What to check for on older Brenderup

[Nova2000]

I’ve been casually looking for a Brenderup, and in my price range it’s going to be an older one for sure. I’m not terribly familiar with these trailers, so if some current or former owners could give me some pointers in key things to look for to make sure they are in safe condition I would appreciate it! Please, I don’t want this to turn into a pros and cons argument. I have found one on Craigslist that is almost 30 years old, but don’t really know what to check for.

edited to add: also, where does one get them serviced? Any trailer place?

[GreyDes]

I had one for over 10 years and really appreciated being able to tow it with a smaller vehicle.

The biggest thing I had to do was replace the floor, which I understand is fairly common maintenance. It wasn’t cheap, so I would look closely at that. Definitely get someone who knows what they are doing to look at the brakes. They are unique and not easy to repair.

Also check on the ramp shocks. This is an easy replacement, but you’ll need to get the parts. I had to do it twice in 10+ years.

I had had mine serviced at the local trailer place. One reason I ended up selling it was that parts were difficult to get. There is one main parts dealer - Mountaintop in NH and my experience is that they didn’t have a ton of inventory and getting anything took a while.

[Nova2000]

@GreyDes what is the floor made of? Is it a wood floor?

[GreyDes]

No - the original floor is some kind of composite. I replaced mine with marine grade epoxy coated wood based on the advice of the trailer mechanic. Apparently it’s very expensive to ship the original floors over to the US. The wood held up for four plus year and was still in good condition when I sold it.

[Nova2000]

Is it pretty obvious when the floor needs to be replaced? What are the signs? I still haven’t seen one in person, but I have a couple leads I am going to look at.

[grinanride]

For the older Brenderup trailers the walls and floors are/were 1/2" birch plywood coated in fiberglass resin ( FRP ) you will want to carefully look for soft spots all over the trailer where moisture may have entered the walls and floors around any window cut out, installed fastener, or crack in the coating, the trailer walls and floor rot out from the inside and it is typically too late when it is noticed. I am not exactly sure when they started using the name “phenolic” but that is still coated plywood
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[grey_mare1]

Per the old distributor, you have to stick a screw driver in all parts of the floor and make sure the screw driver head doesn’t sink in AT ALL. If there’s any softness when the screwdriver gets pushed in, then the floor is rotted. Its marine plywood and I doubt you’ll find one that passes the test, so be vigilant.

[Nova2000]

Does the floor have to be one solid piece? Is there any reason when it needs to replaced it can’t be replaced with pressure treated 2x8 tongue and groove boards?

[grinanride]

Please remember it is not just the floor that is coated plywood, walls too so be aware - the 1 piece floor is / was part of the structure, installed in 1 piece to try and hold the trailer together and make it stiffer to prevent flex as there is little framing, same thing with the butt bars - the bars hold the rear hoop together to prevent spreading…

You can replace the floor with 2 x 6 treated BUT you will have to get some cross angles 2 x 2 welded in, and at the rear where the ramp closes have the boards ripped to fit so the ramp will still close. Tongue and groove wood is not advised as it would hold moisture and rot faster
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[grey_mare1]

@Nova2000

Does the floor have to be one solid piece? Is there any reason when it needs to replaced it can’t be replaced with pressure treated 2x8 tongue and groove boards?

another old distributor tried to re-engineer the floor supports so folks could do that sort of thing. They eventually advised against it. It was traveled lane trailers in Centerville, md. They had an engineering team and were trying to help folks have more options for better floors. You can call them and ask why they dropped the idea after a lot of effort.

[grey_mare1]

Even a new Brenderup floor only lasts a few years - even when kept meticulously (floor scrubbed and mats removed after every trip, etc). If people say otherwise they haven’t done the screwdriver test. If its 30 years old Please Run Away.

Feel free to PM me. I worked with a bunch of distributors/resellers on this issue.

[Nova2000]

I’m going to look at a 2005 Solo on Thursday. I think I’ve decided to pass on the 30 year old one. When did they switch from the coated plywood to the solid resin?

[grey_mare1]

Just be sure to bring a screwdriver, and make sure it doesn’t sink into any parts of the floor. You are especially looking at the floor along the sidewalls. Those parts of the floor go first, and if its a 2005, there’s no way the floors near the sidewalls aren’t soft, unless its been kept undercover sincde 2005. If anyone tells you that its possible to harden up the floor with a marine type wood anti-rot product…run away.

[IronwoodFarm]

I have owned a Brenderup Royal TC for a number of years before I sold it to move up to a larger trailer. Loved the trailer. What is being said about the floor is correct. The trailer needs a one piece floor; I replaced mine once. I am curious what kind of towing vehicle the OP is using. I hope its ability to haul has been considered. Also, the Solo – no way would I ever buy a one horse trailer. The resale market for it is very small. Most buyers want a 2 horse trailer at minimum.

[Nova2000]

I will be towing with a Toyota 4 runner. I’m not overly concerned with resale, the price on the trailer is fair. The Solo would keep me from being tempted to overload 😬

[NeedsAdvil]

I have one that I bought from Traveled Lane Trailers in MD. They got it inspected for me and were super honest about the trailer. I wouldn’t buy one from a private seller personally because I don’t know enough about what to look for. I also pull mine with a 4-Runner. Good luck!

[hillary_again]

I have a Solo and love it, and so did my horse. She hated being next to other horses and liked the big wide stall. The lack of tack and storage space was a drag, but I used the trailer to go to lessons and down the road a few miles to ride at another arena. Perfect for this!

[suzyq]

We bought an old one and when we replaced the floor, the metal slats under the floor were very corroded, so we had to replace those. Not sure how you would check this without removing the floor!

[Nova2000]

Update: I am officially the proud owner of an equine porta potty! 😂. It does need a new floor, but I was able to show that to the seller and negotiated a lower price for what I will have to spend on the floor.

[soloudinhere]

Good luck with securing a replacement. I think everyone who has had one done has had to have one custom made. Most trailer places are completely unfamiliar with them.