Opinions from horse haulers

[46mech]

The wife and I are looking at getting a gooseneck horse trailer (probably in the spring). Not sure whether I want a 3-horse or 4-horse yet, but I'm usually one who prefers to have just a little more than I need so it might end up being a 4.



Anyway.....



Any opinions out there as to brands? Any brands I should stay away from? Anyone use the reverse slant trailers? Any experiences with your trailer, good or bad, I don't mind hearing about them.



Thanks.

 

[Slim's Ram]

Kiefer Built Is the way to go as far as price vs value.

Their warranty is one of the best out there also.



Chris

 

[46mech]

Ever hear of a trailer company by the name of, "Trail-et"? Supposedly they've been in business since 1963 (I think it was '63) and they're made in Wisconsin. I've never heard of them until today.

They appear to have some pretty good standard features..... but then, it's our first time out looking at horse trailers.

 

[tmilam]

The only thing I have ever pulled is a FetherLite. A 34ft stock trailer pulls better than my 26ft 5th wheel.

 

[NickSullivan]

Can't go wrong

In my experience I would have to say Trails West is the best I have seen for steel trailers. I too am a guy that considers too much just right so I have a 4 horse gooseneck with the weekender package. we love it. It's kind of heavy but you obviously have a cummins so don't worry about it. If I was buying a bumper pull I would still get a 4 horse but it would have to be aluminum so I could still haul a camper.



Sully

 

[TPCDrafting]

I'll second the Trails West. We had a 4 horse GN. Fit and finish was second to none. Good tough paint, no unnecessary trim that just ends up falling off, etc. We looked at Trail-ets at the local dealer here. They discontinued selling them due to the poor service they were getting from the factory. I was also unimpressed as to the same 4 horse GN had lower rated axles than any of the other brands. We now have a Circle J which isn't too bad, but some things are really done on the cheap and are showing after only a few years.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

I've used eight-horse Barrets, Charmac, and Cherokees. The preferred pick of the litter is the Barrets. The worst is the Charmac. Strictly business trailers with no living quarters but a sufficient tack room.



As far as the reverse slant, it is not uncommon to head-tail when stuffing eight in. Depends on size of horses and number of mules.

 

[Mhannink]

we got a 6 horse aluminum sooner and it had a few electrical problems early on but after 200,000 miles its been real good i would go so far as to say as good as the dodge pulling it. we got them both(truck/trailer) new at the same time and are really great. i would go w/ a slant load since it will shorten it by a little and deffinetly a gooseneck much easir to manuver

 

[AfterBurner]

depending on if you want aluminum or steel... and how much to spend... if you want a top of the line aluminum, bloomer trailers is the way to go, they come with 10 ply michelins, LED's, and a 10 year warranty, they'll make your horse smile, but not you're wallet. Hart also builds a good aluminum, one step down from bloomer. then you have sundowner, featherlite, cherokee, and many others that are good, just not as well planned out as the bloomers. Don't know for sure, but i have heard that the aluminum skin on a steel frame is a bad combination, due to the different physical properties of the metals; this is what a lot of lower end "aluminum" trailer companies do...

If you go steel, stay away from CM, WW, and S&H... Bruton builds a good steal trailer, pulls heavy but a good trailer.

As for reverse slant, you won't see much of that, except in the higher end, expensive trailers and imo, ain't worth the extra cost... plus if your horse learns to load and unload in one of those, it can sour them for a regular straight load.

To look for a good trailer, check out the quality of the welds (smooth, good bead, lots of 'em), number of door hinges, quality of tire, how many cross members are used underneath; and if you like a trailer, check out a used version of it, and see how it has held up.

There's also nifty little options to think about such as, roof vents, insulated roof (nice if in the south), how easily the gates open, rear loading lights... and so forth.

good luck

OH, and make sure it matches the paint of the Dodge :-laf

 

[AfterBurner]

bloomer site

http://www.bloomertrailers.com/

here's the site for Bloomer

 

[46mech]

Afterburner, that was some good input. Thanks, thanks to all for your advice.

 

[TPCDrafting]

www.horsetrailerworld.com is a great place to window shop online to get an idea of prices and availability. There's great search tools to narrow down what and where yer lookin'.

 

[TGibbs]

I dont want to insult anyone hear as I know everyone has their own opinions and I know a lot of people have had good success with a lot of different levels of quality trailer. Trailers are my business and to be honest, Hart trailers in Chickasha OK are the top of the line. The second behind that is Jamco out of Alberta? Canada. Bloomer has a floor that is only. 090 thick and over a few years will start drooping between the supports. Trails West is a great trailer but they are not an all galvanized trailer. Only their sheets are galvanized. Logan Coach trailers are the only brand in the good ol USA that makes an all galvanized trailer. Galvanization process makes the steel 18% stronger and gives it the resistance to rust. Featherlite is good low priced all aluminum. Trailers arent like trucks, the more you spend on a trailer, the better built it will be. Hart is the top of the line but also has the highest prices. PM and I can pretty much compare any trailers you are looking at. As I said in the beginning I dont want to start anything just voicing my opinion with 17 years in the business.

 

[46mech]

T,



I'll forsure take input from someone who has been in the business for 17 yrs. My wife spends some time on a horse forum and she, just today, told me that someone recommended the Hart trailer.



Like I stated, it won't be real soon that we get a trailer so I'm taking all the input I can get. I don't have loads of $$ hanging on a tree out back, but I don't want to get something that I have to wonder about whether it will even last me 3,4, or 5 years.

 

[NickSullivan]

I don't care what people say, Trailswest is a great trailer and we have not had any problems with rusting and I live in the Portland OR. area. Like I said orininally figure yout what you want; aluminum light weight non corrosive to weather (urine might affect, I don't know yet) or steel (strong and sturdy for more years than you will probably hold on to your trailer). Just go out and find a dealer you feel comfortable doing business with. Most of the time when it comes to warranty work the dealler will make or break the experience.



Nick

 

[TGibbs]

I am not downing any trailer brand at all just giving highlights with facts. Mech, PM me, I think a buddy of mine has a dealership close to you but I got to look in the computer at office again to double check.

 

[LJFiler]

My parents have a 4Star aluminum trailer. No problems so far but they are a little more expensive. Go with a slant load but not for sure on the reverse slant. I have never used one so can got give a lot of advise. But like posted earlier check several brands and looks for welds, support members and a dealership that you feel comfortable with and then enjoy it.

 

[TGibbs]

Reverse slants arent too common, mostly a custom build thing.

 

[Cattletrkr]

Here's a different perspective for ya. I don't own horses. I've only hauled one horse in my life. I don't even look at horse trailers. I do, however haul a lot of cattle in an aluminum trailer. Basically the trailer is the same, just not as nice.



Around here, 4-star is far and away the most popular among the larger commercial trailers. They are considered the best, most durable trailer available. Featherlite is also popular, but I personally don't think andything named "featherlite" is made to last a long time.



I recently ordered an "Elite" trailer. Very similar to 4-star, with a few things that I like better. Basically it's just slightly heavier built and the pricing isn't as arrogant. PM me in a year or so and I'll let you know how it worked out.



Go to a big salebarn and look at the trailers there. Count and see which name you see the most. Then find out if they make horse trailers also. Odd are if they make a good sturdy stock trailer, they make a good horse trailer. As I said earlier, the only difference in a lot of them is the level of finish.



My $0. 02

 

[JHardwick]

Reading this post, I was wondering when Elite was gonna be mentioned. I'm in the process of possibly ordering one myself. Coming in with a machining/fabricating background, I was completely impressed with fit/finish/function (3 F's) of the Elite. Integrity is another well built trailer in my opinion, and I'm getting quotes from them too.



I closed my machine shop down in Feb of '05 and have been hauling horses all over the US ever since. I started out by using my slant load Exiss (already had it and a dually Cummins) and can say for sure to stay away from the bolted together production type trailers. Custom built, welded together trailers are the way to go. If the rear doors, side escape doors, gates etc are bolted on, walk away. Look at one of these trailers and then a welded trailer, it's quite obvious. Also look at the floor thickness and spacing of the crossmembers. Have you ever seen a horse go through the floor while in transit? It's not pretty, trust me.



I personally wouldn't even consider a steel trailer. Outside of the weight, it is eventually gonna rust. I've had a couple, and still have a small one I keep for day rides and trips to the vet.



Another thing to consider is a box stall trailer. I've got a slant with weekender, but going to a stock/combo with weekender. I've been using my friends 3 box stock trailer lately and like it way better. A 2 box stall will get you 4 horse capacity.



The weekender allows me to camp with my horses, and cut down on motels while hauling others horses. The box stalls allow the horses to stand however they wish, which is usually backwards. If you are gonna be traveling great distances like I do, the horses come off fresher looking in the stock type/box stall trailer than they do in a slant. In my business, a horse has to look like it went around the block after traveling from Va to Ca, in your case, you want your horses as comfortable as possible ... ... ... ... . and I think the box stall does it.



Another thing to consider is axle location. (Elite will put mine where I want them) The stock type trailer I've been using is a Travalong, I'd never really heard of them and it seems like a decent trailer, but I don't like the axle placement. This trailer is a couple feet longer on the floor than my Exiss, but rides and manuevers like it's 10 feet longer because the axles are all the way out in the 3rd stall.



One more thing, I didn't look, but if your hauling with a 4X4, make sure the axles are blocked. If not, you'll be replacing rear axle tires, tailgates or both