I have narrowed it down to either...

a small gooseneck straight load with enough room up front for some storage and a bed in the neck.

OR a small bumper pull straight load with a dressing room with enough room in it to lay a bed down.

I definitely need the trailer to be straight load, as my boy that I'll be hauling is wide.

I have thought that if I got another bumper pull I could possibly put a camper shell on my truck and put a bed in it. But I prefer something that would be easier to pack up and go, without alot of time put into preparing to go.

As of now I only have a '96 1/2 ton Chevy SWB. I would like to in the future (maybe next year) get a mid-90's model 1 ton truck dually diesel (reg. cab).

I have been looking at trailers. But it seems to be hard to find a small straight load gooseneck trailer. Or is it just me? Did every manufacturer make these model trailers or does this model tend to not be popular, so they don't make them?

We had a 3h BP stock/combo with an 5' dressing area and an 18' box length. The trailer had a rounded nose, so the installation of an LQ interior and its available space, was quite limited in usefulness.

We purchased an 3H GN with a 4' weekender LQ. With all the necessary amenities, it is very comfortable for two people for a few days at a time. It too, has an 18' box length. The goose area not only has a bed, but cabinetry, shirt closets, a TV stand and additional storage along the bed.

Comparing the two trailers as far as utility is night and day. The usefulness of the GN far out weighs that of the BP. The GN has space you can actually live in, instead of just a private area to change clothes. If you are planning a truck up grade, a dressing room trailer purchased today, can be later equipped with an interior.

We did the truck camper and BP scene for many years. Now that we have LQ trailers, the hook ups and ease of getting on the road is much easier. Everything is in one place and ready to go. The trailer is much more stable when towing, than when towing while carrying a camper. We don't camp without the horses, so the sole usage of a camper is not an issue. We greatly enjoy the LQ trailers and would not go back to the truck campers.

The straight load GNs with a DR are available. Here's one:

http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/home/trailerdetail.asp?ID=199195

But if I went with a small gooseneck then I would have that space in the neck for a bed and maybe some storage, like you said. And have the little extra storage below, inbetween the neck and the wall to the stalls.

I've been looking online at an Easly (never heard of that manufacturer before, don't know anything about them). It looks to have a 3' wall inbetween the neck and the wall to the stalls. Plus a separate tack compartment.

I definitely don't want or need a huge trailer to pull along. One of the places I go has creeks to forge and definitely don't need anything dragging or getting stuck.

My mother has a 3H slant with good sized LQ area (can't remember the size) but the rear bumper drags over the smallest of inclines - plus she hauls at least 2 horses with her all the time.

I don't plan on hauling more than my horse really but at most it would be 2. And don't want anything more than I need or can handle.

I agree that GN's offer more options.  I have a 2H with a 5' short wall and it really has quite a few amenities:  propane fridge, cooktop & hot water heater, dinnette, sink, 4 large cabinets & 2 nose cabinets for storage, queen bed, AC, microwave, medicine cabinet, large mirror on the wall, pocket screen door, 2 inside fans (GN & kitchen area).  I use the dinette top to make sandwiches, prepare salads, entrees, etc besides eating meals, reading maps, etc

There is a cowboy shower in the first stall and I set up the portapotti in the horse area, so that becomes my bathroom when camping.  I usually only bring one horse, so I sweep and wash out the horse area and can also hang towels to dry back there.  On the outside I have an awning, tie-rite if I don't want to set up an electric paddock, and a bucket hanger on each side, which is great for hanging water or feed buckets.

I have camped for 11 days at a time and was very comfy.  I'm not sure of the overall length of the trailer, but I use it for day rides when not camping and find it easy to manuver.  I keep all the tack in the rear tack.

I had 2 BP's before this GN and while I could sleep in the DR of the 2nd one, I had to pull most everything out to make room for the cot or air mattress.  I camp 12-14 times a season (Oct-April) and love having all the space and conveniences my trailer provides.

There is always alot of preparation no matter what rig you have - food, clothing, hay, grain, etc  but I find

And if I went with a 2H bp w/ DR. I would have to strap up the mattress to the wall and try to fit what I could in the DR with it. And still use the truck bed for stuff - my camping gear, water, hay, tubs, etc.

But I feel if I got a small 2H Gooseneck with small weekender package. Doesn't have to be much room since the mattress will be in the neck. Don't need table, fridge, sink, cabinets or chair room - most of that will be set outside anyways. And the truck bed would only have water and hay in it unless the trailer has a hay rack.

I do plan on (whatever trailer I end up with) to use the stall area's for showering, toilet and changing.

I am mainly wanting something that has enough room for a bed without it being in the way and enough room to put things inside while riding (like coolers or anything else that might be tempting to thieves).

And a big PLUS on the gooseneck and maybe even the BP w/ DR is that I can use that space for storing most of my camping things without unloading it (like grills, tarps, toilet, ice chests, chairs, etc.). That would be nice, no more finding room in the house for those things and having it scattered throughout the house as well.

Big thumbs up for a gooseneck.  Easier to drive,  easier to back up,  easier to hook up.  As far as your mother's gooseneck dragging when going up an incline,  I have noticed that the newer goosenecks sit much higher off the ground which gives you more ground clearance.  When you go trailer shopping,  just remember to measure the trailer floor hight off the ground and make sure it is higher than your mothers :)  Unless there is someone out there that just can not part with their SUV,  I would always suggest a gooseneck whenever possible.