Trying to decide between 2006 featherlite 9407 2 horse straight load with mangers or 2008 hawk elite 2H slant. Virtually same price, hawk includes leveling hitch and custom cover. Both have had very little use. Haven’t bought the horse yet so I’ll find out what she prefers but would love some input.
I love my Hawk–best trailer I’ve ever owned or used. Mine is a straight load, but if the Hawk is spacious, I’d go with a slant. Are the mangers fixed in place in the Featherlight? Too many stories of horses getting stuck in them/hurt make me leery of trailers that have those.
Mangers are fixed in the featherlite. I hauled with a fixed manger straight for years with no issues but it only takes one time. Stall width on hawk is 34" and the slant wall is 95" and 126" corner to corner.
I hate mangers and would never buy a trailer with them. I’m not a fan of slants at all. How big is the horse you are considering? Bigger horses tend to have issues with slants since the stalls typically aren’t long enough. Does either have a dressing room? I hate not having a DR and my new trailer (currently being built) has one while my current trailer doesn’t - a DR is huge for me. Do both seem bright, open and inviting inside? Escape doors? Those things make a difference too.
Sorry not much help - guess it depends on what the new horse prefers and given those two choices I’d probably go with the slant. 
I have a 2000 2H straight load extra-wide Hawk and love it. Everyone else I know with a Hawk loves theirs too. I don’t know anyone with a slant, though.
I don’t like fixed mangers, and some horses don’t like slant loads. I think both Featherlite and Hawk are good brands and either will probably be a good buy if you like the features.
I’m not a fan of fixed mangers either but I have a limited number of trailers that fit size and budget constraints. I’ve hauled lots of big WBs in the Logan 3H slant I used to have and never had issues with size even with a ceiling under 7’.
I also found a nice trail-et 2H straight, WB size with no mangers. 2006 model. It seems nice.
Mare is 16’2 Dutch.
I personally won’t touch a trailer with mangers.
The Trail Et sounds nice… that is probably the one I would choose.
It’s a tighter squeeze in the last slot so you MUST have a horse that self loads into that slot.
On thing to consider it the floor. Aluminum floors are a lot of maintenance an usually only have a one year warranty. Wood floor last longer and are easier to repair they usually have a 10 year warranty. Both wood and aluminum require regular pulling of the mats. The hawk you are looking at most likely have a rumbar floor. Those have a 20 year warranty and don’t need mats.
I had that Featherlite 9407 with fixed hay mangers. My horse HATED it. It is a more narrow trailer than most straitloads and horses can balance by putting their front legs more forward since there is a solid manger there.
I traded my 9407 in and got the Hawk you are considering. LOVE it. It’s such a nicer trailer. It’s insulated, so while I’m outside at a show sweating my butt off, my horse is comfortable inside eating his hay out my next favorite thing, the hay trays. It is so nice not having to stuff a hay net and once you get where you are going, pull out horsey, tie him to the side, open the door and he can keep eating.
Definitely get the Hawk. You will not be disapointed.
I had that Featherlite 9407 with fixed hay mangers. My horse HATED it. It is a more narrow trailer than most straitloads and horses can balance by putting their front legs more forward since there is a solid manger there.
I traded my 9407 in and got the Hawk you are considering. LOVE it. It’s such a nicer trailer. It’s insulated, so while I’m outside at a show sweating my butt off, my horse is comfortable inside eating his hay out my next favorite thing, the hay trays. It is so nice not having to stuff a hay net and once you get where you are going, pull out horsey, tie him to the side, open the door and he can keep eating.
Definitely get the Hawk. You will not be disapointed.
Forgot to ad, that Featherlite model does not have butt bars either, so they can balance on that either. Featherlite makes some nice trailers, but the 9407 is a big time dud.
I thought there were some Threads about how hideous Featherlite trailers are? Literally falling apart & no help in regard to repairing them. I think the BIG thread was in Off Course.
Do a search. I know I am horrible at getting the search feature to work here. sad Perhaps someone else can find the old links?
Pretty sure that was Sundowner, but …you couldn’t give me a trailer with mangers
Take the Trail Et, absolutely no question.
You are correct, it is the Sundowner. :yes:
[QUOTE=Jazzy’s mom;7986362]
Mangers are fixed in the featherlite. I hauled with a fixed manger straight for years with no issues but it only takes one time. Stall width on hawk is 34" and the slant wall is 95" and 126" corner to corner.[/QUOTE]
Just remember…the horse can not take advantage of the diagonal measure. Center to center of stall is what matters. I would never buy a trailer with mangers and I have never seen a big horse haul well in a slant. They “always” rub one hip. JMO
Love, love,love my Trail-et! Been hauling almost every week with it and it’s a dream to pull, the horses love it and the canvas hay feeders are awesome. I love that my horse can put his head down and eat somewhat naturally while in transit.
I also LOVE how roomy and airy it is, lots of windows and light inside. The ramp is easy to lift and I have the dressing room set up perfectly (wish my closets at home were that well organized, lol, sigh). Couldn’t be happier with my Trail-Et (not very common on the west coast, so I am glad I found it!).
Not all slants are created equal. My horse is over 17h and a little longer than she is square. My slant load has a different angle to the slant wall so that the stalls are longer - she and any other big horse fit perfectly fine and don’t feel squeezed. A lot of slants are designed for a bigger horse, you just have to find the right one.
And I don’t agree w the comment that aluminum floors are an issue. Mine are holding up great and I wouldn’t do wood…but ymmv.
I think trailer preferences are like opinions - everyone has one. 
Take the Trail-Et out of those three. Hawks are great, but I’ve had both slants and straight loads and really prefer their straight load for a number or reasons. I’d take a straight load Hawk over a straight load Trail-Et, but would take the Straightload Trall-Et over the slant load Hawk. Featherlight and mangers = no way!
