Posted 2012-12-28 4:49 PM (#148994) Subject: Slant load with head at the passenger side of trailer?
Member
Posts: 9
Location: Anna, TX
What is this called? I am looking at a CM trailer for sale that has this. Heads are pointing forward, but on the curbside of trailer, rather than the normal road side.Anyone know if horses have issues traveling this way?
Posted 2012-12-29 6:41 PM (#149021 - in reply to #148994) Subject: RE: Slant load with head at the passenger side of trailer?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 736 Location: Western WA
Never heard of that configuration. What is the benefit vs a standard slant load?
The only alternative I've heard of is a reverse slant, where the horses face backwards but the head is still on the left/drivers side.
I was taught that slant load trailers are configured the way they are to place the majority of the weight on the left side of the trailer (front legs bearing more weight than rear legs). Was told that due to road crown, trailers track better with more weight on the left than right. When pulling a straight load trailer, was always taught to put the heavier horse on the left, or a single horse on the left.
Posted 2012-12-30 8:12 AM (#149028 - in reply to #148994) Subject: RE: Slant load with head at the passenger side of trailer?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 659 Location: Rayne, LA
I have a friend that ordered a trailer with the escape door for the stud stall on the rump side ( curb ) instead of the head side for the convience of him accessing "his stall". This pushed back the axles which added a lot of tongue weight. He now wishes he had the stalls slanted to the curb side which would have left the axles in the proper place and the really only other change would have been the slant on the LQ wall.
Posted 2012-12-31 8:58 AM (#149049 - in reply to #148994) Subject: RE: Slant load with head at the passenger side of trailer?
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
I have seen this kind of trailer once. It didn't seem to matter to the horses. They simply loaded up. I can't see how this would be a issue for a horse.
Posted 2012-12-31 12:31 PM (#149054 - in reply to #148994) Subject: RE: Slant load with head at the passenger side of trailer?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 322 Location: Fort Madison, Iowa
I have one horse that prefers to travel that way. In the past I had major loading issues with this horse and worked with a trainer on making him better. While with the trainer he's flipped himself out of the trailer, stitches in his leg, head etc. so major issues. I now have no problems with loading him. I ask him to go in and he turns around and parks himself next to the divider and travels backwards. He's happy, I'm happy.
Posted 2012-12-31 4:21 PM (#149061 - in reply to #148994) Subject: RE: Slant load with head at the passenger side of trailer?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402 Location: Valentine, NE
Starting to see a few of these. Tuff Cooper had an interview last year somewhere that he prefers this. His reasoning is that horses have less stress as they do not see on coming traffic, and his pulling rig has the exhaust on the driver's side.
I have heard that you want them facing the crown on the road, but IMO, this is an old wife's tale.
To me, it really wouldn't matter, but might jeopardize resale as this is not the "norm".