Hiya, my name is Vanessa Johnston. I work for Darling's, in Maine. Our website is www.darlings.com.

Copied from BHW:

My General Manager is exploring branching into New and Used Trailer Sales. I'm the only horsey person in the company, and he asked me my thoughts and advice on getting into it. I told him my opinions, and said I'd get him some grass roots advice from real consumers.

I plan on printing off this thread and showing it to him, so let's take the opportunity to tell the person who makes the decisions what's important to you when you are looking for a trailer.

Things I'd like to know from everyone, in detail:

What brands of trailer(s) do you trust, and why?

What is important to you when shopping for a trailer? Could it be the brand, warranty, service before and after the sale? What else?

Tell me your experiences, both good and bad, with your trailers, with dealers, etc. I want to hear it all.

A little about the dealership: We are the largest group in Maine, been around for over a century. Focused on customer satisfaction and quality products. I've been terribly fortunate to be involved with this company, in fact, I've had a significant amount of sales to "horse people," which is another thing that is influencing his decision,... I keep telling him we horse people are broke and used to being that way. If we find a dealership that values us and takes care of us, it's like our favorite tack store that may be further down the road than the most convenient store... we shop where we're appreciated, and when horse people shop, we SHOP!!

Tell me anything that you want heard and you think may be useful, thanks!

Since you are a horse person, list the names of the trailers around your area.  You probably will not be able to sell those brands as they have "rights" to the surrounding areas.  Know that is normal in our state. 

THEN give us the list and we can give you the good, the bad and the ugly.. Our opinions that is!

VANESSA, WE ARE A CUSTOM DESIGNER/BUILDER OF HIGH CALIBUR, HIGH QUALITY, ALL ALUMINUM HORSE, STOCK, & S.U.V. ENCLOSED TRAILERS THAT WE MANUFACTURE IN THE GREAT STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.  WE HAVE BEEN IN THE HORSE TRAILER MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY SINCE THE LATE 70'S & HAVE BEEN BUILDING THIS CURRENT BRAND OF CUSTOM BUILT TRAILER PRODUCTS SINCE 1998.  WE ARE HIGHLY RECEIVED & RESPECTED IN YOUR AREA OF THE COUNTRY & WITHIN THE HORSE WORLD & WITH THE HORSEMEN.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT ME TOLL FREE @ 1-877-99-DREAM (1-877-993-7326) OR E-MAIL ME A CONTACT NUMBER FOR YOU & YOUR COMPANY'S OFFICERS, I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DISCUSS THIS INDUSTRY IN DEPTH WITH & FOR YOU.

PLEASE VISIT & VIEW http://www.dreamcoachtrailer.com/

RESPECTFULLY,

RON H.

I HAVE HAD REAL GOOD LUCK WITH TRAILS WEST TRAILERS. THEY ARE AFFORDABLE,LOOK GOOD, AND PERFORM GREAT !! WE JUST PURCHASED A NEW ONE WITH LQ. A DREAM FOR QUITE A WHILE.

WE LOOKED AT A LOT OF TRAILERS BEFORE SELECTING THIS ONE.10X15 AMT WITH SLIDE.

I agree with the trails west trailer. They hold up very well for a steel trailer in wet, damp areas.

stay far away from thuro-built. They are economical and look pretty when you first buy them. In my personal opinion they do not hold up well at all.

In my opinion the two names I trust the most are 4-star and Sundowner, this being from past experience.

My most important detail in a trailer purchase would be the combination of price, warranty, and the dealers service to me. Once I buy something I don't want to be left hanging or pushed off into 12 different directions to resolve a problem.

One company that I really want to check into is a Sterling Coach, out of Oklahoma I believe. I must have had 6 different people over the last 4 months tell me how great a company they are, but I have had no experience with them so far.

If you become a dealer who appreciate each and every customer you will do good. Good luck.