Calico Trailer

What Calico Trailer does

Calico Trailer is a family-owned custom trailer manufacturer founded in 1983 in Quitman, Arkansas, by Dell and Barbara Liles. The company designs and builds aluminum trailers across several categories, including horse, livestock, cargo, specialty/oilfield, and exotic-animal applications, using construction techniques such as V-crimped side walls that have become part of its product identity. Its operations are concentrated in a single Arkansas facility with a small workforce (11-50 employees), and it distributes exclusively through an independent dealer network rather than direct sales.

The business model is build-to-order custom manufacturing sold through dealers, with revenue tied to unit volumes in durable-goods categories (horse, livestock, specialty). Pricing is per-trailer at retail price points typical of premium custom aluminum builds, and the company does not disclose financial metrics. Customer segments are fragmented individual and small-business buyers: ranchers, equestrians, livestock operators, and specialty buyers (including an exotic-animal line co-developed with Versace).

Growth has historically been organic and family-funded, with no institutional investors or external capital raises. Strategic activity over the past two decades has centered on international dealer expansion (Australia, Latin America, South America), national brand campaigns with Chevrolet (2014 Super Bowl) and Ford Super Duty (2022), category extensions into specialty and oilfield trailers, and a generational leadership succession completed in 2007 when Sean Johnson assumed the presidency.

Name

Calico Trailer

Legal name

Calico Trailers

Website

https://calicotrailers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Calico Trailer is a family-owned custom aluminum trailer manufacturer founded in 1983 in Quitman, Arkansas, serving ranchers, equestrians, livestock operators, and specialty buyers across North America, Australia, and Latin America through an independent dealer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Trailer Manufacturing

NAICS

Truck Trailer Manufacturing (336212)

SIC

Truck Trailers (3715)

akta.pro primary industry

Trailer Manufacturing (Utility/Enclosed/Flatbed/Car Hauler) (IMACAGAA)

Keywords

• Custom horse trailers
• Livestock trailers
• Cargo trailers
• Trailer manufacturing
• Gooseneck trailers

Headquarters

HQ city

Quitman

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Trailer Manufacturing & Sales: Calico Trailers manufactures custom horse, livestock, cargo, exotic, and specialty trailers. The company generates revenue through the sale of custom-built trailers to dealers who then retail to end customers. Trailers are available in various configurations including bumper pull and gooseneck styles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Calico Trailer manufactures custom-built horse, livestock, cargo, exotic, and specialty trailers at its Quitman, Arkansas facility. All trailers share a standard features package (Dexter torsion axles, electric brakes, V-crimped sides, polyurethane paint) and can be configured in bumper pull or gooseneck styles with extensive customization options. The company sells exclusively through an independent dealer network covering the United States, Canada, Australia, and Latin/South America, with nationwide delivery available.

Product overview

Calico Trailers is a manufacturer of custom-built trailers offering five core product lines: Horse Trailers, Livestock/Stock Trailers, Cargo Trailers, Exotic Trailers, and Specialty Trailers (including oilfield and custom utility). All trailers share a common Standard Features Package (Dexter torsion axles, electric brakes, V-crimped sides, polyurethane paint) and can be customized through Optional Features, Color Customization, and Custom Graphics add-ons. The company operates on a made-to-order basis with nationwide delivery services through an extensive dealer network spanning the United States, Canada, Australia, and Latin and South America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Horse Trailers Custom-built horse trailers available in bumper pull and gooseneck styles, slant load and straight load configurations, with solid enclosed or open designs. Features include tack rooms, dressing rooms, escape doors, and various window options. Targeted at equestrian owners, breeders, and professional riders.
• Livestock/Stock Trailers Heavy-duty livestock trailers designed for transporting cattle, goats, sheep, and hogs. Available in bumper pull and gooseneck configurations with options for escape doors, brush fenders, and break-over necks. Targeted at ranchers and livestock farmers.
• Cargo Trailers Enclosed cargo trailers for hauling equipment and goods, available in bumper pull and gooseneck styles with options for smooth metal construction. Targeted at commercial and personal cargo hauling customers.
• Exotic Trailers Specialized trailers for transporting deer, wildlife, and exotic animals, including bumper-style deer trailers with custom configurations. Targeted at wildlife handlers and exotic animal owners.
• Specialty Trailers Custom-built specialty trailers including oilfield trailers, flow iron gooseneck trailers, hoist trailers, custom flatbed gooseneck trailers, custom utility trailers, and trash bumper trailers. Targeted at oilfield/industrial operators and specialty hauling customers.
• Delivery Services Nationwide trailer delivery service with an extensive dealer network across North America, with delivery fees charged at national average rates. Available to dealers and end customers purchasing Calico trailers.

Quantifiable outcome

• One-year factory warranty covering manufacturing defects and design faults

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Ford Motor CompanycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022The 2022 Ford Super Duty campaign featured a Calico Trailer, pairing Calico's renowned trailer quality with Ford's top-tier performance to emphasize durability and unwavering quality.
• ChevroletflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2014Calico Trailers' livestock trailer was featured in the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD Super Bowl commercial, showcasing the durability and style of Calico trailers to millions of viewers nationwide.
• NCBA (National Cattlemen's Beef Association)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCalico Trailers was featured on NCBA's Cattlemen to Cattlemen program, sharing the company's history and commitment to quality with the agricultural community.
• VersaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerA Calico horse trailer appeared in a Versace fashion advertisement, demonstrating that Calico trailers can blend functionality with high fashion aesthetics.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Trails West Trailers: Trails West produces horse, livestock, and combination trailers in bumper-pull and gooseneck styles, competing in the same western-US dealer channels as Calico.
• Logan Coach Trailers: Logan Coach manufactures custom horse trailers with premium living-quarters and stock combo configurations, overlapping Calico's horse and livestock product lines in dealer-based distribution.
• Cimarron Trailers: Cimarron builds custom gooseneck and bumper-pull horse and stock trailers with a similar made-to-order model and dealer network, directly contesting Calico in the southern US ranch market.
• Featherlite Trailers: Featherlite is a long-established manufacturer of aluminum horse, livestock, and specialty trailers, competing directly with Calico on premium build quality and dealer-distributed sales to ranchers and equestrians.
• Hart Trailers: Hart is a family-owned manufacturer of steel and aluminum livestock/gooseneck trailers, with a comparable custom-build approach targeting cattle ranchers and stockmen in the same regions Calico serves.
• Sundowner Trailers: Sundowner manufactures custom horse and livestock trailers with comparable bumper-pull and gooseneck configurations, serving the same equestrian and ranching customer base through a dealer network across the US.
• Exiss Trailers / Excalibur Trailers: Exiss and its Excalibur brand build aluminum and steel horse, livestock, and cargo trailers competing head-to-head with Calico in the same dealer channels and end markets.

Regional players

• Barrett Trailers: Barrett is a Midwest-based custom cargo and utility trailer manufacturer that competes with Calico's enclosed cargo product line, particularly through dealers in agricultural and equestrian markets.

Broad incumbents

• Wilson Trailer Company: Wilson is a much larger established manufacturer of livestock and specialty trailers with a national dealer footprint; broader portfolio but overlapping directly in the cattle/gooseneck segment where Calico competes.

Emerging players

• Pace American Trailers: Pace American focuses on enclosed cargo and utility trailers for both consumer and light commercial buyers, overlapping with Calico's cargo trailer line and competing for similar dealer shelf space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/calico-trailers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Calico Trailer