We have been looking for a small knock around 2 horse trailer for some time now. I've been doing quite a bit of searching on HTW and seemed to have found what we want in a "NEW" Titan 2 horse bumper pull. The problem is it's over a 3 hour drive away. Right in my general neighborhood, I've found a "98" 4 Star 2 horse gooseneck for not a whole lot more money. According to HTW it might be the cheapest in the country. I've been inside and all over the exterior of the 4 Star and it's in incredible shape for a 12 year old trailer. My question is... Which would you buy? I can pull anything, as I have a 2008 F350 Dually already set up for the gooseneck. Just looking for something that we can hookup and go. Get in and out of smaller places. It's a pain sometimes, dragging along the 4 horse trailer that we currently have.

I would definitely purchase the used 4 Star. One of the reasons it looks so well, is its excellent build and material quality. Its price is a good indicator of its value; it's twelve years old and worth the same as a new competitor's trailer. You know exactly how well a twelve year old 4 Star holds up, can you say the same for the Titan?

The 4 Star is an aluminum trailer, the Titan has steel construction.

I must admit that that's the way I'm currently leaning. My significant other on the other hand is concerned about spending that much money on a 12 year old trailer.

We started out looking for trailers in the $2500-$4500 range. There is an awful lot of crap out there in that price range. I'm going to be picky about what I put my horses in. She's somewhat hesitant to spend twice that on a trailer that might only get used 12-15 times a year.

Around here, there are no Titan dealers and when one comes up for sale, it generally sells the first day for pretty much what it was bought for. I called on one that was only minutes away, on Monday and it had already been sold to someone who drove in from Indiana to buy it. It had been put up for sale on Sunday. They are a pretty popular trailer brand here in the Midwest.

Going to try and work on the wife tonight!! Don't want to lose out on the 4 Star too!

We had a Titan stock trailer, and for a steel trailer on the lower price of things it was a good trailer. It was well made, had a really strong frame, wasn't too noisy and hauled well. It was a much better trailer than similar priced ones my friends owned.

But because it was steel it of course rusted. Last year we decided to sell it, and I had some choices to make for my replacement trailer, which was going to be a gooseneck slant load this time. I could have bought a used Titan from a distant relative for $10,000, and I seriously considered it. Then i hunted around, found a used aluminum Featherlite the same age and size for the cost of $17,500. And while it pained me to pay the extra, I ended up buying the Featherlite and I don't regret it. The used Titan was still looking really, really good, but you can bet that it would be going downhill in condition in the next few years and therefore its resale value would have also gone down quickly. The Featherlite will age much slower, and hold its value longer and be useful to me longer.

If you have a place to shed the Titan, that would help with rust. Likewise, if you don't mind owning it for a shorter time, then it might not be the worst investment in the world. If you use it only 5-7 years and then resell it for $1000 you won't be too far out of cash. So I guess the question is - is this a long term purchase, or a short, use it now type purchase. Since its your second trailer for short trips only, then you might not do too bad with a lower priced trailer as your back up. if it was your main trailer I'd argue more for the 4-star. But obviously either would do, it just depends what your goals are for the trailer. Happy shopping.

I can pick up the 4Star for less than $1000 difference over the new Titan.   It is way under valued by the current owners.

I really don't want to miss out on it, but just haven't made up our minds yet!!

Three years ago when we bought our (then 8 years old) Merhow 4H all aluminum a good friend of ours bought his new Titan 4H gooseneck.  We almost did the same.  3 years later and my trailer is worth the same or more than when I bought it.  His is starting to show rust at all the hinges and is worth probably 1/2 what he paid for it, not to mention the gas he uses pulling the 2000 lbs more trailer weight...

Get the aluminum trailer unless you have the room to keep the Titan inside.  Even if you do, get the 4Star.  :-)

Okay, here's the deal. I took the wife to look at the trailer this morning. She was quite impressed. It's really in good shape.

She agreed that if we could get it for a good price, it was the better way to go.

I just got off the phone with the owner. He's in Alabama, moving his son at college, his wife is at home. They live less than 5 minutes away though. 

So can't I complete the deal until Monday when he gets home.

Let me know if this sounds okay... 2nd owner, hasn't had bearings repacked or brakes checked in the 6 years that he owned it. Used it only 5-6 times a year and only has had horses in it 6-7 times. Mostly used for moving furniture. All exterior lights work, but the interior lights do not(Dressing room or horse area). Probably going to need a new breakaway brake battery. Tires are in good shape and are American made.

He's started out at $8500 and is now asking $7900 , but would take $7700 to cover some of the things that need worked on.

Grab it or walk away?  I'm leaning on grabbing it and having some of the minor work done. What do you think?

Well, we bought the 4Star last night, and we got it for even less!! I'm not sure the owner knew what he had. We picked it up for only $7500.            The inside is immaculate, he told me that he powerwashed the stall area after everytime that he hauled horses. It hauls like it's not even back there.

He didn't have the dressing room key, so I've already talked to 4Star and they are sending me 2 dressing room keys and a dropdown window key.

My wife is real happy!! I think we made a good purchase decision.

Thanks for everyones input.