I’ve ordered a 12’ Bee K&K 2H BP. I live in a hot climate and need something with open stock sides. I’m having a divider with breast and butt bars put in, and mine will be a V-nose (although you can get a flat or rounded front).
I looked for a long time and read wonderful things about EquiSprit, Merhow, Trail-Et, Hawk, Gore, etc. All of them were just a little out of my price range, though.
Paint, I like the Bee line of trailers. That’s a stout, well made trailer
Over the years, I’ve had:
1974(?) Miley 2-horse bumper pull - was a good trailer, solid, all Mileys had a rust issue around the mangers. Wouldn’t buy the same trailer today because it was quite small despite being “extra-tall, extra-wide”.
1997 Trails West - 2 horse Slant. This was a great little trailer. Front stall was a bit too small for my horses - one came to object to being hauled up there with the divider closed but was fine in the back stall. Thought it was a great trailer for the price.
2002 Kiefer Built Genesis SSL2 - gooseneck 2-horse. Biggest piece of crap ever.
2007 Hawk - the model I own is a 2+1 gooseneck - great trailer. Holding up well and I was able to customize it as much as I wanted to (budget willing).
1996 Cotner - 2 horse Squire w/dressing room. Very basic trailer but at nearly 20 years old is in excellent shape.
I have a 2002 Trails West Avanger (older Adventure model)
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!
Both of my horses are under 16.0 hh though and I can see the front stall being tight for bigger horses.
Great little trailer for me
[QUOTE=katarine;6852707]
Paint, I like the Bee line of trailers. That’s a stout, well made trailer :)[/QUOTE]
Good to know, thanks. I ordered mine on the basis of research alone - although I know a few people with the regular Bee horse trailers and they’ve held up well, I’ve never actually seen the K&K stock trailer type that I ordered. So I’m waiting somewhat anxiously. 
I have a 2012 Adam 2 +1. Love, love, love it! Picked it up at the factory right here in Virginia. Got to meet the family that builds them and they have a great deal of pride in their work, gave me a tour of the factory and pointed out how they are put together. Great trailer and great customer service! Very well built trailer. I have given more then one tour of it at shows, so many people ask me about it and I am happy to show them around. Highly recommend the WERM flooring! No mats!
What about a Homesteader?
Actually, Trail-et was the original company, and Hawk was started later by some former Trail-et employees. The Equi-Sprit trailers were of course designed by the Scheves, and initially built by Trail-et, then Hawk, but the Scheves did not dsesign for either company’s own line of trailers.
I grew up about 15 miles from their factories and have been through both.
[QUOTE=ChocoMare;6844188]
Yup Rabt etal – the same people, Tom & Neva Scheve, designed & built for Trail-et first, then Hawk and now have their own company, EquiSpirit. Hence the similiar “look” to them.
This is my EquiBreeze made by EquiSpirit.[/QUOTE]
I have a '99 Merhow weekender, with factory LQ. I truly love it. It’s old, but solid.
[QUOTE=easystride;6845717]
What about a Merhow? They have been in business for 50 years and provide an 8 year warranty. That is incredible. Most (at least that I have seen) only do 3 or 5 year warranty’s.[/QUOTE]
I did have my eye on a used Merhow LQ but didn’t go with it because I really didn’t want the bathroom option it had. It was a super nice trailer in many ways but the idea of a bathroom and tanks to maintain just bit me. Most places I go with a LQ have bathroom and shower facilities and I remember being a kid and my parents having an RV, and what a PITA a commode can be. The sink in my Featherlite has a portable tank and electric pump, so no winterizing and if you have nice days in the middle of winter, you can just fill the tank and go. Much rather have the space used for a larger refrigerator, closet and more storage space.
[QUOTE=SimpleSimon;6852735]
Over the years, I’ve had:
1974(?) Miley 2-horse bumper pull - was a good trailer, solid, all Mileys had a rust issue around the mangers. Wouldn’t buy the same trailer today because it was quite small despite being “extra-tall, extra-wide”.
1997 Trails West - 2 horse Slant. This was a great little trailer. Front stall was a bit too small for my horses - one came to object to being hauled up there with the divider closed but was fine in the back stall. Thought it was a great trailer for the price.
2002 Kiefer Built Genesis SSL2 - gooseneck 2-horse. Biggest piece of crap ever.
2007 Hawk - the model I own is a 2+1 gooseneck - great trailer. Holding up well and I was able to customize it as much as I wanted to (budget willing).
1996 Cotner - 2 horse Squire w/dressing room. Very basic trailer but at nearly 20 years old is in excellent shape.[/QUOTE]
I hear ya on that Genesis…I looked at one for sale locally and did not like it at all.
[QUOTE=easystride;6850609]
Thank you so much everyone. Here is a very comprehensive review of the Merhow trailer. They article says they do a 5 year bumper to bumper warranty, but they now do an eight year bumper to bumper minus the tires. I am not sure when the article was written.[/QUOTE]
I talked to Merhow a few weeks back before making my purchasing decision and yes, that is true that they do have an 8 year warranty. Talked with their main shop in Bristol, Indiana.
Ok, looked at a Homesteader this weekend and though they are affordable, you get what you pay for. It’s nice that it comes with the Rumber floor, but after reading another forum on the Homesteader-They have quality control issues and not painting the trailer correctly per an inside Homesteader employee. I think I like the Merhow the most because I think most trailers like 4 star and featherlite, etc. are overpriced. I can get an oversized Merhow with windows all around and in dressing room, all aluminum and running boards for $13,900. Rumber flooring would add $825. I like that it comes with extruded floors and not a plate. I went to the PA Horse expo this weekend and looked at a lot of trailers. It’s hard to break it down to a perfect science on which is the best, but for the price, I think Merhow is just as good as some of these 15 and $16,000 trailers.
So in researching Merhow, they have had some problems with their divider coming loose while in transit pushing it into the other horse. They also charge a $995 surcharge on their trailers which I am not willing to pay for since other trailer makers do not charge this. I will keep looking into the trailers posted here. Thank you so much everyone for your input. You’re the best! :lol:
It’s not fun shopping. I was happy with my Exiss, a trailer many folks won’t even consider 
So I am pretty sure I am going to go with a Kingston. They have an excellent reputation and an unbeatable price at $12,500 on an all aluminum trailer with dressing room and wood floors. Features include all around windows including in between the tack room and the horses. I am adding $70 Backup Lights, $150 Hay Bags with hardware, $72 for Butt bar pads and $31 for heavy duty Head ties. Any comments?
[QUOTE=TXEventer;6852911]
I have a 2002 Trails West Avanger (older Adventure model) [/QUOTE]I have a 2005 model and I love it, too!!!:yes: GREAT little trailers.
I also have a 2H straight load 1972 LVI bumper pull trailer. I used it as a one horse slant since my mare could not fit into it otherwise. :winkgrin: Was happy to get the Trails West so I could pull both of my horses!
I have a 2004 Collin Arndt 2 horse, straight load. I got it a year ago. I am new to the trailer scene and this trailer has been beddy, beddy goodt to me. Very easy to pull, in fact, sometimes I forget it is back there. I love it.
We have had Sundowner, 4 Star, and Jamco trailers. We thought our 4 Star was the best thing ever until we saw the Jamco. There is just no comparison.
I would seriously be looking for a nice used 4 Star or Jamco in that price range. You won’t lose a penny on it.
Picked up the Bee K&K yesterday
I lurve it. More importantly, Conjure lurves it.:yes:
It’s really open - solid walls are 48" high, and above that, it has two-inch-wide bars, not wide slats. No worries about being too hot or claustrophobic!:lol:
And it pulls fine - well, I guess it does. I’d never pulled a horse trailer before yesterday, so I don’t really have anything to compare it to. But I managed to drive it a couple hundred miles and even back it up without incident.
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