I am on the hunt for a 2+1 trailer on a budget. Opinions on best makes, and those to stay away from and why? I’ve seen great reviews of 4star but haven’t found any used in the budget. I have heard lots of bad reviews on exiss, but have found one 8 years old nearer the budget. Is it worth looking at an exiss or is that a hard stop in the 2+1 design?
I’m happy with my Hawk, which I’ve had for almost 2 years (I had a Hawk BP for 17 years before that). It’s not a budget brand, but does come in for less than the 4star.
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Look at the runabout models for the 4-Star. My Exiss (not a 2+1) was a POS. Leaked like a sieve as well as Exiss put the axles on it crooked. We bought it new. Had a hell of a fight with them, and the trailer was never right. I also had fit and finish issues, such as doors not closing properly, etc. It was a mess! Sold it and bought the 4 Star. Absolute relief. My only trailer which I deem worse than the Exiss was the Trails West I owned! These are only my personal experiences. I have had very good luck with 4-Star, Featherlite (few leaks, but very reliable trailer), Elite and Adams.
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I have a 22’ 2+1 gooseneck by Featherlite. I bought it new in 2016 and have absolutely loved it! It has a rear and side ramp which is very convenient and it’s a dream to haul. We’ve only ever bought Featherlites when it comes to show trailers and I have never had a problem with them
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Do you know how much your Hawk weighs? There is a used one nearby at a good price, but my truck is an '03 F250 5.4l engine.The truck needs to last me a couple more years.
I sold a Trailers USA modified 2+1 that was built for a carriage in the +1 and replaced it with a Hawk (err… Balanced Ride) which I love. Friend of mine bought a 2+1 Featherlight- she loves the trailer but wished she’d gone with some different layouts with the doors & dividers.
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https://www.hawktrailers.com/pdf/3hgn21wdresssiderampall.pdf
Hawk’s literature lists it at 6200 lbs; keep in mind the larger-sized trailers and options can bring the weight up.
I have a Hawk 2H/side unload that has performed very well for me; I’ll be in the market for a 2+1 in the next year or so, and though I really like some of the features of the 4Star, Hawk is still top of the list for me.
greys
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Love love, love my Adam 2 + 1. I’ve had it 7 years with very few issues.
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I also love my Adam 2+1. They built mine for me with a ton of changes I requested - extra length stalls, change the tack room door to the other side, full rear doors with ramp over, rubber line entire +1 area, insulate ceiling, add fans, auto jack, and on and on. Anything that was just a change (like moving the location of doors, windows, etc.) was at no extra charge. And the prices for all the “extras” I wanted were reasonable.
I went and picked it up at the factory because I wanted them to build a bike rack for the back of the trailer, so I brought my bike down and they made it for me right then. They also gave me a tour of the factory and it was pretty cool to see what they do.
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I looked for a few years for a used 2+1 within my budget for a higher quality model. I thought it was going to be impossible until I found it last year (C&C trailer). Had to drive to Maine (I am in Canada so was about 15hr drive), but it was in perfect condition and in my budget (even after the exchange conversion). I found it through a kijiji ad, which made me a bit nervous until I was messaging and talking to the couple (older couple). So it is possible, but it is something that doesn’t come up often and when it does you have to jump on it because there are lots f people looking . There were a few that I had found mostly on facebook in the couple years while looking but I was just too late or “next in line”. The wait was hard but it was worth it, I love my trailer and I love that I waited and found within my budget.
For my search I was going for 4star, C&C (no longer make but there are some used) and Jamco.
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I don’t know exactly. I got mine with no dressing room, so the overall length is about 7’ shorter than the one linked with the 6200lb weight. Presumably, it weighs a little less than that. I’ve been meaning to get it weighed.
The Hawk 2H, front ramp, with DR, which is about the same length as mine, weighs 4950lbs, but it probably has a lighter floor in the DR area. https://www.hawktrailers.com/pdf/2H_GN_WT_WDRESS__SR_SPECS.pdf
This is exactly like mine:
https://happytrailstrailers.com/2017…ng-room-2-2-5/
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I have a 4Star and like it. I’ve seen a Hawk, also nice. Featherlites are great but more money I think. Just recently saw a newer Kiefer. The box comes bigger on that one now standard (same length as the rear), which is nice. The rest of it is pretty similar to my 4Star.
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Not to go off topic, but what are the advantages of a 2 + 1 rather than a standard 3 horse slant?
The advantage is that the +1 space is extremely versatile for many different things:
- Third horse
- tack up area in rainy or hot weather
- a place to set up your chairs in the shade, or to get out of the wind on a cold day
- storage space for carrying hay, equipment, a cart, whatever
- you can use the much lighter front ramp for loading and use the +1 area to teach your horse to pivot and back into a stall
Those are all things I’ve done with my +1 space in the last 20 months or so. I’m sure others have even more uses for it.
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I’ll also confirm that the Adam 2+1 is a terrific trailer. I bought a 4 year old one last summer and have been really really happy with it. Not sure of the exact weight but my 2003 F-250 handles it easily.
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I just sold my 3H slant. It’s hard to find one big enough for the WBs. My horses seemed to be much more comfortable/less clostraphobic in the straight load configuration when there isn’t a wall directly in front of their face with a haynet taking exta room. It can also be narrower than a slant, so easier at those construction sites or narrow lane highways. And it gives the option of hauling a 3rd horse, converting to two box stalls, hauling extra hay/equipment/golfcart etc. It also gives you multiple ways to load and unload the horses. The only downside I see is the extra length/weight.
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If I hadn’t bought a 4Star, I probably would have gotten an Adam. I keep hearing really good things - as posted above. Definitely for the bigger warmblood bodies, you really need straight stalls. The 2+1 trailers offer so much versatility if your’re showing or have different animals or mares and foals. I had a two horse straight load Exiss about 15-16 years ago and it was a good trailer, but for showing, still could have used more space as I found myself filling up the truck bed. The 2+1 eliminates the need for that with plenty of storage space unless you’re hauling a third horse.
The plus one area I’ve used to haul all of my equipment plus feed, hay and a scooter. To tack up in out of the rain. To haul llamas and minis. To haul a 3 yr old mustang. Then we pulled the dividers and hauled the used Polaris Ranger we bought, home from TN. Super solid trailer that hauls like a dream. I did upgrade mine with heavier than standard axles. It’s only a couple of feet longer than my Merhow 3horse slant was.
My trainer just bought a brand new Kiefer 2+1 and had the +1 configured with dividers to it’s essentially a 4 horse head-to-head if needed. 4Star will do this is as well.
I have also heard good things about Shadow Trailers for their price point. A couple who bought a horse from me picked her up in an brand new LQ 3 horse slant and the finishing and trim on that trailer appeared to be very good. I think Shadow incorporates quite a bit of fiberglass to keep cost and the weight down.
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I have a 2008 2+1 GN Trail-et. Love it. I pull with a gas V10 2006 F250. Don’t even know it’s back there. Trail-et no longer is in business but I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend a used one if you can find one. Mine has held up really well. Not the quality of 4 Star but a really nice, safe functional trailer.
IRT storing things in the +1 area - how do you secure what you put there? Aren’t you concerned it will wind up around your horses’ feet?
No, the 2+1 area is divided from the horse area/straight stalls by gates, so anything that shifts up there is not going to roll beneath their feet. Which was a problem with just the standard two horse goose I had. If I wanted to store anything in the walk through area in front of the horses, it had to be secured somehow.
