I have been participating on this forum for several years now and as others know several times a month there is a question about the quality of this and that trailer, which brand names are best, should I get this trailer and so on.

In my opinion it would be difficult to purchase any trailer that wouldn't be sufficient for what 99% of horse owner use their trailer for.  In my lifetime I have been around hundreds of trailers, the majority used for for hauling cattle.  Most of the time they are used to haul more cattle than they should and anyone that has every hauled cattle know that most of the time they don't load and haul nearly as calm as horses do.  Most have been bounced down county roads and through pastures too many times to count and most are used and abused.  I don't know of too many trailers, despite their abuse, that have fallen apart.  I know people that have had a broken gate or something like that but for the most part the vast majority of trailers can stand MUCH more abuse than any horse owner will ever give.

Wondering what others think?  Do a lot people walk by trailers that would fit them very well because they have been convinced that brand x or brand y will never hold up to the "abuse" of hauling two horses 20 miles down a paved road to the indoor show facility?

I agree they should get most of it back in resale but I also think that the resale price is relative, one person may pay $50,000 for a trailer and sell it for $45,000 after several years of use and another may pay $25,000 for a trailer and sell it for $22,500...one person got less money back but they also paid far less.

I think you are correct, a lot may have to do with how much work you want to do on the trailer.  After I got my first LQ I was a bit suprised at how simple most of the systems are; for instance the plumbing is just a tank, a small pump, some tubes and gravity.  I was also thankful to find that most RV stuff is fairly standard.  I had a outside vent break and thought I would have to look forever to find a matching vent for a 10 year old trailer but when I went to the RV store I found and exact match.

I agree....I doubt you will ever hear anyone say they are selling their trailer because it has too much stoarge space.

I am amused by the often asked question "what is the best trailer?" My next question is always, "best for whom and under what circumstances?" There are over 150 trailer manufacturers producing wares. I can guarantee that not one person who gives their opinion of which is the best trailer, has personally compared all the products of each company.

Many people believe that if they spend more money for a product, they are getting better merchandise. As a business owner and manufacturer, I was able to see these results first hand. Some purchasers shop this way for bragging rights, others because they are misguided or ill informed.

There is a catch phrase in the industry, are you selling the "steak or the sizzle?". A plain, well built product will often be overlooked, for a chromed and glitzed up so so variant. Many people buy on solely on first impressions that only last a few seconds, instead of performing any research. Two identical trailers, one plain with a monotone colour, the other with SIMS, graphics, options hanging all over; which would be perceived to be the "best"?

In today's environment, knowledge is almost instantaneous. It's difficult for a company to produce a poor product, without the public knowing of the problems very quickly. As a result, most companies do very well making goods that the consumer wants.

There are many more good trailers being built than poor ones. Because a person hasn't seen them all, he has no way to pass judgement on who's the "best". Some trailers are more local to certain parts of the country, usually near to their construction sites, because of remote dealership and shipping concerns.

There are a few trailers that are noteably thought of as being of poor quality. But for every detractor of them, you will find other owners quite satisified. The climate in which you live, the service you expect from it, and the maintenance you perform, will greatly effect the longevity of the trailer.

Used trailers are an open book on their quality of construction. If you are looking at a ten year old trailer with normal wear, and it exhibits no breakage or deformities, and all of its parts are working, it's a good trailer. When a new, highly polished trailer sits gleaming on a lot, you have no way of knowing if the first usage will result in a breakage.

When you are shopping for a used trailer, look for the common names you've heard well about. But don't discount those you've never heard of until you inspect them. When we purchased one of our used trailers, I took a chance on driving a full day out of state for an inspection of a brand I'd never heard of. When we saw the trailer, looked it over top to bottom, we were so impressed that we agreed to its purchase on the spot. Obviously I  have been a fan of this brand ever since.

Some people buy a trailer based soley on the LQ interior. At Congress one year, I was looking at a new demo trailer, that had both rear door holdbacks completely ripped off the body. One of those doors was misaligned and not closing properly. One of the stall divider latches was inopperative. The stall area interior had no lining above a chest height, and the windows were under built for a house, much less a trailer. 

As my wife and I moved to the inside, potential customers we overjoyed with the colour of the curtains, and the "quality" of the trailer. When asked by the salesman if they wanted to sign a purchase agreement, they accepted on the spot. When I asked if they had seen the stall area, I was tersely told by the salesman "they're all the same." The customers hadn't even yet left the LQ area.

Due dilligence is necessary when purchasing anything, unless you have enough money to throw it away. Look outside your personal box, learn what to inspect, understand what you want and need, and more importantly, that which you don't. Take the negative comments of others as a heading for your check list. Don't use them as gospel, but as an aid for items to consider.

A trailer of any age and manufacturer will need repairs and maintenance. Your initial inspection will tell you if they are minor in nature or deal breakers. You should allow some extra funds for these items and any customisation you may want to include. If you have shopped well, you can then start to enjoy the many benefits your own rig will provide.

Well, folks who own are more enjoyable to hear from than the folks "who heard this, or have a friend of a friend who".... you know.

Sitting out there right now are a Gooseneck brand GN stock trailer, CM GN stock trailer combo, Sundowner 2 horse BP runabout, Road Boss GN flatbed, Exiss Event SS310, and some who no one knows who made em!  We have no complaints on these....Haul cattle in the Gooseneck and CM, haul equines in the Sundowner, CM and Exiss, and hay and equipment on the Road Boss....Gravel roads and average use.  I think some folks overbuy being worried about middle of the road brands, but quality that you can afford is always a good deal, too.  What works for each person's usage and pocketbook, well, that is the individual decision. Paid for is a good thing around here....

There are folks who do overbuy, but hey, if you can afford it, go for it.  A lot of times it is hard to know what to buy. I myself, didn't buy enough trailer the first time, or the second, for that matter.  As your life changes, so  does your trailer needs.  We kept getting a little bigger. Started out with a KB 3 horse 4 ft. shortwall. Loved that trailer, couldn't see ever needing anything else. Well couple years later we are hauling more horses, and need a  4 horse. Buy one with a 6 ft shortwall and air conditioner. Thought that was just great, now we can stay overnight. Well, after a few years of the camping thing, we are tired of that. So trailer number 3 is purchased, 4 horse with living quarters.  I did get wiser this time though, bought what I could pay cash for.  2001 Sooner Revolution. Love it!   Don't plan on another till I downsize someday. Hopefully that is several years away.  Looking back, could have saved some money had we bought a  4 horse to begin with, but at that time had now way of knowing just where all this was going.

Probably for everybody that has overbought , there is just as many who under bought.   The one thing that sticks out  though, is PAY CASH if you can!