We all know that we have Horse Trailers in common... lets show off your proud accomplishments of space saving ideas.

You can describe and or post pictures of the space saving parts of your trailer.

Examples - Does your bench convert to a bed?  Does your TV roll back into storage?  Do you find it useful to use "plastic totes" for storage?  Mount an aluminum box to the underneath of the neck to store your hose and extension cables in?  Do you use the "hanging Space savers" and or muck tubs?

Come one.. give us your thoughts, ideas and comments!  This can also be used as a great "educational tool" for others also!

A few ideas.....tension bars from an RV supplier will hold stuff on the shelves and in place in the cupboards.  They are cheap and keep the containers from shifting around.  Stackable plastic shelves from Wally World doubled the capacity in my cupboards. A hanging canvas sweater holder, also from WW ($10), hangs on the tension-bar clothes rod behind the toilet, has 6 spaces and holds towels, clothes, helmet, etc. very well.

I removed the door to the bathroom and replaced it with a floor-length curtain, which is only closed for privacy.  This made the LQ seem much less cramped. (my layout is you walk through the bathroom, toilet and storage on the curb side and shower on the driver side, and then through a door to the first stall)  That bathroom door opened into the LQ and was a real nuisance.

I have a wood frame/upholstered seat chair. The upholstered top comes off, porta-potty sits on the platform on the frame. Has enough space around portapotty for TP and other small items. With seat on, have a place to sit and put boots on, have "shelf" for stacking hat boxes etc. By night, take off the lid and the porta-potty is standard toilet height. I have a 2' shortwall, so this fits right against that and is approximately the same width.

For shows I like those collapsible leaf bags in place of manure buckets and a rolling tool box for tack to take to the stall. Sturdy enough to stand on when banding manes, center section removes if you just want the brushes and combs, tall enough for shampoos and fly sprays, clipper box, etc. Aluminum fold-up cart has been worth its weight in gold. Chains under trailer work great for holding hangers if you have to wash a show shirt, dries overnight.

Hey I like this thread.  I'm some what new to LQ and looking for better ideas.

I bought a small microwave. It came with a George Forman grill as a bonus.  I have used that little grill a lot.  It's faster to plug it and cook a chicken breast, fish fillet, or a burger than I could ever do on the gas stove. As long as I'm not cooking for a bunch of folks. It's small and drops into my boot box. I keep my generator in the pickup bed and usually set up the grill on the tail gate, No smoke or mess in the trailer.

My upper cabinet can be made into a bunk bed. As such it has no dividers. So I put everything in Rubbemaid containers. Clear so I can see what's inside. One for utensils, for for spices etc.

These are all great ideas!   Thanks everyone keep them coming!

I love my collapable trash can, pops up when we get camping and fold small when we pack up.  Tack stores have them, so do wal-mart and such in the clothes hamper section!  :) 

Didn't even think of the georgeforman grill type thing.  Great idea.  Also about the tension rods holding stuff in place from falling off.  OH and the sled for manure... all great ideas!  :)

One thing I saw at a trail ride was a person who had a muck cart, had 2 muck tubs, one was clean and one was for waste.  They would go fill up the clean one with water, and roll it back to the campsite to fill buckets from that.  It was so convienent. 

I only have a 2H BP but I camp alot with it and keep most of my camping gear in it during camping season.

I had various racks, bars, etc installed high up to get stuff off the floor.  8 hook bridle rack holds bridles, halters, lead rope, girths, tie-out ropes, helmets, etc.  A bar across the slant area holds pommel packs, hay bags, saddle bags, etc.  Inside the saddlebags & hay bags I put t.o. wraps, etc

2 blanket bars hold saddle pads & body blankets and one swinging one holds some more.

I put in D-rings all around so stuff that is stored on the floor (tables, fence poles, buckets, water containers, fence tape, folding chairs, etc) can be tied back with bungees so it doesn't move around while driving.  I have a plastic 7 shelf storage unit that holds paper goods, utencils, cooking pans, towels, 1st aide stuff, etc 

I have a couple folding aluminum tables got a Wal-mart that I love.  They fold flat and are great for setting up beside your camp chair and for sitting drinks and snacks on.

Got a folding marine cart that is great for hauling manure or water buckets around.

Thanks everyone for all your ideas.

I love those door hanging shoe bags!  I have a clear plastic one on my rear trailer door (hung up on the window bars with velcro).  I keep all my brushes, tapes, picks... in this.  Easy to see what I need thru the clear plastic.

Also, in my tiny wkend GN, I have a cloth shoe bag that I cut to fit on the inside of a cabinet door using heavy duty velcro.  Great for holding all sorts of things and a real space saver.

Got a real cheapie full length mirror at Target.  Painted the plastic frame to match my "decor" and hung on the wall with velcro.

One of my mother's great phrases of wisdom... "velcro is your friend"

Anyone know where I can get one of those fold down carts for hauling muck buckets?

Thanks!

Milliecat,

  Does the cart HAVE to be held in the collapsed position with velcro??lol

Between Velcro and Bungies!  :) 

I can just see it now... velcro stuck to the roof, holding brushes, leadropes, etc.. :)  A Finished LQ area with Velcro walls!  :) 

Milliecat - I bought my fold down muck cart at a Farm & Home store.  I just love it!  It's also made to carry bales of hay.  It's great to take on trips to help haul your hay from your campsite to the stall.  My friends use it to fill a clean muck bucket with water for their horses.

Couple of ideas from friends;  have one that'll uses a large Miracle Whip jar to keep spoons, forks, & knives.  Have another ones that uses a large tool box and keeps utensils you'd use to cook with & spices.  Same with emergency kit for horses.

When on trips I like to take a small steel garbage can w/lid to haul grain in.  It's small enough that it fits inside my muck bucket or if it's raining, I set my muck bucket over it. 

In my tack area I've set the portable hangers within the ones in the trailer and it give me twice the hanging space.  I sometimes use dog collars to hang things with too.

I have a two horse trailer so don't have an extra stall to store hay in.  Don't always like to put hay in the bed of the truck in case it rains.  I like to use hay bag covers so I can put them in the living quarter area while traveling and not have a mess. (Learned the trick to putting hay in them is to pull the cover over the bale first then roll over and zip up) Then I take the out the hay and store under awning or nose of gooseneck.  I've seen some make a skirt to put around the GN nose to use for storage.

I've stored my plexi-glass slats under the mattress.  I use a folding box to haul food or dirty clothes, it'll fold flat when not in use.  I also like the fold down tables you can get at Wal-Mart.

When feeding this morning thought of another tip not really related the space saving.  Old feed bags make a great way to haul your firewood if you have the heavy plastic type and it helps keep it dry.  Also like to use old feed bags to put my used baler twine in and when the bag gets full, I throw in the burn pile.

I bought a 45 gallon storage tote with wheels on the bottom to put my hay in. I usually only take one horse and most of our shows are one day. It will hold almost a full bale of hay and is usually plenty to get me through the weekend. Sits in back of truck on way out, usually put it in the dressing room on the way home as it is light enough and the wind has been known to suck things out of the bed of my truck.

I like this thread.  You have some very good ideas everyone!  I recently purchased a new 3-h combo and plan to camp without the luxury of lq of any sort this year.  In the past, I have camped with my old 2-h, setting up a cot and potty inside the trailer once the horse(s) were settled on the picket line. My new trailer has a bit more room and a small dressing area, but I am still ruffing it.  Do you think it is somewhat easy to hang some canvas or similar material inside the trailer for privacy & comfort to serve as a "tent"?  Unroll the area rug, set up a small table, cot and potty and presto . . . home sweet home!

I intend to buy plexiglass for the openings, but how does someone install it?  Does it need to be framed somehow?  I fear I am dreadfully dumb about this particular thing . . . .

I found shower organizers at a dollar store that I believe will hang on the back of the rear-tack door - mesh with large pockets. 

Any tips for storing rakes, shovels, forks?

Elaine

Milliecat

Go to the Hoosier Horse Fair next weekend and I'm sure you'll find one there.

OK I haven't read everything yet, just printed it off, so if I repeat Sorry. I use one of the pop-up hampers for dirty clothes and towels. It will fold right up when I get home and empty it, no space used to store it.  Also, I use a electric water kettle to heat water for dishes, hot drinks, ect... I don't use all the water in my water heater and its faster. I found one at Target that was in the clearence rack. They are a little salty, but if you find one marked down...Mine has a little window so I can see how much water is still in it.

I use SmartPaks for my supplements. These are great as I count how many days I'm going to be gone, grab that many and go. No baggies!!

I use a small garden cart for my manure hauling. Just hose it out when I'm packing to go home and my feed tubs and water buckets all fit down in it. I also use hay bale covers.

I Dutch Oven cook so I have a table that I use so I don't have to cook bent over. Holds two ovens side by side.

I have more things but I will have to think about what all I do have! OH I have an oven that fits on my Coleman stove. Real handy.

More to come........

Love this thread

I have 2 bale bags that I keep the hay in and the vinyl ones are pretty waterproof.  They can ride in the back of the truck, but be careful once you used the hay.  If there isn't at least a half bale, I bugee it to something.  I learned the hard way.  I had put my 2nd bale bag in one that had hay and it sailed out of the back of the truck while driving home.... 

I have a feed bag that has a vacuum type top - it holds 50 lbs of feed.  I also keep the scoop and any supplements in it and just scoop out the feed each time. 

I sm so excited to go next weekend to the HHF.  My new trailer will be there waiting for me to take home afterwards!  :)  SOOOO I am going to be able to "shop" for stuff and see if it fits that day!  :)

I use the ziplock bags.  It is easier so that way if we alternate getting up early to feed, it is so easy to grab the bag and go without confusion.  I use the large Gallon Size bags so that way you can put everything you need in it.  I also did this when I went out of town and had a friend feed for me.  OR if I knew I would not be home, hubby could handle it easier!  :)

I see no problem with as soon as the horses are out, hang the "tarp"/canvas and go.  What about Industral strength Velcro?  Just an idea on the slats to keep bugs out and to also keep privacy to your mini home!  :) 

OK for those that show WP, those that have those different color blankets, where do you store all of them?  I have tons of colors, I have 2 blanket bags stuffed full.  Any ideas where to store those?

What is WP? 

Have fun at the HH event!  It will be exciting getting your new trailer.  What is it like?

Still don't know how to use plexiglass in the stock-combo I bought!  Somebody, help!

Elaine

Elaine,

I have a stock combo and took my slats out and put them under my mattress.  I have drop windows and slats on one side.

It might sound dumb but some friends and I took a ride around the block in back of each of our trailers to see what the horses experience.  We noticed something in each of our trailers and mine didn't have enough circulation with the slats on the butt side on.

I have a stock trailer with a 4' dressing room. I made clear side covers with stainless snaps. (Marine grade vinyl).  This worked very well for 5 years.  They finally needed replacing and I went to plexiglass last year. I have a trailer that I couldn't attach it to the outside. I went with tinted 1/4" plexiglass. Keeps the heat down and its hard to see into.  I took my measurements and had them cut it. I did not get it framed but now wish I did. (I will this spring). I bought the framing and attached the bottom track to my trailer.  I doubleside taped the top track to the glass and have thumb screws that hold it there. It works great. I have a long side that I am going to get cut down to store easier when I take them down.  I didn't get the back door done yet and never thought of lack of circluation. I have a cover that fits (VELCRO'S) over the back when we go camping.  I use the back as a separate room (clean out from horses and throw outdoor carpet down). We have had dinners in there during bad weather.  

Rockinhorse, sounds like you have been doing something very close to what I intend to do.  What is the back-door cover made of? What material is the plexiglass frame made from?  Is this something Home Depot employees would be able to tell me?

Air circulation probably won't be a probem cause you don't have to cover all openings all the time, right?  I would cover the openings when camping or bad weather call for it.  Sometimes, cover some leave others open.  I'm assuming the plexi is easily placed in and out.

Thanks for your tips.

Elaine

Alice, thanks for the ITRA info!  I will be at the HHF and will definitely check out the booth and use the opportunity to join up!

Did anyone ever answer the question about the best/cheapest/easiest way to install plexiglass?  I have nowhere locally that I can buy it for a reasonable price, so I will be ordering from this website ($17.48 for each 24x48" sheet): http://freckleface.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/acrylicsheetoneeighthinchthick.html  If I could avoid having the shop install it, I'd certainly be happy!

Here's my rig.  The trailer is a 1997 Bonanza steel stock trailer.  Even though almost always it's just me and one horse (me camping in the front), I can't permanently install anything cool in the front half.  I need to remain flexible with that space... sometimes I need to haul two horses both in box stalls.

Camping, for us, is ROUGH.  LOL   I'm thinking of getting a "Tent Cot" this year.  http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=191855  Cool eh?  I'll probably get the one-person size though.

O.K. Sharon, lets see if I can explain what I've seen done so you can understand me.

You first need to decide what side you want the Plexiglas on, in or out. If the inside you will need smooth headed bolts.  The PG would lay against the "wall" with a long bolt through it and through a block of wood. Wood is however long your slats are wide plus 2-3 inches. 2-3 inches wide. You turn the wood blocks up and down to the slats and tighten with a wing nut. This will pull the PG snug against the slat on the inside of the trailer with the wood block on the outside. I can see this in my head but don't know if I've explained it well. If I haven't let me know< I'll try to say it another way!

I used to camp in the front of my old 14 ft. gn. Hauled the horse in the back 1/2, put my stuff in the front and when I got to where I was going cleaned out the back and I had 14 ft of space. I used curtains and those magnets with clips. Hung those curtains up, nobody could see in and I would get a breeze if the wind was blowing. It was not shut up like it would be with PG. I put a tarp over the whole thing to keep rain out ( only put it up if weather warranted it) and camped quite a few years at CCTR like this. Had a mattress in the gooseneck of it with a piece of carpet on the nose floor. I had a bamboo mat that I put down on the floor and ran an extension cord in through the slats. Pretty cozy setup.

Hey qhgirl!

Did you get your new trailer? Details, Details, we need details........

OH yes... and I love it!  :)  Made a thread about it.

http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/forum/thread-view.asp?threadid=4771&posts=3

Pictures are also in my album - http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/forum/photos/photo-thumbnails.asp?albumid=55

Tried to stop by a few of the mentioned booths, but seemed to not catch people on those days.  I ended up going every day for one reason or another!