@beowulf, you might take a third option: get it repaired (for $2k) and sell it as a trailer for something other than horses. Maybe you don’t even need to repair it.
My landscaper is constantly trying to buy my horse trailer. Other people tell me that they have the same experience - someone wants their horse trailer for moving stuff, etc.
I too would not put the $ into this trailer and then use it for my horse. Not worth any risk.
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We used an older two horse ramp load trailer to haul our concrete cutting saw. The trailer could be easily locked up. Everything we needed to use was kept in the trailer.
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People are even repurposing horse trailers to be things like portable bars (like food trucks) and lunch wagons. Don’t need much weight-bearing for those.
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Way back in 2002, I sold my 1985 Shoop trailer to a non-horse home. My ad specifically stated that it was not currently suitable for hauling horses. The frame was okay but the sheet metal had rusted through right where a hind leg could slip sideways out of. I sold it to a woodworker who wanted an enclosed trailer for hauling special lumber. You’ll definitely have to sell it for cheap this way, but that’s better than having it fixed and then selling it.
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20 years old does not necessarily make a trailer unserviceable or unsafe. Age really does not have much to do with it as much as care and maintenance do.
Steel trailers and steel/ aluminum trailers have more chance of having issues with rust than an all aluminum trailer.
I have a 1999 Featherlite stock trailer that is in excellent condition. I bought it used from a dealership in 2011. The dealer traded it for a couple who hauled fox hunters on it a couple times a year. I have hauled all up and down the East coast with it, and have hauled everything for cattle to hogs to horses to all my household possessions.
I did replace the mats in it this year, and changed all the lights to LED lights. It just passed state inspection, which was the second time I had it gone over this year.
I also just purchased a 2006 4 Star that is also in great condition. I am going to play around with redoing the living quarters this winter. The cost was 1/3 of what it would have been buying new.
Many people who are currently trailer shopping are looking for well kept older trailers because the quality of many manufacturers went down hill after the poor economy back around 2008 or so. People wanted new, less expensive trailers, and while they got that, it shows in the trailer quality.
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Just tossing this out here OP. Come spring there might be a horse expo in your area. My friend got an incredible deal on a dream trailer on the last day of an expo, after viewing them earlier and speaking with the reps. Cost of hauling them back to the midwest was quite an incentive to sell.
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Living in the South I am curious about rusting frames. Is it due to salting the roads during winter? Or is the trailer parked out in the elements and the moisture and rain is causing the trailer to rust?
My vote is to get the trailer repaired by someone you trust. When I had an old trailer that needed repair, I took it to a few different tradespeople to each do their thing. The repairs were much less expensive than the quote given to me by a shop that was going to do all the work. It did take longer, though.
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Equine Affair I think is this weekend, maybe worth taking a look? If nothing else a chance to see the different trailers all in one location.
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I have a friend who got a great deal on a trailer that the manufacturer wanted gone at the end of EA . . .
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Yeh maybe Sunday last day would be the way to go
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I would get a 3rd estimate. Depending on the work welding repair is either impossible or simple. Never seems to be in the middle! You’ll want a good welder.
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I’m going to add its going to depend on where the damage is. I saw a trailer that was missing the front two cross members. Someone had added a piece of sheet metal and some plywood and drilled from the top down. There was nothing left of the frame to weld in new Crossmembers. The person who had it had tried to sell it to someone who found the damage on an inspection and said they wouldn’t haul a Llama in it. The first person said it was fine and resold it to someone for horses.
My own trailer is a 1997 all steel. I bought it 5 years ago and it had been garage kept and pressure washed a lot. I inspect it yearly and maintain any rust.
I’m with the need another opinion camp. But, remember, in order to weld anything you have to have a good, clean surface on which to weld. You can’t weld on rusted metal. We’ve repaired a lot of trailers, and walked away from some, that required extensive work but there was some good metal to begin with. 10K sounds like an awfully lot of labor/materials but if the shop rate is 125/hr it will add quickly.
So how do you replace a frame on a horse trailer as the frame is integral to the construction? All horse trailers we have had are of unibody construction ( a chassis frame where the body is built to the frame), none had an independent frame.
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I’d give Yered a call - I bought my trailer there brand new in 2019 and plan on bringing it in this year for a major service (a local friend has done my yearly maintenance.) I had a window break in 2020 and George Yered didn’t have the parts, so he called Kingston headquarters for me and set up the appointment to get it fixed there. I appreciated that he was willing to help even though he made no money from it. I’ve had 3 friends use Yered for service, including one who was in a major accident with her trailer, and the work was great and transparent.
You could also call Ron’s body works in Plymouth, they work on trailers and I believe the owner used to work for Kingston.
I completely understand the fear of a floor failure, but with how expensive trailers are right now I’d get one more opinion. Still mad at myself for not buying one with a dressing room, but prices have gone up so much I want to keep mine forever. My trailer (the most basic 2 horse Kingston that they make) was $10,995 in 2019 and that same model is now $27,000. 
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Another vote to look into this, Ron did some welding work on my trailer 2 years ago. I chatted with him on the phone; he said he would be in my area and could swing by to take a look. He gave me a quote and I did end up taking my trailer to him. Given the new trailer prices it was totally worth it for me.
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I would start looking for a new one.
The nosepiece of my trailer was fiberglass and it blew off on the highway. I decided it was a
‘sign’ to get a new gooseneck that i’d been daydreaming about. I took it to the actual manufacturer and had a new fiberglass nose (nose is the top front of the roof) put on. And then the new trailer dealer offered me 4,500 for it as a trade in. I suppose they’ll try to sell it for 5k. All the steel is good as new. no rust. So i know there is at least one solid NOT EXPENSIVE bumper pull trailer out there. If there’s one there’s more.
many more as often people have little concept of the true value. The two horse bumper pull we bought for $4,000 we resold EASILY for $7,500
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huh. Maybe i’ll try to sell it myself!!
