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I am a Freak
Posts: 3326
   
Location: Nowhere Special | Has anyone used a fifth wheel toy hauler to haul a horse in? (yeah I know sounds crazy) but I was out looking at campers today and I asked the dealer about this (he also looked at me astonished) but he couldn't see any reason I couldn't load a horse in the toy hauler part, its capable of more weight then a horse weighs, it has a ramp, and all I would have to do is put in some tie rings and slider windows for ventalation. In comparison its way cheaper and a heck of a lot nicer living arrangments... So anyone know anybody that has done this and why don't more people do it IF you can do it? I'm assuming there has to be something I am missing here |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
 
Location: In the Hills of Texas | Huge difference between live weight and dead weight. No way would I try it. JMO The toy hauler's do not have the strength like horse trailers do. They are built with a lot lighter materials and is why they are junk in a much shorter time. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Nevertooold - 2014-05-30 6:12 PM
Huge difference between live weight and dead weight. No way would I try it. JMO The toy hauler's do not have the strength like horse trailers do. They are built with a lot lighter materials and is why they are junk in a much shorter time.
Ditto, floors are not welded like a horse trailer floors. The horse would not have any protection in case of an accident, walls are flimsy. |
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Not in a million. Those things are terribly flimsy. There's a huge difference in the wreckage of a camper/toy hauler and a horse trailer after a crash. The campers look like they explode. Either get a LQ trailer or a bumper pull and motorhome. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I wouldn't want to haul live cargo in something that high off the ground. Most of them are a lighter pin weight with the axles moved forward and that is less stable. |
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 Chin Hairs
Posts: 1028
Location: Indiana | A horse trailer is structurally built to haul horse, where a toy hauler isn't. I would go with a horse trailer set up with a collapsible rear tack, 8 wide, no mangers, ramp, or whatever will fit your set up. We just built a very custom trailer for a husband and wife who haul horses once in a while and their Harley most of the time. We put in tie downs and only one manger. It was completely built for her needs and turned out really great. Maybe look for something like that that might work for your situation. |
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I am a Freak
Posts: 3326
Location: Nowhere Special | Thanks all.. I'm trying to research specs and so far what Ive found is the walls on the featherlite "livestock" trailer and the toy hauler are made exaclty the same, the axles are actually a 1000 pounds heavier in the toy hauler then in the livestock trailer. The only diffrence I have found so far is mention of spacing and bracing in the livestock trailer vs the toy hauler, so I don't know what the spacing is in the toy hauler but I'm sure it could be reinforced for far less then the price difference between a lq horse trailer and a toy hauler..
Taking all you haver said very seriously and trying to do my homework. I certainly wouldn't want to put him in something unsafe!
Lots of mention of cheaper material but all i'm finding so far is they are made of the exact same stuff both inside and out, bracing is something I will defff look into.. I'm trying to find LQ trailer specs now so I can compare more apples to apples.. So if anyone has any please let me know |
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Pig-Bear Dog Lover
| Google stable boy buddy.. . Or something like that. They have a two horse stall system built for toy haulers. Its 8k for a two horse set up. ETA http://mrtruck.com/stableboy.htm
there that may help. Any questions you have they can answer.
Edited by SwishMiss 2014-05-30 9:51 PM
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | SwishMiss - 2014-05-30 9:47 PM Google stable boy buddy.. . Or something like that. They have a two horse stall system built for toy haulers. Its 8k for a two horse set up. ETA http://mrtruck.com/stableboy.htm there that may help. Any questions you have they can answer.
Pretty impressive, I have to admit. I guess if you buy a toy hauler like that it might work with the 3 axles. I couldn't believe what they had hooked up to it. I would think you want a lot more truck to haul it. It would still scare me. |
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | jetgetset - 2014-05-30 9:14 PM Thanks all.. I'm trying to research specs and so far what Ive found is the walls on the featherlite "livestock" trailer and the toy hauler are made exaclty the same, the axles are actually a 1000 pounds heavier in the toy hauler then in the livestock trailer. The only diffrence I have found so far is mention of spacing and bracing in the livestock trailer vs the toy hauler, so I don't know what the spacing is in the toy hauler but I'm sure it could be reinforced for far less then the price difference between a lq horse trailer and a toy hauler..
Taking all you haver said very seriously and trying to do my homework. I certainly wouldn't want to put him in something unsafe!
Lots of mention of cheaper material but all i'm finding so far is they are made of the exact same stuff both inside and out, bracing is something I will defff look into.. I'm trying to find LQ trailer specs now so I can compare more apples to apples.. So if anyone has any please let me know
We were looking around for a 5th wheel travel trailer and they were really cheap junk unless you wanted to spend over $60,000. Glad you are doing your homework and I sure see your point. Keep us posted on what you end up doing. |
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I keep my change in my pockets
Posts: 2985
Location: MN | Very impressive, but they need talk more about how the system is anchored into the frame of the toy hauler. I would lthink that you would want an high quality toy hauler to put this in. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| jetgetset - 2014-05-30 9:14 PM
Thanks all.. I'm trying to research specs and so far what Ive found is the walls on the featherlite "livestock" trailer and the toy hauler are made exaclty the same, the axles are actually a 1000 pounds heavier in the toy hauler then in the livestock trailer. The only diffrence I have found so far is mention of spacing and bracing in the livestock trailer vs the toy hauler, so I don't know what the spacing is in the toy hauler but I'm sure it could be reinforced for far less then the price difference between a lq horse trailer and a toy hauler..
Taking all you haver said very seriously and trying to do my homework. I certainly wouldn't want to put him in something unsafe!
Lots of mention of cheaper material but all i'm finding so far is they are made of the exact same stuff both inside and out, bracing is something I will defff look into.. I'm trying to find LQ trailer specs now so I can compare more apples to apples.. So if anyone has any please let me know
The spacing and bracing is what gives the trailer stability.
I believe horse trailers the braces are 12 inches apart, I'm not sure on the toy haulers, and not sure how easy it would be to add braces to an end product.
I know 20 years ago my parents custom ordered their livestock trailer 6 inches apart. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | Elite braces are 6" apart since they started building trailers.
I don't know how the horses can stand the ride up high in the european vans. Everytime I stand in the RV as we cruise down the highway at 65 I get nausea and sometimes vertigo. And, I don't get car sick! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 832
Location: Kansas (but Great Lakes member since 1978) | There is a HUGE difference between the two types of trailers. Just look at the center of gravity, the hight above the ground, the construction materials, the axels.... Yes, you could do it but if you had to swerve, stop suddenly got hit by another vehicle, was in strong winds... just to name a few issues.... you'd be in trouble for sure. The longevity of the horse trailer is also way longer. I am in the process of having a horse trailer finished up by Duba's Trailers that is a multi purpose trailer.... horse trailer that can also be used to haul a 4 wheeler and canoe with just a few changes in some door placement. It's going to be just as nice or nicer than a toy hauler and a lot safer for my horses. It might be higher but not as much as you would think. If you want a rig that you won't have to replace in a few years and want your horses to have a chance of not being killed if you are unfortunate enough to be in even a slight accident.... stick with a horse trailer.
Of course the quality of the horse trailer will also make a difference. Don't go with something that is too lightly built.... do your homework and get quality. If you don't you'll spend more in the end just replacing it when you realize it's not really working for you.
Edited by goldcard 2014-05-31 11:00 AM
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 Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
Location: Displaced Iowegian | This is what a toy hauler looks like wrecked........this was my sons.......
Edited by NJJ 2014-05-31 11:10 AM
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | No way would I use a toy hauler to haul my horses, they are a light built trailer compare to a LQ horse trailer, they remine me of a tissue box. I have seen a toy hauler after being in a accident and boy it looked like it exploded all over the place, there is no way a animal could have made it in that mess, now a horse trailer is made to protect the animals. I would rather go with a nice LQ trailer that is built for the horses safety.
I have been in a Toy hauler and the floors just dont have that soild feel to me. Safety first, then nice LQ's 
Edited by Southtxponygirl 2014-05-31 12:49 PM
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | NJJ - 2014-05-31 11:08 AM This is what a toy hauler looks like wrecked........this was my sons.......
Thats the way the one I saw looked, like someone had steped on it and made it pop, very scary to think of hauling horses in one of these light weight trailers. |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | No WAY would I put horses in a toy hauler. There's good reason why LQ horse trailers are much more expensive. It's like comparing a 1-ton to a Prius.
If spacious living area is most important, I would buy a motor home and a bumper pull. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | goldcard - 2014-05-31 10:57 AM There is a HUGE difference between the two types of trailers. Just look at the center of gravity, the hight above the ground, the construction materials, the axels.... Yes, you could do it but if you had to swerve, stop suddenly got hit by another vehicle, was in strong winds... just to name a few issues.... you'd be in trouble for sure. The longevity of the horse trailer is also way longer. I am in the process of having a horse trailer finished up by Duba's Trailers that is a multi purpose trailer.... horse trailer that can also be used to haul a 4 wheeler and canoe with just a few changes in some door placement. It's going to be just as nice or nicer than a toy hauler and a lot safer for my horses. It might be higher but not as much as you would think. If you want a rig that you won't have to replace in a few years and want your horses to have a chance of not being killed if you are unfortunate enough to be in even a slight accident.... stick with a horse trailer. Of course the quality of the horse trailer will also make a difference. Don't go with something that is too lightly built.... do your homework and get quality. If you don't you'll spend more in the end just replacing it when you realize it's not really working for you.
Can I see some pics of your modifications? My hubby and I love to take the Harley and kayak with us. We have thought about the canoe but no room. When I rodeo its only two to three weeks at a time but we do so much in that time! |
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I am a Freak
Posts: 3326
Location: Nowhere Special | See thats what I was thinking too (lighter material) but according to the specs it is not, and in some cases actually a heavier made material. The spacing I will deff check into. As far as height and wheel placement have any of you use, have, or seen the "high end" feather light yet? It looks exactly like a toy hauler comparing the pictures but would like to see it in person to know for sure. This is not something I would be hauling to every jackpot, rodeo and barrel race in. (I have horse trailers) I travel for work and it would make my life a whole lot easier to be able to have a camper so I can have my dogs with me, and also be able to take my horse along when I change areas. The LQ trailers are just to small LQ wise compared to what a camper is and pricing is a huge factor when its just a temporary thing till I buy another place. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Not in a million years. We live on the road in my 5th wheel. The horses come too, and I make trips cross country to get them when I relocate. There's no way I would risk my horses in a camper. Any camper. I can barely bring myself to leave my desktop computer in my camper when we haul it, just knowing the ickle pieces it will be in if the trailer rolls. I have a 60,000 dollar jobby that is pretty much a mansion. My hubby has a smaller toy hauler to take his Harley in. It's pretty solid, but no, just no, not my horses!!
It's a lot of work to have horses on the road when you have a separate hauling rig, but 5th wheels shatter when they get hit. They're harder to maneuver, harder to stop, easier to blow over, plus they have entirely too much motion when in transit.
I've been tempted by the motorhome/bumperpull trailer idea. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | classicpotatochip - 2014-05-31 5:25 PM Not in a million years. We live on the road in my 5th wheel. The horses come too, and I make trips cross country to get them when I relocate. There's no way I would risk my horses in a camper. Any camper. I can barely bring myself to leave my desktop computer in my camper when we haul it, just knowing the ickle pieces it will be in if the trailer rolls. I have a 60,000 dollar jobby that is pretty much a mansion. My hubby has a smaller toy hauler to take his Harley in. It's pretty solid, but no, just no, not my horses!! It's a lot of work to have horses on the road when you have a separate hauling rig, but 5th wheels shatter when they get hit. They're harder to maneuver, harder to stop, easier to blow over, plus they have entirely too much motion when in transit. I've been tempted by the motorhome/bumperpull trailer idea.
I was the same way, then my son whom has a 90k trailer and I got to talking. I've had one of the first Elite LQ trailers built; it has been all over the US and Canada. It's rock solid and 18 years old still on the road. When we compared his trailer that is 3 years old against my horse trailer there was no comparison to what is holding up. My husband has helped a friend whose daughter is making serious attempts to get to the NFR her rig is a top of the line but having issues constantly. Give me a solid truck and trailer. Less headaches.
Edited by uno-dos-tres! 2014-05-31 7:53 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 832
Location: Kansas (but Great Lakes member since 1978) | In answer to you question about how I have my trailer set up:
I decided to design my dream trailer. I ordered a Platinum (They are a WPRA major sponsor so that was the final reason for going with them.... that and the fact they are very well made). In order to fulfill our retirement dream of driving the Alaskan Highway our trailer can haul a canoe and a 4 wheeler.... it only took a few minor changes to accomplish this and still be a top of the line horse trailer to finish out our rodeo days. It is a 4 horse reverse load - in order to have a double door option without having to have a "mid-tack". The 4 wheeler can load in the side because of the removable center post. The extra large back tack has a back door that is 45" wide in the middle... inside between the tack room and the horse area is another door - not as wide because it wasn't needed for our canoe - that is centered. Our canoe is a canoe/kayak hybrid and is long enough that it needed to also be from the horse compartment front to just inside the tack area. I did not have mangers as I never want my horses to not be able to put their heads down whenever they want as I don't tie them in and haul for long distances at a time. This extra room in the 8 foot wide trailer allows the bigger John Deere Buck to fit in. Sometimes when I haul a long distance I remove the partitions and let my barrel horse use the whole horse area as a stall. I've done that a lot and on the winter runs its way easier than having to load and unload on ice and such.... I can just pull in and rest if needed and my horse has a stall. I have a door from the horse area into the bathroom in the LQ area. If you'd like to see it go to my Facebook page and take a look. It's not done as I just went up to Duba's yesterday to pick out the interior goodies and lay out the floor plan... but you can get an idea of the door set up and the integrated pod on top that will also include a generator on the back. I had the extra large tack area because I carry everything in my trailer and don't unload any of my tack.... if I did that I'd always forget stuff. Margo Ransom
P.S. Duba's Trailer Sales in Chambers, NE were awesome in helping me get the trailer all designed and making sure it was right. They are doing the LQ interior and I have to admit it will be fantastic and they let me go wild with my choices.... lots of choices. All in all it's not cheap but much more reasonable than I even thought it would be. Yes, ordering a custom trailer takes time but in the end you get exactly what you want and you'll never regret spending the money wisely the first time and not having to regret that you did. Getting something that you are settling for just ends up costing you more money in the end.... I speak from experience. No matter what brand you get or who you have do your living quarters.... don't skimp on quality.
By the way, I have have been hauling a 1996 Sundowner that is still in great shape and still going down the road with no repairs except a new tank underneath when I hit a cone in road construction during a storm and replacing the pull out step when I hit a hidden rock in tall grass at a rodeo trying to park. I also have a very friendly banker.
Edited by goldcard 2014-05-31 8:33 PM
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | goldcard - 2014-05-31 8:26 PM In answer to you question about how I have my trailer set up: I decided to design my dream trailer. I ordered a Platinum (They are a WPRA major sponsor so that was the final reason for going with them.... that and the fact they are very well made). In order to fulfill our retirement dream of driving the Alaskan Highway our trailer can haul a canoe and a 4 wheeler.... it only took a few minor changes to accomplish this and still be a top of the line horse trailer to finish out our rodeo days. It is a 4 horse reverse load - in order to have a double door option without having to have a "mid-tack". The 4 wheeler can load in the side because of the removable center post. The extra large back tack has a back door that is 45" wide in the middle... inside between the tack room and the horse area is another door - not as wide because it wasn't needed for our canoe - that is centered. Our canoe is a canoe/kayak hybrid and is long enough that it needed to also be from the horse compartment front to just inside the tack area. I did not have mangers as I never want my horses to not be able to put their heads down whenever they want as I don't tie them in and haul for long distances at a time. This extra room in the 8 foot wide trailer allows the bigger John Deere Buck to fit in. Sometimes when I haul a long distance I remove the partitions and let my barrel horse use the whole horse area as a stall. I've done that a lot and on the winter runs its way easier than having to load and unload on ice and such.... I can just pull in and rest if needed and my horse has a stall. I have a door from the horse area into the bathroom in the LQ area. If you'd like to see it go to my Facebook page and take a look. It's not done as I just went up to Duba's yesterday to pick out the interior goodies and lay out the floor plan... but you can get an idea of the door set up and the integrated pod on top that will also include a generator on the back. I had the extra large tack area because I carry everything in my trailer and don't unload any of my tack.... if I did that I'd always forget stuff. Margo Ransom P.S. Duba's Trailer Sales in Chambers, NE were awesome in helping me get the trailer all designed and making sure it was right. They are doing the LQ interior and I have to admit it will be fantastic and they let me go wild with my choices.... lots of choices. All in all it's not cheap but much more reasonable than I even thought it would be. Yes, ordering a custom trailer takes time but in the end you get exactly what you want and you'll never regret spending the money wisely the first time and not having to regret that you did. Getting something that you are settling for just ends up costing you more money in the end.... I speak from experience. No matter what brand you get or who you have do your living quarters.... don't skimp on quality. By the way, I have have been hauling a 1996 Sundowner that is still in great shape and still going down the road with no repairs except a new tank underneath when I hit a cone in road construction during a storm and replacing the pull out step when I hit a hidden rock in tall grass at a rodeo trying to park. I also have a very friendly banker.
OK, I put in a friend request. I got to see!
And, that road is a sight to behold, you can see a few pictures on my FB. We LOVE Alaska going next year for our 30th year of love celebration.
I've been thinking of just doing a custom order as well. I've not seen the trailer that will work and I've been looking for two years now. Sounds like we need to meet up, we share interest. Our friends left out last month in their new Allegro Bus with canoe on top of the trailer. I was hoping to meet up with them at Pendleton, may not make it this year due to my father needing health care.
Did you get air ride? |
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | Go look at this trailer. It has a slide out and I think would work pretty well plus it has taken the hit of depreciation. Pretty sweet trailers.
Listing # 613162
Listing # 602475
Edited by Nevertooold 2014-06-01 12:07 PM
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | Bump for Cindy Hamilton. |
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Toy Hauler vs LQ horse trailer??