Need opinions on tack trunks please :)

[Harley86]

Sorry if this isn’t allowed but I could use some thoughts other than my own here. I’m starting a new business that I can do from home (expecting baby #2 anytime lol).

Ok so, I need your opinions. If you could design your PERFECT tack trunk, what would it include or be like?
Is there anything you wish your current tack trunk had or wish were available?
Also, what styles do you like best and are the most practical or effective? Horizontal trunk or vertical locker type?

Personally I know I love a double vertical trunk with room for my saddles (I put felt lining on my interior to prevent my tack from getting any scratchies) and wheels on the bottom. Also I splurged on super fancy wood because I’m a nerd and like the pretty grain. 😂

Thanks in advance! ❤

[GraceLikeRain]

From a business perspective it may make sense to do some local data gathering. I’d be curious to see the results if you did a facebook survey targeting your intended geographic area and asked the following questions:

1. Do you use a tack trunk? yes/no
2. If you use a tack trunk does it need to conform to barn standards? yes/no
3. If so, what are your barn’s standards? open ended
4. What material is the outside of your trunk?
5. Are you happy with this material? yes/no
6. Would you consider a wood trunk and why or why not? open ended
7. What would you pay for a custom tack trunk? not interested, X-X, X-X, X-X+

Locally, I see that most people use plastic trunks or are using a standardized style mandated by the barn. Some people have unique wood trunks but it is a pretty small group. Before I invested in a design, I’d first determine whether there is a market, is that market large enough to sustain a business, and what will they pay. From there, I’d asses cost of materials, labor, advertising, etc. to see if you can turn a profit.

[clanter]

Is there anything you wish your current tack trunk had or wish were available?

after having drag those heavy things around show grounds a tack trunk that has a built in hoover board mounting would be great…or maybe a drone that could just be flown into place?

[Scribbler]

I don’t need a tack trunk at my barn as we each have our own locking loft upstairs. And when I am out and about I use my trailer as my tack trunk. Obviously tack trunks are needed for a specific demographic: people who board with shared tack rooms on ground level who also travel to shows in shared trailers and need to get all their gear off the trailer. When I do see tack trunks out at my coach’s low key barn, they tend to be those plastic rolling utility trunks from Home Depot, but the saddles are out on racks.

So while the high end tack trunk that fits a whole saddle is perhaps a necessity at the top of the market, that’s a pretty narrow slice of the entire horse world.

I would suggest researching first what is already available. There are certainly companies doing custom tack trunks that get good reviews on COTH. I have no idea how they ship them to customers!

Anyhow, custom tack trunks are not something that everyone wants or needs, so you may not get that much business.

Edited to add:

For a home based business that everyone needs how about starting a blanket washing service? You will need an oversized utility washer and room to line dry. You could offer pickup and delivery on orders over a certain amount in a certain radius. Everyone needs blanket washing, from high end to muddy pasture board

[trubandloki]

I agree, asses your market.
I am used to seeing wood trunks where I am. Not many plastic trunks.

[mmeqcenter]

Ok so, I need your opinions. If you could design your PERFECT tack trunk, what would it include or be like?
For home - a locker, 3’ deep by 4’ wide by 8’ tall, cedar, stained black and sealed with polyurethane. Black wire mesh front, two saddle racks, three bridle racks, storage shelves and drawers.
For shows/travelling - horizontal, plastic-type material, on wheels with a large handle.

Is there anything you wish your current tack trunk had or wish were available?
No. I have a Husky tool chest on wheels, they’re pretty awesome. Everyone likes the traditional look of wood, but these are just soooooooo much more practical. I have one in my tack room for my stuff that stays at home, and I have a second one that stays in the trailer with all my show stuff. I built my own rolling saddle stand with a storage box underneath so I don’t use my “trunk” for my saddle, just everything else.

Also, what styles do you like best and are the most practical or effective? Horizontal trunk or vertical locker type?
Really depends on the purpose. For something that stays at home always, vertical locker type would be preferred. For something that’s going to shows regularly, horizontal.

[Redlei44]

Unfortunately I don’t think there’s “one trunk to rule them all” unless you’re targeting the high-end matching-show-trunk market and you have visions of competing with the Oakcrofts of the world. On the lower end I see a variety of trunks among barns and friends. Most commonly I’m seeing the Stanley trunks. “Amenities” of that trunk are three simple things - lightweight but durable material, wheels, and a price point that can’t be beat. I also see more and more local show barns using them as their group style.

Among those with wood trunks, I’d say it’s pretty evenly split between huge, multi-compartment, hardly-ever-moves horizontal trunks and smallish plain horizontal trunks. I hear equally from friends who love things like built-in grooming boxes and wrap racks in the cover, and friends who think they’re useless. Perhaps it’s just my cohort but I can’t think of anyone whose wood trunk is less than 15 years old at the moment! They’re just so heavy and expensive.

I don’t have experience with vertical trunks (not common in my circle) but the fancy metal/composite Euro products I see online look very user-friendly. Expensive, though!

[2DogsFarm]

:eek: @mmeqcenter Wire mesh front?
You must have an exceptionally clean & dustfree barn or tackroom.
My barn is used by me. Period.
And even the vertical resin cabinet I use for storage manages to get dust inside.
Otherwise your ideal trunk for home sounds great. :encouragement:

OP: I have a lovely old wood trunk that used to go to shows. Loaded & unloaded to a handcart.
But to keep in a barn or tackroom I prefer a material that can take some abuse.
Wood trunk is now my coffee table.
Barn has no tackroom, just space set aside for above-mentioned resin cabinet & some repurposed wall hung kitchen cabinets.
”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹Saddles, bridles & harness are on hooks with fabric covers keeping dust off.

[mmeqcenter]

@2DogsFarm

:eek: @mmeqcenter Wire mesh front?
You must have an exceptionally clean & dustfree barn or tackroom.

:lol::lol::lol:
I know right? But I’m wary of completely closed up lockers for my leather tack here in humid Florida. I mean, these are just my dream lockers, if ever I win the lottery and don’t have to work and can spend 30 mins each day leaf-blowing or vacuuming them out

[joiedevie99]

I’ve given up wooden trunks - they’re just too heavy to deal with. Pretty much everyone has the Stanley plastic ones from Home Depot (or the other brands like Husky that are very similar). Some barns around me provide tack lockers, so no trunks allowed unless they’re up in the hay loft for extra storage or waiting for a show. We do have one giant metal one on casters in the barn primarily for long trips/flying.

On person has a plastic composite vertical trunk that holds two saddles. It’s pretty nifty at shows - but very heavy when full and a bit tippy. It needs to be loaded in the trailer carefully.

[polkadotedpony]

I think wood trunks are not a popular option these days and the majority of trunks I see are Stanley/husky and sometimes other plastic brands. Most people with wood trunks bought them way back when or inherited them and they stay put in the barn and seem like mostly horizontal. I think some niche barn situations would make a vertical trunk that holds saddles helpful but most barns would outfit everyone the same and have built in lockers if they wanted to go that way. The verticals are also just way too cumbersome to bring to a show. I’m at a barn with color requirements for trunks and I just spray painted my husky hunter green and other boarders have followed suit after seeing how mine turned out. I have one that stays at home with all my show stuff pre-loaded and another with everyday stuff that doesn’t fit in my spot in the tack room (boots, brushes, spare blanket, premade grain containers, etc).
I’m a dressage person so you may get a different answer from hunter jumper people who tend to be uber traditional. You may want to post in that forum since I think that’s more likely the high end, super custom wooden tack trunk market.

[2DogsFarm]

@mmeqcenter

:lol::lol::lol:
I know right? But I’m wary of completely closed up lockers for my leather tack here in humid Florida. I mean, these are just my dream lockers, if ever I win the lottery and don’t have to work and can spend 30 mins each day leaf-blowing or vacuuming them out

:lol::applause:

[EquestrianRunner]

@Scribbler

Anyhow, custom tack trunks are not something that everyone wants or needs, so you may not get that much business.

Edited to add:

For a home based business that everyone needs how about starting a blanket washing service? You will need an oversized utility washer and room to line dry. You could offer pickup and delivery on orders over a certain amount in a certain radius. Everyone needs blanket washing, from high end to muddy pasture board

the muddy pasture board may need more blanket washing than the fancy smancy :lol:

[Lucassb]

My perfect trunk would LOOK like the traditional, pretty variety (either fancy wood or the custom vinyl type) but with less weight so I could move it around easily.

In other words, if my old-but-gorgeous McGuinn trunk and my ugly-but-easy-to-maneuver Stanley trunk had a baby trunk that had the best qualities of each, I’d buy that in spades.