Posted 2007-06-07 11:29 AM (#61941) Subject: 3 H Slant vs 2+1 for larger breeds
New User
Posts: 3
I'm in the middle of trying to decide on a trailer. We've done a ton of research and this board has really helped. My question is a large portion of the people I speek with tell me the slant loads even a 7'6" x 7'6" are not good enough for the larger breeds. My horses are 16H - 18H. They're large body TB's & WB. I've been told that instead of a 3H slant using most often the 2 slant stalls and the third for storage, etc. that I should consider the 2+1 because it's a straight load and therefore more roomy for taller horses. Most of the 3H slant loads w/o LQ seem to be 7' wide so by adding the 6" I thought that should help. They all seem to be close in cost. I'm looking for anyone out there that has experience with trailering taller horses and if the slant load is ok at the 7'6" x 7'6" size. My family has Apps and Quarter horses so they all have slant loads are plenty of room. I'd appreciate any quidance, thank you!!
Posted 2007-06-07 12:12 PM (#61946 - in reply to #61941) Subject: RE: 3 H Slant vs 2+1 for larger breeds
Veteran
Posts: 167 Location: Monroe, WA
The issue of room for big horses is rarely one of height, it's one of overall length - including the neck!
Our two-horse slant is a couple inches under 7 feet wide and there is NO way our bigger 16:2 and 16"3 TB mares fit in that front stall with the divider closed - their necks are all scrunched up to fit them in. Not comfy, and an uncomfortable horse tends to get cranky in a hurry. Since these gals are broodmares, they don't get hauled a lot, and when they do they get the whole trailer, with just their head tied up front to keep them from trying to turn around- and that's often with a foal at side. Works out great, as there's plenty of room for baby to lie down and get a nap.
Our three year old Irish Draught stud colt (yes, he's for real) is even bigger, with an even longer neck! He also gets the whole trailer in the 2-horse. We have a five-horse slant Trail-et that we got specifically so we could haul him together with another 2 or three yearlings or weanlings when showing - and he gets the first two stalls, so he can have room to lower his head and blow his nose. Our eventual goal is to have a four horse head to head, but it's a ways down the road for now. We have measured even the 8 foot wide slant trailers, and their stalls are still too tight for comfort for this big boy. Bigger horses just need bigger stuff.
Posted 2007-06-07 12:15 PM (#61947 - in reply to #61941) Subject: RE: 3 H Slant vs 2+1 for larger breeds
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
If you have access to a slant load, load up and see how your horses fit. My trailer is only 6ft wide, but my dividers are spaced far enough apart and were made long enough to comfortably fit my kids 16.3 hand gelding and 15.2 hand mare. They are both able to lower their heads and eat any hay that manages to hit the floor if they aren't tied.
Posted 2007-06-07 12:54 PM (#61949 - in reply to #61941) Subject: RE: 3 H Slant vs 2+1 for larger breeds
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455 Location: Texas
Different brands are built different. You may find that one brands 8' wide model may not be big enough, but another brands 7' wide model is big enough.
My slant is 6'-8" wide and our 15.1-15.3 QHs have way more room in it than our friends 7' wide trailer.
dms234, are you looking at a bumper pull or gooseneck? The reason I am asking is that you may not have good balance/tongue weight with a bumper pull if the horses are loaded in the last two stalls, with supplies/nothing in the front stall. Especially with big horses. I would not haul that way with mine, due to the axle placement. With a gooseneck, you would probably be okay, depending on how long the dressing room is.
Posted 2007-06-07 5:05 PM (#61962 - in reply to #61941) Subject: RE: 3 H Slant vs 2+1 for larger breeds
Member
Posts: 25
I just went through a similar debate and ended up with a 2+1 GN.
My TB is 16.3 and likes to have Space (with a capital S!). The only slant load he seems to fit in well (that I've tried) is an 8'6" wide 4 Star and even then he is most comfortable in the back stall - with no rear tack.
I found that it is the length of the stalls more than the interior height of the trailer that is the problem and while I could cram him in a standard slant trailer, he sure let me know he didn't appreciate riding like that (I used to own a 2 horse Trails West in which he would either get the whole trailer or the rear stall - if I shut him in the front stall he banged away violently).
My other TB is about 16 - 16.1 and seems to be fine in whatever type of trailer he ends up in...but he is also short coupled and less of a diva than the 16.3 TB.
Posted 2007-06-07 5:17 PM (#61965 - in reply to #61949) Subject: RE: 3 H Slant vs 2+1 for larger breeds
New User
Posts: 3
I'm looking at a GN. I was leaning toward a 2+1 but then I saw these Big Horse Models of 7'6" x 7'6" and thought well maybe that's the route to go. Pretty much from what I've discovered all the different trailer brands will build the big horse model so you aren't constricted in that area. I then spoke to another person who use to haul and they highly suggested the 2+1. My one guy is 16 hands and pretty big bodied for his breed, my other is 16H as a two year old, I expect her to go to 17H. Down the road the next one if it comes to be will be between 17H-18H potential so I'm hoping not to restrict myself with buying something that won't work for him. We're thinking this is going to be the only trailer we buy (at least hope) which is why we're putting a lot of time into making the right decision. I thank you and everyone for all their help and advice. I'd be lost with out it!!
Posted 2007-06-07 6:27 PM (#61967 - in reply to #61941) Subject: RE: 3 H Slant vs 2+1 for larger breeds
Member
Posts: 21
Location: Smyrna, DE
In our shopping experience, a 2+1 is the cat's meow. It is very versatile. Most models we looked at had a divider door in front of the straight load section. That way, you can convert the trailer to two large boxstalls. Also, one very important point - most of the ones we looked at had 5,000 pound axles. This means you can avoid the need for DOT numbers etc if you are operating as a business.
Posted 2007-06-08 8:52 AM (#62005 - in reply to #61941) Subject: RE: 3 H Slant vs 2+1 for larger breeds
New User
Posts: 3
By the way the slant stalls on these big horse models are 50" instead of the usual 39-40" width. I forgot to include that on the details of the big horse model three horse slant. One dealer recommended a 8'4" height, that seems pretty tall doesn't it?
Posted 2007-06-08 10:17 AM (#62012 - in reply to #62005) Subject: RE: 3 H Slant vs 2+1 for larger breeds
Member
Posts: 25
Originally written by dms234 on 2007-06-08 6:52 AM
One dealer recommended a 8'4" height, that seems pretty tall doesn't it?
8'4" does seem REALLY tall. Mine is 7'6" and the 16.3 horse looks like a pony it in. Mind you I've never had an 18H horse but that is approx 5" taller than my guy (who has high head carriage) so it seems like 8' would be plenty for your situation.
Posted 2007-06-08 10:34 AM (#62014 - in reply to #61941) Subject: RE: 3 H Slant vs 2+1 for larger breeds
Elite Veteran
Posts: 648 Location: Coconut Creek, FL
I recently sold my 2H BP that was 7'9" height and I've yet to hear of a taller trailer. I had hauled several drafts and warmbloods in it. I sold it to someone that had a draft as well as a COW!
Actually Bo is called an Oxen now since he's full grown. She rides him in parades and he used to put his horns through the walls of her steel trailer. She bought mine as it had 1/2" thick fiberglass composite walls - very strong and so far so good. Wish I had a picture of her riding him, it's really something to see.
Posted 2007-06-08 1:09 PM (#62029 - in reply to #61941) Subject: RE: 3 H Slant vs 2+1 for larger breeds
Veteran
Posts: 112 Location: Columbus, Ohio
I just went through this although largest horse is a 16.2-16.3 draft cross- not 18 hands! I spent hours measuring stall lengths (at nose to tail, not diagonal) of just about every slant load out there. I ended up with a Logan XTR that has the longest slant stall I could find. The next largest was Merhow if I recall.
The height of 8 feet is ridiculous unless you have an 18 hand saddlebred! Mine are just fine in a 7 foot! 7.6 should be plenty for your guy. It is the stall length/width that needs to be big enough. I put my draft in the front stall (he's young and not allowed to have the trailer to himself yet) and the rear stall is big enough for my 15.2ish long backed s-bred to turn around in.
The other 2+1 sounds like a neat idea though. I found that literally diagraming the dimensions on the ground with pvc poles or whatever and then walking the horse into it was an eye opener. eg- the 4-Star and S-downer were tiny despite the wider stalls- very short lengthwise.
Posted 2007-06-08 1:09 PM (#62029 - in reply to #61941) Subject: RE: 3 H Slant vs 2+1 for larger breeds
Veteran
Posts: 112 Location: Columbus, Ohio
I just went through this although largest horse is a 16.2-16.3 draft cross- not 18 hands! I spent hours measuring stall lengths (at nose to tail, not diagonal) of just about every slant load out there. I ended up with a Logan XTR that has the longest slant stall I could find. The next largest was Merhow if I recall.
The height of 8 feet is ridiculous unless you have an 18 hand saddlebred! Mine are just fine in a 7 foot! 7.6 should be plenty for your guy. It is the stall length/width that needs to be big enough. I put my draft in the front stall (he's young and not allowed to have the trailer to himself yet) and the rear stall is big enough for my 15.2ish long backed s-bred to turn around in.
The other 2+1 sounds like a neat idea though. I found that literally diagraming the dimensions on the ground with pvc poles or whatever and then walking the horse into it was an eye opener. eg- the 4-Star and S-downer were tiny despite the wider stalls- very short lengthwise.
Posted 2007-06-08 11:47 PM (#62047 - in reply to #61941) Subject: RE: 3 H Slant vs 2+1 for larger breeds
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
It is a neat idea...when My wife isn't using it for her dressage horses...I've loaded my Black Percheron Team 18.1 and 18.2 hands in the two straight loads and a forecart up in the box stall...
Posted 2007-06-09 8:10 AM (#62051 - in reply to #61941) Subject: RE: 3 H Slant vs 2+1 for larger breeds
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534 Location: Zionsville, Indiana
Hawk makes a standard model two plus one gooseneck, and we have sold quite a few, most of them with a box stall divider. When used as a three horse, there is room to get in the trailer with all three stalls occupied. It is very user friendly.
Posted 2007-06-09 7:34 PM (#62067 - in reply to #61941) Subject: RE: 3 H Slant vs 2+1 for larger breeds
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
I'valways thought the 2+1 would be the way to go but I camp in my trailer at horse shows and don't get a tack stall if I can park close. So-I don't really want to live all weekend smelling my sweaty tack. The holdback for me is no rear tack. What do the rest of you do? (OK, yes, I'm being picky, but I'd like this next trailer to be my last one)
Posted 2019-05-22 10:10 AM (#172401 - in reply to #61941) Subject: RE: 3 H Slant vs 2+1 for larger breeds
New User
Posts: 4
2+1 is really a 2 horse straight load with a huge mid tack as +1, since the box stall is really small, you can put a pony or a foal or an ATV there, but not a 15+ hand horse.
So you can convert that stall yo hold your saddles, etc. Most people are opting for those. The only drawback is how long, heavy they are.
I think industry slowly realizing the need for larger slant stalls.
Featherlite trailers have an option for 50" wide stalls. Compare that to usual 35" stalls. Trails West has WB 45" stalls. Last slant usually measures 5" longer. You can also order a custom width of trailer in 7'6" or 8" wide for more room. Hawk can design a custom extra big slant trailer for a reasonable price.
The cheapest way to get a WB slant is to buy 3 horse and remove one partition.
3 H Slant vs 2+1 for larger breeds
.jpg)
