We just got our first horse trailer. I had the barn owners help me measure for a hitch and today we set everything up to make sure all works before hauling out (to get inspected).
I’m worried we didn’t get enough drop since the trailer still tilts slightly high in the front.
Should I put the horse in to see if it levels? I hopefully can return the hitch through
Amazon but it did get used down the driveway so I don’t want to do too much 
Truck is a ram 2500 5.7L
To me it looks good. While “level” is a goal, with the taller pick up trucks that sometimes isn’t totally possible. The weight of your horse should help with the front “lift.” I would suggest buying this book: (used from $2) https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Maintaining-Servicing-Trailer-Reference/dp/0876056869/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2P8CNO4YSYO77&keywords=horse+trailer+book&qid=1684319419&sprefix=Horse+trailer+book%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-2
And you didn’t ask, but if you want to spiff it up, Soft Scrub, a green and yellow sponge will take off all the black streaks --then thorough wash and a coat of wax. If that door doesn’t clean up, (it is probably fiberglass) that can be fixed too pretty easy.
Nice trailer.
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You want it slightly nose high, by a couple degrees, so that the urine drains to the back instead of pooling all over the place. That said, it needs to be just slightly - too much and you’re putting too much strain on the rear axle tires. In addition, it won’t haul as stable with it nose-high - you want it shoving down on the truck as much as possible.
Try it with a horse, but I’m guessing you will need another inch + of drop. Get an adjustable hitch.
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Oh thank you for this advice I was just going to take a pressure washer at it lol
Yeah that’s what we shelled out for but went with 6” adjustable I’ll have to look for 8 or maybe 9
At some point, please consider the torque being put on your receiver. You can’t just keep going lower and lower without additional support. The only other option that is available to you is to raise the trailer (blocking the axle), or to use a drop hitch stabilizer to stop the trailer from pushing “under” the truck.
I refuse to have a longer drop than 8" because the trailer could damn well snap my receiver off with that torque applied, and I don’t want to run a stabilizer at this time.
Maybe a pressure washer will remove the black streaks --they are discoloration from the aluminum roof mixing with rain (acid Ph or Base). No harm, just unsightly. As to the door, if it really bothers you --the fiberglass can discolor over time, turning yellow or darkening —what I did was 1) take it to a body shop and ask if they would repaint the three doors --sure, but I had to take the doors off and put them back on myself, and bring them in. Ok --said I, what if I try it myself and make a mess of these doors using spray paint? Body shop guy said, “Same price to repaint what you mess up.” ($400/3 doors)
What did I have to lose? Either way I still had to take the doors off —sooo 2) I did it myself. The body shop guy gave me suggestions: Thoroughly wash the door with Dawn dish soap and the Soft Scrub/sponge mentioned above. If it still looks dark/yellow, take the door off and lay it flat on newspapers or a tarp ideally indoors but well ventilated. Rinse again. Dry thoroughly. Using blue tape, tape off the decal that extends on the door --use a craft knife or similar: Don’t worry about “scratching through the paint.” Lightly sand with a sand paper designed for car finishes —guy gave me some --sorry, don’t know what it is called --but lots of help on-line. Tack-cloth or rinse again, drying thoroughly. (Don’t get too crazy about the prep --it is a horse trailer after all, not a classic car). Tape off the window.
Stand up door and lean against a wall --barn, garage, what ever. Make sure NOTHING is in the area --you will get particle drift. You CAN do it outside, but watch out for wind and drifting dust. Using plain old Krylon White Glossy Spray Paint (most horse trailers use the same basic white) --give the door two or three light coats --wear a mask and cover your hair . . .drift . . . Allow to dry, remove tape and TA DA --newly painted door! May not look EXACTLY like your trailer, but it will look a ton better.
Others have had success with white Rustolum paint and a foam roller --I prefer to spray paint.
If you are totally crazy like me —Mother’s Mag Polish will brighten up your diamond plate and other aluminum —it’s a chore–but you only have to do it once a year.
And I clay my trailer too --but that’s another story . . .
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Oh my god, you’re nuts! I’m feeling proud of myself if I get a coat of spray wax on, but to clay a trailer?!?! You are my hero!
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My old trailer before:
And my old trailer after --same side:
All I did was a lot of washing and waxing (and clay-ing) —DH is a car guy, he kept suggesting products.
Two years ago I sold that particular trailer --it was a 2003 --DH said he was concerned about metal fatigue and “catastrophic failure” --I haul alone to my riding club an hour away --all highway --anyway, I sold the little Merhow for what I bought it for after having it 10 years. I used that $ to buy a new Merhow! Same trailer but now they make them bigger over all . I do miss the summer days of polishing and waxing (and clay-ing) --but I do wash/wax/clay my new trailer --but only once a year.
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That’s amazing, excellent work
My truck just got it’s “annual” thorough going over. If you haven’t already, the clay sponges from Nanoskin are WAY easier to use than old school clay. I’m sure others make them as well.
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I just yesterday received a container of Bio-Kleen Black Streak remover that I ordered from Amazon.
I had just pressure washed my white horse trailer using the vehicle stuff my trailer manufacturer recommended. But the black streaks were untouched. In the past I’d have used rubbing compound and elbow grease to remove them, and then waxed afterwards. But I decided to try the above.
Like magic, spray on a clean cloth and wipe off the black streaks. No heavy elbow grease needed; kinda like using windex on a mirror. I did the shady side of the 2 horse bumper pull this morning. It took 30 minutes. Tonight when the sun is off the other side I’ll finish up.
And another tip. I started using Wet&Forget on the white fiberglass trailer roof a few tears ago. I apply it with a sprayer every year. No more black algae and lichen growth on the roof!
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I’ll have to try a Nanoskin Auto Scrub!
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Sweet! Nice rig. Do you know how to back a trailer? And have you ridden in the back while
someone drives to give you an idea of the experience for your horse? That’s always eye opening.
Only takes a few minutes and you get the picture and can also listen for strange noises that would be upsetting.
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I do know how to back a trailer --and yes, I have ridden in the back to see what it sounds like --led me to hang a piece of carpet behind the bridle rack in the tack area so the bits didn’t clang on the walls!
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Not you silly rabbit. The person who started the thread. 
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As you are a first time horse trailer owner check the dates of manufacture on the tires. Past 5 years old, even with good looking tread, consider replacement. Not to start a controversy, but the big trailer sales and repair place here in Aiken refuses to repair any trailer tire over 5 years old. Go to any trailer forum and do some reading on the tire topic.
And if you do long distance hauling, think about adding a second spare tire. If one tire goes, the added sudden stress on the second tire on the same side can cause a blowout before you can get stopped. Then you and the horses will be happy you had the foresight to carry 2 spares.
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I started hauling last year and I am going out solo more this year. I had a decent level of anxiety around it, and when I got my new trailer this year, I also got a trailer camera. That has given me so much more peace of mind that I can see my gelding relaxed and eating hay while we travel. And if there is something amiss, I will be able to tell right away.
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I agree. I’ve been in my own trailer and had this happen a couple of times over the years, and I’ve been riding with two different friends in their respective rigs and experienced this, too. In the latter cases, they were relatively local hauls (in the 25 to 75 mile range).
My husband blew two tires, successively, in a very scary place and situation, after business hours, hundreds of miles from home (no horse, though). Now we have spare spares for all of our trailers, and we joined Trailguard.
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