Posted 2009-11-10 11:47 AM (#112989) Subject: Horse Trailer Shows
Member
Posts: 8
Location: lafayette, IN
This may be obvious but is there a place to find upcoming "horse trailer" shows? I have looked for about 20 minutes and can't find anything specific. Thanks in advance!
Posted 2009-11-10 11:56 AM (#112991 - in reply to #112989) Subject: RE: Horse Trailer Shows
Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain...
Most major shows will have trailers there on display. AQHA World Show, APHA World Show, NFR, Quarter Horse Congress, Scottsdale Arabian Show, etc will all have displays. Get on the trailer manufacturer websites and check their calendar of events.
Posted 2009-11-10 7:58 PM (#113004 - in reply to #112989) Subject: RE: Horse Trailer Shows
Veteran
Posts: 116 Location: desert hills, az
Trailer shows are a great place to research and get ideas of what you like and don't like. But I found the same trailer I saw at the NFR for $12,000 less on this site!
Posted 2009-11-10 8:31 PM (#113005 - in reply to #112989) Subject: RE: Horse Trailer Shows
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
You can learn about prices and features while on line. Only by a hands on visual inspection, can you differentiate between the qualities and details of each construction.
When we were trailer shopping, we went to Congress. Without exaggeration, we personally looked over at least 75 trailers. Of those, I looked under and carefully inspected the construction at least a dozen, of which I was particularly interested.
We were among many that were trailer shopping, and it was interesting to note the differences in what was important to the various interested parties. We were interested in the construction details. Among them were the type of the door holdbacks, degree swing of the hinges, quality of the hardware and materials, and the layout of the stall area. One couple never looked at the stall area, instead argued at length over the interior blind colour choices. They never even completed a walk around; they simply entered the front door and critiqued the interior.
Photographs can't show the quality of welds, the thickness of the materials, the precision of the assembly, or the ergonomic placement of the accessories. Fit and finish are important, and usually not noted in overall photographs of a trailer. It's quite possible to take a photo of a $20K trailer, place it beside one of a $100K trailer, and other than graphics, not notice too many differences.
Check out the specifications on line, but perform a hands on inspection before you spend your hard earned dollars. Remember, you are buying a horse trailer first and a camper secondly.
Posted 2009-11-11 5:30 AM (#113010 - in reply to #112989) Subject: RE: Horse Trailer Shows
Member
Posts: 8
Location: lafayette, IN
thanks Gard!
you hit the nail on the head. I have looked at the classifieds here but pretty pictures only give you the ability to narrow down to about a dozen different features you like.
The rest is told layin on your back or upside down like you said, lookin at the guts behind the scenes.
Posted 2009-11-11 6:23 AM (#113011 - in reply to #112989) Subject: RE: Horse Trailer Shows
Veteran
Posts: 236 Location: Little town in Pa
Quarter Horse Congress and the Equine Affair are both great places to shop and not too far from Indiana. Just be prepared. You will need a note book and maybe a chart of all the different features that are important to you. And plan to spend at least 2 days. You just won't be able to look at all the trailers intelligently in less than 2 days. Don't be shy about opening and closing all the doors and rams so you know how they feel or the weight of the ramps.
Horse Trailer Shows
