Posted 2009-12-16 8:01 AM (#114316) Subject: American Spirit
New User
Posts: 2
Location: Geneseo, ND
Have a chance to purchase a 2005 American Spirit 4 horse LQ trailer. Can't find out much info on these trailers. It's in excellent shape. Does Anyone have any info on this company??
Posted 2009-12-16 4:42 PM (#114331 - in reply to #114316) Subject: RE: American Spirit
Regular
Posts: 99
American Spirit Filed bankruptcy for the second time last year. They are now doing business as "Hoosier Horse Trailers". If you buy the trailer you will be on your own for parts if needed. The Trailers were OK but nothing special.
Posted 2009-12-18 11:19 AM (#114374 - in reply to #114316) Subject: RE: American Spirit
Member
Posts: 31
When a company from top to bottom is made up of people that have never used a horse trailer, they tend to build what they "think" the market wants. They will copy someone else then try and make it cheaper. Without regard for the horses or the way we use our trailers. I took a long look at Hoosier Horse Trailer about a year ago. They seem to want to build a low cost trailer not thinking there would be horses and people useing their trailers. Just because it works in the RV market does not mean we can make it work. Build Horse Trailers first then put LQ's in them, not LQ's and ad some space to park a horse. Sometimes I feel like these companies are looking down their noses at us thinking we are dumb. And just want us to send them our money. It would be my guess that the average Horse owner spends a much larger portion of there income on there horses and trailers, than the average RV owner. Horses are a way of life with us not a hobby. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
Posted 2009-12-18 2:50 PM (#114379 - in reply to #114316) Subject: RE: American Spirit
New User
Posts: 2
Location: Geneseo, ND
Thanks to everyone for the quick responses. We are definetly looking into all our options including a different trailer. Have made lots of phone calls reguarding these trailers and found out alot of info.
Posted 2010-01-20 5:55 PM (#115525 - in reply to #114316) Subject: RE: American Spirit
Regular
Posts: 69 Location: NW Florida
gaukier4 Wondering what you finally decided to do...we are looking at trailers ourselves and will probably look at one this weekend, along with a few others.Have also located a 4star that's 5 years old, similar price range, but it's 6 hours away.....what to do, what to do?
Posted 2010-01-22 11:48 AM (#115593 - in reply to #114316) Subject: RE: American Spirit
Veteran
Posts: 229
sweetas, I'm with Big T on this one. See if you can get a whole bunch of pictures emailed to you of the 4Star. If it looks good, drive fast!!!!!! If you can't get pictures and the description sounds good, just drive slower. I drove double that to buy an Elite and I would have done the same for a 4Star. I think that the older high quality lightly used trailers are the best bang for the buck.
Posted 2010-01-22 11:56 AM (#115594 - in reply to #115593) Subject: RE: American Spirit
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Originally written by horsecamper on 2010-01-22 12:48 PM
sweetas, I'm with Big T on this one. See if you can get a whole bunch of pictures emailed to you of the 4Star. If it looks good, drive fast!!!!!! If you can't get pictures and the description sounds good, just drive slower. I drove double that to buy an Elite and I would have done the same for a 4Star. I think that the older high quality lightly used trailers are the best bang for the buck.
Posted 2010-01-23 10:11 PM (#115641 - in reply to #114316) Subject: RE: American Spirit
Regular
Posts: 69 Location: NW Florida
OK, so we did go look at the 4 Star (as well as the American Spirit and about 20-30 others, I think!!). The difference in quality between the A.S. and the 4star is huge. The 4 Star was not lightly used, however. It was in good shape, but the price might be slightly high for this particular trailer. We did however, find what sounds like a great deal on an Eby trailer that IS lightly used, particularly the LQ part. We will be looking at that trailer soon. If that doesn't work out, there's another 4-star I've located that's even closer to us (and about $5000 less than first 4-star mentioned, very similar packages) that we'll probably look at.
Posted 2010-01-25 9:35 AM (#115674 - in reply to #114316) Subject: RE: American Spirit
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 399 Location: Ottawa, Illinois 61350
Sweetas; that EBY would be a good choice. They are an excellent trailer with a unique roof system (no seams), and a very strong top rail. I think you would be very well satisfied with an EBY.
American Spirit
