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Veteran
Posts: 243
 
Location: Maine | I am looking to purchase a new trailer by fall, 2012. I will purchase it sooner if a truly fantastic deal comes my way, (but fall is when the money will be available and I won't have to finance). Of course, I don't want to spend a lot, but I do want to make a wise choice.I am leaning toward galvaneal - but will consider aluminum or aluminum skin. I would like a 2-horse straight load (but could be slant), GN with a dressing room/sleeping area. I am currently considering Bee, Shadow, Twi-Lite and Nextrail. I picked these because it appears I could get what I want for $12K or less. I am not familiar with any of these names. The names I do know, such as Bison, Merhow, Featherlite, Hawk are all more pricey. I do know that these brands have a good reputation, so would I be better off going new with one of the above manufacturers, or going used with one of the better-known ones? Also, I need consider that my towing vehicle is an older (2007) Chevy Silverado 1500 (I believe it is the 5.3 liter) approaching 100K - It came with a factory installed towing package and HD rear end, set up for a BP. I plan to install one of those "hide-a-ball" hitches, one of those that can fold down flat, so I don't lose cargo space in my truck bed. I want to make sure whatever I get can be hauled by this truck. I don't haul a whole lot, maybe a dozen to 20 times a year, and rarely more than 100 miles each way.So, assuming I have provided enough information here, I am looking for the wit and wisdom of the forum to help me make my decision.Looking forward to your input! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 681
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas | Twi-lite is made by Blue Ribbon.. i just had an e-mail from them a few days ago (I'm still looking,too) I talked to a sales rep about a nextrail GN several weeks ago.. Their empty weight is @ 23000-28000 lbs. He gave me two different weights because he wasn't sure which model i was referring to. Shadow is very light also, and I like some their features (namely, the giant drop windows on the butt side) but IMHO they have gotten pricier since they have become a little more established.. I don't know anything about bee, other than what I see of the one for sale here. How far are you planning to haul? I am personally a little leery of these super-lite built trailers..I know that they have their place in this world, but It may be better to go with a used (older) quality trailer that has a reputation for being solid lasting quality. Again, IN MY OPINION, you might do better buying a 15 year old 4star, or elite, or similar..Even at that age, you'd still have twice the trailer. Many of the brands considered of higher quality are not as heavy as you think.. A 2H elite on here is 3800 lbs.. easily pulled with a 1/2 ton, depending on how you load it. If you are like me, I only haul one at the time, unless it is a short trip to the vet. |
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Veteran
Posts: 243
Location: Maine | Ok, hoping that's a typo on the Twi-Lite weight  Can I add something stupid here - I like the Twi-Lite trailers because that's my horse's name! LOL Back to business, though... I don't haul too far. Usually less than 100 miles (maybe one or two trips in excess of 4 hours)- and I would say half the time, I am hauling two horses. I wonder, too, if buying an older high end trailer, as opposed to a new, "johnny come lately" would be a better alternative. My husband is the one pushing for a new one because he doesn't want to hear me complain about problems any time soon. And buying used, you can never be sure of the maintenance it received. Here's my other problem. I am probably going to have to buy over the internet (meaning sight unseen) because there are woefully few trailer dealers in Maine, and far less higher end used trailers available. Also those Maine used trailers can be "well used" if you know what I mean, especially if they were exposed to salt/sand winter conditions. So much to consider. I am in no rush, though - allowing myself plenty of time to research and weigh the pros and cons of all the options. That's why I am here! Thanks for your input! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 681
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas | I understand.. I have been "looking" for well over a year. i am also planning on pulling with a heavy half-ton.. i know a lot of people on here have advised not to do it, but my truck is also made to tow with a heavier transmission, brakes , transmission cooling system and suspension. i think it can handle it as long as I don't get too crazy. If you have a friend with a light gooseneck, as them if you can hook to it and pull it some, to see how your truck does. That being said, I have also tossed around the new vs used question and I still struggle with it.. I just keep looking every day, confident that the right trailer will pop up eventually.. I would personally prefer to buy quality even if it is older than I would like.. i bought a Hart BP off of this website several years ago from a dealer in Oregon (I live in south Texas) I t was a very good deal and I love my trailer. It was not as big a hassle to transport it here as i would have thought..I wish that I could find a gooseneck like it. I only look at dealers offerings on here, because they have a reputation to protect and (usually) will not try to cheat you. I am a little more wary of privately owned trailers, although you can find some very good deals . If you do find a privately owned trailer, look at it in person, or if you know someone within a reasonable distance from there, have them look at it. Check the windows, doors, sturdiness of the hinges, welds, etc,etc,etc. If you are serious about it, you could take it to a trailer place and have them go through it to check the axles and things not readily apparent. Good luck! |
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Member
Posts: 37
| I would say don't rule out a used trailer just because it is used. There are some great ones out there, and you will get more for your money with those as long as you can spot any problems before you buy. But you have to be patient to find just the right one. Also you have to be willing to spend the time and gas $$$ to go look at each one and not rely on what the seller tells you (much like buying a horse, somehow what they describe on the phone is not quite what you find when you arrive). Be sure to make a list of those things you just HAVE to have in a trailer. That helps you eliminate some trailers right off the bat. Then you can make al list of things you would LIKE to have if it didn't bust the budget. Half the fun (and half the frustration) in buying a trailer is in the search. |
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Member
Posts: 32
Location: Boyd, MN 56218 | It is hard to decide whether to buy a new trailer that is within the budget, or get a better quality used trailer for the same price. I went with the later. Hoping my decision was a good one, although here in MN it is not towing weather quite yet.Personally I like Featherlight for the mid price unit. Seems the high end units are all good.Jean |
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Regular
Posts: 82
Location: Massachusetts | If Your looking for a deal and a place to compare different trailers, Plan to go to the Quarter horse Congress in October in columbus ohio.bring your truck because you Will find a deal there .tons of trailers for miles to chose from plus all the dealers from different company's will be there to answer your questions.. plus lots to see and buy bring your wallet you can even buy a puppy there |
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Regular
Posts: 82
Location: Massachusetts | LOOK IN THE MERHOWS GREAT TRAILERS!!!!! |
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Veteran
Posts: 243
Location: Maine | That's a really good idea!! I think I can glean a lot of good information here and then go there fully armed with knowledge! |
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Veteran
Posts: 243
Location: Maine | My friends have a beautiful Merhow. I will check them out. Any opinion on Trail-et. I found a 2004 for $9900 - Not that I am going to run out and get this one, as I said the $$ is not available yet, but wonder if this would be considered a good deal. http://www.horseclicks.com/2004_super_clean_2h_gn_dr/advert/48552 |
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Veteran
Posts: 155
Location: North Salem, IN | Pintolady is absolutely correct about trailer shopping at the Quarter Horse Congress. Not only are all of the dealers there, but the manufacturers have reps there as well. There are acres upon acres of trailers there. I haven't been in a few years, but the last time I went, I didn't see all the trailers over a 2 day period. If you aren't in a hurry to buy and don't mind waiting until October, that's definitely the place to go. |
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Veteran
Posts: 243
Location: Maine | Wow, the more I look,the more questions I have! I am concerned about the integrity of an all-aluminum in the event of a crash. Would my horses' survival rate be better in an aluminum skin over steel frame? What about galvaneal? Are the frames also galvaneal or just the skin? I know galvaneal is zinc-treated steel. Is galvaneal REALLY as long lasting as aluminum? I used to own a Titan II Avalanche BP. Galvaneal over steel frame. It was a nice trailer (had to sell it to pay some bills) - I liked a lot about, but there are some things that will keep my from buying one again, and I wonder if it's just a Titan thing...most importantly, all the hardware began to rust within the first year. The other thing was grooves in the horse area, ran along both walls. It was a really difficult to keep those grooves clean, even with a pressure washer. Shavings and manure would collect there and I would literally have to dig out the wet shavings from the corners each time I cleaned it out. Going with a GN will mean I need to get a hitch installed in my truck bed. I have a bedliner. Will this need to be removed completely to accommodate the hitch? I would think so. Even if they cut a hole in the liner, that would allow of moisture to get in under the liner and actually be worse? OH SO MANY QUESTIONS!! I do understand that once I tow with the gooseneck, I will like it better. But is it true that a gooseneck hitch is easier on my truck since the tongue weigh is over the axles? I have a lot to think about between now and October! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 322
Location: Fort Madison, Iowa | The more you look the more questions you have but the more you look, the more you'll learn. I looked for over a year before I bought my trailer and it was a learning experience. In the end, you'll know what you want and you'll know it when you see it.
If you can find a good used trailer, it'll be your best deal for your money. You may even be able to get more features for your money.
When I bought my last vehicles & trailers I looked through a lot of used ones to see how they lasted and you'll start to recognize good quality when you see it and sometimes without the big names with it. I even talked with mechanics to see which ones they see in the most with what problems. I looked at what others had and asked them questions. I even hitched up and pulled a friends just to see how it was to pull bigger & widder.
GN aluminum is pretty sweet to have, I've had steel in the past and wouldn't want to mess with rust again. I've had bumper pulls before and I wouldn't go back to one. It's so much easier to hitch by myself and to pull around, back etc.
The biggest thing is to have patience & learn. If you look long enough, the right deal will be out there for you.
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Veteran
Posts: 155
Location: North Salem, IN | A side note about trailer shopping at Congress. There are so many things to see and learn with trailers there, you will definitely get information overload. If you are coming in from Maine, you may want to plan on staying for more than just a couple of days so you can process all that information. I did the same thing when I was looking for a new saddle. Too many to see and of course I liked a lot of them. I came back home then went back later in the week and didn't even bother to look at anything, just went in and got the one I decided on. I didn't want to even look again at anything else so I didn't cloud my judgement on what I had decided. I only live about 4 hours from there so it wasn't a big deal to just go back. With you driving halfway accross the country, that's not really an option for you. Just something to think about before you go all that way. |
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Veteran
Posts: 243
Location: Maine | I found a 2004 Trail-Et in MA - really nice, clean trailer, for $9900 - Not that I am going to running out and grab this, but then there's good advice above in putting my money in an older, higher quality trailer as opposed to a new, lower end one. Trail-et has been bought out by Big Lug, I think. Would that prove to be a problem in the future in terms of getting replacement parts? |
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Regular
Posts: 82
Location: Massachusetts | Barstow did you go and look at the equine affaire in springfield? |
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Regular
Posts: 82
Location: Massachusetts | I have a friend that fixes trailers for a living. he grew up making horse trailers with his dad in kingston,mass. His name is Ron Lanoue he has a shop in Manomet mass. Rons body works He can tell ya what brands to stay away from and the good ones.his father owns kingston trailer so this guy has seen them all.hes only in new england.508 830-0055 |
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Veteran
Posts: 243
Location: Maine | No, I didn't get to the E.A. this past year. But I have looked at a variety of trailers. I just have to narrow down what I do and don't want. But there are so many choices. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1881
Location: NY | all I can say is go with a gooseneck it is easy to drive as for me I own a eby it is worth the money |
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Veteran
Posts: 243
Location: Maine | Thank you -I will definitely give him a call! |
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Looking for reviews opinions before I buy!
