Another Euro Trailer Thread - suspension height and tack rooms

[fivestrideline]

Euro trailers like Equi-Trek - can they be raised to match the ride height of modern (unlifted or very slightly lifted) American trucks? I realize drop hitches exist, but the one Brenderup I see regularly requires one heck of a drop hitch and I’m not crazy about that.

I like Equi-Trek the best (rear facing, side load ramp), and conceptually the Night version with the little camper in the front makes sense for me. However, that appears to take the tack storage space down to almost non-existent. I’d mainly be using this rig for two horses to show 3 days at hunter shows, so I’d be needing to take full gear + hay, some shavings, some water. Has anyone seen one of these in person that can attest to the storage space?

Not anytime soon, but at some point I will be upgrading my hauling rig. I am maxed out right now with my F150, and have perhaps unfounded dreams of hauling two horses 5+ hours once a month or so over some minor mountains. Hence the Euro trailer idea - I would have to upgrade my truck to haul the Balanced Ride gooseneck I’m also interested in. That takes the financial aspect from ~$30-$40k trailer minus trade-in, to $30-$40k + $70k truck 🫥.

I’ve read all the threads debating the trailers themselves, and have done my truck research like no tomorrow. Now I’m just wondering about the details! Thoughts?

[SBrentnall]

I pull my Equitrek with a RAM 1500 and have no problems at all with it being level. I have a multi-height hitch so I can pull any trailer. It also has plenty of tack storage space, but mine is a Day Trekka so the entire front compartment is storage.

I regularly pull two 17+ warmbloods up and down mountains in SoCal with no problems whatsoever.

[SweetMutt]

@Xanthoria has exactly the trailer you’re considering. I have a Trail Treka, which lacks the living quarters but has a similarly dinky tack storage space. It’s been fine for me to take one horse to five-day shows, though I order shavings when I get there vs. bringing then along with me. Saddles and bridles go in the tack locker, trunk/hay/buckets/etc goes in the bed of the trunk. I do like to travel light anyway.

[Xanthoria]

Yeah I have a Show Treka L which is the predecessor to the Night Treka

I wish there was a bigger tack locker - the new model does have a bigger tack locker door tho which will help a lot. I do get all my gear in fine though.

I regularly haul 1 or 2 horses 2-4 hours to events for 3-5 days. I use a 4Runner to tow tho so I don’t have room for much hay. I put bagged shavings in the LQ or buy on site. I sleep in the LQ and it’s “compact and bijou” as they say

If I only have one horse I use the 2nd stall for my tack trunk and bales of hay. I added tie downs in the outer stall for that purpose.

The water container in the LQ holds about 6 gallons which is plenty for on the road emergencies. I don’t hold places that don’t have water available on arrival so I don’t need a huge tank.

No idea about raising the trailer to accommodate A tall truck, sorry. Are the dropped hitches bad?

[fivestrideline]

@Xanthoria

Are the dropped hitches bad?

A huge drop can mess with the weight distribution and make the load less stable. I’d be using a WD hitch if possible, but still. Also, clearance for generally terrible roads is a bonus - we have some janky stuff around here, plus getting into and out of driveways on various cambers.

[fivestrideline]

@SweetMutt

I have a Trail Treka, which lacks the living quarters but has a similarly dinky tack storage space. It’s been fine for me to take one horse to five-day shows, though I order shavings when I get there vs. bringing then along with me. Saddles and bridles go in the tack locker, trunk/hay/buckets/etc goes in the bed of the trunk.

Okay so I’m not crazy in thinking the “tack lockers” look minuscule

I have a BP with tack room now, and I think the original owner added a foot to that space but it’s still tight when fully loaded.

Sounds like the camper setup may not work for me unless I get real efficient with packing. Shavings and hay are just so expensive to buy at the shows!

[Xanthoria]

WD hitches are contraindicated for European trailers with inertia brakes. I wonder if there’s another solution?

[fivestrideline]

Ah well that’s why I said “if possible” so I guess that’s out .

To be clear, I haven’t tried to hitch an EquiTrek up to my truck. I’m going based on pictures and a cursory glance at specs. I imagine you can do a lift like they do with American trailers, but I honestly don’t know for sure.

[kaya842]

@fivestrideline

A huge drop can mess with the weight distribution and make the load less stable. I’d be using a WD hitch if possible, but still. Also, clearance for generally terrible roads is a bonus - we have some janky stuff around here, plus getting into and out of driveways on various cambers.

FWIW - we’ve been towing our Brenderup with a crazy drop hitch (8 in drop IIRC). Trailer rides 100% level and hitch ball sits at the trailer manufacturers recommended height. I have not found that it makes the load unstable or honestly effects the way it travels/ pulls at all (we’ve pulled it with a “normal” hitch on a lower/ old truck and on a crazy raised hitch with an SUV where the tow receiver sat super low under the bumper - no changes noted between the 3).

Also, no chance that I’d be messing with a WDH with these. 1. I’ve read that the WDH mechanism can keep the inertia brakes from activating correctly (which makes sense to me) and 2. You really, really don’t need it. They are SO light on the tongue I’m not sure a WDH would do anything other than burn a hole in your pocket. For reference from the Maple Lane Trailer dealer site (they sell bockmanns): “ EU regulations allows an LTW of 4% of the total trailer weight or GVWR (GVWR =empty weight of trailer + max load). The 4% LTW has a maximum of 150 kg or 330 lbs of tongue weight for the largest European trailer.”

In regard to clearance - I don’t have an EquiTrek but the Brenderup hasn’t had any issues on our terribly washed out driveway or road to our house. I did have issues with the Hawk I borrowed on the same driveway/ roads.

[fivestrideline]

Great to hear about the ground clearance! And yes, I was informed about the WD hitch upthread. I have one for my trailer now and it’s just part of the “kit”, though it would be nice to not mess with it!

I am still thinking in heavy RV/big American trailers about this but the fact is these things are so much lighter . Mind blowing, considering the height of them.

[kaya842]

You’ll come to love it! I’ve had several American trailers before getting the brenderup and when I borrowed the Hawk to try my horse in I was awestruck at how heavy it was I mean I knew but apparently had forgot (and that was with a WDH!).

I can’t speak to a Night Treka specifically, but depending on your set up it could be enough space. We took 1 horse to KY for 5-6 days in the Baron (significantly less space than the Equitreks) and an SUV (so no truck bed) and managed to get everything in there. That was with hella tack as it was a horse trial (so 2 of everything - bridle, girth, saddle, pads, boots, etc). While the tack lockers on the Equitreks aren’t large, I could see fitting the tack in there + some supplies and if bringing one horse a lot more in the body of the trailer. You could also put some items in the living quarter space (clean buckets for example - they take up a lot of space especially if you don’t have anything to store in them but would do well there) then you’ll also have the truck bed (and potentially cab depending).

Depending on where you plan to go the shavings may be a non issue (outside shavings not allowed, there is a TSC/ Rural King/ etc near by, facility provides them, etc). Those certainly take up a lot of space if packing for multiple horses for a prolonged period of time and IMO they can’t go in the sleeping area or cab bc they can/ do leak and make a mess.

[LCDR]

Do you really need a pickup as your tow vehicle? 35 of my last 40 years I towed with body on frame SUV’s taking 2 horses and gear eventing or to fox hunting weeks, with a BP with no tack room. All the gear for 2 horses and two riders, feed, hay, and bedding went in the SUV.

Sure, I lusted for a pickup and gooseneck like it seemed everyone else had. Then I realized that no one really cared how you got there. Only in Pony Club mounted functions was the trailer ever judged.

[fivestrideline]

@LCDR

Do you really need a pickup as your tow vehicle?

We need the pickup for everything else, actually! So we’d have it regardless. It’s the dog hauler, camping vehicle, and bad weather machine!

[LCDR]

So how about just adding a camper shell to the pickup bed when you are taking the Euro trailer to shows?

[fivestrideline]

Camper shell is already there! It’s essential for the dogs when we travel.

As far as horses I’ll be honest - I’ve done the “pack all the things in the truck bed” already (I had a 2H straight with no tack room). I hated it . I’ll put things back there, no doubt, but crawling in and out of the bed to get stuff just ain’t it for the most part. No shade to everyone who does, I’ve done it! It’s just not my first choice anymore.

Though to someone else’s point about picking ip shavings at the local TSC, yes that’s a good reminder! For shorter one night trips I’ll just throw some in the truck bed like LCDR said, but otherwise I can usually find a store nearby.

[Xanthoria]

@kaya842

Depending on where you plan to go the shavings may be a non issue (outside shavings not allowed, there is a TSC/ Rural King/ etc near by, facility provides them, etc). Those certainly take up a lot of space if packing for multiple horses for a prolonged period of time and IMO they can’t go in the sleeping area or cab bc they can/ do leak and make a mess.

I put them in the LQ and haven’t had a problem - only had the flick a few flakes out occasionally. I do put tape over a hole if I see one when I’m packing.

I usually only put 6-8 bags in tho for one horse for a long weekend. Other horse stuff that goes in the LQ:
Buckets
Hose
Saddle stand
Collapsible cart
Feed

[LCDR]

Why are you concerned about using a drop hitch?

[fivestrideline]

Experience with the heavier American trailers where this is a weight distribution issue

@fivestrideline

I realize drop hitches exist, but the one Brenderup I see regularly requires one heck of a drop hitch and I’m not crazy about that

This was explained to me to be less of an issue due to the low tongue weight of Euro trailers (duh, I just forgot lol).

@fivestrideline

Also, clearance for generally terrible roads is a bonus - we have some janky stuff around here, plus getting into and out of driveways on various cambers.

Raising the ride height of trailers to increase ground clearance to match the tow vehicle (vs the SUVs these trailers were designed for) helps with not getting stuck in dumb places.

Another poster has one and says it has good clearance relative to a Hawk they used, so that’s good news!

[SBrentnall]

I have this hitch, and I don’t need to drop it all the way down for my truck.

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch-Ball-Mount/B-and-W/BWTS10037B.html

[endlessclimb]

Go down too far and it functions like a giant breaker bar.