How do you cope when you own a trailer without a tack room?

[KDW]

It’s time I start to look for a new trailer. New as in from factory or close to it. But, here’s my problem… I’ve never had a tack room and I’m considering purchasing another trailer with out one yet, I DEARLY want a beloved tack room.

My 2h 1987 Trail -et BP has served me well for many years. I’ve dumped all the money on upkeep and maintenance to keep it safe and happy for my horses. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to load the pony and go at a whim. All while using my truck cab as my makeshift tackroom. Stable supplies in the bed, bales of hay and rolling tack box Fort Knox Secured in box next to pony and at head. (Overnights require space planning) This configuration does not allow for another horse to travel. I mean it’s ok, but it’s kinda not.
I’m always amazed at how much stuff my friends pull out of their tack rooms. I have been told I travel light, but am thoroughly equipped. Most are amazed I can travel with out having a tackroom.

As the the title says, how do you deal with out a tackroom?
What’s your secrets for storage?
How do you feel about the open saddle racks at horses heads without the wall?
Anyone have any custom fabrication to partially enclose or secure front area?

I notice the nose of 2h BP straight loads are much larger theses days. A tack box built in would not suit me. I don’t love traveling with things in the trailer with the horse (I’m over the top paranoid about having everything tied down) so a wall would be convenient. I won’t consider manger trailers… never liked them.

Side note: I’m dedicated to Hawk trailers, but suggestions are appreciated for other comparable priced brands especially for the quality.

[Mouse_amp_Bay]

Well, I have a Boeckmann trailer that has a surprising amount of storage tucked under the manger portion of the trailer. Enough room to even out of the trailer - two saddles, bridle hook, tucked away spot for broom/shovel and two pretty substantial shelves for all that I need.

My biggest issue is hay storage for away shows, but that really isn’t much of an issue unless we are gone for 3+ days. I’ve never had a trailer with a dressing room, when we travelled as a barn with our coach we loaded our stuff all into Stanley tack trucks. I consider Stanley + mini-storage to be the lap of luxury. No complaints from me (and if I need to change, an empty stall is just fine).

[atr]

I upgraded to a tack room, but its basically empty unless Im going somewhere. As in, I dont use it for overflow storage. When I’m going somewhere, I pack what I need into a largely empty space, apart from a muck fork and bucket, a spare halter and rope, and a few things like that. I only want to haul around what I absolutely have to… the gas guage is scary enough without adding a bunch of extra weight!

I also have friends who seem to keep their entire life in their trailer. I’m pretty sure they have no idea whats crammed in the back there.

If I were starting from scratch, I’d probably not bother with a tack room and go with a slightly lighter tow vehicle. Nowadays. I’m only ever hauling one horse (I don’t like the responsibility of hauling others, to be honest.)

[joiedevie99]

I’ve got a Brenderup Baron LSL. It has a tack compartment in front (but not mangers - I don’t like when the horses can hit their knees). Between that and the back of my SUV, I can pack for a week fairly easily. The only issue is hay. (I order shavings from the show). If I need more than two bales, I have to put it in the second horse spot and only take one horse.

[KDW]

Reading that others use the other horse area for storage makes me feel slightly better. I feel like I’ve got my system down for packing, but is it easier with a tackroom?

To add, I do have a f150 with max tow and always use WD/sway bars. I am also weight conscious ever since I down graded from my 7.3 250. I’m no where near my capacity, but always considering the tow vehicle.

[frugalannie]

Can’t speak to the towing capacity. For years I had an XL two horse with an extended front: not a tack room. The manufacturer has since gone out of business so no help there. But what we found was that every “difficult” horse we put in there liked the trailer’s openness and airiness. I just kept my tack in my SUV towing vehicle. I had a couple of screw eyes installed on the outside of the trailer by the door so I could hang saddle racks for my convenience at shows.

When I had to travel to a show that would require me to bring hay and shavings I just loaded everything in the side my horse wouldn’t be on. When I had to ship a newborn foal, I lined the extended front with hay bales and loose straw in the bottom. Parked foal in there and mom in the trailer with her head hanging over the chest bar. Everyone was calm and happy.

[Highflyer1]

I keep a plastic trunk in the front of the trailer that holds basics that stay in all the time-- med kit, grooming box, cooler, spare halter and shank etc. Lunge whip, shovel and broom go behind the trunk. Tack goes in the cab of the truck (I put everything but the saddles in duffel bags). Some stuff like whips/spurs, jacket bag, xc vest, a helmet and tall boots live in the truck since they mostly get used at lessons/shows or are things I have doubles of. Water, buckets, hay, bedding etc go in the bed with a tarp over as necessary (buckets and water containerscan be stored in trailer when not in use). It’s tight but doable if you are semi-organized.

[soloudinhere]

I’ve never found a dressing room all that useful - hay/shavings make a huge mess so you don’t really want them in there. They end up in the horse area or in the bed of the truck.

I had the same trailer as above, and the little tack compartment held 2 saddles, bridles, I got a hanging shoe bag and used it for boots/small supplies, chucked extra lead ropes etc on the shelves. Meals for overnights could go on the floor. There was a shelf above the tack compartment where I could secure buckets/water/an extra filled hay net(s). In the back of the SUV I’d put hay in bale bags (or get compressed bales) and shavings (double bagged to keep the truck clean).

I’ve never felt the want for a dressing room except when I’ve boarded at a barn that gives you one saddle rack, one bridle hook, and basically a milk crate for all the things you need for a horse. Then I use the trailer parked at the barn to actually keep more than 2 brushes for my horse on-site.

[Grey623]

Whenever I hauled a second horse for overnight, there always seemed to be a second car going along. Almost any passenger car can hold all the tack, grooming stuff and clothes we needed. There are also space saving things like collapsible wheelbarrows and folding mounting blocks that help these days.

Grey