Posted 2009-11-19 7:42 PM (#113430) Subject: Which brand of trailer?
Regular
Posts: 65 Location: Southern Il
We are looking at a bigger trailer with a 10' shortwall living quarters. We now own a 1999 4-star LQ with a 6' shortwall. Our trailer will have to sit outside year round. We are considering a 4-star, Elite, Cimmeron or Bloomer. Has anyone had experience owning these trailers or had any leak problems with them? Which would be the better built in the 2009 or 2010 models. Don't want to tear anyone's brand down. Just would like to hear some different opinions from owners (good or bad) Thanks
Posted 2009-11-19 8:22 PM (#113432 - in reply to #113430) Subject: RE: Which brand of trailer?
Expert
Posts: 1283 Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey
My opinion would be that Cimmaron does not rate up there with the othr 3 brands mentioned. Cimmaron has the fiberglass panel roof system and I have seen several trailers with that style roof have issues with leaks after a few years. I have done LQ's in Cimmaron's and they are a nice built trailer, just not up there with the others mentioned. Now the Cimmaron faithful will brag about the roofs insulating factors, and strength to walk on it yada, yada, yada.........
Posted 2009-11-19 11:05 PM (#113439 - in reply to #113430) Subject: RE: Which brand of trailer?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
In the past few years, Bloomer has switched to a flat roof design. With a LQ and its many roof protrusions, the weather sealing is solely dependent on the quality and application of the caulking. The is no natural water run off as is found with a curved roof. Once the caulking weathers and fails, there will be leaking difficulties.
4 Star has an excellent reputation and is greatly admired through out the industry.
Posted 2009-11-20 8:20 AM (#113445 - in reply to #113430) Subject: RE: Which brand of trailer?
Veteran
Posts: 188 Location: Ingalls, Ks
Have a new Bloomer and love it. Also have a 4 Star 6 horse stock, great trailer. Quality of construction is pretty even when you get to Bloomer, Platinum, 4 Star and many more. Find what fits you, I came across the Bloomer purely by accident wasn't even looking, but figured out that it fit me and my situation. My old trailer fit a friend and her situation better than it did me. We did some trading and everyone is very pleased. Look at your situation and find the best fitting trailer for what your doing. Don't worry so much about the brand as almost all are well built IMO!
Posted 2009-11-20 9:02 AM (#113446 - in reply to #113430) Subject: RE: Which brand of trailer?
Veteran
Posts: 197 Location: MT
I personally would buy an elite. My roomate had one and we used it often at rodeos. We stayed in it for a week and I think they are just the best built trailer and most comfortable.
Posted 2009-11-20 10:44 AM (#113454 - in reply to #113430) Subject: RE: Which brand of trailer?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Have you considered a Hart? I have a BP and like it very much..It is a very solid, well-built trailer.. HOWEVER..... I WAS shopping for a 4-star when this particular trailer happened along... As to the fiberglass roof of the cimmarons, The roof IS 20 percent cooler in the summer.. a very noticeable difference when walking from outside to inside the trailer.. My Hart has one of these also.. I don't know about crash ratings, but the all-aluminum roofs seem to be of a thinner grade aluminum and will give when someone is up there.
Posted 2009-11-20 12:05 PM (#113462 - in reply to #113430) Subject: RE: Which brand of trailer?
Veteran
Posts: 229
Trails02, I have your trailer but I won't sell it!. Just joking. I don't know about the new Elites, but I recently bought a 2003 3H 10' LQ Elite. I've waited pretty much all my life to buy a top of the line trailer and I wasn't disappointed in the Elite. The Elites have a bowed roof, which is supposed to be better than a flat roof. Prior to my purchase, this trailer spent its entire 6 year life outside in the southern California sun and it doesn't leak. I found this trailer on horse trailer world and bought it from a private party. There are some great deals to be had on used high end trailers on this site, both private party and dealers.
Posted 2009-11-20 12:14 PM (#113463 - in reply to #113462) Subject: RE: Which brand of trailer?
Regular
Posts: 65 Location: Southern Il
Thanks for your imput. We are thinking the bowed roof will be a must for us since it will have to sit outside. Don't have money to blow so we have to make some really informed decisions.
Posted 2009-11-21 5:29 AM (#113481 - in reply to #113430) Subject: RE: Which brand of trailer?
Regular
Posts: 85 Location: Foothills of the Smokeys
I have a 04 norstar by cimmerion and I don't think anyone builds a better trailer look at the welds and latches. Also look at the review of Cimmerion on trailer world.
Posted 2009-11-21 8:52 AM (#113487 - in reply to #113430) Subject: RE: Which brand of trailer?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420 Location: Florida
It came down to dollars and Sense for us. We wanted ALL aluminum (New England) and we wanted a larger fridge with a dinette. Coffee on a cold mornings / cards on rainy days. 8 wide and 7’ 6” tall was another wish. And we didn’t want to pay for it for the next 15 years, we just could not live with the amount of interest paid vs. extended value on a horse trailer (But that was us)Those were our main criteria and the rest came from shopping (all winter a few seasons back) Interesting enough what we ended up with was a 10’ LQ with the options we wanted and a 5’ Mid tack. Which I will never go without again. I was so worried about storing my gear in the front stall of a slant load. (Lots of gear) Another win IMO is a larger awning. When it is sunny or rains you can never have enough space under the awning. Search Search Search and you will be surprised. Know the differences in construction. This Forum has some very knowledgeable individuals. When you find a trailer get the serial numbers and call the manufacture learn to ask questions like Axel capacities, What was purchased with it and where did it go to get the LQ installed? Lots of the manufactures will even send you build sheets with lots of neat specs on it.Good Luck!
Posted 2009-11-21 1:35 PM (#113491 - in reply to #113487) Subject: RE: Which brand of trailer?
Regular
Posts: 65 Location: Southern Il
Yes, we have been checking this out for two months now. We also want a aluminum,3 horse, 8ft wide, 7'6' tall, 10ft living quarters. This is a must. We also have to get a good trade-in price on our 4-star, 20ft, weekender.Thanks for the advice. We will Search, Search, Search some more. I guess we have all winter. Just don't want a trailer that leaks, we were very lucky with our old one. Thanks for the encouragement!
Posted 2009-11-21 4:29 PM (#113492 - in reply to #113430) Subject: RE: Which brand of trailer?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420 Location: Florida
When we got towards the end of our rope. we listed our trailer for private sale. The dealers were just not willing to give what we wanted. And to our surprise we were able to sell our previous trailer for just about what we paid for it. It was quite comical as we were searching all over the country and getting ready to drive to pick up or have delivered (OHBOY just couldn't do that option) when 45 minutes from us we found our current trailer. Some things work out when your patient.
Posted 2009-11-22 9:35 PM (#113507 - in reply to #113430) Subject: RE: Which brand of trailer?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402 Location: Valentine, NE
Have had the trailers with the fiberglass (Hart and Cimmarron) the last 15 years and most has set outside. Absolutely no problems with approx 12-15k miles a year put on these. Right now, have the '09 Cimm. Northstar and it is a good trailer. Looked at Bloomers, Hart, Elite and 4 Star for over a year before we decided on the Cim. Had things I didn't like on all of them--Bloomer-the square look, sheet roof (due to hail) and over priced, Hart-price, Cimm-hinges were a little lighter material, Elite-sheet roof and the look was "plain", 4 Star were the "cheap" windows, floor and the sheet roof. What I liked about them were the Bloomer-structure was solid, interlocking floor, Hart-roof, windows with a welded frame, structure and the interlocking floor, Cimm.-look, availablity to raises and lower the nose for more LQ room, silver color, roof, interlocking floor and the 4 Star-the overall look. Price was a factor, timing is what finally did it-right place, right time, right price. If all were identical, same price, I would pick the ...............one the wife liked best!!!!! (of course)--probably the Hart....but back to the the right place, right time, right price issues!!
Posted 2009-11-22 10:28 PM (#113510 - in reply to #113487) Subject: RE: Which brand of trailer?
Expert
Posts: 2615
Originally written by BlazingCreekBar on 2009-11-21 8:52 AM
It came down to dollars and Sense for us. We wanted ALL aluminum (New England) and we wanted a larger fridge with a dinette. Coffee on a cold mornings / cards on rainy days. 8 wide and 7’ 6” tall was another wish. And we didn’t want to pay for it for the next 15 years, we just could not live with the amount of interest paid vs. extended value on a horse trailer (But that was us)Those were our main criteria and the rest came from shopping (all winter a few seasons back) Interesting enough what we ended up with was a 10’ LQ with the options we wanted and a 5’ Mid tack. Which I will never go without again. I was so worried about storing my gear in the front stall of a slant load. (Lots of gear) Another win IMO is a larger awning. When it is sunny or rains you can never have enough space under the awning. Search Search Search and you will be surprised. Know the differences in construction. This Forum has some very knowledgeable individuals. When you find a trailer get the serial numbers and call the manufacture learn to ask questions like Axel capacities, What was purchased with it and where did it go to get the LQ installed? Lots of the manufactures will even send you build sheets with lots of neat specs on it.Good Luck!
Posted 2009-11-22 10:42 PM (#113511 - in reply to #113507) Subject: RE: Which brand of trailer?
Regular
Posts: 65 Location: Southern Il
Thanks again for everyone's opinions we really need the feedback. We are going to three trailer dealers tomorrow and two more after Thanksgiving. We've made a note book of everything we can possibly think of and not getting in a hurry. Hopefully we can find a reasonable price, as going into debt is not an option. Hopefully we can find the right trailer, a good trade-in price, etc, even if it takes a year!!!
Posted 2009-11-23 6:40 AM (#113512 - in reply to #113430) Subject: RE: Which brand of trailer?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420 Location: Florida
Good Catch crowleysridgegirl. It was intentional that I didn't, I was really not trying to offer Trails02 what to buy but just offer insight from our experiances. Truth is we were (By the end of a long winter of looking) between the Lakota and the Keifer. I would still consider a Keifer if I were to go new. The only turn off on the Lakota was that the Fridge did not open all the way in the standard width trailers (it bounced off the couch). And the minute you started getting into 8 wide all new prices soared. We stumbled on a 2004 Sooner SE228. Made by Sooner and the LQ installed by Harmar. Our Sooner was advertised for two seasons at multiple prices and the photos online were dirty. At great coaxing by my wife we drove less than 45 minutes to look at it. (The owner wanted out money was not the issue) we drove home the owner called us and lowered the price even further. We then return the call with a less than her offer and she took it.
Posted 2009-11-23 12:33 PM (#113521 - in reply to #113511) Subject: RE: Which brand of trailer?
Veteran
Posts: 161 Location: S. Central Illinois
I feel your pain. We are currently looking for a new trailer as well and thought we had it narrowed to a Cimmaron. Hubby likes construction over the Featherlight. We are buying new and want to stay close to a dealer for service issues--just in case. Have gleaned some good information for myself as well.
Posted 2009-11-23 1:27 PM (#113524 - in reply to #113430) Subject: RE: Which brand of trailer?
Member
Posts: 33
I would like to take an informal poll: Is there any brand of trailer out there that someone hasn't "heard" both good and bad about? I "hear" good things and bad things all the time as I search for a trailer. If someone tells me they "heard" such-and-such about a particular brand, I always take it with a boatload of salt until I've dug a little deeper on my own.
Which brand of trailer?
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