I’ve never had a problem with a single axle trailer. Own an 18 ft aluminum boat and 5x8 utility trailer, both single axles. I do the bearings and replace the tires probably every 4 years. Of course this varies. If I don’t have long trips planned I may get an extra year out of tires, and if I do have a long trip, I’ll do the bearings beforehand. Double axle = double the time and expense. But there’s also that security if there’s a blow out.
My 5x8 utility trailer has 14” wheels on it. I think most big box trailers will run smaller wheels. Spin faster and run hotter on the highway. I’ve hauled my ATV a 1000 miles or so with mine on hunting trips. It’s also a steel rust bucket at 10 years old, but so far it’s all been surface rust. Should get another 5 years out of it. Not sure if I’d go with steel or aluminum on the next one. Probably will depend what the price difference is at the time.
I use my ATV in the winter for ice fishing, and salty roads make a steel trailer rust right now. I’ll run it through a quarter car wash, and there’s no rust on the ATV anywhere, but the bottom of the trailer is tough to wash off. Also, a 5-10 mile drive down a gravel road does a number on the paint finish (and lights), so that contributes to rust as well.
Steel trailer I don’t have a problem loading up with firewood or a couple yards of topsoil. Probably wouldn’t do that with aluminum. But I think aluminum would work just fine for an ATV.
