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Member
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Location: Myrtle Beach, SC | I have an '04 Elite 3H with a 10' SW Outlaw Conversion package and I'm wondering what the opinions are on trading it in for a much lighter LQ trailer! My truck sucks down the fuel when I haul anywhere and it's getting REALLY old! I LOVE my trailer and would hate to get something different, but it's wearing my truck out!!! What brands are the lighter LQ trailers?? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430
 
Location: TN | Maybe you should just replace the truck??? |
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Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas | I agree with cutter99 on this deal. Much easier to find another truck than trying to find a "lighter" trailer that you will be happy with after having the trailer you have now. To get a "lighter" trailer you wil have to give up the great options of the OUTLAW package for sure.... Then I am not sure you will really be that much lighter in the long run. Give me some of your truck info and maybe I can give you some ideas on it to help out and save your trailer..... |
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Member
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Location: Myrtle Beach, SC | Well my truck is an 05 Dodge 2500 4x4... I know I need a dually, but my truck and trailer are both paid off and not really looking for another payment. I put super springs under my truck to help with the weight of the trailer. Please don't flame me! LoL I knew when i got the trailer I should have bought a bigger truck, but I got the trailer at a GREAT deal and couldn't refuse and figured I'd be okay. I've had the trailer 4 years now and it's getting old hauling it all the time. Maybe I should find a trailer for hauling locally. I just need some serious help! LoL |
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Member
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Location: Myrtle Beach, SC | i LOVE my trailer and hate the thought of getting rid of it because my horse actually fits comfotably in it! I actually got it because of two reasons...#1 it was a GREAT $$ and the other is because my 17H gelding was getting cramped in the Keifer built I had. maybe I will see about getting an older dually. my truck is my primary vehicle which is going to be tough having to drive a dually everyday! |
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Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas | Originally written by panamasgold on 2010-11-02 2:03 PM
Well my truck is an 05 Dodge 2500 4x4... I know I need a dually, but my truck and trailer are both paid off and not really looking for another payment. I put super springs under my truck to help with the weight of the trailer. Please don't flame me! LoL I knew when i got the trailer I should have bought a bigger truck, but I got the trailer at a GREAT deal and couldn't refuse and figured I'd be okay. I've had the trailer 4 years now and it's getting old hauling it all the time. Maybe I should find a trailer for hauling locally. I just need some serious help! LoL Have you done any work to the truck at all as far as intake or exhuast system? Is it a diesel or gas? Small trailers are worth there weight in gold..... |
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Member
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Location: Myrtle Beach, SC | I haven't done anything as far as an intake or exhaust... I don't know that much about the pros of those things. I do have a programmer that when I pull my trailer, I'll use it. Please more info!!! Both of them are paid for and if I can make it work out better, I'm game!! I think i should just find a small GN or BP and get that to haul locally. It really sucks having to pull that thing everywhere!! Sorry it's the 5.9 Cummins engine
Edited by panamasgold 2010-11-02 2:28 PM
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Expert
Posts: 3802
 
Location: Rocky Mount N.C. | Keep what you got and find a 2 horse or a stock bumper pull to do your running around with...... You're not going to find anything much better on fuel than a 5.9 Cummins and if your trailer is a 3 horse with a 10' LQ then it's only 24-25 foot on the floor..... You got the best of all the worlds, a Cummins and a trailer that will fit most anywhere you go. Maybe some air bags or some Timbrens on that rear axle would help with the weight. Is the truck and automatic and does it have a 3.55 axle ratio? 2005 diesel getting old?? How many miles does it have? I pull with a 100,000+ mile, 2001, 8.1, GM gasser!! You don't know what sucking fuel is all about..!! Just ask Hosspuller!!! You want a light trailer? Look at a Shadow.... |
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Member
Posts: 6
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC | That's what I was thinking about doing is getting a stock trailer to pull around, but I've tried a Ponderosa and it's a snug fit for my gelding. I didn't mean to sound like I was saying my truck is old... it's an 05 with 175,000 miles on it... maybe there's something else going on with it, cause I can haul 45 min and use a little over a quarter of a tank to get there and then almost a half a tank total to go ride and come home! |
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Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas | Need more details! Your 45 min drive is it all hwy, back roads or in town with stop and go traffic? 45 min drive for us and a 1/4 of a tank is not bad. Is your truck a long bed or short bed? If it is a short bed 1/4 of a tank is great loaded. My opinion if your truck seems to be running smooth and has not check engine light on, I would see about getting some sort of air intake system to let it breath better, then have your local muffler shop open up the exhaust sytem (free following). What programmer do you have? That truck with a 175-k miles is just really getting broke in good. One minor problem Dodge had in late 04 to 06 was fuel mileage issues on stock trucks, but nothing a intake, exhaust and programmer could not fix or help out. I went from an 03 getting 20 mpg to an 05 getting 14 until I fixed it. Same trucks just different year models. |
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Expert
Posts: 3802
Location: Rocky Mount N.C. | Originally written by panamasgold on 2010-11-02 4:24 PM
That's what I was thinking about doing is getting a stock trailer to pull around, but I've tried a Ponderosa and it's a snug fit for my gelding. I didn't mean to sound like I was saying my truck is old... it's an 05 with 175,000 miles on it... maybe there's something else going on with it, cause I can haul 45 min and use a little over a quarter of a tank to get there and then almost a half a tank total to go ride and come home! How far is 45 minutes....? 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 miles? How many gallons in a "half a tank"? What kind of fuel mileage numbers are you really getting pulling your trailer? 8 mpg, 9 mpg, 10 mpg, 11 mpg, more? |
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Member
Posts: 16
Location: Phelan, CA | I went from a 3h Gooseneck to a 3h LQ with 12' short wall. Sold the 3h goosneck and got a bumper pull 3h for running around,,,,Yep pulling those hogs around local gets old. The bumper pull trailer is a beater but its safe and perfect for the short hauls. We call them the beast and the beater!
I pull with a 2002 GMC HD2500 Diesel. This last weekend we only go 10.4 miles per gallon. Down hill all the way there and UP hill all the way home. I'm not worried about gas milage, I get to go where and when I want and my truck never leaves me stranded...Knock on wood. So I gladly pull into the pump. Oh the truck is also my commuter vehicle and has about 150K on it.
Find your self a decent small trailer for running around..you'll be glad you did. |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | Originally written by panamasgold on 2010-11-02 4:24 PM
That's what I was thinking about doing is getting a stock trailer to pull around, but I've tried a Ponderosa and it's a snug fit for my gelding. I didn't mean to sound like I was saying my truck is old... it's an 05 with 175,000 miles on it... maybe there's something else going on with it, cause I can haul 45 min and use a little over a quarter of a tank to get there and then almost a half a tank total to go ride and come home! What...downhill all the way to where you ride and then UPHILL all the way home??... |
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Regular
Posts: 82
Location: Ocala, FL | Sent you a private message! Also you might want to consider a 7 wide trailer, with the new double slide models you can still have a very roomy interior, plenty of horse room and you can add some extra outside closets for storage, maybe a sliding mid tack or a hay pod! 7 wide trailers are lighter and have less drag behind your tow vehicle allowing better fuel mileage! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1069
Location: MI. | I second the bumper pull. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430
Location: TN | Gee, don't slides and hay pods add to weight and drag and expense????? |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326
Location: Gallatin, TN | Be careful if you go lighter weight aluminum that you aren't sacrificing quality by having a thinner aluminum. A lighter weight trailer may not hold up as well when you increase the amount of use. |
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Regular
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Gee, don't slides and hay pods add to weight and drag and expense?????
In most cases a slide will add 100 lbs more or less and $3,000.00 to $10,000 depending on manufacturer. Hay pods add a few hundred lbs. and lots of drag. |
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Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain... | Originally written by figero on 2010-11-04 8:50 AM
Gee, don't slides and hay pods add to weight and drag and expense????? In most cases a slide will add 100 lbs more or less and $3,000.00 to $10,000 depending on manufacturer. Hay pods add a few hundred lbs. and lots of drag. Did you mean 1000 lbs? |
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Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Arkansas | I also second (third !) the BP stock trailer, very handy for many things as well as the quick knockabout trip with the horse. I think this would be your most economical answer for your situation. |
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.jpg) Veteran
Posts: 195
Location: Atlanta, GA | Have you weighed your trailer? I have a 3-H Elite with 10'sw and it weighs 11,500#'s empty. That's with no horses, no water and most of my stuff out of it. If you have a similar trailer I am sure it's close to the same wt. Your truck is very over loaded...
Edited by ASJ 2010-11-05 7:09 AM
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Member
Posts: 6
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC | As far as my truck being over loaded, the only thing that sets it apart from a 3500 is the dual rear wheels. WHen I got the trailer, I beefed up the suspension and it's basically a single wheel 3500. I have weighed it and it weighs 14,500 empty. Idk if it's because of the onboard generator and the wood Outlaw used or what, but my friend had a 6.0 Ford that we used to haul somewhere and it over heated twice pulling this trailer. I give my truck props for hauling it this long, I just need something more fuel- friendly to haul every weekend. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342
Location: Ohio | 14,500 lbs? That seems wayy heavy. Maybe you're looking at the GVWR of the trailer? The pin weight would cause you a lot of problems with a trailer that weighs that much. Pin weight on a GN is usually figured to be about 25% of the trailer weight--meaning your pin weight alone is 3625 lbs. Your trucks gvwr is 9600 lbs if I remember correctly and your trucks wet and loaded weight is about 7500-7800 lbs. giving you at MAX 2100 lbs of payload allowed.
Being this severely overloaded is a recipe for disaster. I would really recommend taking the empty trailer to a cat scale and having it weighed. |
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Veteran
Posts: 161
Location: S. Central Illinois | I agree with the bp. We just upgraded to a 4 horse slant w/8 ft living quarters. Not a trailer I want to just "tootle" around in. Told hubby a little bp was absolutely necessary. We just got a 16 ft stock back trailer with a divider in the middle. |
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Regular
Posts: 82
Location: Ocala, FL | Quick reply to the slide/weight issue. Shadow slides add less than 100 lbs to the trailer. They are built above the frame and floor allowing for extra bracing in the lower sidewall. This eliminates the large unsightly beams underneath used by other manufacturers. Our easy glide slide has no gears or motors to add additional weight. Cost runs about $1000-2000 (with a finished interior) so they are economic, lightweight and extremely efficient!
We use .050 exterior sheeting. The aircraft quality aluminum framing adds to the integrity and strength and contributes to the lighter weight of the trailer. Send me an email and I will be happy to go into further detail! |
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Regular
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Originally written by Tresvolte 2010-11-04-8:58
Originally written by figero on 2010-11-04 8:50 AM
Gee, don't slides and hay pods add to weight and drag and expense????? In most cases a slide will add 100 lbs more or less and $3,000.00 to $10,000 depending on manufacturer. Hay pods add a few hundred lbs. and lots of drag.
Did you mean 1000 lbs?
No... when you look at a six foot slide out. It will add 2 aluminum side walls an aluminum roof and floor and an electric motor, hardwear and a track. You would also have to add a couple of extra frame pieces. Everything else is there in the trailer any way(couch, outer wall and water tank). I have put a slide in a trailer by myself. I think 100 maybe 150lbs added is about right.
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | Originally written by buyshadow on 2010-11-06 9:47 AM The aircraft quality aluminum framing adds to the integrity and strength and contributes to the lighter weight of the trailer. Michele, a few questions: What type (s) of aluminum does Shadow use? What is aircraft quality aluminum? What makes the aluminum Shadow uses, aircraft quality? |
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looking for light weight LQ trailers
