Must have trailer features

[cutter99]

I have owned a bunch of trailers. So much so that it is a joke amongst my husband and my friends about every current trailer being my last. I am kinda like Goldilocks, looking for that perfect size.

I have a 16’ gooseneck stock trailer that you would have to pry from my cold, dead hands, as it is almost perfect for hauling anything. I have owned LQ trailers, all 3-4 horse slant loads, with everything from a 6’ shortwall to a 14’ shortwall, as well as one with a slide.

I am currently pulling a 2006 4 Star, 3 horse with a 6’ shortwall, that I love. It is easy to get around in, and I am using it for day trips, as well as camping trips. I also have a 2014 Featherlite, 3 horse with an 11’ shortwall and 6’ slide that I need to sell. It is a wonderful trailer, but my husband really doesn’t enjoy camping and it is a lot of trailer for just one person.

I usually make changes on what I buy to suit my needs. I do have a list of must haves.

• Running lights on the fenders. Very helpful especially at night.

• Loading lights on both sides and the rear.

• LED lights. They can’t be bright enough for me for safety purposes!

• Hydraulic jacks. I have always had EQ jacks installed and love them.

• An electric awning. I currently have a 6’ shortwall LQ, but had a 17’ electric awning installed that acts as extra room. I never liked using manual awnings, especially when alone, and found them difficult to use, so I just never opened them. The electric awnings are just pushing a button, and they are worth their weight in gold.

• Fantastic Fan with a MaxxAir cover. The cover allows the vent to stay open without letting weather in. The Fantastic Fan really does move a lot of air and can draw air in from the windows and through the trailer to cool it down without turning on the air.

• Extras bridle hooks in the horse area. I usually use the first stall up front as a mud room and for storage, and I mount the hooks as high as I can so I could safely haul a horse in that stall if needed. I also mount horse on the horse area side of the rear tack wall, again, up high for horse safety.

• An insulated horse area roof or fiberglass roof to help keep the horse area cool.

• Be open to a ramp. I have one on the trailer I need to sell, and I thought I would hate it, but I actually do like it. It can be very handy, especially when loading things like hay and the generator.

• At least one stud divider. I like one between the first stall (closest to the LQ) and the second, but the last 2 trailers I bought have had them on every divider.

[Addy06]

@cutter99

I am currently pulling a 2006 4 Star, 3 horse with a 6’ shortwall, that I love.

I’ve been looking at the older 4 stars! Even if it’s not everything I want I’d like to buy used before I order one.

@cutter99

Extras bridle hooks in the horse area. I usually use the first stall up front as a mud room and for storage, and I mount the hooks as high as I can so I could safely haul a horse in that stall if needed. I also mount horse on the horse area side of the rear tack wall, again, up high for horse safety.

Love this advice since my plan is to do the same. Plus I travel with at least One industrial sized fan for my spoiled barrel horse for really hot days🫣 so at least one stud wall is a must.

[SonnysMom]

I have known 2 people with three 4Star trailers. All three leak. They both tell me it is a known issue. I personally prefer the fiberglass roof. No seams so less likely to leak. I am a Trailet/Hawk/Equispirit girl. I love their butt bars/chest bars. Once you hook them in place even if the horse pushes against it before you drop the pin it is secure. It is an L shaped bracket the hooks in place.
On all of their trailers they are the fiberglass roof, I prefer a wood floor with mats over aluminum. I think they cut down on road noise and heat. I don’t know enough about Rumba to have an opinion.
On my Equispirit 2+1 it has 2 back doors plus a ramp that closes after that. I think that is a great safety feature. Keeps the 2nd horse that is load from touching the first horse, keeps the first horse from kicking the 2nd horse or handler. I think they are less likely to get upset if you unload one at the show but not the other due to the full door.
The ramp is extra protection to the horses if somebody rear ends the trailer. (Hopefully not)
My trailer has lots of options for manger bags or hay nets. (Some ponies should never have a manger bag or they will instantly scarf it and risk founder).
I prefer ramps. I took a mini to New Bolton with a broken leg. No way were we getting her on a step up, the ramp was tough enough. I could see needing to take a horse with limited mobility to a vet clinic and not being able to get them onto a step up.
My Plus 1 area is big enough that I have hauled 2 minis loose, prior owner used to haul a TB mare with her WBx foal. In a pinch I could put 2 medium or a medium and a large pony in there. At a show we stuck 2 larges in there for the day since we had more horses with us than trailer spots for an ALL day show.
I like windows in the back doors for extra air flow. I don’t generally like slant loads as I frequently trailer very large warmbloods and any slant loads I have seen generally would be tight for them. I also like to be able to unload any of the horses without having to unload another to get to them.

[Zevida]

I’d plus one the electric jack - game changer especially on those hot summer afternoons.

[DMK]

Yes, electric jack. It really is nice to have!

I also have the hard rubber siding up 3/4 of the wall in my “tack room” instead of carpet. Tack doesn’t scrape along the white interior walls and it isn’t carpet, which is just a dirt and moisture holding device. Definitely no carpet on the rack room floor, rip it out, put in lvp and make your life easier!

(My tack area is the +1 in a 2+1 bp, so not quite traditional, but do much better in so many ways)

[SonnysMom]

@DMK

I also have the hard rubber siding up 3/4 of the wall in my “tack room” instead of carpet. Tack doesn’t scrape along the white interior walls and it isn’t carpet, which is just a dirt and moisture holding device. Definitely no carpet on the rack room floor, rip it out, put in lvp and make your life easier!

(My tack area is the +1 in a 2+1 bp, so not quite traditional, but do much better in so many ways)

I totally agree with get rid of the carpet on the floors and walls. Hay, hair, dirt and shavings stick to it. I put a rubber mat in my 2 horse bumper pull’s dressing room. I used interlocking foam squares for the dressing room floor and gooseneck area of my 2+1. I really would like to eventually do something about the lower part of the walls in the dressing room area to cover the carpet.

[Addy06]

The rubber siding is a good idea! My trailer is a slant load so I have the back tack and a “dressing room” which I’m currently using the back tack to store stuff like my rakes, shaving, and a water tank when the trailer is being used. And the dressing room as my tack room 24/7 which means it’s crowded and a mess and it’s carpeted and it’s gross and impossible to clean efficiently

[LCDR]

Do not lose track of tongue weight when accessorizing and modifying a horse trailer, especially a bumper pull.

If you relocate that spare tire the manufacturer put on the side of the trailer to the front , the trailer tongue weight will increase by about 50 pounds. Taking out the carpet in a front dressing room and putting in rubber mats will very likely increase tongue weight. Adding an electric jack will also add tongue weight. And if you decide to carry a couple of 5 gallon water containers in the DR area - another 80 pounds. Just don’t add too much tongue weight or your towing situation may be less safe.

And with horses you can’t just ask them to take a step backward to ride in order to adjust tongue weight. If you add it, you have to tow it as is.

[Addy06]

@LCDR

Taking out the carpet in a front dressing room and putting in rubber mats will very likely increase tongue weight.

Exactly why I don’t think the rubber would be something I add if it didn’t come stock because rubber is heavy especially if it’s the kind I’m imagining.

[DMK]

The stuff I have is a lightweight rigid covering, probably lighter than carpet after it gets weighted down with years of dirt

[SonnysMom]

I have seen people use vinyl flooring instead of the carpeting. I used a thin rubber matting not the horse stall rubber matting. It doesn’t need to hold up to a lot of traffic and no horse traffic so does not need to be heavy duty. In my 2+1 I used interlocking foam mats that weigh almost nothing.

[Demerara_Stables]

Plastic carpet runner works great, I put it down immediately in my brand new trailer. Cut to fit and let it go up the walls an inch or two to prevent dirt from getting underneath. Lightweight, cheap, and no need to rip up the carpet. You can get it in different widths and lengths so you don’t have to do two strips and risk first going between them.

https://a.co/d/8akJ1nl

[beau159]

@Addy06

I’m in the market for a new horse trailer (which I can’t decide if I should dread or be happy I’m finally able to be doing). So to help me decide what I want, because I’ve only ever had a simple 3 horse slant with tack room and have no clue what luxury feels like😂.

What are must have features you want when looking for used trailers? Or if you are going to custom order what would you make sure to get?

As a kid, we farmed/ranched so we had a plain ol’ stock trailer (half the time with cow poop in it…). Threw the tack on the back of the pickup and off we went.

As an adult, my first horse trailer I bought myself was an Exiss 3-horse slant with a dressing room, which I still have today. I do not have a barn so my trailer also functions as my barn. The dressing room is quite large. I use the rear tack as my feed room. It gets the job done.

In 2022, I custom ordered a living quarters trailer from Lakota. I know they aren’t “top of the line” but they had a good price point, great customer service, and I am super happy with what I got. I wouldn’t change a thing! My only “complaint” is that when it’s really, really windy, the back tack can be a little tricky because the back doors are heavy. I try to pay attention which direction I park if the wind is back but sometimes you don’t have much of a choice.

It’s a 5 horse slant, side load. With back tack. And 9 foot living quarters. I do mostly haul by myself, but at times, I have the whole family with! Myself, 2 kids, and either my husband or my mom, and sometimes the dog on top of it, with 4 horses. We all fit.

Feels like luxury to me and I absolutely love it. I ended up ordering custom b/c used prices are so crazy anyway, I figured I might as well order exactly what I want, and not settle for anything else. I’ve actually never had a horse in the front stall. We use it as the mud room / boots / coats, as it has the walk through door. Works great when it’s muddy/raining outside and I want to keep that out of the LQ. It’s amazing to have a hot shower on wheels, truly!

Onboard generator is also amazing. There aren’t always hookups where I go so it is nice to have power no matter what.

[Addy06]

@beau159

In 2022, I custom ordered a living quarters trailer from Lakota. I know they aren’t “top of the line” but they had a good price point, great customer service, and I am super happy with what I got. I wouldn’t change a thing! My only “complaint” is that when it’s really, really windy, the back tack can be a little tricky because the back doors are heavy. I try to pay attention which direction I park if the wind is back but sometimes you don’t have much of a choice.

Do you like the side load? I can’t decide what style to go with (regular slant, reverse or side load). I do like the Lakotas.

[SBrentnall]

I have a side-load Equitrek and I LOVE it! The horses go on and off so easily, and it’s much more inviting than a regular rear-load trailer.

[beau159]

@Addy06

Do you like the side load? I can’t decide what style to go with (regular slant, reverse or side load). I do like the Lakotas.

I do like my side load. It is a different angle, so there is a little bit of adjustment for the horse, but once they get used to it then it doesn’t matter. Two of my horses didn’t care at all. One took some confidence building. The fourth literally took a WEEK to load him into the thing, and he was my most experienced traveler!! (weirdo, LOL) The back stall is the best because they literally walk straight on and straight off. The farther forward slants they have to learn to back off at a little bit different angle, but again, they’re fine once you do it.

I had heavily debated doing a reverse load, but I finally chose not to do that because then I wouldn’t get my “clean mud room” like I wanted with the walk-through door of the bathroom. So I did the side load instead. I really don’t think the horses care one way or the other. They have the slants to lean against if they want to. When hauled loose in a stock trailer, mine do choose to ride backwards, but then they also don’t have the slant to lean against for balance, so maybe that’s why they like to ride backwards when loose in a stock!

Another reason why I love the concept of the rear tack, is if I am unfortunate enough to get rear ended by someone, I would rather my tack be destroyed than my horse. Granted, if the wreck is back enough, the back horse is going to get hurt too, but I like having a “buffer zone” if something awful happens, since getting rear ended is one of the most common accidents.

[LCDR]

Radial tires, and make sure the manufacturer is using ST(special trailer) type tires. I have seen regular P rated passenger car tires on a few new horse trailers over the years of my trailer shopping trips.

Also make sure that the spare tire is the same as the other four.

[2DogsFarm]

Sorry for the late answer.
No, 16h horse fits very comfortably & has an area like a box stall with the center gate closed.

[tabula_rashah]

Everyone’s answers are going to be different, but for me:
Slant with full back door
Walk through door into a least a weekender type dressing room (now that I’ve had trailers with bathrooms, I’m never ever going back lol)
Step up
Aluminum
As much horse room as possible
Electric jack
Lots of tie rings on the inside and outside and a hi-tie
Gooseneck- I hate the way BPs haul in comparison
A decent size water tank
Fans in the horse stalls

[Addy06]

Thank you! I definitely would rather my tack in the back as well