Posted 2016-02-17 10:05 PM (#166157) Subject: Help choosing a 2 horse bumper pull trailer
Member
Posts: 5
Location: TN
Hello everyone,I am looking for a new 2 horse bumper pull horse trailer and could use help deciding which trailer would be best for me to handle by myself (fairly inexperienced with trailer pulling - been pulling a smallish CM 2 horse trailer for about a year). The two trailers I am considering are these: (1.) Smaller runabout: http://www.truelovetrader.com/2htf.html (2.) Warmblood size with dressing room: http://www.truelovetrader.com/trailersusadrx.htmlI primarily haul with a 2008 F-350 lariat diesel with dual wheels, BUT I want to also be able to haul short distances with a 1500 Silverado if I ever need to.The trailer will mostly be used for me to haul one horse to trail rides with friends when my husband does not go along, and occasionally for a day ride with 2 horses (and hubs has large draft-cross). My biggest questions are: Do you think the warmblood size trailer will be much harder to handle and maneuver than the smaller trailer? Will the larger trailer be more likely to Fish Tail because of the longer length with the weight at the back? Could the 1500 Silverado truck pull it if I needed to? My husband thinks we should get the larger trailer because 1) he thinks it is a lot more trailer for only a bit more money, 2) it has plenty of stall room for his half-Belgian or any other large horse we may get in the future (hubs is very tall, so we will likely always have a large horse), and 3) he thinks I need the dressing room to fit all of my junk so I stop putting my saddle in the truck and stinking it up LOL I really like the larger trailer too, but I am a little worried it will be more likely to Fish Tail or sway. [My current trailer, an older CM 2 horse, was attached with a hitch that was too high and gave me a little scare on the interstate recently (using the 1500 Silverado), so I definitely want to prevent that in the future!]Hoping to get some advice on which will pull easily and safely. Hubs thinks I am a worrywart about trailers, so I wanted to see what you all thought. Thanks in advance!
Posted 2016-02-17 11:31 PM (#166158 - in reply to #166157) Subject: RE: Help choosing a 2 horse bumper pull trailer
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
If a trailer is correctly manufactured and loaded, it will not fish tail regardless of its length. Purchasing a small trailer and then upgrading to a larger one, can be more expensive than necessary. Purchase the larger one in the beginning. You will enjoy it longer, have an easier time using it, and if it's built well, will give you many miles of pleased ownership. I wasn't able to open the link for the larger trailer and it's specifications. Purchase a roof height higher than 7'. If available, get an 8' high. Our last purchase was an 8' high trailer, and with our big boys, they no longer hit their heads on the trailer's roof. Buy the one trailer you want in the beginning. There are many brands and models that will suit your needs. Your driving skills will adapt to its size quickly, and you'll also have no problem pulling it with either truck.
Posted 2016-02-18 7:17 AM (#166160 - in reply to #166157) Subject: RE: Help choosing a 2 horse bumper pull trailer
Location: Brampton, Ontario
HiWe've never had an issue pulling my wife's sundowner bumper pull with her 1500. both her and her sister have horses that are 17-18 hands and closer to ~1500lb. they fit in quite well and the truck pulled it all great.Good luck
Posted 2016-02-18 2:14 PM (#166161 - in reply to #166157) Subject: RE: Help choosing a 2 horse bumper pull trailer
Member
Posts: 5
Location: TN
Thanks so much for the quick replies everyone! We are probably going to go with the larger trailer. I just needed a little reassurance I guess!And Gard, here is the link to the larger trailer again: http://www.truelovetrader.com/trailersusadrx.html
Posted 2016-02-18 2:18 PM (#166162 - in reply to #166158) Subject: RE: Help choosing a 2 horse bumper pull trailer
Member
Posts: 5
Location: TN
Gard - when you say correctly loaded - I know how this works for a regular trailer, but for a horse trailer how do I make sure the weight is loaded correctly? Biggest horse on the left I've always heard? Does it need some weight always in the dressing room to counter the heavy horse weight at the back end, or is this opposite? Thanks again!
Posted 2016-02-18 7:10 PM (#166164 - in reply to #166157) Subject: RE: Help choosing a 2 horse bumper pull trailer
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
I like #2 as well. I have a Jackson that's very similar to #1 and can't tell you how often I needed a tack/dressing room. I did haul my giant hunters(for me a horse starts at 16HH)in my little trailer and never had a problem. They make electronic sway controllers for trailers and that would be worth a look. Mr. Trailer's website he has several videos about them. I did have a friend buy a trailer like #2 and she towed it with a 1500 Tahoe and never had any problems, so you shouldn't need a weight distributing hitch but you'll know when you hook it up under weight (loaded) if one should be used. Good luck and have fun, just make slow smooth movements while towing, nothing rapid or jumpy, and enjoy the drive! Getting there safely with happy horses is what matters.
Posted 2016-02-18 11:47 PM (#166167 - in reply to #166162) Subject: RE: Help choosing a 2 horse bumper pull trailer
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Swaying is usually caused by an improper weight on the hitch pin. It can also be caused by too low a hitch height. The trailers you are looking at have their axles far to the rear of the trailer. Generally this will effect enough tongue weight to eliminate any chance of having too little hitch weight. Also because they are straight load trailers, you cannot load a horse behind the axles, which could unweight the hitch. The main thing to be careful of, is overloading the tack room with unnecessary gear. Every pound stored there will be directly added to the hitches on your trucks. This can negatively affect the rear axle loading of your half ton truck, which can lower the tongue's coupler, which may cause trailer swaying. Before you purchase and additional sway control devices, try the rig empty and loaded. In most instances a swaying control device is unnecessary.
Posted 2016-03-15 9:25 PM (#166437 - in reply to #166167) Subject: RE: Help choosing a 2 horse bumper pull trailer
Member
Posts: 5
Location: TN
Gard - you were very helpful in my previous post, so I was hoping you would help me once more. I ended up deciding on a warmblood size bumperpull with dressing room from everyone's suggestions, but I did not get the same brand from my original post. A used 2013 Featherlite came available for a fair price. However, I did not realize until I got home that the trailer was custom ordered and much larger than the standard model I thought I was buying! The trailer is 18' long, 6.5' wide, 7.5' tall 2-horse slant load (dressing room is about 10' - yikes!). So question - is this large of a bumper pull safe at all? I hear many people say a person should not consider a 3 horse bumper pull at all and should go with a gooseneck and I figure this trailer is more the size of a 3 horse since it has the huge dressing room. What are your thoughts? (I have a F350 dually and 1500 Silverado for tow vehicles). The trailer is NICE and I love the room, but I'm having a minor panic attack since discovering its size! (I am attempting to post a photo)
Posted 2016-03-16 11:39 AM (#166445 - in reply to #166157) Subject: RE: Help choosing a 2 horse bumper pull trailer
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
We owned a 3H BP SL trailer with a large tack room for over a decade. If it had been of an aluminum construction, we would still own it. With a slant load trailer, you can change the weighting of the trailer's pin weight. With experience, you will be able to determine if you can load a horse in the rear stall, if you have a heavy tack room packing. By varying your loading, you will be able to optimally effect a proper hitch weight. Your trailer is not too large, and with time, you will probably learn to enjoy its more comfortable attributes. It sounds as if you have bought well. Don't be afraid of its size. Short initial trips with various loads, will determine the best weighting for your rig. Do this before any long trips, and your acclimation process will quickly instill the confidence you are seeking. I hope you have a great summer.
Help choosing a 2 horse bumper pull trailer
