We are looking to purchase a LQ trailer and have narrowed it down to two. Both are 3 horse with similar layouts, each has a better "this" or "that" than the other one so it comes down to brand and price. One is a 1998 Silverlite (they think it is the Roper model), all aluminum. The other is a 2002 Trails West Sierra, steel w/ aluminum roof. The Silverlite is priced $3300.00 more, but is 4 years older. The trailer will be used more without horses than with as a toy hauler and basic camping rig(but not a lot), but will haul horses occasionally. Any opinions out there on these particular brands or things to watch out for? Thanks :)
Posted 2010-08-30 11:34 AM (#124202 - in reply to #124188) Subject: RE: Trailer Purchasing Advice Please
Veteran
Posts: 229
shalen, I would say choose the Silverlite hands down, no question what so ever, unless the previous owner's ruined the aluminum floor, which would be probably unlikely as it is planked aluminum. I would still say this even though Silverlite is out of business and Trails West is still around. The comparison is apples to oranges. Check out the sales section of HTW and look at the prices of comparable (number of horses, LQ size) Silverlite and Trails West trailers and then compare the prices.
Posted 2010-08-30 11:49 AM (#124204 - in reply to #124188) Subject: RE: Trailer Purchasing Advice Please
Regular
Posts: 56 Location: Shawnee, Oklahoma
The Silverlite will have better resale value, even if it's older, and they are nice middle of the road aluminum trailers. Trails West are very nice, top of the line steel trailers, but steel depreciates a lot worse than aluminum and the Trails West will be a lot heavier and use more fuel. I wouldn't buy either one without hooking up and pulling them first so there are no surprises with the weight. I would be concerned with who did the interiors also and compare them for quality too.
Posted 2010-08-30 4:42 PM (#124215 - in reply to #124188) Subject: RE: Trailer Purchasing Advice Please
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373 Location: Texas
All I can add is I just bought a used Trails West, and the comapny has given me EXCELLENT customer service, even tough I bought used. I needed a blueprint of the trailer to find support beams to attach some hi-ties, and they emailed me one, they have replied to all of my questions, and their customer serviuce has been top notch.
Trailer Purchasing Advice Please
