Posted 2008-03-28 9:03 AM (#80495 - in reply to #80494) Subject: RE: Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
Expert
Posts: 2957 Location: North Carolina
The choice depends a great deal on your use. If you only show... the walk through door is not a big advantage. But as a camper, the door allows the horse area to be used as extra living/storage space.
Posted 2008-03-28 9:08 AM (#80496 - in reply to #80494) Subject: RE: Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
Expert
Posts: 2615
The walk-thru door is sure nice,we were admiring a Sundowner 2H with one of these.It would allow somebody to send the horse in the trailer,and the other to tie them from the dressing room door.
But having slaved over wooden floors in a trailer for years to maintain them,I'd have to go for the Rumber option over the door,myself.
Posted 2008-03-28 9:39 AM (#80500 - in reply to #80494) Subject: RE: Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
Veteran
Posts: 150 Location: Farmville, VA
The walk thru door! I just installed one on my trailer last month and don't know how I did without it, and we don't even camp ~ only day shows! I maintain our alum. floor and mats just as I would a wood floor, so it's no extra work. Good Luck!
Posted 2008-03-28 9:41 AM (#80501 - in reply to #80499) Subject: RE: Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
Expert
Posts: 2615
I've never seen a 2Hslant with a walk through from the dressing room.The Sundowner we looked at was a straight load,so,I missed what you were saying.If it were a slant load,forget using the walk through for tying up all but the first horse,I suppose.you can't stretch and get the floor and the walk through both?
Posted 2008-03-28 9:50 AM (#80503 - in reply to #80494) Subject: RE: Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
Veteran
Posts: 150 Location: Farmville, VA
On SECOND THOUGHT and after a another cup of coffee ~ I would start with the alum. floors. Then save your $$$$ and install a walk thru door yourself as I did down the road. It takes a strong stomach to make that first cut into the wall, but with the correct tools, can be a DIY project for under $500. My current trailer is a Sundowner Sunlight 2 horse slant with 4 foot short wall dressing room and door really makes a huge difference. Good luck!
Posted 2008-03-28 10:12 AM (#80506 - in reply to #80494) Subject: RE: Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
I have yet to replace any floor of a horse trailer, wood or aluminum. If it is properly maintained it should last many years. We sold a stock combo trailer last year that was about 14 yrs old, and the wooden floor was like new.
I would go for the pass through door. More importantly, if you are considering a slant load, to order an escape door on the first stall. The pass through door cannot be used as an escape door. Not all manufacturers offer an escape door on a two horse trailer. I would definitely check into seeing if it is available.
Posted 2008-03-28 10:21 AM (#80507 - in reply to #80494) Subject: RE: Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
Veteran
Posts: 150 Location: Farmville, VA
Great point Gard! Both my trailers have had full escape doors in the first stall, so I forget that they all don't come that way! I'm amazed at how many trailers I see (two, three & four horse) that don't have that escape door in the first stall!
Posted 2008-03-28 10:52 AM (#80513 - in reply to #80510) Subject: RE: Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
Expert
Posts: 2957 Location: North Carolina
Originally written by Sharon on 2008-03-28 9:39 AM
This one does have the full escape door in the first stall, as a standard feature. Good point though!
Then that makes it an easy choice for me ... The pass through door is IT!.
Any floor needs regular cleaning. While the Rumber doesn't rot, the steel under structure is subject to rust. Consider the road bridges in your area. The state highway dep't paints and cleans them, yes?
The pass door allows you to use the horse area as a mud room, entryway, Walk in closet, dirty laundry area, even a double sided food pantry if you put the cooler in reach of the escape door.
Any horse trailer I buy for me, will have a pass through door
Posted 2008-03-28 2:11 PM (#80533 - in reply to #80494) Subject: RE: Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 303 Location: Grapeland, Texas
I would go for the door. I just can't imagine doing without mine. I take dogs with me and that gives them more space when I am out riding. As others have said it makes it handy to use the back for a mud room, storage, and even an extra sleeping area. I know people have their kids sleep in the back. I have a three horse slant with no escape door, but I rarely haul three, usually use that front stall for my hay and feed. As others have said, good maintenance will make the floor last a long time.
Posted 2008-03-28 2:15 PM (#80534 - in reply to #80494) Subject: RE: Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610 Location: Northern CA
Go for the Rumber floor!!! I have a 2-horse slant GN with the rumber floor. I LOVE IT!!! no more pulling up mats every time i wash the floors down!! This will save you time and your back. The other trailer I had before, OMG those mats must have weighed at least 90 LBS each! I am single so I don't have help moving mats and such. The walk-thru door can always be added at a later time and your dealership can most likely do this for you. The Rumber floor will be different. I don't think the dealerships do this without having to send trailer back to the manufacturer? Anyways, I will not have another trailer without the Rumber floor ever again. I can't tell you enough how sweet it has been.
'06 "Monarch Classic" (which comes STANDARD with the Rumber floor!)and no I don't sell trailers but love mine.
Posted 2008-03-28 4:44 PM (#80540 - in reply to #80494) Subject: RE: Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
Regular
Posts: 57
I have found that, while I am glad that I have my pass-through door on occasion, I rarely use it....much less than I expected. My low-maintenance floor (I have WERM, but Rumber is similar from a maintenance perspective), however, is the best thing since sliced bread. I wouldn't do without it!
Posted 2008-03-28 5:07 PM (#80542 - in reply to #80494) Subject: RE: Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
Member
Posts: 6
Location: S.F. Bay Area, CA
Just curious....
What do you really need an escape door for anyways????
I've had horses going on 30 years. We had an escape door on our first old Miley, which eventually kept popping open when a certain horse was hauled; we bolted the darn thing shut permanently. I did NOT like it when that door popped open on the freeway, LOL!!!
Our present 3 horse slant does not have an escape door OR walk-through door from the walk-in tack. We don't use it for camping though, so never felt a need.
Our LQ has escape door AND a door to the horse area. Almost NEVER need that door. The escape door is only used when we put "stuff" in the first (stud) stall instead of a horse.
Posted 2008-03-28 5:12 PM (#80543 - in reply to #80540) Subject: RE: Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
Member
Posts: 25
Just the opposite of happyrider929, I would choose the door. I use my pass-through door all the time - more often than I use my front door in fact.
I also chose a wood floor over a rumber floor. In my case, the wood floor was warranted for as long as I owned the trailer. The rumber was covered for a flat 20 years (not that 20 years isn't great).
My other reasons were the ease with which I could recognize a wood plank going bad. I'm not sure I could identify when rumber was failing. Also I have a horse that paws and one dealer recommended putting mats down over the rumber to protect it. Which defeats the purpose of rumber to begin with.
For me, wood was the easy choice. Easy to replace, easy to maintain and longer warantee.
Posted 2008-03-28 5:13 PM (#80544 - in reply to #80494) Subject: RE: Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
Veteran
Posts: 235 Location: Bucksport, Maine
Wow y'all, I guess the results are just about evenly divided!! I'll have to get exact prices on both options and go from there. Thanks... keep the opinions/reasons coming!
Posted 2008-03-28 6:42 PM (#80552 - in reply to #80494) Subject: RE: Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
Regular
Posts: 62 Location: Western Wisconsin
Well this seemed like hard question to answer at first but the more I thought about it; I would choose the walk-thru door over Rumber flooring for the following reasons:
When the door comes installed from the factory; it has been properly spaced & framed into the wall. DIY afterwards you may be limited in placement/size or lose stuctural integrity.
And while Rumber flooring sounds fabulous & I was all for it at first; it was pointed out to me that there is no added cushion like you have with mats. If you haul long distances this may be an important factor to consider.
Posted 2008-03-28 9:02 PM (#80565 - in reply to #80494) Subject: RE: Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
Go for the door! As pointed out in previous posts it opens up that first stall as a mud room, storage, or even a port-a-pot for when the urge comes, especially in the middle of the night. You really don't need to put rubber mats down on the wood floor. In fact it is better if you don't so that you don't get moisture caught between the mat and wood, which could cause the wood to loose it's integrity faster. A wood floor will last just as long as an aluminum floor if properly maintained. I have a friend with a 1957 trailer with the original wood floor. He uses the trailer 4 out of every five days in the summer, and hauls a skid loader in it during the winter. If you decide you need (want) mats, go to TSC or Fleet Farm and get the smaller, not so heavy mats.
Posted 2008-03-29 11:51 AM (#80589 - in reply to #80494) Subject: RE: Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
Well, I have not had a rumber floor, so not able to address that. Have had wood floors and aluminum...no trouble with either. The 1977 had it's original wood floor in top notch condition in 2003 when we sold it. It was steel, and had went through 4 paint jobs! I use the escape door every time I use the trailer, and use the pass through door on every trip before it's over.... so, while I would say for sure the pass through door, perhaps the least expensive option is to get the rumbar floor from the factory, and then have a qualified installer put in the pass through door when you can afford to do so.
Posted 2008-03-29 3:51 PM (#80609 - in reply to #80494) Subject: RE: Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
Member
Posts: 40
Rumber flooring, hands down. Your endurance horse will arrive at camp ready to go and less tired than if hauled on regular flooring even with rubber mats.
I just ordered a new trailer with rumber flooring because I could not upgrade used and get that flooring. I will never own a trailer with any other flooring option.
Texas A & M did a study on the fatigue levels of horses coming out of long trailer rides in rumber flooring versus more traditional flooring. Rumber was a clear winner.
I rode in a my trailer once down a washboard gravel road. It really does absorb almost all road shock.
Which feature would YOU choose in a new trailer?
~ I would start with the alum. floors. Then save your $$$$ and install a walk thru door yourself as I did down the road. It takes a strong stomach to make that first cut into the wall, but with the correct tools, can be a DIY project for under $500. My current trailer is a Sundowner Sunlight 2 horse slant with 4 foot short wall dressing room and door really makes a huge difference. Good luck! 
