New horse doesn’t seem to like my Brenderup; I really like its fiberglass roof. It seems there aren’t too many manufacturers making them anymore, but I just stumbled onto Heacock and Double D trailers–and wondered if there are other uncommon brands that are using the fiberglass roof? (Already aware of: all the Euro brands, Hawk, Equispirit, Balanced Ride, Cotner, and Gore.)
They stopped manufacturing them in 2008 I think, but if you can find a used Trail-et they have fiberglass roofs, and fenders.
I was able to buy an older one for $200. My husband and I have rehabbed it and its a great trailer. Lots of room for my little paint mare!
Just a thought, maybe you have tried it.
Some horses seem to struggle with the Brenderup in the beginning. Once they have been in it a few times they seem to get more comfortable and even really enjoy it. Most horses I have met travel far better in a Brenderup than they do in a standard trailer once they are accustomed to it.
Cotner trailers (made in PA) use a fiberglass roof.
HART trailers
[QUOTE=costco_muffins;8052457]
Just a thought, maybe you have tried it.
Some horses seem to struggle with the Brenderup in the beginning. Once they have been in it a few times they seem to get more comfortable and even really enjoy it. Most horses I have met travel far better in a Brenderup than they do in a standard trailer once they are accustomed to it. [/QUOTE]Yeah, so I’d heard. But this horse was getting in the Brenderup, then after a couple trips refused to get in again. (Very short trips with no excitement whatsoever–to go cross country schooling which I’d think she considered FUN.)
I posted about her before, she’s half Cleveland Bay and was used to a WB size trailer with her previous owner. I wasn’t sure she’d fit in the B’up, but she did. I am wondering if I got the mare/foal butt bars if she’d like it better with a bit more room. Does stink that it would be a 1-horse trailer then, but I do love how it pulls and hate to think of selling it. I even got a stock trailer that she will get into, but there’s no room to store anything the way it’s set up. So am thinking of selling the 2 trailers and buying one that all my horses will like. Thanks to the B’up literature, I’m rather amazed that most trailers only give 36" of head room (at least if there’s a dressing room.)
I did know about Trail-Ets, but left them off since they’re not being made anymore. Due to the headroom issue, I’m considering either a new trailer made with more room, or a used one either w/o DR or with a side ramp (usually 5’ head room on those.)
I just bought a new custom Hawk and absolutely LOVE it. I can’t say enough good things about it. I had 6" added to the head area and 6" to the body area, and the standard height is 7’6" so you don’t have to spend more to get a warmblood height trailer. The materials and workmanship is super high quality. I highly, highly recommend them.
Keifer built manufacturing used to make trailers with a fiberglass roof, not sure if they still do.
[QUOTE=KAB;8053203]
HART trailers[/QUOTE]Are they still made with a fiberglass roof? I thought it was in 2014 that I was told they did, but I just saw a Hart and it had a metal-looking wraparound at the top of the side. I also couldn’t find anything on their website indicating a fiberglass roof–you can see the silvery wraparound in the photos.
Interesting question–pure curiosity: what is it about the fibreglass you like so much?
And don’t feel bad about the Brenderup, I have a horse that despises them as well, he rode in a friend’s a couple times b/c I asked him to, we were sharing rides, but he was like a sardine in there (16 h, but loooong backed Appendix) & very clearly told me he was not happy about it! He really disliked the limited visibility too, he is a stock-side lover like me!
Horses have their particulars, just like people!
I just found this thread again and thought I’d answer the last question: because it’s SOOO much cooler in trailers with a fiberglass roof! Mare decided this year she wanted to be difficult about loading into the steel stock trailer I got for her. So I’ve spent a lot of time in there, coaxing her in, and it is HOT in that trailer! If I keep that trailer I’m going to have to insulate the roof.
Once, on a 90 degree day in July, I took a nap in my B’up and it was nice and cool in there.
Now that mare is loading well in the stock trailer, I started trying her in the B’up and she seemed willing to come in. With a friend closing the butt bar we were able to trailer her and friend’s horse to a show an hour+ away. They both loaded nicely to come home, too!
Now, I’m between keeping the B’up and getting a used Cotner or Kiefer Built. At the show we went to there were 4 or 5 older Kiefer trailers with the fiberglass roof (which newer Kiefers do not have.) I was going to ask for Cotner feedback but did a search; it sounds like there is nothing bad to say about Cotner. It would be nice to have a tack room…
I still wouldn’t mind hearing about any other little-known trailers with fiberglass roofs, though!
A lot of trailer brands will do a “semi-custom” mod. for a reasonable cost. Years ago we were looking for a bumper pull but wanted something a bit larger than the standard 16 foot being offered by Valley. I mentioned this to dealer and she said that they would make an 18 foot on request. It was a couple of hundred dollars more.
Find a brand you like and ask if they will do a fiberglass roof. If they won’t, go to your Plan B brand and try there. If you “strike out” three times then that’s a hint! 
But it doesn’t cost anything to ask!
G.
ETA: I forgot to add that we asked for the roof to be painted white and it was done for no additional cost, IIRC.
I have a Boeckmann- also a European trailer, has a fiberglass roof as well as a small tack space. There are a couple of N A importers, Maple Lane Trailers in Ontario is great to deal with.
My old Turnbow has a fiberglass roof. No idea if that is still an option.
