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 Veteran
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Location: Bucksport, Maine | OK, let's say you're buying a new 2h slant-load GN trailer. If you could only afford one of the following options, would you choose to: Replace the wooden floor with Rumber, OR
Install a walk-through door from the DR to the horse area? Why?  Thanks!
-Sharon L. |
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Expert
Posts: 2957
 
Location: North Carolina | The choice depends a great deal on your use. If you only show... the walk through door is not a big advantage. But as a camper, the door allows the horse area to be used as extra living/storage space. |
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Expert
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| The walk-thru door is sure nice,we were admiring a Sundowner 2H with one of these.It would allow somebody to send the horse in the trailer,and the other to tie them from the dressing room door. But having slaved over wooden floors in a trailer for years to maintain them,I'd have to go for the Rumber option over the door,myself. |
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Veteran
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Location: Bucksport, Maine | Good question hosspuller. I compete in Endurance, which means I camp for 2-3 days at a time. |
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Veteran
Posts: 150
Location: Farmville, VA | The walk thru door! I just installed one on my trailer last month and don't know how I did without it, and we don't even camp ~ only day shows! I maintain our alum. floor and mats just as I would a wood floor, so it's no extra work. Good Luck! |
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Expert
Posts: 2615
| I've never seen a 2Hslant with a walk through from the dressing room.The Sundowner we looked at was a straight load,so,I missed what you were saying.If it were a slant load,forget using the walk through for tying up all but the first horse,I suppose.you can't stretch and get the floor and the walk through both?
Edited by crowleysridgegirl 2008-03-28 9:42 AM
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Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain... | Do the rumber. It will save in long term maintenance and the walk thru door is a much easier aftermarket addition. |
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Veteran
Posts: 150
Location: Farmville, VA | On SECOND THOUGHT and after a another cup of coffee  ~ I would start with the alum. floors. Then save your $$$$ and install a walk thru door yourself as I did down the road. It takes a strong stomach to make that first cut into the wall, but with the correct tools, can be a DIY project for under $500. My current trailer is a Sundowner Sunlight 2 horse slant with 4 foot short wall dressing room and door really makes a huge difference. Good luck! |
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Veteran
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Location: lyle,mn | Go with floor and save money for the walk thru at a later time. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | I have yet to replace any floor of a horse trailer, wood or aluminum. If it is properly maintained it should last many years. We sold a stock combo trailer last year that was about 14 yrs old, and the wooden floor was like new. I would go for the pass through door. More importantly, if you are considering a slant load, to order an escape door on the first stall. The pass through door cannot be used as an escape door. Not all manufacturers offer an escape door on a two horse trailer. I would definitely check into seeing if it is available. Gard |
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Veteran
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Location: Farmville, VA | Great point Gard! Both my trailers have had full escape doors in the first stall, so I forget that they all don't come that way! I'm amazed at how many trailers I see (two, three & four horse) that don't have that escape door in the first stall! |
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Location: Bucksport, Maine | This one does have the full escape door in the first stall, as a standard feature. Good point though! |
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Expert
Posts: 2957
Location: North Carolina | Originally written by Sharon on 2008-03-28 9:39 AM
This one does have the full escape door in the first stall, as a standard feature. Good point though! Then that makes it an easy choice for me ... The pass through door is IT!. Any floor needs regular cleaning. While the Rumber doesn't rot, the steel under structure is subject to rust. Consider the road bridges in your area. The state highway dep't paints and cleans them, yes? The pass door allows you to use the horse area as a mud room, entryway, Walk in closet, dirty laundry area, even a double sided food pantry if you put the cooler in reach of the escape door. Any horse trailer I buy for me, will have a pass through door |
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 Extreme Veteran
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Location: Grapeland, Texas | I would go for the door. I just can't imagine doing without mine. I take dogs with me and that gives them more space when I am out riding. As others have said it makes it handy to use the back for a mud room, storage, and even an extra sleeping area. I know people have their kids sleep in the back. I have a three horse slant with no escape door, but I rarely haul three, usually use that front stall for my hay and feed. As others have said, good maintenance will make the floor last a long time. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 610
Location: Northern CA | Go for the Rumber floor!!! I have a 2-horse slant GN with the rumber floor. I LOVE IT!!! no more pulling up mats every time i wash the floors down!! This will save you time and your back. The other trailer I had before, OMG those mats must have weighed at least 90 LBS each! I am single so I don't have help moving mats and such. The walk-thru door can always be added at a later time and your dealership can most likely do this for you. The Rumber floor will be different. I don't think the dealerships do this without having to send trailer back to the manufacturer? Anyways, I will not have another trailer without the Rumber floor ever again. I can't tell you enough how sweet it has been. '06 "Monarch Classic" (which comes STANDARD with the Rumber floor!)and no I don't sell trailers but love mine. |
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Regular
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| I have found that, while I am glad that I have my pass-through door on occasion, I rarely use it....much less than I expected. My low-maintenance floor (I have WERM, but Rumber is similar from a maintenance perspective), however, is the best thing since sliced bread. I wouldn't do without it! |
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Member
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Location: S.F. Bay Area, CA | Just curious....
What do you really need an escape door for anyways????
I've had horses going on 30 years. We had an escape door on our first old Miley, which eventually kept popping open when a certain horse was hauled; we bolted the darn thing shut permanently. I did NOT like it when that door popped open on the freeway, LOL!!!
Our present 3 horse slant does not have an escape door OR walk-through door from the walk-in tack. We don't use it for camping though, so never felt a need.
Our LQ has escape door AND a door to the horse area. Almost NEVER need that door. The escape door is only used when we put "stuff" in the first (stud) stall instead of a horse. |
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Member
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| Just the opposite of happyrider929, I would choose the door. I use my pass-through door all the time - more often than I use my front door in fact. I also chose a wood floor over a rumber floor. In my case, the wood floor was warranted for as long as I owned the trailer. The rumber was covered for a flat 20 years (not that 20 years isn't great). My other reasons were the ease with which I could recognize a wood plank going bad. I'm not sure I could identify when rumber was failing. Also I have a horse that paws and one dealer recommended putting mats down over the rumber to protect it. Which defeats the purpose of rumber to begin with. For me, wood was the easy choice. Easy to replace, easy to maintain and longer warantee. |
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Veteran
Posts: 235
Location: Bucksport, Maine | Wow y'all, I guess the results are just about evenly divided!! I'll have to get exact prices on both options and go from there. Thanks... keep the opinions/reasons coming! |
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 Regular
Posts: 62
Location: Western Wisconsin | Well this seemed like hard question to answer at first but the more I thought about it; I would choose the walk-thru door over Rumber flooring for the following reasons:
When the door comes installed from the factory; it has been properly spaced & framed into the wall. DIY afterwards you may be limited in placement/size or lose stuctural integrity.
And while Rumber flooring sounds fabulous & I was all for it at first; it was pointed out to me that there is no added cushion like you have with mats. If you haul long distances this may be an important factor to consider.
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Minnesota | Go for the door! As pointed out in previous posts it opens up that first stall as a mud room, storage, or even a port-a-pot for when the urge comes, especially in the middle of the night. You really don't need to put rubber mats down on the wood floor. In fact it is better if you don't so that you don't get moisture caught between the mat and wood, which could cause the wood to loose it's integrity faster. A wood floor will last just as long as an aluminum floor if properly maintained. I have a friend with a 1957 trailer with the original wood floor. He uses the trailer 4 out of every five days in the summer, and hauls a skid loader in it during the winter. If you decide you need (want) mats, go to TSC or Fleet Farm and get the smaller, not so heavy mats. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342
Location: MS | The door. I have a 2 horse GN slant now, and would LOVE to have the door. |
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Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Arkansas | Well, I have not had a rumber floor, so not able to address that. Have had wood floors and aluminum...no trouble with either. The 1977 had it's original wood floor in top notch condition in 2003 when we sold it. It was steel, and had went through 4 paint jobs! I use the escape door every time I use the trailer, and use the pass through door on every trip before it's over.... so, while I would say for sure the pass through door, perhaps the least expensive option is to get the rumbar floor from the factory, and then have a qualified installer put in the pass through door when you can afford to do so. |
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Member
Posts: 40
| Rumber flooring, hands down. Your endurance horse will arrive at camp ready to go and less tired than if hauled on regular flooring even with rubber mats.
I just ordered a new trailer with rumber flooring because I could not upgrade used and get that flooring. I will never own a trailer with any other flooring option.
Texas A & M did a study on the fatigue levels of horses coming out of long trailer rides in rumber flooring versus more traditional flooring. Rumber was a clear winner.
I rode in a my trailer once down a washboard gravel road. It really does absorb almost all road shock. |
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Veteran
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Location: Tennessee | I'd go with the rumber floor. Makes the ride better for the horses. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | Originally written by Towfoo on 2008-03-29 5:30 PM
I'd go with the rumber floor. Makes the ride better for the horses. Not an argument, just a couple of questions. How does a rubber/plastic composit flooring surface "make the ride better for the horses"? Why does a rigid flooring material become less tiring for a horse than a rubber padded surface? Rubber mats over wood will lengthen its life span from the wear of a shod horse. Applying a deck sealant to the wood will lessen the amount of fluids it absorbs. If I had a metal floor,and didn't want to mess with mats, I would get a Werm system from RTSmith Gard
Edited by gard 2008-03-29 11:23 PM
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Member
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| I am still looking for the article published by Texas A & M.
But here is at least the info from it.
www.iinet.com/~horsewheels/V1 I6 Horse Trailer Flooring.pdf
Basically, if you had to work standing on a cement floor all day,you would really appreciate rubber mats over top of it. But what if you could have a flooring that had no cement at all?
The rumber has "give" in the entire floor, not just a cushion on top. I may go a bit far, but I rode in the back of my friend's wooden floor trailer over a washboard gravel road. Then I rode in my rumber floor trailer over the same road. Night and day! And for a horse after as couple hundred miles, I imagine it is even more night and day.
Edited by eclipse 2008-03-30 6:58 AM
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Veteran
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Location: Tennessee | Originally written by gard on 2008-03-29 11:18 PM
Not an argument, just a couple of questions. How does a rubber/plastic composit flooring surface "make the ride better for the horses"? Why does a rigid flooring material become less tiring for a horse than a rubber padded surface?
Rigid flooring material is more tiring for the horse. Composite rubber flooring absorbs more road/vehicle vibration than wood or metal flooring. It also has no harmonic resonance that can conduct tire hum and harmonic "buzz." Rubber also insulates a little better than wood and way better than metal, so conduction of road heat to the trailer interior is reduced.
Rubber flooring is just a luxury for the horse, but that's what I'd pick if my only other choice was a pass thru door.
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Expert
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Location: western PA | Originally written by eclipse on 2008-03-30 7:50 AM
I may go a bit far, but I rode in the back of my friend's wooden floor trailer over a washboard gravel road. Then I rode in my rumber floor trailer over the same road. Night and day! And for a horse after as couple hundred miles, I imagine it is even more night and day. Thank you for your responses. In my wood working shop, I do have a concrete floor with rubber mats. It's the only way I can survive long hours of standing. In my first shop, I had a wooden floor, that presented the same problems. It was also partially rectified by the use of rubber mats. In regard to your comments about the riding comfort in various trailers, are you comparing apples to apples? Were the trailers the same weight? Did they have the same tires and tire pressures? Did they have the same axles and suspension? Were they towed on the same part of the road, and at the same speed during the comparison? There are a great many variables that effect the ride characteristics of any vehicle. Unless the two trailers were exactly compared, it would be difficult to say why one differs in ride from another. Rumber is structurally more flexible than many species of wood, hence the reason the floor joists are spaced closer together. It may be the reason for the flexation you describe. I don't think I am persuaded to spend more money for a Rumber system over the OEM metal or wood flooring with mat coverings. My trailers have aluminum floors that I've coated; they only require a singular mat removal and floor washing at the end of each show season. The mats offer comfort, insulation and sound deadening. They are relatively inexpensive, long lasting and easily replaced if damaged. Thank you again for your responses. It is a good discussion. Gard |
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Member
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| You are quite correct that there could be other differences besides just the rumber flooring. In fact, the original experiment came about because I needed to haul horses on a day in the 90's for temps. I was concerned about the heat. I have an 18 foot on the floor gooseneck stock style slant load 4 horse trailer with 2 foot short wall dressing room. I had a friend drive and I rode in the back for 2 miles of paved highway at highway speeds, then 1 mile of washboard gravel road much slower, because that is where the horses live. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of airflow and comfort. But I was SHOCKED at the ride smoothness on the gravel road. I loaded my horses and traveled with them in the 90 degree heat, and I am sure they were more comfortable than those of us in the cab with the air conditioning going. About a week later, I needed to move my old trailer, so decided to do this again. The old trailer is 16 foot on the floor stock type straight load 4 horse bumper-pull. Again it was empty, same road, same truck, but yes, an older trailer. Older axels, but nearly new wooden floor, and fairly new tires. Good air flow, but the one mile on gravel just about killed my 50 year old knees.
I am certain that rubber mats help a lot, but taking them out and cleaning under them is a nearly impossible task for me. The money spent on the rumber flooring is well spent so I never have to lift mats. |
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Expert
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Location: western PA | I empathize with you about the mats. I have been able to remove them by myself, but need my wife's assistance to replace them. Of course, now that I've learned a new trick courtesy of a forum member, I may be able to effect their replacement by myself. "Drill a hole in the corner of the mat, and use a hay hook with a T handle to pull it into the trailer". I'll be trying it in a few days. Gard |
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Coconut Creek, FL | ust one more opinion - I've had 2 2H trailers with the rumber floors and loved them - after 10 years the floor still looks new, no wear, no problems whatsoever above or below, and not heavy mats. I now have a 2H LQ with an alumnium floor and wish I had the rumber. I have the pass through door and an escape door which I haven't used at all, but like having it. If I have to replace the alum floor I would go with a rumber floor - wish it was a standard option on more trailers. |
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Veteran
Posts: 296
Location: Tennessee | Originally written by gard on 2008-03-30 10:46 AM
I don't think I am persuaded to spend more money for a Rumber system over the OEM metal or wood flooring with mat coverings
Me neither. I have wood floors and don't plan to replace them. I think the OP was looking at a factory option, though, which I assume is a lot cheaper than replacing an existing floor at retail cost (plus no old floor to store/sell/throw out). I'd probably jump on that kind of deal.
About the only negatives I can think of on the rumber flooring are that it's tongue and groove and probably doesn't drain as well, and it's more flammable than wood and especially metal. Not sure how flammable rumber is, but it might make a brake fire or flat tire fire a lot more of a problem. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | Originally written by Dunoir on 2008-03-31 7:50 AM
If I have to replace the alum floor I would go with a rumber floor - wish it was a standard option on more trailers. If you take care of your aluminum floor, you won't have to replace it. Gard |
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Northern CA | In response to Guard- The only way I was able to clean my trailer floors with mats, I pulled up one side and layed it over the other, rinsed the floor on one side and let dry. a couple hours later, flop that side back down. Falls right into place. I did the other side the same way. This way I didn't have to take the mats out of the trailer. It worked, just still a lot of work to even just pull one side over onto the other though! But- I am 5'2" 123LBS. If I can do that anyone can! |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | Originally written by jackbrat on 2008-03-31 4:24 PM In response to Guard- The only way I was able to clean my trailer floors with mats, I pulled up one side and layed it over the other, rinsed the floor on one side and let dry. a couple hours later, flop that side back down. Falls right into place. I did the other side the same way. This way I didn't have to take the mats out of the trailer. It worked, just still a lot of work to even just pull one side over onto the other though! But- I am 5'2" 123LBS. If I can do that anyone can! Jackbrat Thank you for your ideas on mat and floor cleaning. Fortunately I don't have to remove my trailer mats very often. The folding idea would work on the front and middle pieces, but the back mats are fitted under the moveable tack bulkheads and cannot be manipulated as you suggest. It's easier and faster for me to drag them out, which I can do by myself. Getting them reinstalled is difficult for me alone, but with my wife's help, it only takes a few minutes. Thanks again Gard |
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Regular
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| LOL - not very helpful I know! Personally I would go with the Rumber floor because I have absolutely no use for a pass-through door into the horse compartment. But clearly lots of other people do. ;) I considered a pass-through door briefly and decided that I wanted the DR wall space for a bunch of extra hooks. And my trailer has the DR door on the driver's side plus an escape door so it's no big deal to walk from the DR door to the escape door if for some reason I need to get directly from one space to the other. But so far I don't see myself needing to do that very often. Depends on how you plan to use the trailer. Whereas I would go for Rumber flooring in a heartbeat. (Got WERM on my aluminum floor.) Just say 'no' to rubber mats and slick surfaces. :) |
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Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
