Help me choose a high end 2 horse bumper pull trailer

[stb]

I currently have a 2h slant load Featherlite BP trailer. I need something with more height and bigger stalls, and I want one with nicer finishes. I also am not crazy about the slant configuration. So, I would love to hear what your fantasy 2h BP trailer is. Eby, Hart, 4Star?

I want all aluminum, a small dressing room, probably rumbar flooring, and all the bells and whistles. Straight load, escape doors, 7’6" ht, insulated roof, loading ramp. Please help me spend my money:) I want to do this one up right, as I don’t intend to have to do this again.

[NoSuchPerson]

If money were no object, this is the one I would buy:

http://www.equispirit.com/products/2hdress_sr.htm

2 horse bumper pull with dressing room and side ramp. XL size with many (but not all) of the available extras.

However, it isn’t all aluminum.

[horsepoor]

Hawk. Very nice trailer and that is what I would go with if I had to replace my Trail-Et (which I love, but Trail-Et is no longer in business. Hawk is very similar in design and workmanship.).

[stb]

That is a very nice looking trailer. I just assumed I wanted all aluminum, but after reading the info on their website I wonder if a steel/aluminum combo might not be better.

[ryansgirl]

Kingston or Jamco. I have a Kingston and love it :yes:. Solid, well-built trailers that hold their value. Jamcos are top notch but way above my budget.

[Tory]

I have a Hawk 2 horse straight load gooseneck and I love it. One of the best trailers I have owned.

[soloudinhere]

I’m very happy with my 2h Merhow, but if I were doing this again and I had an unlimited budget, I would buy a Cimmarron.

I’ve seen some Ebys and can’t really fault them but I didn’t really think there was anything about them that made them amazing. Also have used many 4Stars and like them.

My Merhow is 2 years old, so can’t give you 15 years of experience with it, but basically no issues and except for the weird butt bar design - really nice, horse friendly, trailer. I’d buy another one.

[stb]

Cimmaron and Eby are not available anywhere near me. And when I say near, I mean 5 hour drive or less. 4Star, Equispirit, Hawk, Hart are available. Merhow doesn’t look like it’s anywhere close either. Looks like many trailers are from the midwest and don’t make it this far south and east.

I really like the looks of the Equispirit and the 4Star. From the pictures, the 4Star looks to be a sturdier build. I wish I were able to see all of these trailers in one place. Looks like the closest place for me to look at multiple brands is Ocala, which is a 5 hour drive. I really only intend to do this one more time, so really want to get it right this time.

[tbchick84]

I started with a Featherlite, but ended up with a Hawk. It’s a far better trailer and has the added strength of the steel frame. You can get them with rumber floors, ramps, extra tall, wide, whatever you want. Excellent trailers.

[OTTB2]

4* are great. If you have a set reason against getting a goose neck like you pull with an SUV ect thats fine. But if you have the opportunity to get a GN I totally would once you get one you never go back IMO they are just easier in generally given I have only been driving trailers at all for a year but I learned on a bumper pull but our gooseneck is so much better handling parking ect.

[soloudinhere]

[QUOTE=stb;8593949]
Cameron and Eby are not available anywhere near me. And when I say near, I mean 5 hour drive or less. 4Star, Equispirit, Hawk, Hart are available. Merhow doesn’t look like it’s anywhere close either. Looks like many trailers are from the midwest and don’t make it this far south and east.

I really like the looks of the Equispirit and the 4Star. From the pictures, the 4Star looks to be a sturdier build. I wish I were able to see all of these trailers in one place. Looks like the closest place for me to look at multiple brands is Ocala, which is a 5 hour drive. I really only intend to do this one more time, so really want to get it right this time.[/QUOTE]

I am in Massachusetts and I purchased my Merhow from Tennessee as a custom build. The dealer is actually on here, user Tobruk. I didn’t see them in person, I went on the word of other trailer owners I know about what they did like/did not like about their trailers. I almost bought a Kingston as they’re super popular here but I just did not like the features for the price compared to everything I got with Merhow.

I’d like to trade up to a GN but don’t have the vehicle for it at the moment. If I did, I would probably buy a Cimmaron slant GN.

[stb]

No gooseneck for me, I pull with a large SUV. And no way am I going to get my husband to agree to a new trailer and a new truck:)

[arlosmine]

I LOVE my Equispirit.
L.O.V.E.

4stars are really wonderful, but hard to find on my coast. I was lucky to find the Equispirit.

[2Jakes]

I agree with the Hawk suggestion! There is a Hawk dealer (Risa at Happy Trails Trailers) in Mountain Rest SC. I think you’ll find everything you’re looking for and maybe even more, in a Hawk. I’m on my 2nd one (the first, a 2001 model, now belongs to my neighbor and is still going strong)…I special ordered a few things like louvre front windows and drop downs on the escape doors. I know rumber is an option for the floor, and Risa can help you figure out all your other options. Good luck and congrats for whichever brand you end up choosing!

[alfonsina]

I covet: http://www.balancedridetrailers.com Made by Hawk.

[AKB]

I am very happy with my 2013 2h Sundowner which I bought in Ocala, FL and had delivered out of state to me. It has lots of room. The drop down feed windows keep it cool.

[enjoytheride]

Have you checked to see if you have any horse expos or equine affaires coming up? Usually that’s a good way to look at lots of trailers.

[Hilary]

Jamco. I don’t know if they do Rumber but their floors have twice as many crossbeams as other trailers and their walls are hollow 'tubes" not just sheet metal.

Mine is a 1999 that I bought used in 2003 and it is only now beginning to show a bit of age here and there - such as where my friend swiped off the step rail and I had to have it bent back into place and re-welded.

Hawk does rumber but they don’t stay looking new all that well - they are probably just fine structurally but they do things like rust on the tire rims.

[foggybok]

[QUOTE=stb;8593949]
Cimmaron and Eby are not available anywhere near me. And when I say near, I mean 5 hour drive or less. 4Star, Equispirit, Hawk, Hart are available. Merhow doesn’t look like it’s anywhere close either. Looks like many trailers are from the midwest and don’t make it this far south and east.

I really like the looks of the Equispirit and the 4Star. From the pictures, the 4Star looks to be a sturdier build. I wish I were able to see all of these trailers in one place. Looks like the closest place for me to look at multiple brands is Ocala, which is a 5 hour drive. I really only intend to do this one more time, so really want to get it right this time.[/QUOTE]

I took my husband trailer shopping with me. He’s a real bargain hunter. We looked at a bunch (4-star, Cimmaron, WW, Hawk, Sundowner, Featherlite, Kieferbuilt…and a bunch more). I thought he would be price sensitive, but once he looked at the 4-star, he didn’t want anything else… they were built so much better than all the rest. I would have been happy with the Hawk, but he said No way… So now I have to convince myself to spend the money for the 4-star… I know I will love it though!

[2tempe]

I looked at the balanced ride by Hawk. Wow, quite nice, particularly the side load.
Some things I would not want: a step down. Prefer ramps. Mangers. I’ve heard more than a few horror stories. Prefer straight load, though I currently have a slant. (Mare didn’t like straight load. Other horse is compact and fits well, though I expand the stall in any case. )

This shopping opportunity always sounds like fun, but so many things to consider! we want pictures when you have the final item.

Consider the weight and length, etc, given your use of SUV. I pull w/ a Tahoe and it works just fine, but I only haul in a relatively small radius in relatively flat territory. Personally would love a truck but other circumstances, and so on…