I was looking at a 2005 Equi Spirit Trailer which I liked a lot but the metal parts on it (like the door latches and wheels) were not painted or coated with anything and had quite a bit of surface rust on them. The frame has the same rust. Is this common on these older trailers? My DH went with me and he thought it could be a problem. I’ve never looked at the frame of mine to see if it is coated with anything. Common sense says that there should be some rust after 20 years but I just don’t want to get stuck with a bunch of repairs on this.
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Can you take it somewhere to have it evaluated? I have a 2004 Hawk and took it for a spring “tune-up”. The repair guy told me he was expecting the frame to be rotted out based on other older trailers he has worked on. I am happy to say there is only surface rust, and it needed new brakes, but it is sound.
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I have a 2006 Equispirit. Frame is pristine. Replaced the wood floor 2 years ago. The only surface rust and it’s really more like discoloration are the back apron door hinges. Original owner. I do have a new rear facing Balanced Ride trailer but I just can’t seem to make myself sell the old Equispirit. Always loved it. Just have a horse who needs to face backwards not to throw himself to the floor.
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Let me know if you’re in Florida lol. What’s the price of the 2005?
As I recall my 2005 Equi Sprit had “bar” latches on the side doors. By “wheels” do you mean the metal rims that are inside the rubber tires?
If it were me (I’m a bit obsessed with keeping my trailers in mint condition – probably because I’m married to a car-guy who sometimes uses Q-tips to get into all the places that need polished on his sports cars) --anyway, take it to someone who knows about trailer frames and make sure the frame and floor are in good shape. The floor can be replaced (if it is wood) --but if the frame is compromised, it would be a hard NO for me.
As to the door latches --are these “cam latches”? --if so depending on size (recall these being the shorter cam latches --you can (and should, I think) replace those for about $30 each. I would do it just for the aesthetics --but as I said, I’m a bit obsessive about my trailer.
The rims --these might not be original with the trailer. --when I replace my tires (every 3 years --yeah, someone’s going say that’s too often --but if you do some looking up you’ll find that trailer tires and NOT like car tires --after 3 years, even if you don’t drive the trailer one inch --you need to replace --but you do you) --when we replace the tires on the trailer, we also replace the rims --then sell the old tires with the rims --someone will always buy the tires and rims for a boat trailer or something similar and that makes up for the cost of the new rims.
If you decide not to replace the tires and rims, there is a relatively quick, easy fix to rusty rims —it involves a deck of cards, place between rim and tire in a circular pattern. Then spray paint. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yljYrpftIRY.
Trailer tire hubcaps are available on-line too if there are any missing.
I’ve owned and rehabbed a number of horse trailers --mostly for myself but sometimes for other people and my kiddos.
Remember, if there is something wrong with the frame --pass –
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It is my understanding that if the coating between the aluminum skin and steel frame is compromised, serious rust can become a problem.
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I have a 2008 Equi-Spirit 2+1 with dressing room. I just had it inspected. The inspector mentioned it was in really good shape. (Frame, flooring) He has horses and is a race car mechanic in addition to being a regular car mechanic.
I have no signs of rust. I need the DOT tape replaced.
The wheels have surface rust but not anything to be concerned about. I choose to have 2 spares. So 2 of my wheels are pristine and painted.
On a Trail-et my husband sand blasted the wheels and powder coated them teal.
It is my understanding as long as the wheels are holding air you don’t need to worry about a little surface rust that isn’t under the tire rim.
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The closets hear I’ve owned to that would be a 2000 Equispirit 2H GN, and it really didn’t have many issues. The previous owner did a great job maintaining the trailer. I did get new wheels and tires just because I wasn’t sure of the age, and the wheels had some peeling paint, but weren’t all that rusty. Wheels and tires are an easy thing to replace, and trailer wheels themselves aren’t terribly expensive, so that’d be the least of my concerns.
I think pretty much everything on my trailer came from the factory painted, seeing as it all was still painted many years later. The frame was good, and the cross members had some surface rust, but my DH got underneath of it, removed all of the rust, primed, and painted (it was a sh*tty job though). Some latches might get surface rust because paint can nick just due to usage.
Another thing I’d look at with these trailers would be the fiberglass roofs. I love Hawk and EquiSpirit but I’ve grown to dislike their roofs a bit. They do make the trailer lighter, and I think cooler too, but even with proper care, issues crop up and the paint around the edges starts to peel/look crappy. I’ve seen it on many used trailers. I’d rather have a metal roof due to the sealing, replacement, maintenance, and paint I’ve had to do to some of my mine. If you’re buying brand new and take care of it, then you’ll have many good years out of it, but when buying used, take a close look at the roof.
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Thanks, totally forgot asking about the fiberglass roof! There is a sliver of daylight between the roof and the wall in the tack room area. I was wondering if water would get in there. I also was worried about something falling on the roof and damaging it; does it hold up well?
I do know someone who had a horse put a hole in the roof of her Trailet. I don’t know what the circumstances were, though.
Putting a hole in the roof is a very rare event, IMO.
If I could see a sliver of daylight inbetween the roof and wall, along with the other concerns about the trailer in the OP, I’d walk away. Unless I were able to get the trailer for practically nothing and willing to do a lot of handy work.
We can look at all sorts of “rare” events like a horse putting a hole in a roof, or something falling on the roof, but I don’t really consider those things when buying. Mostly because I don’t park near anything that could fall on my trailer and there’s always the very small chance of something wild happening to any trailer, really.
Accidents can happen nonetheless, but full metal trailers can incur damage too. If you’re uncomfortable with a fiberglass roof, then don’t buy a trailer with one. It’s simple.
FWIW, full metal trailers can leak too. Regardless of the trailer it’s all about how you take care of it. I know that some think that aluminum trailers are maintenance free and damn near bullet proof, but they can have their “things” too. Even with my qualms about the fiberglass roof, as I said, I do think it makes things a bit cooler in the trailer. My old EquiSpirit was also a very quiet trailer. Not rattling at all, and not sounding like a tin can or all that “metal like” on the inside. So that was a plus.
You just buy the best condition that your budget allows for. When it’s a used trailer, you’ll likely have a thing or two that you might want to do to it. Whether it’s cosmetic or functional. Maybe that’s just me being anal about my trailers though! EquiSpirit trailers are good trailers, but even the best brand isn’t worth it if you’re not comfortable with it’s used condition or if it hasn’t been maintained well, IMO.
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or something falling on the roof,
we have our trailer fully insured, if something fell on it the insurance company would most likely total it out paying the agreed upon value… insurance is with the truck/auto insurer, cost is less than $2 per month
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Good point. Mine is insured too.
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