We would appreciate input on our pending LQ purchase decision.

We will only be hauling 2 horses, know we would only be happy with the room a slide out provides, desire the nicest finish possible, are limited by our ‘02 F350 which is rated for 12,500# ( which puts our max empty trailer weight @10,000#), and a budget into the high $40K range.

With these requirements we have narrowed down our options to a few.

1)      2006 - 2008 Silverlite Spirit 2 or 3. We’ve looked at a couple of very well maintained trailers 13’ SW both 3H and 4H. Build quality looks 1^st class, very open feel, huge awning, solar, and perhaps the lightest weight of everything we have seen. Depending on which we go with could be as low as $38K and the high end would push our budget yet would have generator. We understand Silverlite is no longer but don’t anticipate repairs that couldn’t be handled on our own. 7’6” wide would be a bit nicer tow behind us than the others at 8'

2)      Logan Razor XLT 11’ SW 8’wide ( New ) . The Wiz-proof floor, self drain mats,  and rear side tack are huge pluses. Kitchen and bath nicely laid out. Overall the build quality looks great with one of the nicest horse area’s of the trailers we have viewed. We’d be looking at a custom build as we want a dinette and lighter finish colors. Looks like this would come in between 9,500 and 10,000# which pushes our weight limits and would be at the top of our budget.

3)      Lakota – Unfortunately there are no dealers anywhere close to us so we haven’t been able to see one in person. Our interest is from what we have read and the potential to have both a couch and dinette in the same slide-out. It appears that the Charger 15’ SW would be our best fit. Not able to tell anything from pictures about build quality, hardwood cabinets?, finish quality, how they stand up over time,  etc. If we pursue this route it would mean a plan ride to check them out then a long drive out and back to pick one up. $s to feature, Lakota sounds like the best value, reviews here all sound positive, but the voice in my head wonders how they are giving so much for the price, cuts must have been taken.

4)      We have ruled out Bison  ( would have to be a Stratus then price and weight are an issue) and Exiss doesn’t appear to have a slide-out at least in what we have seen). Looks like there are lots of extremely nice high end used LQ’s (Sundown, Hart, etc) out there but all running at 11,000 -14,000# range which takes them out of the running.

We would welcome any experiences, advice, or alternative options.

Thanks in advance

I don't remember what the 02 F350 were rated for. The Current F350s are rated at 15,700 for GN trailers. And I know they have a heavier rating than the 02 trucks. I'd venture your truck is rated in the 14,000 range.

I had a 2007 Logan XT with the Platinum interior. It was a great trailer. They are not in the same class as Outlaw conversion.  But they are a good mid range interior conversion.  My 4H Logan trailer weighed in at about 15,000lbs loaded for camping and with 4 horses. My 2006 F350 pulled it just fine. But I did add an exhaust brake to help with the braking on the mountains of Utah. The truck brakes would stop the load, But I prefered to do most of the braking with the engine/exhaust and save the brakes.

Logan has been great for any parts or warranty work that I've needed.  I can call their service department and have new parts in the mail in a couple of days.  In general my trailer has held up well. The switch for my load lights got corroded and I had to remove it and clean the post on the switch. I hit something on the road and bent my axles. (Not Logans fault) and had to get the axles straighten. The Wiz-proof floor has held up great, I rinse it out 2-3 a year. But for the most part it is maintenance free.

Most of the LQ parts are industry standard. They use the same fridges, furnace, AC units, water heater, pumps, electric convertor as any other RV manufacture. So these should be easily serviced/replaced by any RV dealer

FWIW. We have a Lakota that we bought about a year ago. The trailer is holding up well so far. Lakota does their own living quarters and, I believe, also makes camping trailers. It was my understanding that they also own Dometic (could be very wrong here, but all appliances are Dometic) which could lower the cost for them and for you. I feel we got a very nice trailer for the money. Our interior is real wood and they worked with us easily for all of the options we requested. Even one they had never done before.

Good luck in your search. I'm sure any of those trailers will serve you well.

I used that same site to calculate weight. The towing weight was a bit confusing as there are multiple tables that appear to coving towing, different values but the same heading. Either way the numbers range between 12,300 and 12,800.

What I pulled for F350 , 7.3L, 3.73 gears, SRW

GVWR = 9,900

GCWR = 20,000

Max loaded trailer weight 12,800

Ran across a scale and the truck came in at 7,700

GCRW - Truck = 12,000#

Tonge weight = 20% of trailer = 20% of 12,000 = 2400

Applying that weight to the actual rear axle weight keeps me just under the limit of the truck rear axle, rims, and tires.

I really wish I was reading the tables wrong, but I still come back to the same numbers. Not sure why the truck is rated so low. To the good side, the 7.3 motor is in the F450 and others which is rated much higher, so pulling isn't the limit. Already have a tranny cooler, extra springs, and oversize diff covers. Air bags will be coming to keep me level. Weak spots will be brakes, assuming the trailer brakes will cover most of the trailer weight, and the transmission itself which will be taking the brunt of the abuse. I drive like an old gendling rather than the stallion I once was, so hoping that if I just watch my EGR's and tranny temp I will be ok near the limit.

Thanks to both of you for the feedback. It sounds like Silverlite was great quality and Logan's are robust and well supported.

Mostly personal preference. Standing inside the entry level and express models I didn't like the feel or quality of finish. There Stratus models were much more to our liking; but then the price and weight became and issue.

On a darker note, I was just talking to the Logan dealer and the weight coming back from the factory on the trailer we are looking at is reporting as 10,800#. Much to much for us to tow. He is double checking but if that is the case, we have to cross that one off the list.

I am lucky enough to know commercial vehicle inspectors that came out and weighed my 2004 4Star all aluminum 7'6" tall/8'w with 8' SW 3 horse with Outlaw interior. 9200 pounds dry. Yes, 9200 on certified scales.

I have posted before on this subject just because it falls within my line of work. If you are over weight, cause a collision, and you are weighed by inspectors: not only is it big fines (at least here in AZ) but the litigation can potentially take all that you have. JMO (BTW, I love the 7.3 instead of the newer engines. Maybe look for a slightly smaller LQ?)

Thanks to everyone that responded both privately and publicly.

This weekend we signed on a Silverlite. The bank already said yes, so we are just wanting for the check to show up at the dealer. Right now we just have a really expensive pouch of manuals :)

Soooooo very excited and planing our trip back out to pick it up.

What kind and model truck is this...? Got me wondering about that 16000 GVWR rating with only a 21000 GCVWR. Is this a Sterling 4500/5500, Ram 4500/5500?

quote... "2009 DRW Diesel 6.7 engine. It’s rated at 16k GVWR and 21K GCVWR"

That is an interesting combo. GVW is really high considering the low combined.

We got the silverlite and on the tow home we ran across the scales in Idaho. Turns out the weight on the VIN tag was a bit low. Bottom line is the trailer came in at 10,200 without horses. I suspect the VIN is for a base trailer, start tossing in build options, the weight goes up and the VIN doesn't change.

So  the Ford 7.3 does a great job, climbs the hills, stable ride, brakes, etc. Catch is I'm now running within a few hundred pounds of GCRW. Toss in horses and I'm maybe 23,000 ish , thats 3000+# over. SRW is a problem. We are now about 1000# over what the rubber is rated for in the rear. Good tires are in the 3200# - 3400# load rating each. Even the new SRWs are quoting 7000# rear axles rates, but with 3100# tires. Funny, tires are only to 6200# total so how do you claim higher? Salesman just looked blank and asked if I wanted to drive it and requoted the rating. Gezzzz

Ended up selling the F350 and getting a Chevy HD3500 dually. Rear axle is related for over 9000# and the GCRW is something like 30,000#.

Although the F350 7.3L had no issues towing, WOW!!!! the difference is amazing. The new truck isn't taxed (expecting to not being part of the transmission of the year club). Goes down 6% grades towing and I don't have to touch the brake, no speed increase. I figured I would really miss the F350, great truck, but now its just a fond memory.

After driving the 'yea, no issues, tows fine" to towing way below rating, the difference is so significant I'd never want to consider towing at or over limits unless just for a couple of miles.