Posted 2013-03-28 12:40 PM (#150921) Subject: Real Newbie questions
New User
Posts: 4
Location: Chicago
I know as much about horses and trailers as I know about nuclear physics- 0. My 19 year old daughter has two hunter/jumper horses that she shows with. Up till now they didn't travel much but that has changed. She now goes to school in Iowa and wants to bring the horses to school and travel with them in the Midwest to shows. She and the Warden (my wife) have decided that they "need" a trailer.
They want a two horse, slant load, step up, enclosed trailer with windows that can open. I have a Suburban so it would have to be a bumper pull.
Now the questions: Aluminum or steel? I would think aluminum would be better because of lighter weight and rust resistance. They want either a late model used or new.
They have looked at a new Featherlight which cost near $14,000. Today my wife spoke to someone who would order a new Eclipse which retails for $9,300 but she would "give" it to us for $9,100. Why the great difference in cost? Is one that much better to be 50% more???
What features or construction should I look for? What brand is best, or better than others? Which brand to avoid? Where should I look? Who are reputable dealers and who are the crooks?
I live in Chicago so there are not many horse trailers around here. In two weeks there is the Midwest Horse show in Madison WI, will there be a lot of trailers there?
Lots & lots & lots of questions. Could someone please wise up this chump?
Posted 2013-03-28 12:57 PM (#150922 - in reply to #150921) Subject: RE: Real Newbie questions
Location: Colorado
The Warden..Lol! There are many differences, both in construction and also amenities, or things that make the trailer easier to use, and more or less comfortable for the horse. You might search the forum- there are several discusions as to the differences of different trailers.
Posted 2013-03-28 2:11 PM (#150923 - in reply to #150921) Subject: RE: Real Newbie questions
Regular
Posts: 80 Location: Central WI
There are several dealers and many trailers to view at the Midwest Horse Fair in Madison, WI. It would be an excellent place to get some of your questions answered. Dates are 4-19 to 4-21. There is a per person gate admission fee but parking and most everything else is free. Lot's of outdoor walking so be prepared for the weather.
Posted 2013-03-28 5:35 PM (#150926 - in reply to #150921) Subject: RE: Real Newbie questions
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Welcome to the forum ..
Since you have the Burb' Your trailer selection will be limited to its capacity. You'll need a brake controller if the trailer has electric brakes, a trailer connector for the lights and a hitch. I highly recommend a weight distributing hitch. GM recommends a WDH for any trailer over 5000 pounds. (it's in the footnotes) You'll likely be at that weight or more loaded. You need to research the tow capacity or your model Burb' Stay under that number fully loaded with horses and tack AND "stuff" it all adds up very quickly.
A slant load trailer will limit your choices. There are lots more two horse straight load trailers available. Aluminum really doesn't have much weight advantage. But it does resist rust issues better. In any case manure & urine will destroy a new trailer quickly if allowed to. Cleaning is a part of trailering.
Posted 2013-03-28 9:54 PM (#150934 - in reply to #150921) Subject: RE: Real Newbie questions
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373 Location: Texas
Welcome to the next step of having horses in your lives!!! Glad you found this forum and are asking questions before jumping in and maybe getting something you will regret later. Careful tho, you may be asking about new trucks soon too.
Posted 2013-03-29 8:41 AM (#150944 - in reply to #150921) Subject: RE: Real Newbie questions
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
Go and look at trailers and start to notice what is different about the different makes and models.
All Aluminum, Aluminum skin on steel frame, all steel. Mill finish vs painted, what type of roof, Axle ratings and load ratings of tires. LED vs filament light bulbs. Minimal trailer lights, vs having flood lights for loading and tacking up and other lights. Inside the trailer, roominess and size of the horse compartment, the kind of dividers, padding on dividers, do they have built in mangers, What kind of storage does the trailer offer. Height and width of the trailer, Hay rack or other storage on the roof of the trailer .
Lots and Lots of differences that can justify the $5,000 difference.
Posted 2013-03-29 5:46 PM (#150948 - in reply to #150921) Subject: RE: Real Newbie questions
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
SO you are giving her the Suburban and the trailer??
I assume this because you say you are in Chicago and the daughter is now in Iowa...where will she be storing the trailer when not being used?
Because most colleges are rather limited in the space they make available to students...if she makes the college hunter/jumper team, assuming they have one, they usually provide transportation for the horses to their designated shows...
Posted 2013-03-30 8:58 PM (#150971 - in reply to #150921) Subject: RE: Real Newbie questions
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402 Location: Lockport, Illinois
Most hunter/jumpers are over 16 hands, which would require a trailer at least 7'6". You are looking at bumper pull trailers, most are about 7' wide, a hunter/jumper would be cramped in a slant load, most Thoroughbred trailers are straight load, with a breast bar in front. I would ask other hunter/jumper owners about the right type of trailer.
Posted 2013-03-31 7:39 AM (#150984 - in reply to #150921) Subject: RE: Real Newbie questions
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
And I will add to that...buy the trailer you really need, or you will be trading in the compromise shortly to buy it anyway. I'm not saying go out and buy the $165,000 living quarters with slides, I'm saying don't think you can do with less than you actually need. Also, there are many older (my preference is aluminum) trailers with better construction than the newer ones. Factor that into your search. An acid wash will make your trailer look new and pretty; which is not nearly as important as safe and comfortable. (Voice of experience here!)
Posted 2013-03-31 4:44 PM (#150996 - in reply to #150921) Subject: RE: Real Newbie questions
Member
Posts: 40 Location: Missouri
Totally agree with Big T.....we are a dealer and most of our hunter/jumper customers purchase the 7'6" tall straight load trailers because of the extra length and height. A lot of people prefer the rear ramps, but that's a personal choice, not a necessity. Big T is also right that if they are too big they can get cramped in a slant load. Some horses can become difficult & reluctant to load if they are cramped or uncomfortable in the trailer. You might have your daughter measure the horses body length as well as chest to nose length so you know how much stall length you will need and take this information with you when you go to look at trailers and take your tape measure with you. If you talk to other dealers let them know the size horses you are hauling. Better to go looking for a trailer armed with information beforehand than to buy something you're not happy with. Different trailer brands will have different weights even among aluminum trailers. A 2H bumper pull model straight load, 7'6" tall in the brand we sell will weigh 4100 lbs empty just to give you an idea how much you will be pulling. Good Luck!
Posted 2013-03-31 6:33 PM (#150998 - in reply to #150921) Subject: RE: Real Newbie questions
New User
Posts: 4
Location: Chicago
SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed) and I are planning on attending the Midwest show in Madison WI in three weeks so we can "kick the tires" and talk to the dealers and sellers and get a better idea of what is correct.
Posted 2013-04-03 12:24 PM (#151073 - in reply to #150921) Subject: RE: Real Newbie questions
Regular
Posts: 70
I'd suggest a WB sized straight load or stock combo. A big TB/WB type horse does NOT fit in a standard slant. Here's a good thing to ask your daughter to do.
When her horse is standing relaxed with his NECK LEVEL and NOSE OUT......have her measure him from nose to tail. Then go measure a slant divider (don't bother measuring what vendors say is the "diagonal length of the stall" - just measure the divider....that's really how much length the horse has.
I guarantee you, that unless the trailer is 8 feet wide with 4 foot wide slant stalls......the divider will be MUCH SHORTER than the HORSE.The horse needs to telescope his head and neck OUT and DOWN to balance. It is unfair to cram them into slant stalls too short, forcing them to elevate/raise their head and neck in a vertical position.
They can't lower the neck for balance and they can't lower the head/neck for COUGHING or BLOWING OUT air/dust/debris. (which gets in there, whilst hauling)A straight load or stock combo will be kinder to the big horse. You should have 10 feet of LENGTH for the entire body - TIP OF NOSE to TAIL, for a big horse.
Since you have a Suburban, I'd go with aluminum for lighter weight and no rust.And yes, get 7'6" inside ceiling height minimum.
Posted 2013-04-04 5:53 AM (#151087 - in reply to #150921) Subject: RE: Real Newbie questions
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420 Location: Iowa
The Iowa Horse Fair is this weekend, April 5, 6,and 7th. At the Iowa State fairgrounds in Des Moines. Its a little bit of a drive from Chicago, but its another option for you to look at trailers.
Posted 2013-04-04 8:34 AM (#151089 - in reply to #150921) Subject: RE: Real Newbie questions
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534 Location: Zionsville, Indiana
The Hoosier Horse Fair is this weekend, April 4,5,6, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. Everything is inside, including the trailers. Lots to choose from. Repeating what others have already said, please consider horse size before selecting style of trailer. Most bumper pull lant loads are a maximum of 6'10" wide and are 7' inside height. The bigger horses are very uncomfortable in these units. Look at the straight load units. "Warmblood" size will be slightly wider and taller, and usually 1' longer in the stall length. Trailer weights will range from 2800# to 5000# d epending on the brand, construction, and size.
Posted 2013-04-05 3:59 AM (#151105 - in reply to #150921) Subject: RE: Real Newbie questions
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 304
Equine Affaire is in Columbus next weekend. I think it's probably bigger, with more vendors. We went there when we decided to go to a Living Quarter. A great place to get education on Trailers and Trucks(and saddles,and bits,and............)
Real Newbie questions
