I am new to driving and Im looking for a trailer to take my cart and 1 pony or 1 mini to lessons etc. Any suggestions?
Stock trailer is inexpensive and holds a LOT. Also very versatile for other hauling uses, like the tractor! Addition of plywood can cover the slats for winter hauling. I like the air flow with slat sides in hot summers, no overheating of the equines.
We have a 4-horse stock trailer. Husband added a ramp at the rear for easier loading of horses and carriages. You can put large or small equines in one half, carriage or small carts in the other half to transport.
A trailer holding everything is easier to work with than putting vehicles in the truck bed, since you must then unhitch trailer to unload vehicles.
I asked the same question just a couple months ago, so if you search, you can find the thread with lots of great advice.
We are getting ready to order our trailer. It’s going to be sort of a modified stock combo. 16 or 18’ long, 7’ high, 6.5’ wide.
It will be like a BP 4H stock with a center gate divider. The normal slats will be in the back half. If there’s room, I might add a slant divider in the back. My bossmare can make Cookie’s trailer ride miserable if she wants to. Generally Cookie will be alone, so the divider will swing and lock open.
The front half will be totally enclosed on the sides (swing gate in center) because we need to store our cart in there too. This will keep the weather out and allow us to use it for primitive but clean LQ for overnights. It’ll have an exit door on the passenger side and a bus window on the driver side. Also a small window in the front center. The entire trailer will be matted.
I plan to load the cart in the front and keep that area clean (no horses but could be used for extra horses in an emergency). My cart has 44" wheels and sits up high, so we can load bales of hay or trunks or Sterlite boxes in the center front, and the cart will pass right over them, so no unloading cargo to get the cart out…
The only aftermarket plan I might have is to build 2 single bunks across the front, that will drop down flat and out of the way. Then just pull up and out for sleeping or setting things on. That would be in the future though, as we’re quite over camping! I’ve been told on the other thread that this arrangement will also allow room for the 4-wheeler in the front compartment with the cart. Hubby would like that.
Wendy
NC
Here’s the link to the other trailer thread. There was lots of great info in it.
http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=207413&highlight=trailer
I have a gooseneck, Custom Fab 2 horse stock combo. 2 large stalls in the back + a huge space in front that I can pull a horse out and groom/tack in. I can also convert to 2 box stalls for 2 mares and foals, or even use one as a day stall at a show, and the front to put chairs, coolers, table, etc to stay out of the sun. Both back and side ramps, + an extra walk thru door. I LOVE it. It is also aluminum, so only about 2500 lbs.
If you know a good welder/engineer you can have a rack built on to the back of a tag along to sit your cart into…saw a neat set up where one woman could take her 2 horse slant (no real room inside or on top of trailer) could attach the cart rack to back door…and load cart herself into rack, tie it down and off she’d go…I myself have a 33" trailer with lots of floor space for trailer…but budget always plays the spade card !
Thank you soo much for the link. It was very helpful! i’m thinking of a 12 ft stock. I will tow with a Honda Pilot and I will have 1 cart and 1 mini/pony
I think 12 feet may be too short–even if you drive a mini.
I just brought home my new cart carrier gate . I too have a stock trailer but it is 16 feet. Wish I had 2 more feet. But anyway here is the carrier–a local guy makes them.
That’s fantastic! Can I have his name? Also I’m just concerned about hauling something longer with a Honda Pilot. But thank you the gate is a great option!
[QUOTE=boscomoore;4417925]
That’s fantastic! Can I have his name? Also I’m just concerned about hauling something longer with a Honda Pilot. But thank you the gate is a great option![/QUOTE]
His name is Kerry Dignan and he is located in Brooksville FL
He does this as a side line. The man is incredibly talented. You can google him. Nice guy and his wife Sue is a very talented artist who also works in metals.
I have a 14’ x 5’ (the old ‘original’ width!)CM stock combo. It has a passenger side escape door, solid ‘center’ gate, feed mangers and a removable half-divider in the front ‘half’, like any straight load 2 horse might have, a solid swinging rear gate,and a tack compartment under the mangers, w/ passenger-side access door. I now have only minis, and can haul any of my three four wheeled carriages along with the pair that pulls it, in this trailer. If you get a wider version…say 6-7’ - I’d say a 12’ might well be ‘big enough’ for one mini and one cart! Check the weight, of course, before buying–you are quite right to be concerned about the towing capacity of your pulling vehicle, and should consider that FIRST!
Margo in NM
Ya’ll really make me feel huge! We have a 24ft stock trailer, Exiss. It isn’t quite as tall as I wanted but our drafts know not to slam their head up and can hold their head normally in it. The very front compartment holds my cart, under that we have the skid,can put the team harness, driving harness, collars, single tree, odds and ends, and all the smaller stuff in the nose. Middle compartment usually holds the two Percherons easily. I always hated how people would load the animal with no means to get them out in case of an emergency THEN put the equipment and cart in…YIKES!!
I would not be hauling with a honda pilot. Ever hear of the tail wagging the dog?
Ya’ll really make me feel huge! We have a 24ft stock trailer
*Does this big trailer make my hips look smaller?"
wink
Of course I don’t know what your hips look like, but that’s the first thing that came to mind when I read your first line.
Yip
I haul my 11 hh pony and a two wheel pipe cart in my Brenderup. I put the cart on one side tipped up with the shafts securely tied to the chest bar and the pony on the other side.
I suppose I could also build a little platform over the manger/chest bar to put the cart on, with everything well tied down. Then I could haul TWO ponies and the cart in a two horse trailer!
Thank you all very much for your advise!
LOL Yip…I said that to an older time one time when he frowned at me and asked why I was riding a draft horse! I smiled and in my most polite voice said " Because sir, she makes my butt look small!!" I am not fat, just tall! But you did make me smile and I thank you for that.
LOL, Belplosh!
Glad I made you smile! I thought I could count on you to see the humor, which was my intention!
Yip
