Posted 2011-01-20 8:12 PM (#129089) Subject: Query on Best Light Weight Trailer
New User
Posts: 1
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
I'm looking for advice on the best light weight trailer that would not overwhelm my towing vehicle. I'd like to find something that I could pull with a 2004 Jeep Liberty 4x4 that has a 3.7 liter engine, automatic transmission and class II mounted hitch. I realize that is not a lot of vehicle but was hoping it could handle a one horse at least for relatively short trips. I've seen Cotner, WW, Featherlite trailers that are advertised as something that can be handled by smaller vehicles and also Brenderups. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Colt can be equipped with most options and weighs less than some 2H brenderups. Has standing headroom, electric brakes and built like BR full sized trailers. Base price less than Brenderup at ~$8900
Posted 2011-01-21 2:43 PM (#129125 - in reply to #129089) Subject: RE: Query on Best Light Weight Trailer
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
I am sorry, am not an expert and hate to be unpopular, but I would not pull a live animal in anything with a Jeep Liberty. That is a small short based vehicle. I think, especially in emergency driving situations, you would be looking at a roll over waiting to happen. I have seen first hand what its like handling live moving weight during an emergency driving situation and wreck. My opinion you cannot have too much tow vehicle. Yes I know people "get by" every day. But people get killed too.
Posted 2011-01-22 12:18 AM (#129136 - in reply to #129089) Subject: RE: Query on Best Light Weight Trailer
Member
Posts: 39 Location: Southwestern, Indiana
We bought a 2010 Sundowner Sportsman 2H Slant BP. My wife pulls it with her Jeep Liberty Renegade but only with one horse in it. Load rating wise the Liberty would handle 2 horses, but she feels it would be too much. When she has to take two horses she borrows my truck. I've driven her Renegade pulling the trailer and agree that 2 horses would max it out. The short wheelbase of the Jeep is the biggest drawback. We are spoiled in the USA by being able to have the bigger tow vehicles. My wife is very happy with her trailer and would buy it again if she had to do it over.
Posted 2011-01-22 10:41 AM (#129142 - in reply to #129089) Subject: RE: Query on Best Light Weight Trailer
Member
Posts: 8
Location: OR
I did a lot of research before purchasing my 2005 Jeep Liberty diesel, just so that I could get a Brenderup trailer. A good friend pulls her BUP with her mini van and has traveled around the PNW with it. I have to say that the article at MrTruck.com was instrumental in my decision.
The Jeep Liberty falls well within the specs to haul a BUP. And the diesel model is heavier than the gasoline version. Unfortunately it was only made for two years. I don't think that I would use any other trailer with it though.
Posted 2011-01-24 10:51 AM (#129207 - in reply to #129089) Subject: RE: Query on Best Light Weight Trailer
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
You know you can crunch numbers all you want, but you still have a light short wheel base vehicle and a live, heavy, moving around animal. I once had a Hale 2 horse BP, back in the 70's, and a long wheel base 1/2 ton Chevy truck. Back then they were heavy trucks as they did not have plastic parts. Around a curve once my two horses decided to start rocking and I soon had a nice tail wagging sway going on and I was very glad to manually activate the trailer brakes to bring it under control and slow the whole thing down. Sure you can probably pull it. Thats what we all keep preaching. But can you stop and/or control it? Like I said, people toe the line all the time and pull live moving animals with vehicles not designed for that, and people get killed too sometimes. Pulling a boat, 4 wheeler, skidoo, utility trailer, etc, is not the same as having 1000 or more lbs of live animal that can rock and sway a trailer like you would not believe. I guess I get a tad boring, but I feel like I survived my wreck last year to bear testimony on emergency driving and tow vehicle adequacy while pulling live animals. I wish you all safe driving.
Posted 2011-01-24 12:38 PM (#129215 - in reply to #129089) Subject: RE: Query on Best Light Weight Trailer
Regular
Posts: 88
I agree with CT. There is no way I would tow a horse trailer with anything less than a full sized truck. I have towed a 6 x 12 utility trailer (2500 lbs gross weight) with a Ranger rated to tow 5000 lbs. Had it try to pass me on a crooked down hill section of dirt road. No I was not traveling to fast maybe 25 mph. I would never attempt to tow a horse trailer ( even though it would be within the towing specs) with the Ranger. I value my horses and wife way to much to risk the accident that will happen.
Posted 2011-01-24 2:18 PM (#129216 - in reply to #129215) Subject: RE: Query on Best Light Weight Trailer
Location: Kentucky
Having owned a Brenderup, and having seen the size of the vehicles used to tow this type trailer in Europe, and also the size of the horses they hauled in these trailers, I can attest to the safety of this trailer. If your tow vehicle is rated to pull a Brenderup, it WILL pull it and stop it, as the braking system is completely different from the rest of the industry. I loved my Brenderup and regret the day I got rid of it. It was so light on the tongue weight, all I had to do was back up close and then pick the tongue up and place it on the ball. Really! I owned the trailer for about 5 years or so (I bought it used) and never had a bad incident. Naysayers, and I had a lot of negative comments about my odd looking trailer, you just might learn something if you open your mind. The trailer might not fit all your needs, (I want to horsecamp, so I felt I NEEDED a gooseneck) but it does do what it says it will do!
Posted 2011-01-25 12:27 PM (#129248 - in reply to #129089) Subject: RE: Query on Best Light Weight Trailer
Regular
Posts: 88
I have no problem with the benderup trailers. I just don't agree with towing them and maxing out your towing specs. I believe in at least a 20% margin for safety.
Posted 2011-01-25 2:22 PM (#129254 - in reply to #129089) Subject: RE: Query on Best Light Weight Trailer
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
I am certainly not trying to argue, but you are talking about a live, moving animal. Are the tow ratings on these small, light, short based vehicles for livestock, or for stable weight like a small boat, 4 wheeler, seadoo, utility trailer with some lumber on it. A weight that is all strapped down and stable. A horse can really rock a trailer. Heck mine can rock in my heavy GN LQ and I can tell it. A horse can start a bumper pull trailer to swaying and really jerk a tow vehicle around. Add to that a high cross wind, an emergency driving situation such as an abrupt lane change or swerve to avoid something, a huge pot hole in the road, a blow out. That is what I am taking into account. Do you have enough stability in the tow vehicle to handle a moving load in less than ideal situations? I just want people to make decisions to keep themselves and others safe and not based on money. I have actually pulled a 2 horse BP trailer with 1 horse with both a Jeep Renegade and a GMC Jimmy, and would not do either again. I would rather buy an older clunker truck to tow with than use something short based and light. 90% of the time you are probably okay, but is that 10% of the time, and an accident that cannot be reversed, worth it? I wont say anything else on the subject. Just hope everyone enjoys their horses and stays safe on the roadways.
Posted 2011-01-25 3:36 PM (#129260 - in reply to #129089) Subject: RE: Query on Best Light Weight Trailer
Member
Posts: 8
Location: OR
Has anyone heard of an accident in a Brenderup? I haven't. Until you have actually towed one, I don't think that you really know. I will never tow a conventional trailer with my Jeep Liberty, only a Brenderup. American trailers are not designed for smaller vehicles. I asked for more info on the Colt trailer mentioned. I specifically was asking for trailer and tongue weights. "The standard Colt only weighs #2200 with a tongue weight
somewhere between #450-550." That is quite different than well under 2,000 lbs and 150 lb. tongue weight.
I will continue to take the advice of those who have experience with Brenderups over those who don't. Believe me, I want to be safe with my horses and myself, so I am not being cavalier about this at all.
Posted 2011-01-26 12:34 AM (#129285 - in reply to #129089) Subject: RE: Query on Best Light Weight Trailer
Member
Posts: 8
Location: OR
I have a 2005 Liberty Limited CRD or diesel. It is rated for 5000 lbs and a 500 lb tongue wt. It meets the wheelbase and HP specs set by Brenderup to pull their trailers.
Query on Best Light Weight Trailer
