I need help in what brands of horse trailers to stay away from. I have champagne taste on a beer income so I can't even consider the top of the line. But, is there a middle of the road trailer --- that's put together well and safe but won't cost me the farm?? Please help if you have information!
Posted 2012-02-08 8:31 PM (#140659 - in reply to #140654) Subject: RE: Horse Trailers
Expert
Posts: 1881 Location: NY
You could do a search on this site there is a lot of information about different trailers, the question is what are you going to put in the trailer and how far are you going, that will help you pick what you need do you need a living quarters?
Posted 2012-02-08 9:26 PM (#140661 - in reply to #140654) Subject: RE: Horse Trailers
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373 Location: Texas
I know no one wants to bag on any brand of trailer. And for every unhappy customer, we will find one who has been thrilled with their trailer. But I think this is something that folks are curious about. Maybe the best would be to toss out some of the rumors and chatter that some of us may have heard, and then if anyone can fill in the blanks. And heck, I'll be brave and start it.
Exiss: I remember hearing that at least some of the early ones had lots of small issues. Leaking etc. Have they improved?
Sundowner: They had the issues with some of the "value light" series with frame issues if I remember correctly.
Just like our Ford trucks, there were years that they had some awesome engines, and years they did changes that are not as dependable. So are there some trailers that have had years that maybe were manufactured at a different facility, and have now changed for the better? (or maybe not as good??)
I don't know if this is a taboo subject on here, but I would guess most have had these sorts of questions when looking at trailers
Posted 2012-02-08 11:57 PM (#140666 - in reply to #140654) Subject: RE: Horse Trailers
Member
Posts: 11
Location: Lethbridge Alberta
Thanks for starting this up. Might as well learn from others knowledge,,and mistakes! I too have wondered about how various manufacturers are rated by experienced users. Have heard much positive feedback about Elite, Platinum , Logan, Merhow and Hart, but I'm sure there are a few others that rank in these spots. Still wondering about the general consensus on Featherlite? Seems to be quite a few out there that have lasted a while. All opinions welcome and valued! Thanks
Posted 2012-02-09 1:05 AM (#140667 - in reply to #140654) Subject: RE: Horse Trailers
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
The original poster should gives us a little more information on what kind of trailer, how they are going to use it etc.
Also what region of the country. I find there are many trailers that are favorites in a given region, and folks on the other side of the country and have never heard of them.
It might even be easier if they OP names of 5-6 makes they are considering. A beer budget to me would include a $25,000 trailer vs a Champaign trailer of $75,000. But their beer budget my be a $5,000 trailer vs a $15,000
Posted 2012-02-09 6:32 AM (#140669 - in reply to #140654) Subject: RE: Horse Trailers
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
Painted makes an excellent point (as always) about budgets and parts of country. If I lived on the coast I'd never own a steel trailer, if I used my trailer just to go to the vet...don't need much of one. Also consider if you would be happier with a brand new one or a good used; more trailer for the money vs possible problems.
Posted 2012-02-09 7:16 AM (#140672 - in reply to #140654) Subject: RE: Horse Trailers
New User
Posts: 3
Location: Brooklyn, WI
I live in Wisconsin and plan to use it for hauling to different state parks and trail riding facilities. I want a gooseneck for sleeping. My price range is around 15k and prefer new. Lots of trails with a 100 mile radius of home.I've looked at Sundowner (looked good to me) and plan to go to a Titan dealer this weekend.
Posted 2012-02-09 9:27 AM (#140676 - in reply to #140654) Subject: RE: Horse Trailers
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
You can buy a nice trailer for $15,000. Some very basic Gooseneck can be bought brand new for that price. In that same price range you could get a 2-4 year old used Gooseneck that has more features. Or you can get a 10-15 year old LQ.
Titan now owns Logan Coach and I've had two of their trailers. The new Logan XTs and XTR's will be more in the $20,000 range, But you should be able to find a 2-4 year old version for that price. The Logans have held up well for me.
Posted 2012-02-09 10:49 AM (#140678 - in reply to #140654) Subject: RE: Horse Trailers
Regular
Posts: 80 Location: Central WI
Living here in WI we have to deal with heavy salt use on our roads. If you plan on doing any hauling during the winter months I would recommend going with an all aluminum trailer. Be sure to verify your tow vehicle's capacity before looking at trailers. You don't want to end up with too much trailer. Almost as important as the trailer you buy is the dealer behind it. New is nice, but if you do some searching here on HTW I think you will find you can get more out of your budget going with a used trailer. Good luck with your search.
Posted 2012-02-09 10:54 PM (#140700 - in reply to #140678) Subject: RE: Horse Trailers
Veteran
Posts: 201 Location: Lincoln, NE
Have you looked at Hawk trailers? They are a bit pricey but well made. I bought a five year old Hawk that didn't look a day older when I sold it six years later.
Posted 2012-02-10 10:14 AM (#140718 - in reply to #140654) Subject: RE: Horse Trailers
Expert
Posts: 1881 Location: NY
this is something I did I went to different events and stable to see what they are using and ask how they like it in my area eby trailer are big so that is what I went for stock type all aluminum
Posted 2012-02-10 11:24 AM (#140724 - in reply to #140654) Subject: RE: Horse Trailers
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385 Location: high desert, CA.
Yes, Painted made an important point here. On the "Left Coast", we have had great luck with our "Classic Trailers", We paid only $9000 new, but classic has gone out of business. We also have huge mountains here that don't exist in the midwest or east, so the weight and truck capacity is also paramount. Now, I bought an all aluminum 2 horse slant in 2003, from our best local dealer Golden West, and still have the trailer. It is a "Classic Westerner" and has 25 gal water tank, large dressing room, ( but not large enough to sleep in for more than one cowboy, and he has to be small like me), rumbar floors and walls, drop downs on head side and open slats on tail. Bumper pull, and I have taken it to Yosemite, Death Valley, Morro Bay, San Diego, and probably over 35,000 miles behind a 97 Dodge Ram 1500! Only problems have been, TIRES! It came with some Goodyears, that were like tissue paper sidewalls on our chunky lava and sandstone, ....you get the picture. I now carry two spares, and use 10 ply truck tires. I also have a "Trails West" Sierra 4 horse Gooseneck, with short wall LQ, and mid tack, genset, and it had NEVER had a horse in it. It again is probably a west coast type distribution, and you do see a lot of these trailers here. I of course had to purchase a 1 ton, Dodge Ram with the diesel engine. The Trails West is an all steel trailer, a 2001, $17,800, and bought from a dealer here in California up in Buellton, named American Trailers North. In fact I first saw the trailer on here, and contacted the dealer before we even had anything large enough to tow it with! I like the Trails West, but wish it were an aluminum trailer, as even tho I live in the desert, I have some streaking from rust, and it is HEAVY. It is solid, and I have towed it perhaps 5000 miles so far with only a tire getting cut, ( my fault!) Our use of the 4 horse is to go to places more than 50 miles away, that we could take our friends and trail buddies with us. The 2 horse is our weekly-go-to the trail head or ETI event trailer, and is always hooked up to the truck in case of emergency. So, don't sell a name you don't recognize like Trails West, or Classic, short. Do your due diligence searching, and look well for rust, flooring, amenities, horse comfort and safety, and what you can do with out or must have. AND don't tow with a light duty truck! Lots of folks tow with 1/2 tons that are way out of control when it comes to stopping power! Yeah, it dragged it up the hills, but coming down can be a real sleigh ride!
Posted 2012-02-10 11:53 AM (#140725 - in reply to #140654) Subject: RE: Horse Trailers
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385 Location: high desert, CA.
On the Trails West, I meant that the previous owner had never put any horses in it. We use it frequently to go to Endurance events and to camp with the horses. We also usually have our two friends who help pay for fuel and camp fees, in exchange for our hauling the horses. They usually bring their "pop-up" type trailer to sleep in and camp.http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h84/siseley/camping%20and%20travels/002.jpgThe two horse is fine if we don't need to camp for long, but it is nice to have the comforts.
Posted 2012-02-12 2:02 AM (#140802 - in reply to #140678) Subject: RE: Horse Trailers
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373 Location: Texas
Originally written by dkhunter04 on 2012-02-09 10:49 AM
Living here in WI we have to deal with heavy salt use on our roads. If you plan on doing any hauling during the winter months I would recommend going with an all aluminum trailer. .
Curious on this. Aren't the under-carriages / frame, and components like axles all steel? And your truck? So if one is good about washing of the residue from the front of a steel skinned trailer that the truck may have kicked up from salted roads, don't you think that it would last as well? I've not lived in an area that salted roads, so this is a true curiosity to me.
Posted 2012-02-12 8:56 AM (#140808 - in reply to #140654) Subject: RE: Horse Trailers
Regular
Posts: 80 Location: Central WI
Trot-on, you really need to see it to believe it. What is normally a black asphalt road surface will turn completely white from salt. With traffic, the salt granules are basically ground to a dust that will work its' way into small cracks or crevices making it difficult to remove completely. The salt significantly affects our vehicles regardless of how hard we try to remove it. Because of the cold temps, snowpack, and salt I choose to park my trailers and F350 for the winter months. If I were to pull a trailer under these conditions I would want to limit the amount of steel found in the trailer as much as possible to minimize any corrosion.
Posted 2012-02-12 3:44 PM (#140826 - in reply to #140654) Subject: RE: Horse Trailers
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
The other problem we have is the liquid deicer that the state uses on roads. Last year I had to pull my trailer on a snowy day that the state had used the liquid on. Then the cold weather (average below 0) for the next 60+ days and didn't get to wash the trailer. It left permanent marks on my extruded aluminum The painted smooth skin came clean, but I am heartsick over the extruded
Posted 2012-02-12 4:01 PM (#140830 - in reply to #140654) Subject: RE: Horse Trailers
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Curious on this. Aren't the under-carriages / frame, and components like axles all steel?
"All aluminum" trailers often use steel in their constructions. You will typically find steel supporting structures under the goose area for the hitch assy, the fabricated attachments for the axles to the frame, and sometimes in the goose/box transition areas.
The frame's construction, flooring and skin will usually all be of aluminum fabrication. Depending on the manuf., the roofs can vary with aluminum or fiberglass constructions.
Horse Trailers
