When you’ve determined that you just need to purchase a horse trailer, you most likely have lots of questions. If that’s the case, then we now have put collectively a information to the commonest questions, and solutions – that can assist you select the correct trailer for you.
Is that this your first trailer? Earlier than you make your first horse trailer buy, it’s necessary to know the advantages and drawbacks of sure horse trailer options.
If it’s not your first buy, possibly you’re pondering of shopping for a bigger (or smaller) trailer. Or altering from a easy bumper pull trailer to a full-on dwelling quarters trailer.
There’s a lot to consider whether or not it’s a first-time buy, or you have already got a trailer and wish to change fashions. In both case, you’ve come to the correct place to begin your buy journey.
Variety of horses being transported and your automobile
The primary query you might want to reply is, “What number of horses will I be transporting?” It might appear to be a straight-forward query, however it’s typically wrought with doubt. “What if I purchase one other horse sooner or later?” Or “My good friend doesn’t have a trailer. Can I get a two-horse trailer and transport her horse too?”.
Right here’s the factor – purchase the trailer in your present – not future – wants. When you purchase a too-large trailer now, it’d imply you might want to change autos. This provides prices each within the buy and the operation. Additionally, we don’t suggest shopping for a trailer as a operate of mates’ (or household) wants. There are liabilities to contemplate when transporting horses, and it will get extra difficult when these horses aren’t yours.
Select your trailer primarily based on the variety of horses you’ll be transporting after which, contemplate your automobile. You could want to alter it too.
Additionally, it goes with out saying that if that is your first trailer, and also you’ve by no means towed a automobile earlier than, you would possibly want some coaching and follow earlier than getting out on the street. Be sure you know precisely what you’re doing. It’s not solely your security on the road – your horse, and different drivers are additionally relying on you.
Kind and measurement of horse trailer
You could have many questions on the sort and measurement of your new horse trailer.
“Ought to I purchase a bumper pull trailer or a gooseneck horse trailer?” “Is the forward-facing or the reverse-facing design greatest?” “Do I need a straight-load trailer or a slant-load trailer?” “I spend lots of time on the street. Ought to I put money into a dwelling quarters trailer?”
These are frequent questions that many horse-trailer consumers wrestle to search out the solutions to. Let’s go over them one after the other.
The very first thing you need to contemplate when purchasing in your first horse trailer is the dimensions.
When you’ve got giant breed horses like warmbloods or draft horses, you’re most likely going to want a trailer that’s taller and larger than the common trailer.
In case your horses are common measurement, however you could have 4 of them, you’ll additionally want an even bigger trailer if you’d like to have the ability to transport all of them directly.
You also needs to take into consideration the general free area contained in the stalls too. If it’s too massive, it’ll give your horse an excessive amount of area to shift round throughout journey. And if it’s too small, your horse will likely be cramped and uncomfortable. Earlier than you seek for a horse trailer, measure your horses to find out what measurement stalls your trailer might want to have.
You’ll additionally need to resolve between the several types of horse trailers. There are three most important sorts of horse trailers: bumper pull trailers, gooseneck horse trailers, and horse trailers with dwelling quarters.
Be taught extra about dwelling quarters horse trailers right here: Double D Trailers
Here’s a temporary description of every:
Bumper-pull horse trailer
In order for you to have the ability to tow your trailer along with your present truck or SUV, a bumper pull horse trailer is a superb possibility for you. With this kind of trailer, you possibly can hitch up shortly and simply. Most trailer house owners discover them very straightforward to tow. It’s unusual, however yow will discover a bumper pull trailer with easy dwelling quarters. This provides you the benefit of having the ability to sleep in your trailer, avoiding resort bills.
Gooseneck horse trailer
When you’ve got bigger horses or greater than three, you’ll most likely need to try a gooseneck horse trailer. These trailers are bigger and heavier than bumper pull horse trailers however have more room for a dressing room with sleep space, tack storage, and extra horse stalls.
Understand that in the event you resolve to get a gooseneck horse trailer, you would possibly must improve your truck or towing automobile as nicely. These horse trailers are heavier and require a automobile with the next towing capability.
Horse Trailers with Dwelling Quarters
When most individuals dream about shopping for their first horse trailer, they think about this kind of horse trailer – a dwelling quarters horse trailer. These trailers have an attractive dwelling area with a kitchen, mattress, and loo space and are good for horse house owners who plan to remain of their trailer on in a single day journeys at equine occasions or competitions.
Some producers let you design it and make it your individual – add all of the horse trailer upgrades you need to make your area actually comfy and particular. These trailers require a heavy-duty automobile and hitches with metallic jaws or a locking bar. A pivoting head plate on the hitch gives the required motion to tow the trailer easily.
What’s the common size of every kind of trailer?
Trailer size varies relying on the kind of horse trailer and its make and mannequin. Slant load trailers are often shorter than conventional straight-load trailers. Bumper pull trailers are the shortest kind of trailer, they often are between 15 to twenty ft lengthy. Gooseneck trailers, trailers with dwelling quarters, and 4 horse trailers are greater and longer, often between 20 to 40 ft lengthy. However we’ve seen a custom-built dwelling quarters horse trailer 57 ft lengthy!
Horse trailer configurations
Horse trailers are available in varied configurations. Right here are some things to contemplate.
Rear-facing or ahead?
A part of selecting a horse trailer that’s a superb match in your horse is realizing how your horse likes to journey. There are some common issues that every one horses want after they journey. Good air flow, a shiny, well-lit inside, and sufficient area – however different features are particular to your horse.
For instance, the place your horse likes to journey in. You’ll need to resolve between a straight-load trailer and a slant-load horse trailer. It’s best to know the place your horse prefers to face throughout journey.
Analysis reveals that horses going through reverse the course of journey arrive at their vacation spot extra refreshed and relaxed. Nevertheless it’s additionally true that straight load trailers may be useful over lengthy journeys, as a result of they let the horse use each its entrance legs and again legs to steadiness. Actually, it relies on your horse’s trailer expertise and preferences.
For assist with trailer loading, go right here: How To Load A Horse In A Trailer
Straight or slant loading?
Straight load horse trailers make higher use of trailer area, permitting you and your horses extra room within the trailer. Additionally they have a shorter wheelbase, making them simpler to tow and cheaper.
Not all slant load horse trailers are made the identical, nonetheless. Ensure that to decide on a slant load trailer that has tubular head dividers slightly than strong coffin-like dividers. The stalls must be a cushty measurement in your horse and the horse trailer ought to have a twin facet ramp so you possibly can entry any horse at any time.
How a lot room ought to I be in search of?
The most effective horse trailers are spacious sufficient so that you can fully flip your horse round within the trailer and have a wide-open entryway that welcomes your horse into the trailer. And by way of will need to have horse trailer equipment, our largest suggestion is a trailer with walk-on, walk-off loading.
When you’ve ever tried to load a horse right into a trailer with a small, darkish entryway, you know the way tense and harmful it may be for each you and your horse. If one thing goes fallacious, you would be pinned towards the trailer wall or worse. That’s why when shopping for a horse trailer, you need to pay particular consideration to the loading and unloading choices they’ve.
Asking questions like, “are there escape doorways on this trailer?” and “does the trailer have a facet loading ramp?” will show you how to discover the most secure and the perfect horse trailer for you. A trailer that makes the loading and unloading course of simpler is a trailer that you just and your horses will love.
Tack space
Ensure that to have a look at the place the rear tack space is situated on the trailer. Several types of horse trailers typically have a tack space within the nook of the trailer, which makes for a slender entryway that would create a harmful loading state of affairs. Search for a tack space that swings out like a door, which provides you and your horse a large open, protected, and welcoming area when loading and unloading horses.
What about security?
Like several good horse proprietor, you need to be sure that your horses are comfy and calm throughout journey, to allow them to benefit from the journey as a lot as you do. That’s why security must be your high precedence when shopping for a horse trailer.
Are all horse trailers constructed to some frequent customary?
Sadly, apart from just a few common regulatory options like axles and lights, there are few enforceable requirements on the subject of horse trailers. It principally comes right down to the producers’ status and a spotlight to security that makes all of the distinction.
If horse trailer producers conform to a couple necessities, they’ll just about construct them as they want. In fact, the corollary to that’s that “unhealthy is simply unhealthy”. The buyer has the final phrase on the subject of shopping for a trailer made from flimsy supplies or demonstrating shoddy workmanship.
Many horse trailers in the marketplace right this moment don’t have all the required security options that your horse wants to remain protected on the street. Don’t put your horse in peril by shopping for an affordable, unsafe trailer.
Ought to I buy a brand new or a used horse trailer?
Ahh, the elephant within the room. Must you pay full worth for a brand new trailer, or purchase a used trailer? Nicely, all of it relies on your finances. However there are just a few info to contemplate when shopping for used.
A used horse trailer generally is a good possibility for you if you’re in search of a extra inexpensive possibility, and plenty of on-line trailer marketplaces are on the market. Nevertheless, in the event you do resolve to purchase a used horse trailer, remember that trailer development has advanced over the previous few years. A trailer that’s even simply 5 years outdated gained’t have all the trendy know-how and security options {that a} new trailer has. Don’t compromise on necessary security options.
Additionally, ensure you have your trailer absolutely inspected earlier than buying it. Past the apparent – checking the tires, hitch connection, inside the horse trailer, tack room, and dwelling quarters space – ensure you verify the flooring. Flooring are a particular hazard in used horse trailers as a result of they’ll put on out and turn into thinner and extra fragile, which may result in your horse’s hoof breaking via the ground throughout journey.
Wrap-up questionnaire
So, as you possibly can see, there are fairly just a few issues to contemplate when shopping for a horse trailer.
Take your time and query all the things, however ensure you can reply the next:
- What number of of my very own horses will I be transporting? Am I selecting a trailer for my present horse wants?
- What’s the measurement of my horse(s)?
- Will I hold my present automobile, or will I buy a brand new one?
- Can I drive a automobile with this sort and measurement of trailer? If not, am I ready to get some coaching and follow?
- What kind of trailer – bumper pull, gooseneck, and dwelling quarters’ horse trailers – am I enthusiastic about?
- Am I conscious of the benefits and drawbacks of every kind of trailer earlier than I purchase it?
- Is having on-board lodging and luxury necessary to me?
- What configuration – slant- or straight-load, or reverse- or forward-facing – am I enthusiastic about?
- Are probably the most present security options necessary to me?
- Will I purchase used, or a brand new trailer? Do I do know the benefits and drawbacks of shopping for a used trailer? Am I ready to have a full inspection (together with the flooring) on a used trailer, particularly if I purchase one thing on-line?
This course of could take a while however we’re positive it’s time well-spent. It should all be price it if you discover the trailer of your goals.
Article offered by Double D Trailers.