DIY trailer upgrades - what's possible?

[grandprixer]

Hi all. I got my first trailer last year, and I’m ready to start making her mine. She’s a 1999 Sundowner, in great condition but still a little old. 2 horse straight load bumper pull, extra tall and wide.

For sure I’m going to add floodlights around all the sides and inside with easy to reach switches. I’ll add another battery and also make it so I can use trailer hookups at shows. I’m putting in a camera to watch the horses and probably a rear camera for on the highway eventually. I’ve also got an A/C unit that I’ve modified to fit a trailer window too.

I also really really want to make myself a better place to sleep than a cot. I saw an awesome Murphy bed in another bumper pull that folded up on the wall, but it requires removing all my saddle/bridle racks and atm I don’t have a better spot for them.

I only have one horse, what can I do with the other stall? Could I make a fold up bed over there on the opposite wall as my horse? I’d still like that stall to be semi-functional just in case, so I don’t want to wall anything off, but I’m willing to screw and bolt things in.

Any other ideas for a living space? Could I convert the second stall to a tack room and then use the murphy bed idea?

TIA! Other fun trailer upgrades are welcome too. I’m working with a trailer mechanic on keeping it structurally safe, but neither of us know what’s safe to have in a trailer stall in case an accident sends it flying!

[Abbie.S]

I’ve heard of people installing fold-up cots in 2H BP trailers before, but never seen it in person and can’t imagine it working great in a tack room as they tend to be on the small side.

In lieu of installing anything permanent, why not keep the other stall as is in case it’s needed for either a second horse or transport of hay, shavings, etc, and buy a camping cot, camping sleeping pad and a good sleeping bag? Then you can set up in the second stall whenever you want but not have to worry about hardware/the set-up making it un-useable for the intended purpose.

[Scribbler]

I camp in my 2 horse straight load. Just clean out the manure, throw down extra shavings, a canvas tarp, and then regular camp mattress sleeping bag etc.

I always travel with a buddy and if I didn’t still wouldn’t want to make any structural changes such that I could never transport a second horse.

How heavy is a proper Murphy bed? I would think it could unbalance the trailer. Also do you want a mattress hard wired to your trailer? Sounds like a recipe for mildew and mice.

[LilDunFilly]

I don’t have anything to add about the Murphy bed, but I agree with @Scribbler to caution against making a 2nd stall unusable. You never know when you’ll need it!

Some things I would like in a trailer that you may or may not have/want:
-rubber padded walls
-rubber padded floor/non-slip flooring (I saw a trailer that had grooved mats to help with traction and prevent slippage)
-adding a solid divider from the floor up to the chest

[lorilu]

there is a great facebook group called Horse Trailer Conversion II. Many great ideas, and files to search… https://www.facebook.com/groups/912876135499961

[grandprixer]

I have padded walls and a padded divider! The floor is rubber too.

I don’t want to build anything permanent that totally disables the stall for sure. But I also don’t mind having to do a little disassembly to use the stall either, like if everything was from horse trailer ikea lol.

I’d like the divider to go all the way down, but could I still make it moveable that way? I move it ask the time!

Right now, I’m thinking a Murphy bed in the tack room and I’ll build a saddle/bridle rack I can set up in the extra stall. I could probably build a wood frame to attach it too that would still leave the stall use able without the racks - and that way I could also use the stall for hay.

I know I can always use a cot, but it’s not the same! I’m not planning a deluxe tempur pedic! The bed I saw was pine, so not heavy, and had 2 orthopedic dog beds for mattresses. They can go in the washer for no musty grossness!

[NancyM]

I’ve seen a hammock used like this. Easy to set up and take down, light weight and doesn’t take a lot of room to store, and you still have your two horse bumper pull trailer in a functional state. I haven’t tried to sleep overnight in a hammock myself, so can’t comment on the physical condition you roll out of bed in, in the AM. But I’ve seen it done, and the human body was functional the next day.

[ShotenStar]

Somewhere in my web wanderings, I saw a photo sequence where the owner of a 2H trailer built a roll-on/roll-off platform for the second stall. The top held a small bed while the bottom sections were storage drawers for camping equipment, bedding, food stuffs, etc. There were steps or a small ladder to aid getting in and out of the bed. It looked quite nifty.

star

[Scribbler]

Whatever you put in the second stall, you need to think how it will behave in a traffic accident. Will it shift?

[ecileh]

@Scribbler

How heavy is a proper Murphy bed? I would think it could unbalance the trailer. Also do you want a mattress hard wired to your trailer? Sounds like a recipe for mildew and mice.

Surely a Murphy Bed would not be any heavier than a horse?