Any one know anything about horse trailers???

[silverram323]

I bought a 2 horse trail-et. Seems to be in great shape and i think at a good price. What do you think it is worth? I washed it all up today and went threw it and had a few questions. First there is a white battery container (no battery)in the front of the trailer and was wonder was is it for? The other thing was i pulled of the center caps on the wheels to grease them but there is no grease Zerk's? Are these just the repack type on horse trailers.



thanks

 

[LJFiler]

Tralier looks to be in good shape. My guess on the white battery box is that it could be for any interior lights that are in the trailer so that you do not have to be connected to you truck for the interior light to work. Yes if there is not a grease zerk then you have take the bearings out and inspect and repack them.

 

[Demons_Ram]

On the subject of the grease zerk for the axels, you've probably seen trailers that had the bearing buddies installed before.



http://www.bearingbuddy.com/

 

[JKinney]

There should be a battery in that box to operate the emergency break away for the brakes to work should the trailer run away while towing

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

The battery would be for the trailer brakes. Check to see if there are any wires going to the back side of the drums. The hubs can easily be changed out to zerk type. Anyway, looks like a very nice trailer. Where in MN are you located?

 

[silverram323]

Where in MN are you located?

wyoming, minnesota

 

[LaxCummins]

Nice little trailer - I think you'll like it.



Yes, you NEED a properly charged battery in the box, along with the breakaway hookup connected to your truck, and a brake controller (you didn't mention that yet that I saw). Lots to choose from, we've been happy with the Tekonsha Prodigy.



LAXCummins

Kiefer 4H LQ trailer

 

[Darrenf]

Nice! Looking for one of those myself. what year is the trailer?

 

[Grizzly]

Great looking horse trailer. I wouldn't install zerks, only because when you go to repack the bearings, you can also inspect the bearings as well as brake shoes and all other parts. You should repack the bearings and inspect the running gear at least once a year. I'm sure you know this but, when you get a battery, make sure it's a deep cycle marine type.

 

[LaxCummins]

Don't mean to be the disagreeing type - but I think we're out of sync on the type of battery you're talking about - what you actually want is a compact sealed lead-acid breakaway battery designed for the task - like one of these:



http://www.tekonsha.com/tesasealedleadbat1023.html



They typically recommend a special charger that sends lower amperage.



LAXCummins

 

[Grizzly]

Don't mean to be the disagreeing type - but I think we're out of sync on the type of battery you're talking about - what you actually want is a compact sealed lead-acid breakaway battery designed for the task - like one of these:



http://www.tekonsha.com/tesasealedleadbat1023.html



They typically recommend a special charger that sends lower amperage.



LAXCummins

Well, I learned something new. I didn't know about those special batteries, since my 4 horse trailer didn't have a battery.

 

[LaxCummins]

You run a 4 horse with no breakaway? Or was that a while ago?

 

[Grizzly]

You run a 4 horse with no breakaway? Or was that a while ago?

That was 8, maybe 9 years ago and the trailer was 10 or 12 years old then. I've been out of the horse business for a while, but I do miss riding.

 

[silverram323]

Nice little trailer - I think you'll like it.



Yes, you NEED a properly charged battery in the box, along with the breakaway hookup connected to your truck, and a brake controller (you didn't mention that yet that I saw). Lots to choose from, we've been happy with the Tekonsha Prodigy.



LAXCummins

Kiefer 4H LQ trailer

I have a brake controller, and i know about the breakaway hookup. I have always borrowed trailers but never owned a heavy duty trailer so i never paid attention.



The breakaway hookup cable seems to be a mile long it this normal?

 

[silverram323]

Nice! Looking for one of those myself. what year is the trailer?

2004 trail-et new yorker

 

[silverram323]

Great looking horse trailer. I wouldn't install zerks, only because when you go to repack the bearings, you can also inspect the bearings as well as brake shoes and all other parts. You should repack the bearings and inspect the running gear at least once a year. I'm sure you know this but, when you get a battery, make sure it's a deep cycle marine type.

inspect the running gear at least once a year



Whats this????

any pics

 

[Darrenf]

You were asking what it was worth, I found this website http://www.silverspurtrailers.com/category.php?subtype_id=3



Brand New these would appear to run about $10. 5k. With the price of steel being what it is, horse trailers don't seem lose their value too quickly. I've seen the old 80's 2 horse trailers going for $3k (in Colorado) which was probably what they cost back then. In this neck of the woods, your 2 year old trailer would probably get snatched up priced between 8-9K. I think you'd have quite the bargain if you picked it up for less than that.

 

[DavidBurt]

Nice looking trailer, and the brake away cable looks about right. You don't want it to drag but you don't want it to come out accidentally, like when you are backing into a difficult spot and have it cranked off to one side or the other.

Dave

 

[Nordby]

I hate to disagree with the bearing buddy/grease zerk deal here, but maybe I can prevent some folks from frying brakes. Never use them. Pull everything, inspect, and repack. I've been through 3 sets of Dexter axles, different GVW's even, now in the past two years - only 2 out of the total of 12 brakes were not saturated with grease. Grease attracts dirt, so even the magnets were rubbing dirt into the magnet surface, as well ruining the magnets. I only knew the service history for sure on one of them - but the guy I brought the drums to for machining just grinned and said "EZ-lube axles generate a ton of business for me".



Were these over-lubed? Perhaps - but when the dexter axle manuals say keep pumping until you have clean grease come out - it sure implies that the seal back there is holding whatever you pump in. I used them once on Sundowner we had since new so I was sure of the history, and didn't keep pumping until grease came out - rather gave 2-3 pumps - and it wasted 3 of the 4 seals and wasted the brakes within 5K miles.



When you replace the seals, with the brakes/magnets, and all that nonsense - you will notice they are so similar to a normal seal for a spindle that you wonder what is so different about them that would allow them to handle hydraulic pressures exerted by a grease gun. The answer is they don't. And Dexter is really happy to sell you brake parts too - they are about 3x a normal set of shoes to get OEM replacement.



The other two trailers I asked the question of the owner first "Did you service this yearly and pump grease into those EZ-Lube zerks". They emphatically both said yes, sure that it was a good thing. I immediately factored the cost of a brake job into my offer - explained it to them, pulled a drum to prove it to one of the disagreeing owners. Bought them both and found 3/4 were totalled - one survived the grease gun.



Just an opinion - but I've had enough and won't ever use 'em. Hope this convinces a few others to pull the hubs and pack 'em the old fashioend way!



jon.

 

[silverram323]

You were asking what it was worth, I found this website http://www.silverspurtrailers.com/category.php?subtype_id=3



Brand New these would appear to run about $10. 5k. With the price of steel being what it is, horse trailers don't seem lose their value too quickly. I've seen the old 80's 2 horse trailers going for $3k (in Colorado) which was probably what they cost back then. In this neck of the woods, your 2 year old trailer would probably get snatched up priced between 8-9K. I think you'd have quite the bargain if you picked it up for less than that.

Thanks, I picked up the trailer for $7200 or $7716. 50 out the door. so i guess in did ok. .