I am needing to upgrade from my current 2 horse BP Hawk to a bigger trailer that will fit large warmbloods. I am currently looking at 2+1 configurations to allow some flexibility in stall configuration. I have one horse that really hates to load, so I like the idea of double ramps and a box stall option. I haul with a 2018 RAM 2500 4x4 and really don’t have the option to trade trucks right now which I realize may limit my options. I am just north of the Ocala area and would love to stay semi-local, but I am willing to look outside the area to look at other brands. In town I currently have available to look at 2+1 configurations of 4-star, Hawk, Adams, Featherlite, Shadow, Sundowner, and Exiss. I am noticing they range in size though with most being 7’6" tall (Exiss is 7’9" tall and Hawk is 7’8") and 6’9"-7’ wide (though the Featherlite is 8’ wide). My horses hate my current Hawk, but I think it is just too small. I want a trailer that is going to last a long time and maintain resale value, but I need something big enough for 17.2+ Warmbloods. Which direction would you go in terms of these or other options? I’m hoping to go look in person in the next couple of weekends, but I’m curious what everyone’s experience has been with the different brands and sizes.
You can’t go 8’ wide for straight loads most times. It puts the wheel wells in the horse area in a way that’s uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. I know that it’s been done, but to me it’s not the same as having a wheel well in the horse area in a slant, where the horse can still easily get it’s feet where needed to balance and lean on dividers.
I would have no problem fitting a big warmblood in my 4star 2+1. It’s got extra length in the stalls and is 7’6" tall. The stud gate is also further from the chest bar than standard.
Don’t forget - if a horse wants to find the ceiling of the trailer with their head, they will. Doesn’t matter if it’s 7’, 10’, or 15’. If they’re going to be ding dongs, the head will find the ceiling.
Do you know what size your current Hawk is?
My current 2 horse BP is 7’6 tall and 72" wide (interior), I’ve got the extra length both in front of the breast bar and body area and this is plenty of space for my 16.3+ mare, but if she was a wide bodied type it might be a little snug width wise. She walks right on no problem.
I do have a new Hawk (2 horse GN with side ramp) getting delivered this weekend and I did go with the 7’8 height and 80" width (same body area length, but more room in front for the side ramp). I only went up in height because we did need to make sure the gooseneck could clear my truck bed and didn’t want to lose the few extra inches there since I might sleep up there a few times. I did get the sliding divider so I can easily make it a box stall. I couldn’t go 2+1 due to a PITA driveway and budget 
For what is worth, driving people pretty much only have 8’0 wide and out works out pretty well for us. I have an 8’0 wide 2+1 BP config and I will never ever not have an 8 wide trailer again.
But it’s really not necessary unless you need to put the carriage in sideways, so there’s no need for non driving people to have 8 wide. And I know the concerns for that space behind the well, but if it is a good trailer and the right price, it should be easy enough to block out that space behind the well.
You see it in 6 horse head to heads too. I just imagine that it’s hard for the horse to find purchase for their feet, and leaning on the wall is tough/awkward.
None better than the EquiSpirit 2+1 Extra Tall/Extra Wide. I have their EquiBreeze model (more open air, since I’m in GA).
It held my late 17.3, 2000lb Percheron mare and my Clyde-X mare perfectly. Still plenty of head room, bright and airy.
Since the stalls are wider than any other trailer, it’s actually pretty comfortable, but yes, if a horse does try to lean against a wall with a wheel well, that’s not going to be comfortable. Of course leaning against walls is pretty uncomfortable for the driver in any trailer!
I had 2 different size butt bars made for my trailer, so when shipping alone (most of the time) my guy has about a 6" wide semi box to travel in instead of his normal 4’ stall, so he’s traveling in style. The e bike gets the tiny slot.
Hawk builds EquiSpirit, and also Balanced Ride.
After having a Trailers USA (really nice work & held up great) that was second hand & originally made for someone with carriages, I got a Balanced Ride for a horse-safe +1. Loved it, but more local trips and fewer & smaller horses, sold the gooseneck and got a Balanced Ride bumper pull with a side ramp (no +1.)
A couple good friends also went the 2+1 route over recent years- a Sundowner gooseneck before downsizing to a BP with side ramp, and a Featherlight 2+1 bumper pull. Happy customers & trailers held up well.
FWIW a trailer dealer in my general area dropped Shadow, and from Facebook posts, was a wave of everyone selling off their practically new Shadows. Not sure if that’s indicative of a problem, but seemed odd.
If size/weight for your current truck is a concern what about Gore or Adams? I believe both are all-aluminum.
Edited to add that I’m really happy with how my new trailer turned out. It may be a bit bigger than I needed and a little harder to maneuver, but I love the different configurations and the horses love the inviting feel.
I could have written the OP’s post a few years ago! I sold my 1999 2H BP Equispirit and bought a Balanced Ride GN w/ side ramp, 17’ on the floor in the horse area with 4’ DR. Horse area can be configured with forward or reverse facing stalls and I also have (3) gate hinge locations so that I can have 11’ box at front of trailer, 11’ box at back of trailer, or divide the trailer into two equal 8’6” boxes.
My biggest horse is 17.3h and I have the 7’8” height. Sometimes I think I should have selected the 8’ height, but I really don’t think 4” would make much of a difference.
I am contemplating working with Hawk to make an aftermarket adjustment so I can divide the trailer into two slant type boxes so both giant WBs have a more box-ride experience.
@skip99 What do you mean by ‘sliding divider’? That might be an option I should have selected, do you have any photos or can you describe how it works?
This is a really good question…I purchased my current Hawk used, so I don’t have the specification sheet for it. Based on my measurements though it is 7’1" high at the ramp threshold and 7’5" inside floor to ceiling. Its only 70" wide inside though so an 80" width would be a huge improvement. Does anyone know the correct way to measure height of a trailer?
It looks like this. You can see the divider is all the way to the left acting as a saddle rack while the rest of the space is set up for the harness and other equipment (the curtain in the front is our dressing room). Mine doesn’t just slide all the way over to either side, it also has an option to be a 50/50 split or a 65/35 setting, so a little fancier than just sliding. Technically you could also add another divider and make it a 3 stall for 3 small ponies if you drove a small pony pair (when you have a pair you typically also have a spare)
Pretty much exactly what @DMK posted - the divider slides over without requiring disassembly/removal. I didn’t get an extra setting, just either down the middle or all the way over to the side which will be fine for my needs.
I might have been wrong on mine - it’s probably 72" exterior to exterior making the actual inside width closer to 35" per stall. Based on the drawings for the 80" wide Hawk, that 80" appears to span exterior wall to exterior wall which probably means the stalls themselves are more like 39" inside as you lose about an inch on each side for wall material.
That’s a very versatile layout, with front load, rear load, slant, box, … I’m jealous! Nice job figuring out such a nice set of options.
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