Posted 2007-06-26 8:33 PM (#62907) Subject: Bumper Pull Living Quarters?
Member
Posts: 5
Location: Redmond, WA
My wife is entering the veterinary profession, and with a vet-box on our truck goosenecks will be a thing of the past. I was wondering if any has (or has seen) a bumper pull living quarters trailer? Lakota makes one, but it's only a 2-horse:
I was wondering if one of the bigger 3-horse or 4-horse trailers might be able to be converted. I know we wouldn't be able to fit much, but maybe a fold-out bed, and maybe a microwave and sink? Here's a featherlite I think might be a good candidate. With the horses at the back and the LQ up front, I don't think tonque weight would be a huge issue. We have a dodge 3500, so I think the weight could be managed with a good weight-distributing hitch.
Posted 2007-06-27 8:27 AM (#62928 - in reply to #62907) Subject: RE: Bumper Pull Living Quarters?
Member
Posts: 15
Location: MI
This has always interested me too..I would like to find out where you find the fold out beds,and how they actually attach to the inside of the trailers.
Posted 2007-06-27 9:16 AM (#62938 - in reply to #62928) Subject: RE: Bumper Pull Living Quarters?
Expert
Posts: 1283
Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey
I have installed the fold out beds in a cargo type trailer, they still take up alot of wall space, something you might do is the drop down bed like used to be in Motorhomes above the drivers seats. It could be done, I have done a 4' short wall that had a separate shower and toilet, holding tanks and l-shaped countertop. Lots of things can be done in little spaces. I would think along the line of jacknife couch needs about 70" of wall space, sleeps two if you really like each other.
Posted 2007-06-27 9:49 AM (#62941 - in reply to #62907) Subject: RE: Bumper Pull Living Quarters?
Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont
Originally written by jerky1280 on 2007-06-26 9:33 PM
My wife is entering the veterinary profession, and with a vet-box on our truck goosenecks will be a thing of the past.
Brian...actually you want to separate your vet truck from your personal use vehicle to simplify your taxes and reduce the chance of audit...
IRS tends to look more closely at vehicles that you are running as dual use vehicles, i.e. personal and business use, due to the tendency of overloading personal expenses onto the business side for deduction purposes...
Have her get an S-10 size for the vet business and keep your current pickup for towing...
Posted 2007-06-27 10:14 AM (#62943 - in reply to #62907) Subject: RE: Bumper Pull Living Quarters?
Regular
Posts: 92
Location: iowa
Brian, I have seen this type of trailer not a lot but some, yesterday I got a VIP tour at Featherlite in Iowa for my profession and they are making some damn nice stuff, if anyone would do it they would be able to help ya out, they make NASCAR trailers, horse trailers and tou haulers etc. For a price I am sure they would help ya out, and weight would not be too much of a problem.
Posted 2007-06-27 7:17 PM (#62977 - in reply to #62907) Subject: RE: Bumper Pull Living Quarters?
Expert
Posts: 1391
Location: North of Detroit, MI
I have seen 3 different BPs converted. One was a 3H slant; 1 a 2H slant, and the third a 3H stock. THe 3H, tHe owner moved the wall back to make it a 2H. Then, he created 2 single bunks in the space where the front stall was. The bottom bunk had a lift up lid. He used it for storage (he rode english and his tack fit there); another lady used that space for a water tank and pump. She had ordered a 2h slant with a very large dressing room. The upper bunk can be a foldup when not in use. be sure to allow "squash room" for the mattress. Both slant trailers added clothes bars above the upper bunk so they could hang clothes, towels, etc.
The 3H stock, the lady put solid bars across to separate an area in the front for her tack, 50 gallon water tank, and hay storage. She had room for 2 horses in the horse area.
Have an outside mounted spare tire - but I recommend up front, rather than back where horses are tied. I've seen a number of horses get their lead ropes caught behind the spare. I've also heard from a friend who's horse bit the stem off and then freaked at the escaping air noise. Having the spare outside frees up space inside.
I don't know if you plan on attending horse shows or trail riding. You can have a "camp box" built onto one side of the trailer, over the fender. The front cover folds down to become your table - you'll want some of the tall camp chairs like judges sit on at reining events. OUtfit the camp box with a gas stove and gas grill; line the back wall with wood (to avoid clanging noises that could irritate or freak the horses in the trailer) and hang grill grids, pots/pans, cups, etc. Use collapsable or portable tack racks in the dressing room - when at your riding place, the saddles can be moved to the horse area - unless you get a BP with rear tack. However, if the truck has the vet box on it, you'll need the rear tack area for water & hay.
Cabinets (tall ones work best) can be attached inside the DR area and a bench or counter mounted between. A refrig or cooler can be located beneath the bench/counter.
Another consideration is to have an extra long tongue on the BP. This will give you space for tanks and batteries - perhaps even a water tank. Another friend had her trailer built that way to give her clearance between the trailer and a truck-mounted camper.
Posted 2007-06-29 2:11 PM (#63119 - in reply to #62907) Subject: RE: Bumper Pull Living Quarters?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1160
Location: Denver Colorado
Tongue weight seems to usually be the problem causing factories to get in and out of LQ bp. Logan had then just 4 years ago, I thought the Lakota HUT was done well for around 25K on a 2h aluminum. I did the video on the tipout and will have it on this website this summer.
The Fast Way RV wdh hitch that's in my Hart Trailer Tour could be the solution for a new round of LQ bp's. It will be in production this fall. Then we'll have another revolutionary gn hitch for the tour.
Posted 2007-06-29 2:45 PM (#63122 - in reply to #63106) Subject: RE: Bumper Pull Living Quarters?
Member
Posts: 5
Location: Purvis,MS
The trailer at pinebelt is 8'wide 7'6" tall 6' short wall. The trailer weight is 8-9000 lbs. Has a Bunkhouse conv.Call tom @601-7948543 with any questions. Thanks
Posted 2007-06-30 9:01 AM (#63134 - in reply to #63122) Subject: RE: Bumper Pull Living Quarters?
Regular
Posts: 98
Location: Midwest USA
Still no tongue weight posted from the dealer.......I agree with Mr. Truck...the tongue weight would be the issue here...pretty cool though...
Overall length behind a RV would be a concern also...that is a long BP...
Posted 2007-06-30 5:16 PM (#63141 - in reply to #63134) Subject: RE: Bumper Pull Living Quarters?
Regular
Posts: 50
I have no idea what it weighed but I did see the guy that drove off with it and it didn't seem to have a problem! Just wondering , how would you get a tongue weight or a pin weight for that matter??? Seems like a CAT scale will weight the axel but not these!