We regularly haul two horses and own three horse capacity trailers. As was previously stated, the extra stall is welcomed for additional storage capacity, and the space can be reconfigured for several interior options. And if someone gets in a jamb, you have the additional capacity to help out with a ride.

The additional weight and length of the three horse over the two is relatively negligable, and won't hinder your driving styles much at all, particularly if the axles are placed under the center stall on the three horse trailer. Often, the extra stall adds ~300# to the weight of the trailer, depending on its width.

It's easier to buy and sell a three horse trailer. There are many available for sale, and because they are desirable, quite convenient to sell.

You can purchase an aluminum 3H SL trailer with a weekender LQ that weighs ~5800#. With two horses and some equippment, you'll be well under your towing limits.

Gard your funny.. "1403 3H LQ trailers for sale"  1400 of them have couches, 2 have dented stainless fronts (that are not disclosed until you ask)  and one maybe one has what your looking for in options...

Just kidding but seriously yes lots of LQs (we have looked at them all)  But which ONE suits your needs?

We have been looking to increase our LQ living area.  It is not as easy as one thinks to find the perfect match.

Good luck!

But there are only 12 2H LQ trailers that have a midtack for extra storage. I would opt for a three horse just because there are more available and a place to carry hay, tables, chairs, etc is very welcome. And I don't want to have to climb on top of my trailer to get to this stuff..... getting too old for that!

Great point! 

What use does the hay rack really offer.  I tried to climb up one of those the other day and frankly could not see myself doing it with anything in my hands, especially a bale of hay..

Aren't they a wind drag too?

I would place an extra water tank or a generator up there but certainly not hay and or camping gear.

After purchasing our trailer with a hay rack, we tried it out. Loading it with the tractor was fairly easy. Climbing to and around the rack for us old folks was more difficult. We had enclosed each bale in a garbage bag, so the labours of insertion and extraction of the hay bales had to be added to the task.

After the show, we decided to replace the one unused bale back on top. It was then that we realised, we were physically incapable of lifting a square bale onto the roof, whilst climbing the ladder. 

We cleaned out a space in the unused front stall and threw the bale on the floor. This since has become the hay's regular storage area, along with buckets, feed and all the larger necessary traveling items.

The rack and any roof additions causes parasitic drag. Antennas, AC units, hay racks, even open vents cause a loss in mileage. Three hay bales on our trailer resulted in a measured 1 1/2 mpg increase at 70 MPH. An empty rack will not cause as much drag, but it will cause increased wind resistance.

The only reason I haven't cut ours off, is the protection it affords from the snow falling off the barn roof onto the trailer. The third stall is much more valuable, user friendly, and holds a great many more materials in a weather proof environment. It is also a great space for a cowboy shower.

Choosing between a 2H with a hay rack or a 3H with no hay rack is easy for me. The extra stall wins every time.

Can't edit in time.

We did not see a 1 1/2 MPG increase, rather, a LOSS of that amount with the hay in the rack.

Also here is the definition of parasitic resistance - Parasitic resistance is resistance that you encounter in a circuit board or integrated cir...

That is one defination, one which has no bearing on an airflow over an object. Concerning aerodynamics and its effects on trailers, this is the usage to which my thread was referring:

http://www.experimentalaircraft.info/articles/aircraft-parasite-drag.php

We have the very very common configuration of 8 wide 10' short wall LQ, 3 horse with walk thru, stud wall, full door on first stall, hay rack, collapible rear tack, hay rack, remote start generator, awning. mangers.  For a show or trail ride, we will often put hay in that first stall.  On hunting trips, we use all space as we will take 2 riding mules and a pack mule, so we back up to the barn loft to load hay tarped by an OCD cowboy (nothing is getting in that hay!) and chairs, buckets etc in mangers. I agree that getting bales back up is a logistics problem, we have put a lariat around the bale, dallied off to the horn and ridden away from the trailer on the other side as hubby climbs ladder to guide hay to avoid scratching the trailer, and that works so great! (My cowgirl idea, too!... good mule, tho)

 There is nothing on this trailer we would do without or downsize.  I would love a W.E.R.M. floor, insulated horse area roof, and air ride suspension if that ever comes to pass!  Good luck in your search.