4Star Trailers - Options: Fans? Quiet Ride?

[FatCatFarm]

I’m ordering a new trailer and initially passed on these two options. The fans are only 12volts and don’t have a CFM rating (measurement of the amount of air they are able to move). They do however swivel. They cost $165 ea. installed. The quiet ride divider system is a $700 option. The connections to the divider are rubberized which cuts down on rattle noise. Otherwise, it’s the usual pin and cable connections. Seemed a bit overpriced to me but thought I had better ask if anyone has it and is it worth it. And what you think of the fans.

I’m revisiting the fans issue as with this trailer, a 2+1, I’m planning on showing out of my trailer more and rather than tying outside, will have the horse hang out on the trailer between classes. While I generally don’t show a whole lot during the worst of summer, I do make the occasional outing. I can always just get a stall and hang a box fan on those occasions though.

I looked up previous discussions on trailer fans here and it seems pretty divided between not worth it; to definitely worth it; to not worth those but there are better options out there, but would require an aftermarket install.

This is not a living quarters trailer. There does seem to be plenty of windows and doors in order to open up the trailer and get air flow, provided there is a breeze, which on some hot days here in the deep South, is nonexistent.

[soloudinhere]

If you get the fans, you should also get the deep cycle battery option. Otherwise the draw from your truck over a whole day might kill your battery. I love my trailer fans and they move quite a bit of air (can see the mane fluttering around where the air is blowing over them) and I leave them on when I drive in the summer to keep air moving in case I get stuck in traffic and the trailer is baking on the road. They definitely keep my fully-insulated trailer much cooler.

I didn’t get the deep cycle battery and I wish I did - given the choice between $700 for the quiet ride and $400 for the battery, I’d get the battery.

[FatCatFarm]

Thanks Soloudinhere, that’s helpful.

[elctrnc]

We have the fans in our 2 horse and did not order them in our new 2+1. We never used the fans because the truck had to be on at the same time for them to work (just like the trailer lights), so they were useless at shows. The fans were also loud and would get very dirty.

We have the quiet ride system in both trailers and that is IMO the best feature and why I stuck with 4Star on the new 2+1. I am not sure what you mean by “it’s the usual pin and cable connections,” since that is not the case in our trailers. Much easier and quicker to open and close the bars. I believe 4Star has videos on it.

[elctrnc]

I should add that we are in New England and have insulated ceilings in both trailers, so they stay relatively cool. If you are in a hotter climate, fans might be more necessary but work it out so they are usable without the truck power.

[FatCatFarm]

@elctrnc

I am not sure what you mean by “it’s the usual pin and cable connections,” since that is not the case in our trailers. Much easier and quicker to open and close the bars. I believe 4Star has videos on it.

What I meant by that is, if you DON’T go with the Quiet Ride Divider System, it’s the usual pin and cable connection set up. The horse compartment is insulated. I’m inquiring what the cost of adding a battery to power to the fans so they can be used independent of the truck.

[SonnysMom]

Go for the fans. Even if you can only use them when the truck is running if you ever get stuck in traffic on the highway on a hot day it is so worth it. I got stuck in traffic last summer on an unseasonably warm June day and ordered the fans when I got back from the trip. No breeze, not moving to create a breeze and hot highway and I was just feeling bad for both horses.

[cherham]

Just be aware that the warranty on a new 4 star trailer is NOT transferable to a new owner. That might be an issue down the way if you find you ever have to sell your trailer while still under warranty. One of the reasons we did not purchase a 4 star. Just FYI

[Gloria]

I will get the fans. I rarely use mine, but the few times when I had to park somewhere in mid summer days for lunches, I sure am glad I had them.

[FatCatFarm]

Thanks Cherham, but I’m planning on this being the last trailer I ever own, hence my interest in investing in these options. Just trying to weigh their pros and cons with cost. I’ve never had fans in a trailer and my horses have done very well. Yes, on really hot days they’ve gotten a bit sweaty, but mine are good haulers and have never trailered and become soaked in sweat. I try to avoid trailering during the hottest part of the day, and if I do, keep it as brief as possible. I mostly trailer locally, within and hour or so of home.

Having the fans for use on a hot day at a show sounds like a nice luxury.

The quiet ride system also, as I do think being trailered is inherently stressful to every horse.

[FatCatFarm]

@Gloria

I will get the fans. I rarely use mine, but the few times when I had to park somewhere in mid summer days for lunches, I sure am glad I had them.

How are yours set up to run when you’re away from your vehicle?

[Gloria]

@FatCatFarm

How are yours set up to run when you’re away from your vehicle?

Mine is powered by the deep marine battery so you just flip on the switches and go:) Oh, make sure your battery is fully charged before your trip. We learnt the unfortunately lesson that running the vehicle does not charge that battery. We had to tow that trailer to hotel parking lot because we couldn’t get the hydraulic jack to work because the battery had died…

[TullyMars]

So I just took delivery on my 2 + 1 on Saturday from 4 star. There are tons of windows and storm doors and ample wind through the trailer, however I live in Southern California and I have to consider that we have days over 100, and we have terrible traffic that an be at a standstill. Then the fans will come in handy. I also can have them on at the show grounds. They did add a battery box and a deep cell battery under the nose. The other options that I chose are the Quiet Ride, WERM flooring, tack room step, easy ramp lift, carpet in nose, and a camera system with cameras inside and on the back to assist with backing. I can answer any questions that you may have about the process if you would like to PM me, or I can give you my phone number and send you pictures and show you what I did and what my logic…or lack of logic…dictated to me. I also got the white skin. Make sure that if you are shorter you ask about steps to get to the side curtain door. I am 5’10" and I have to use the step I had installed. I did have a decorative hub cover come off on the trip to me, and I have a interior clip that is missing. Dealer has been very helpful. Let me know if you need anything!

[FatCatFarm]

Hi Tullymars, congratulations! I would be most interested in hearing more about the quiet ride system and what persuaded you to get it. And especially if you could take a ride in your trailer and give me your thoughts about the noise level. Thanks!

Oh I did get the step in to the tack room, but not to the side escape door. Otherwise, WERM, insulated ceiling, eazy lift ramps, extra lights in and out, rubber mat on the floor in the DR, carpeting in the nose and up the wall behind the tack hooks, extra tack hooks and saddle racks, white skin w/a graphic, drop down doors at the head of each horse and at the escape door.

[Quelah]

I live in N California, it can get really hot here. I custom ordered my Hawk (2007) with fans that run off battery that is independent of (but kept charged by) the truck. In 10 years I’ve used the fans twice. My trailer stays much cooler than outside (white fiberglass roof). The best thing if you can do it is have windows on the front of trailer, windows on wall of tack room between tack and horses, and windows on rear doors. When I open all of those, the trailer is basically a wind tunnel. I try not to haul when it’s really hot but since I spent years providing emergency transport to UC Davis and other area hospitals, so there were times I had to haul when it was well clear of 100 degrees. I’ve only had a few (can count on my fingers) sweaty horses come off my trailer, and they were nerve sweaty because they were having fits, not sweating because they were hot.

[Quelah]

That video is rather deceptive IMO, in the first video they have the grills in place (I think that’s what’s making all the noise) in the second video the grills are folded away. I’ve ridden in my Hawk when it’s on the road, it’s very quiet, but I don’t have any hollow metal grills in it either.

[FatCatFarm]

Thanks for that Quelah!

[FatCatFarm]

@Quelah

That video is rather deceptive IMO, in the first video they have the grills in place (I think that’s what’s making all the noise) in the second video the grills are folded away. I’ve ridden in my Hawk when it’s on the road, it’s very quiet, but I don’t have any hollow metal grills in it either.

Well that and it looks like the head divider is loose and it’s on a dirt road, and the one demonstrating the “guiet ride” is on a flat well-paved road. Like I said, why not take the darn thing back over the dirt road like they did to make the noisy segment???

[soloudinhere]

@Gloria

Mine is powered by the deep marine battery so you just flip on the switches and go:) Oh, make sure your battery is fully charged before your trip. We learnt the unfortunately lesson that running the vehicle does not charge that battery. We had to tow that trailer to hotel parking lot because we couldn’t get the hydraulic jack to work because the battery had died…

It should. Did you get that looked at? If not, you can put it on a solar trickle charger while it’s parked to make sure it stays charged.

[IPEsq]

I really like the head shield on the QR version better than the regular one. However, I think the QR only comes with the single stud gate between the box and the 2H. So, when that’s open, your escape door is blocked, and you need to be sure your box is totally clear to open the gate. I may have a bale of hay or something in my box and still take my horse out the front ramp using the 2 gate design. To me, having a single gate was a drawback that made it not worth it to me to look for QR.

I’ve toyed with adding fans (mine came without but there are plates covering areas where you can mount and wire them in), but I think I’d only use them for the times stuck in traffic.