Z-Frame®. Unlike dealer-based brands, Double D sells factory-direct, allowing for one-on-one customization and transparent pricing.

When you compare these two builders, you’re really deciding between traditional heavy-duty aluminum construction and innovative safety-focused composite designs. Both have strengths, but the differences impact horse comfort, maintenance, and long-term costs in very real ways.

Quick Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the two brands stack up in real-world performance, from structure and comfort to long-term ownership costs

Safety & Build Quality

Why it matters: The frame and walls form the crash zone of your trailer. Their design determines how well the trailer protects your horses in the worst-case scenarios.

Double D Trailers:
Z-Frame® alloy resists corrosion while balancing steel-like strength with aluminum-like weight. Tubular wall posts distribute impact loads and create cavities for insulation.

Cimarron:
Cimarron uses 6005A-T6 aluminum alloy, which offers strong corrosion resistance and excellent rigidity. Its integrated flooring and cross-member system interlocks every 4 inches for added strength and durability under load.

💡 Did You Know?
Aluminum doesn’t “rust” like steel, but it can corrode, especially when exposed to horse urine, manure acids, or trapped moisture under rubber mats. Over time, that corrosion weakens welds and flooring, and repairs can be more difficult than with steel-based alloys like Z-Frame®.

Roof & Heat Control

Why it matters: Roof design affects interior temperature, leak resistance, and head safety for horses that rear.

Double D Trailers:
The SafeBump® composite roof is molded in a single, seamless piece. It’s fully insulated, leak-proof, and slightly flexible to absorb impact if a horse rears, while reflecting heat to keep the interior noticeably cooler.

Cimarron:
Cimarron uses a ½″ fiberglass-reinforced structural roof panel with good strength and temperature control. While rigid and durable, it relies on metal perimeter seams that can flex and may need resealing over time.

💡 Did You Know?
Fiberglass is strong but rigid. SafeBump’s composite adds a layer of impact absorption and greater thermal reflection, often lowering horse-area temperatures by 15–20°F compared to bare aluminum roofs, an important difference in both comfort and safety.

Flooring

Why it matters: Floors carry every pound of your horses. Failures often begin where owners can’t see, beneath mats or at the trailer’s underside.

Double D Trailers:
Offers pressure-treated wood or Rumber® composite planks. Rumber® won’t rot, doesn’t need mats, and provides traction with an easy-to-clean, non-porous surface.

Cimarron:
Extruded aluminum plank floors covered by mats. Aluminum is corrosion-resistant in theory, but urine trapped under mats can lead to pitting and weakening.

💡 Did You Know?
Most trailer floor failures happen from the underside, where moisture and urine accumulate unnoticed.

Ventilation & Comfort

Why it matters: Horses are highly sensitive to airflow and heat. Without proper ventilation paired with insulation, trailers can become unsafe quickly.

Double D Trailers:
Includes full insulation from front to rear in every trailer: not just the horse area but also the dressing or tack room. Standard drop-down windows on both head and hip sides, plus roof vents over each stall, create a balanced cross-flow of air. The insulation keeps that airflow effective by preventing heat from radiating through the walls and roof.

Cimarron:
Built with aluminum walls and roof, Cimarron trailers include sliding windows and roof vents as standard. Drop-downs and insulation are available as optional upgrades. The aluminum structure conducts heat quickly, so temperature control depends more heavily on airflow and external conditions.

💡 Did You Know?
Ventilation alone can’t offset solar heat. Without insulation, interior metal surfaces can reach 120–140°F, turning the horse area into a heat trap even with vents open.

Loading & Tack

Why it matters: Horses judge the loading experience by space, light, and how open the path feels. Narrow or obstructed entries increase stress and risk for both horse and handler.

Double D Trailers:
The patented SafeTack® compartment swings completely out of the doorway, leaving the full width of the trailer open for loading. Paired with walk-on/walk-off and reverse slant options, it creates a calmer, safer path that helps even difficult loaders step in willingly.

Cimarron:
Cimarron offers multiple tack room configurations, including solid rear tacks, folding tacks, broom or closet tacks, and front tack rooms with swing-out saddle racks. While these options add versatility for storage, most designs maintain a fixed rear structure, leaving part of the loading doorway obstructed. Horses must typically back out, which can increase stress for inexperienced or anxious travelers.

💡 Did You Know?
Handlers often report that “problem loaders” relax and walk straight into a SafeTack® Reverse because it removes visual barriers and lets horses exit facing forward; a more natural and confidence-building motion than backing out of a tight space.

Warranty & Support

Why it matters: Warranty coverage is important, but so is who you actually call when something breaks.

Double D Trailers:

• 8-year structural frame warranty
• 2-year bumper-to-bumper coverage
• Factory-direct support means that you call the builder, not a dealer
  

Cimarron:

• 8-year limited structural warranty
• Warranty service is handled through the dealer network, not direct from the factory
  

💡 Did You Know?
Factory-direct support means fewer delays and no “middleman shuffle” when you need help.

Total Cost of Ownership

Why it matters: A trailer’s true cost isn’t just the sticker price. Repairs, maintenance, and resale value play a bigger role in what you’ll spend over time.

Double D Trailers:
May cost a bit more up front, but savings add up: no roof resealing, optional rot-proof flooring, corrosion-resistant frame, and high resale (often 75–80% of purchase price).

Cimarron:
Premium entry price plus recurring maintenance on roofs, floors, and mats. Resale values remain good if well-maintained, but condition heavily affects price.

📊 Try It Yourself: Use our Total Cost of Ownership Calculator below to see how your ownership costs compare.

Verdict: Which Fits You?

• Choose Double D Trailers if: you want innovative safety features (SafeTack®, SafeBump®, Z-Frame®), insulation and ventilation standard, and lower ownership costs.
• Choose Cimarron if: you value polished, heavy-duty aluminum builds and prefer buying through a dealer network, even at a higher upfront cost.

The best trailer isn’t just about today’s price, it’s about what keeps your horses safer and your wallet steadier over years of use.

Information based on manufacturer specifications and public data available as of 2025. Always confirm features and options directly with the manufacturer or dealer.

FAQs

Q: Are Cimarron trailers stronger because they use all-aluminum?
A: Aluminum is durable and won’t rust, but it’s prone to stress cracks at welds over time. Z-Frame® balances strength and corrosion resistance while reducing that risk.

Q: Does Cimarron include insulation in the horse area?
A: No, insulation is optional. Double D Trailers include full insulation standard, which helps regulate temperature and reduce noise.

Q: Which has better resale value, Double D or Cimarron?
A: Both can resell well, but Double D Trailers’ corrosion-resistant frame and Rumber® flooring option often mean less maintenance, boosting resale percentages.

Q: How do loading options differ?
A: Cimarron uses conventional rear tack layouts. Double D Trailers’ patented SafeTack® design clears the doorway completely, making loading safer and easier for nervous horses.

Q: What about warranty service?
A: Double D Trailers handles warranty claims factory-direct. Cimarron warranties go through dealers, which can add steps to the process.