Posted 2007-08-13 11:04 AM (#65721) Subject: Slant or Straight Load?
Member
Posts: 46 Location: Carson City, MI
I was driving along this weekend hauling our two horse straight load gooseneck with living quarters and passed a slant load gooseneck with same size living quarters which was also a two horse. It got me thinking... Is there really a difference? Horses bumping side to side or front to back, I think both would get tiring/sore after awhile. Not an issue for me, my horse would load in a tin can but it just got me thinking. What are your reasons for owning one or the other?
Posted 2007-08-13 11:38 AM (#65723 - in reply to #65721) Subject: RE: Slant or Straight Load?
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
i have a slant. some horses prefer them, i prefer them not having to step out backwards.......1,000 different ways a horse can hurt theirself, no point in giving them another. its really just a chevy, ford, dodge arguement, just like ramp or no ramp.
Posted 2007-08-13 6:22 PM (#65764 - in reply to #65742) Subject: RE: Slant or Straight Load?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 736 Location: Western WA
I'm interested to hear what others opinions are too. I'd like to get a very basic 2h BP so I don't have to take the bigger LQ trailer out for short hauls. I have a barely 14h horse, and I won't likely have anything much bigger so size isn't the issue. I'm not going to buy new, so I see my choices as very affordable older straight load trailers, but would need to take a real close look at them for rust and wear due to the age, or a newer stock/combo slant load type trailer with very few amenities, for alot more money. I like the idea of a slant load because you don't have the post in the rear and could use the trailer to haul other stuff more easily. But since this would be a second trailer, money talks. I can get a pretty decent, older straight load for $2-3k, and I haven't seen a slant load, even stock type, for less than $5-7k.
Posted 2007-08-13 6:41 PM (#65765 - in reply to #65721) Subject: RE: Slant or Straight Load?
Veteran
Posts: 238 Location: West Coast
I prefer slant loads for the reasons already posted here. I also found that, many years ago, when I had a horse with navicular, that he came out of the trailer much less sore when he was hauled in a slant load. The other thing I like is that in hot weather, with the drop down doors down, the horse gets more ventilation than in most straight loads.
Posted 2007-08-13 8:37 PM (#65770 - in reply to #65721) Subject: RE: Slant or Straight Load?
Member
Posts: 37
Roper,I was wondering if that straight load had spring axles instead of most trailers today having torsion axles.Torsions give the Horse a better ride and they can take on longer trip also.
Posted 2007-08-13 8:59 PM (#65774 - in reply to #65770) Subject: RE: Slant or Straight Load?
Veteran
Posts: 238 Location: West Coast
Originally written by bowhunter70 on 2007-08-13 7:37 PM
Roper,I was wondering if that straight load had spring axles instead of most trailers today having torsion axles.Torsions give the Horse a better ride and they can take on longer trip also.
Both had torsion axles. I noticed he was better after we borrowed a friend's slant load trailer one time. After that, I watched how he moved each time he got out of the trailer. Each time we borrowed the slant load, he was always better when he came out of the trailer. Don't get me wrong, the navicular was still bothering him, but there was a noticible difference.
Posted 2007-08-14 5:59 AM (#65795 - in reply to #65721) Subject: RE: Slant or Straight Load?
Veteran
Posts: 235 Location: Keymar,Maryland
" It depends". I feel the best one is what your horses do best in. Mine don't seem to care, open stock, slant, straight. I have owned all and trained them to load into anything. On the slant I back out the last horse in and walk out the next ( short QH's). Slants do need to be watched as larger / longer horses can not use the room as well. You may need to go with wider stalls and a wider trailer for more stall length or custom build varying the angle of " slant". I have also owned torsion and regular axles. Personally I can't tell the difference when loaded. Best thing to do is load them up in the respective trailer, observe the fit and go for a spin. Most manufacturers list stall dimensions on their websites.Rich
Posted 2007-08-14 6:41 AM (#65797 - in reply to #65721) Subject: RE: Slant or Straight Load?
Veteran
Posts: 282 Location: southcentral pennsylvania
I have hauled with straight loads, step up, since 1970. No problems. My current straight load does not have a manger, and is 7'6" tall and extra wide (forget the width) I feel the horses get to balance themselves better without the manager, and of course, can lower their heads to clear nostrils on long trips without manager. 2 of my guys are 16 and 16'2. My biggest guy came from Canada to Montana in a slant load, and his tail was rubbed raw. The owner said the slant load was not big enough. He came East on our trailer, and had no marks, and travelled well. My next trailer will probably be a stock trailer with cut gates. More versatile.
Posted 2007-08-14 7:04 AM (#65800 - in reply to #65721) Subject: RE: Slant or Straight Load?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 662 Location: Vanzant, Missouri
I have had both types plus stock. My mare rides the best in the stock.She turns facing back. She did ok with the 2h straight load also. But the 2h slant she paws bad. I think she doesn't like being confined with the gate closed. She had more room in the straight load and rarely did anything.If I haul her alone in the slant load I leave the gate open so she had more room and hauls alot better. I also find that they have more lenght in a straight load. My next one I want a stock combo....
Posted 2007-08-14 10:05 PM (#65859 - in reply to #65721) Subject: RE: Slant or Straight Load?
Veteran
Posts: 148 Location: South of Dallas
Having owned one of each, I'd have to say it's a personal preferance thing, for both owner AND horse. However, the only thing that I felt guided me toward the slant (other than there seem to be more of them out on the road and are in greater demand in my area--resale value, you know) is that when I had my straight load, if one of the horses did any scrambling or splayed their legs out to steady themselves, they occasionally could step on the other horse. With careful hauling there's a less likely chance, but it can happen. Course I learned that when I hauled someone else's "scrambler" I would just wrap my horses legs, especially the lower leg and cover the coronet band (that's where he always seemed to get nicked).
They do have some REALLY nice 2H straight loads now days!
Slant or Straight Load?
