Paid for.

In all seriousness...make a list of needs and wants. Then start searching from there. The best trailer for me, or in my opinion, won't be the same as the one that is best in your opinion, or best for your use. There are many different brands out there. I can't think of any that have had strictly negative comments on here. Some have had more than others, but they were probably bigger targets to begin with. Narrow down your search with your needs, wants, and the amount of money you are willing to fork out. Then start comparing the brands that work for you.

Hey Rachel,

Sent you a private message on small LQ trailers

As others have stated, there IS no best trailer. Your particular needs and circumstances differ from everyone else. Fortunately there are more good trailers being built than poor ones, so you have many choices.

The best trailer is one with an adequate construction, that will reliably accomplish your travels. Depending on where you live, the climate can determine the main material choices; aluminum or steel. There are positives about each, and devotees who will claim each material is the best.

If you live in a rust belt area, an aluminum trailer is longer lasting, requires less maintenance and enjoys a high resale value. Steel is a good choice for drier climates. It is less expensive to build and repair, and if properly maintained, can last decades.

The hybrids, aluminum cladding over steel frames are harder to qualify. They have the looks of an aluminum, what you see is aluminum, but the hidden part is steel. In the wrong environment and if not built to the best standards, the steel can unknowingly deteriorate, leaving a structurally deficient frame. This happened a few years ago with a well known builder, Sun Downer. There are many new constructors of these trailers, and some are trying new techniques in fabrication. Only time will prove which ones are the best.

The type of construction is important. I'm old school. I would rather have a sheet metal panel attached to a frame, with solid rivets and huck bolts, than hanging it on the frame with an adhesive tape. Also if these two metals are different, how long will that tape keep them separated and secured? When does the galvanic reaction become a factor? You can't directly rivet an aluminum panel to a steel framework.

It's amazing how many first time posters complain about Exiss. Most have "heard" about, but few have "experienced" any problems. There are two types of Exiss, The Sport and Event. The first is a model line built to compete against the lower priced competition. It does feature an all aluminum structure at a price other brands are selling steel/aluminum. It will do a back yard competitor proud, and not hold up to a professional's grueling schedule.

The Event is a middle of the road trailer, price and feature wise. It has some very competent construction features, and thousands of pleased owners, many of whom are members of this forum. It is a good value for the price, and as related in this forum, the manufacturer has stood behind its products for many years.

Pictures are very valuable. Recently there was a posting of an Exiss in a roll over accident. The photos graphically illustrate the strong integrity of the Exiss construction, and how well it protected the two horses involved in the accident.

http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/forum/thread-view.asp?threadid=12348

Good luck with your search.   Gard

The best thing to do is flip a quarter!

Like everyone else said, it is hard to pick the "best" kind of trailer.  Ours is a Sundowner 8010 Signature Series and if I had not got it for 1/2 price we would be in a 4 Star now.  But we got lucky and found a Super Nice trailer that the LQ had NEVER been used as a repo and I could not pass it up.....  The only thing I wished it had was a built in generator, would not change anyting else!

Just take the time and make a list of items that you would like to have and or items you could not do without and look around.  For us, our may concern was drop down windows on both sides for the horses since we are in the Texas heat and a potty that was not in the shower!

Thanks for all the great info.   We really just want to find a nice horse trailer that is going to last us for a while. We had actually found a 2000 Exiss 4H. It had a nice 6ft shortwall living quarters with roof heat and air, shower, toliet and cabinet space.  It also had drop windows on head side and bus windows on butt side with a rear collapsible tack.  It was in great condition and we thought it seemed to be a good deal at 17k, but got a little nervous because we had heard some bad reviews and thought some folks with more experience in the trailer industry might have some insight. We don't want to compromise quality for affordability, but we're still young and don't want to break the bank:-)

So, since i think the consensus is that Exiss is a good trailer, especially the event model, any opinions on the year 2000 model.  Is there still a sport and event model? Do they seem to hold up okay?  I'll see if i can call the guy and find out more info. 

We mostly just ride every 2-3 weekends a month and usually only stay for a few (2-4)days.  Any trailers that anyone would NOT reccomend?

Thanks again!!

The only trailer with a LQ package that I would not recommend is something that is homemade.  Although I am sure there are many talented tradesmen out there,  you want a LQ that was designed and installed by experts.  You can really get hurt or even killed by a poorly made LQ.  I am of course talking about heating,  cooling and plumbing.  If you just want a trailer that is insulated with some cabinets,  I would not be afraid of buying a homemade interior.

I agree. Stay away from any home made stuff. Simple reason is this...there are guys out there that have the knowledge to do it. And have done it. Gard has given us details on how he did an interior, as well as some others doing the same. When they post about how they did it, the knowledge is there. Now, Joe Blow from Timbuktu...who knows? Nothing against anyone that wants to do their own, it's just not for me. And you have no good way of knowing their skill level when they did it.

The Exiss that you mentioned, sounds like a good place to start. Just go through, make sure it has everything that you need on it, and verify that everything works on it. Inspect the trailer closely; pull the mats and check the floor, check for broken welds, look at wear on tires, and look at overall condition. All used trailers will have wear and tear, but look for abuse. Look for the items that appear to be neglected. I would rather have a trailer with more use that has been better maintained than a lesser used trailer that has never been maintained.

Question: What is causing the trouble? The LQ or the trailer? Are they furnished by Sierra? Thanks

Gard