Unibody hopper trailer

A hopper trailer comprising:

• a partial frame chassis mounted to a wheeled suspension, the partial frame chassis comprising two parallel longitudinal rails;
• two triangular load transfer plates formed of hollow-core extruded aluminum panels, wherein each load transfer plate is mounted vertically on and carried by a different one of the longitudinal rails;
• a container comprising opposing sidewalls, opposing end walls, and two sloping walls each spanning between and adjoining the opposing sidewalls, wherein the two sloping walls diverge upwardly and approach downwardly, the two sloping walls and the sidewalls forming a hopper having at a bottom of the hopper a discharge opening for emptying a bulk material carried in the hopper, and a gate for selectively retaining the bulk material in the hopper, wherein the sloping walls comprise a first sloping wall mounted on and carried by the load transfer plates, and the sidewalls are mounted to and carried by the first sloping wall;
• and
• a coupler attached to a front end of the container for mounting to a trailer hitch.