I have looked at horse trailers with LQ. They are expensive and, even ones with 12’ + short wall are still horse trailers first and LQ 2nd.
So I started to look for a way to reverse the horse/human ratio and came across a RV “Toy Hauler” that has an after market stall/storage (even golf cart) module.
Because, once you get where you are going, the horse no longer lives in the vehicle that got him there, but you do.
This seems like a really great way to take your horse with you and still have a nice place to live while at the show.
Has anyone else looked into this solution?
Hmmm…my trainer recently bought a toy hauler RV - it is super nice (and was super expensive) but the toy hauler part would need some serious modification to be horse safe. It is most definitely big enough for 2 horses. I’d really research that the floor will be strong enough for horses. And that walls are kick proof.
Definitely an interesting idea but have you priced toy haulers? (I have not but I know the ones my trainer looked at were $80K on up.)
I was under the impression that a good horse trailer is built to be a roll cage. Would a toy hauler walls and roof provide the roll cage when the stalls are in place? How about a horse box with living quarters? Seems as though that might be a good solution.
With a horse trailer, you can unhitch the trailer and have your truck to drive around in. With a horse box or RV with stalls, you’ll need something else to drive while you are parked. So if you are towing a car behind that mammoth vehicle, you’re gonna be VERY long.
This has been discussed at length on Horse Trailer World and the general consensus is that it is NOT a good idea.
Horse trailers are built to specifically haul a live load that can and will move around. Toy haulers are built to haul stationary objects that should not move while bring hauled.
Compare the two trailers side by side and I think you’ll see a huge difference in how they are built.
Horses are not a cheap hobby- that is just the reality of it. You can find well built, older LQ trailers that are built to do the job for reasonable prices if you are willing to shop and are flexible about how soon you want to buy.
To give you an idea- I bought a used LQ earlier this year for $25k. 13’ LQ, dinette, large fridge/ freezer, large bathroom, tons of storage. 3 horse slant that is fully insulated. We always use the first stall as a mudroom and due to the insulation, it is very easy to cool the rear of the trailer and it makes for a great place for our dogs to sleep safely and comfortably.
I saw this trailer advertised for months on Craig’s List by the owner, then on Craig’s a List by an RV dealer it was traded to. I was able to by it from the RV dealer for $8K less than what the original owner wanted for it, plus it had been gone over by the shop at the RV dealer. For me, it was a win/ win situation!
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If you’re only hauling one horse, you can get a 1 horse trailer with living quarters for I think $20k new.
My mother in law just purchased a toy hauler with a 12’ garage, and yes, there is lots of room in the back that you may want to put horses in there, but if you ever looked under the trailer at the structure, theres no way it would be safe.
Her model also has an extremely steep ramp - very dangerous to load an animal (though I know some have less steep ramps). The support beams underneath the trailer are much wider apart and not nearly as strong as a horse trailer. Plus this toy hauler was way more expensive than a horse trailer with a live in.
Sorry, but its a terrible idea.
I agree with all the above points, plus
I think the bars on the escape doors are a serious hazard if a horse paws.
The horses can reach over the top and bite at each other.
I also hate the mangers, the horses can’t put their heads down at all, and if you put a hay net or bucket in there… well there just is not room where the horse needs it.
Why not just buy a smaller used motor home and pull your trailer with that?
MAYBE if the horse was a mini… I wouldn’t do it with a full sized horse/s. Too dangerous for many reasons already mentioned.
They make RVs set up with horse stalls in the back. I think the cost is somewhere around purchasing a vacation home on a tropical island though.
We have a 2012 Voltage toyhauler. It is 43’ long, and has a gross of 19,500. The garage is certainly big enough space-wise for 3-4 horses, but that is where the “good” ends. Well, except that you can also run the AC going down the road, so the horses would be nice and cool… but anyway.
*Even though the garages are big, most toyhaulers have a fairly limited cargo capacity in the garage. I think ours has a 2.5-3K capacity? I am not really sure. I know we had to buy a SmartCar to fit in it because it was the only road-vehicle that was light enough to not exceed the weight limit.
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Most garages are at the a**end of the trailer, well behind the axles, and it is not a very smooth ride. RV trailer suspension is NOT the same as horse trailer suspension. Our toyhauler rides ROUGH in the garage - you have to tie things down.
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No way are the walls built to hold a live, thrashing load. BIG windows that extend to the floor, no ventilation (other than the AC). Floor is uber sturdy, walls not so much. Nothing gets tied to the walls, tie-down anchors are all in the floor.
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I guess you could put one of those pre-built boxes in the garage to haul the horses in, but it seems like it would be a major PITA, and then you would have to unload the box and CLEAN the garage to regain that living space. Our garage is our dining room and our boys bedroom, I sure wouldn’t want to deal with assembling and disassembling a horse box back there constantly.
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Most toyhauler ramps are steep, but not insurmountable. They generally are built quite sturdy with a pretty good weight capacity (cars drive up them…), plenty sturdy enough for a horse to walk on.
There are RV toyhaulers out there that are car hauler/cargo trailers with living quarters up front. THOSE are built like a tank, probably just as sturdy as a horse trailer, and I could more easily see one of them being converted to a horse trailer. Our 1st toyhauler was a car hauler type - a 2007 Forest River Work 'n Play. They are cheaper than LQ horse trailers… but you’d have to convert the back. We sold our Work 'n Play because we wanted more living space (slideouts) and a real kitchen and a real bedroom, not a bed in the nose that you had to climb a ladder to get to.
I bought a used 4-Star two horse, midtack with LQ last year and LOVE it. I have walk through doors from the bathroom to the midtack to the horse compartment. Once I have unloaded the horses and tack I store all my clothes and stuff hanging in the midtack. Since a door connects the bathroom to midtack it essentially becomes my dressing room adding a ton of “living space”. One day I want to use it to travel across country and put bikes, hiking gear, outdoor tables, etc in the horse compartment and then really set the midtack up as a complete closet. When I get someplace I can unhook the truck to tool around town to see the sights, have all necessary “fun” gear in the “garage” (aka horse section) to not dirty the LQ area, etc. I think it will work better than most RVs!!
I am going to be spending 8 weeks in Fla (Ocala) this year. My main problem is that I have an Avalanche 2500 and, because of the little “wings” behind the cab, I cannot pull a gooseneck with it.
Yes, I could buy a decent 3500 dooley (1 ton) but they sell in the $45,000 range. My Avalanche is only worth about $15,000. Then adding in the cost of a trailer w/LQ – above my price range.
If I buy a motorhome, I need a car, and I cannot pull both a car and a trailer behind it.
It is looking like I will buy a travel trailer and have the horse shipped comercially.
Thanks for the comments. This is what I needed to know.
Buy a motorhome, pull a BP horse trailer, ship the Avalanche… Then you still have the Avalanche to drive around town AND a horse trailer if you need it.
They do make bumper pull horse trailers with living quarters.
http://www.factorydirecthorsetrailers.com/bumperpulllivingquarters.html
