I’ve got a custom 2012 Merhow Verylite 3 Horse Slant where I had the stalls angled to accommodate my bigger horses (16.3 - 17hds). It’s a great trailer. Thing is, I rarely trailer 3 horses. I got it when my husband and daughter were both riding with me but now my husband doesn’t ride. So was thinking of trading in the 3 horse on a 2+1 for the extra storage space outside of the horse stalls, which is what I have to do now and there’s always the of securing things down to make sure they don’t slide. A 2+1 still gives me the option of hauling 3 (I have 3 horses plus my daughter’s small horse sized, POA), if I need to. Just wondering if the extra space is worth the extra length in trailer? I think the configuration I’m considering, - 4 star 11, 7, 4 - would add 2 extra feet to the goose I’m already towing. We have a 3/4 ton truck which we plan to upgrade with a newer model soon. Could see where hauling in to shows rather than getting a stall would work well with this configuration as others have posted about keeping the horse(s) on the trailer and tacking up in the +1 portion; and that with all the doors/windows open, there is very good airflow. I like the idea of it and I show four or five times a year, just not sure it makes sense.
I love my Keifer 2+1. Plenty of room for all the stuff I take to the horse show.
I have a friend that has a 2+1 with the additional side ramp. I love that trailer.
I have a 2+1 gooseneck and I love it more than simple words can express. That extra space up front it IDEAL. Wouldn’t trade my trailer for anything. And the side ramp is so helpful!
There is a boarder at the barn where I board who has a 2+1 and that trailer is looooong. It has a side ramp and dressing room in addition to the extra stall. Not sure I would want to drag something around that big for 1 horse. She can’t park it at the barn because it just won’t fit any where. But if space isn’t an issue and you don’t mind driving a trailer that big, go for it.
That’s exactly why I’m asking. Because we do a fair amount of trail riding in addition to going to shows and I’m wondering if the extra stall/storage space makes the darn thing unwieldy except when in a showing environment. Again though, it’s just an extra two feet to what I am already towing. You can get them in varying lengths too. In some, that +1 space bascially equals a 4 horse head-to-head plus dressing room. I’m actually looking at the 4Star 2+1 Runabout, which is the shorter of the 2+1 configuration.
I have a 4 Star 2+1 Runabout. I haven’t been able to use it yet but I should soon and I’m super excited. 2’ more really just isn’t that much to haul/maneuver. I wouldn’t let that alone stop you.
Absolutely love my 2+1. I was worried about the length when I went from a 4-Star oversized 3-horse slant. Agonized about it. But after about a week I realized that the extra two feet was not that big a deal for maneuverability but meant all the world for convenience and versatility. Have had my equispirit 2+1 for over a decade and think it’s a fantastic design.
I love my GN 2+1 with tack room (Trailet) but it is very long. It can be a bear to park/manuveur in tight spaces. The side ramp is a great help when loading and unloading alone. For that reason I won’t give it up. But, I only show and trailer occasionally to the vet, etc . . . If I frequently headed unknown or tight places I would go back to a 2H.
Love my 4Star 2+1! It is a smidge longer than the 3 horse slant we traded in which had a big dressing room. The air flow is so much better and mush roomier for bigger horses. I wish the dressing room was a bit bigger but we manage to get three horses and all their stuff in! I find it no more difficult to back into places than the slant and I am a terrible backer!
I don’t have 2+1 but wanted to comment on the added 2’. I went from a LQ trailer that was 23’ long to a LQ trailer that is 28’ long, and really don’t see much of a difference because of the added length. I do take extra care to make sure I have enough room turning, but I do think backing seems easier with the longer trailer.
My neighbor has a really nice 4-star 2+1 that does NOT have a dressing room, so it’s really not too long. You might want to see if you can order one like that if you’d like. I’m considering the same thing.
I have one… but it’s custom. I have a gate at the end of the nosecone so I store lots of my gear up there. The straight stalls are actually 6 inches longer then a normal stall and I have a big enough front open area to slant another horse in it. All in all about 16 feet of floor. I also have the side half ramp. It’s great to hide in if you get a rain storm and you have hauled in. You can out lots of stuff int he open box like a table and chairs… and just chill.
Thanks for all of the answers! I definitely do want the dressing room though. I don’t have a fancy barn and so when I ordered my Merhow, I got it with extra bridle hooks and saddle racks so that I just store all of my tack on it and then I never have to worry about where something is when going to a show, and plan to keep it that way and would have extra hooks and racks put into anything I got. My present tack room is not much bigger than the 2+1’s since some of the tack room space on my 3 horse slant was canabalized to make the stalls longer.
If you like your current trailer but want extra storage, what about adding a stud wall to the first partition? If you want a new trailer, then go for the 2 + 1 !
Here is one person’s DIY idea.
Those are great ideas and will definitely keep that in mind for creating a stud wall below the front divider for storage.
I am in the process of pricing a trade in out and we’ll see how it works out.
Anyone know of a way to establish value on a used horse trailer without having to pay to get into Kelley Blue Book or does anyone already have a KBB subscription and could look it up?
I’ve tried finding a comparable to my trailer and just cannot find anything out there for sale to have a good feel for what I should be getting for it.
The only way to get a somewhat accurate price would be to look at something as close to yours as possible on a website like horsetrailerworld.com. I have never used Kelley Blue Book because of having to pay and I’m cheap, although I would be curious to know how they priced things out.
I forked over the $9.99 and got the pricing as I figured I needed the education and it appears the dealer is low balling me by about a grand. If she’ll come up on the trade I may do the swap. If not, I may hold what I’ve got or check out other dealers.
I have a 2 + 1 with a side ramp but it does not have a separate dressing room. It’s not any longer than a 2 horse with a dressing room. The side ramp is slightly narrower, and steeper for some reason now that I think about it, maybe it is also shorter? . We got it because we drive and need a place for the carriage.
Your stuff will get dirtier without a dressing room but the big space in front of the horses is great for hanging out in on a rainy show day, and because there are not walls, the ventilation on a hot day is fantastic if you open the gooseneck windows.
Mine is a Jamco, and was probably a custom. I bought it used.
Like Hillary, I have a 2 + 1 without a dressing room. Mine is a 4 Star. I was really worried about the extra length going from a Kingston 2H BP with DR but it’s really not appreciably harder to maneuver and all the extra space is wonderful.
I no longer have a farm, so my trailer acts as my tack room. I have multiple hooks on the wall to the gooseneck portion to hang my bridles and often used items. My saddles are on either side mounted saddle racks or on a free standing rack in the GN portion. Everything that I use often is close to the GN half wall and the lesser used items are toward the front of the GN. It’s not quite as handy as having a walk in tack room, but it’s worth it to not have the extra length in the trailer so I am happy with the configuration.
I do have 2 tack trunks in the +1 portion of the trailer where I keep my show trunk and handy sheet/blanket storage. These trunks also act as a step stool when I need to get up into the GN portion. They do take up some space but I am still able to turn my 16.3 gelding around to walk out the back of the trailer after tacking him up inside the +1 portion. It is plenty of room to walk him through the side ramp. I just get at lessons and just put down the back ramp to load and unload him.
I love the 2 + 1 because I often trailer alone to lessons and competitions and I don’t trust my gelding to politely tie to the side of the trailer. I love being able to tack up, put studs in and hang out in the +1 portion during bad weather or just to stay out of the sun. He is happy to munch on hay while looking out of the window over the side ramp while I am getting ready.
You may be able to do quite well without the DR. It took me a little bit of time to conveniently fit everything in my trailer for easy access but I can honestly say I don’t regret not getting a DR with my trailer. I think it would have made it too unwieldy for me to confidently haul consistently.
I absolutely love my 2 + 1 and find it so much more convenient!!
