I’m looking at possibly ordering a 2 horse runabout gooseneck trailer. If you have one is there anything you would add/change? The one thing I was looking at is that they aren’t lined/insulated, but you can add that. Would you just insulate the roof? Thanks
I have a 2019 4 star 2+1 runabout trailer with just about every option added. Really, it is a deluxe when you look at the all the stuff I added to it.
Which features are you interested in? I could give you the rundown on whether or not I think it’s worth it, at least from a straight load perspective.
Just bought one. They are awesome. Easy lift ramp is a must.
I have a 2017 2+1 Runabout. Yes, I insulated the roof in the horse area plus added: quiet ride, extra lights all LED, inside and out, easy lift ramps, werm flooring, a step into the dressing room, extra bridle racks with full carpeting behind, saddle racks, a blanket/girth bar, a clothes rod and graphics pkg. I had the interior gates hinged to the side of the trailer so they will butterfly fold back flush to either side.
Others have added fans, a camera system, a battery set up to run it all without the truck and a hydraulic jack.
I have a 2 +1 Runabout as well. I added Quiet Ride, Werm flooring, fans, insulation, carpeting, extra bridle and saddle racks, step, Easy lift ramps, camera system inside & outside, hydraulic jack, butterfly gates so they go both ways, and after I added the air ride hitch which I love. Mine is a dream to pull and I will keep forever due to its ability to go wherever I want with its smaller footprint. I wish I had ordered it with the +2 option so I could in an emergency have 4 horses with dividers. They did not tell me that was an option. Would not be a normal configuration for me, but my friend just got one and she has the 2+2. That was the only thing that made me think twice! You will love it. Feel free to PM with questions.
Did anyone add insulation to the entire roof throughout the trailer (including the dressing room), what about double lined and insulated walls in the horse compartment? I’m trying to decide what I should insulate. It does get pretty hot here in the summer, but our winters are mild.
Not me as the sides are pretty solid on these trailers and I didn’t see a point of insulating the roof in the tack area. I did add a sliding window to the door into the dressing room and there are two sliding windows in the nose. While I wouldn’t want to sleep in there in the middle of summer, I do keep all of my tack in my dressing room so I don’t have to worry about if I have something or not, and it’s done very well even through our hot and very humid summers.
Between the vents and drop down windows at the head of each horse and one in the +1 area, none of my horses has had a problem being hauled in the heat. There is good sun protection with the insulated roof, white interior, windows and vents. I probably would have added to vents to the +1 area if I had it to do over again, but in my case, it’s rarely used to haul anything but equipment and frankly with the windows, particularly the drop down windows, I’m not sure they’re really necessary.
I too plan to keep my trailer for a long time. While the added accessories like fans and cameras are great, they are also just another system to break down and need repair and I personally decided to forego them as a luxury and not a necessity in my case.
There is quite a list of options on these trailers. If money is no object, get them all. It’s a nice set-up. If the sky isn’t the limit, prioritize what options/conveniences you want most. I’m older, so good lighting was important along with easy lift ramps. I’m in the deep south, so good ventilation and air flow, plus an insulating ceiling and a drop down window in the +1 area. I like keeping all my tack on my trailer, so extra hooks, bars and racks. I’m short, so added the step to get into the tack room. I hate pulling mats, so WERM flooring. I despise noisy trailers so indulged in the quiet ride dividers. I have big draft crosses so wanted to optimize the +1 space without adding overall length, so had the doors butterfly to the sides, so I can pull the center divider and have a big box in that area to groom, tack up, camp, whatever.
Love my trailer.
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I agree with Fat Cat, the airflow in these trailers are phenomenal. Drop the drop downs, Open the side curtain window and if needed, I leave the upper rear storm doors open. Then with fans, I have as much airflow as I can use! I actually put a flymask on when traveling this open. We live in Southern California and I travel mostly all open. If I was using as box stalls, I obviously would have the curtain windows closed. and just use drops and fans. I love mine as well. The quality is amazing and everyone wants to buy the trailer from me. I will not sleep in my tack area ever either, but I have no condensation or wet. Trailer is quite remarkable for the price point in my opinion. Good luck Carlee!
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We had planned on ordering a 2020 this spring but stumbled upon a used 2015 for a great price so we snapped that up. It has every feature we wanted (plus a few extra) except for an extra foot in the tack room.
I agree with many above-the easy lift ramps, extra lights, and steps are must haves. In addition has WERM, the nicer windows, quiet ride and hydro jack. All of those make for a really nice ride. We are going to add fans this summer-its a lot cheaper to add them after market than have them put in by 4Star.
I have to say, I love this trailer set up. Its so easy to haul (its my first GN) and so easy to work out of.
I have a 4 Star that I love. I traded my 2001 4 Star for a new, 2016. I had to send it back to the factory, though, as I simply could not work the ‘quiet ride’ dividers. I have a straight load gooseneck, and always move the divider over for the first horse on. I’m on the small side…5’3 and 112 pounds and just didn’t have the muscle/weight to work those things so 4 Star took those off and put in the kind you drop the pin in. The WERM flooring is wonderful as is the easy lift ramp. I had 4 fans put in…
Can you guys tell me the approximate price of a new one of these?
If you have a 4 star please check your dividers for sharp edges. My friend’s horse cut her leg open- was kicking and the divider was sharp enough to cut. This was on the bottom edge of the divider next to the ramp.
They are custom so it all depends on what you want to add. Bottom price I think its around $25k? The one we built would have be about $35k plus tax.
I, too, have the 2+1 runabout with all the bells and whistles. Add everything you can afford, including fans. I have to ride with one horse, and there is good airflow. Until you get stuck in traffic and its 98 degrees. That is when your horse will thank you for the insulated roof and fans! They are marvelous trailers.
I insulated everything, but I turned my tack room into a “quasi” living space. I have an additional area I can move the saddle rack to once I’m at my destination if I need to (driver’s side front corner of the +1 area). Most of the time it’s just me and the dog sleeping in there, so I just leave the tack in the tack room. Saddle pads get moved because they’re smelly.
Eventually I will cut another roof dome vent in the tack area and install AC/heat in the OEM. I want the air conditioning, but don’t want to give up my sky light!
