|
|
 Expert
Posts: 1367
  
Location: mi | I am in the market for a new to me trailer. The brands I am most familiar with from previous trailers are 4star and Featherlite. I had great luck with both of them. I am looking for preowned but nearly new. I know the features I want and it really limits what I am finding but they are out there. What I have found so far that fits my want list is a Hart, 4star, Featherlite and Blue Ribbon.
The Hart is the most expensive for a similar trailer to the FL and 4Star and the Blue Ribbon is the least expensive for comparable trailer.
Is a Hart ( and all of these are going to be a 2011 or newer trailer) worth the extra money over the other brands. I have read mixed reviews. But it is the closest to hitting all of my wants on the list. Just seems to be about 3K higher in price then the others. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 2457
| Hart builds a nice trailer. 4 -star, Platinum, Bloomer ... are all going to be really nicely built trailers.
Featherlites, older ones, used be a lot better made trailers. I still think their livestock trailers are pretty good but the interiors and some other basic things on the "horse LQ's" haven't been maybe as nice as I'd have like to have seen.
Back to the original Q - Hart and 4 star are going to be comparable in quality and resale values. Featherlite is a mid-level trailer and will not keep the resale value that the Hart and 4 star will. I have no experience with a Blue Ribbon and can't help you there.
Good Luck! Hope I helped a little  |
|
| |
|
  Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7622
 
Location: Dubach, LA |
What about Logan? I see tons of nice ones for sale up north. |
|
| |
|
 Texas Lone Star
Posts: 5318
Location: where ever my L/Q trl is parked | ive had 4Star, Logan, WW, 2 Elites, Circle Y (back in the 60's) I could be wrong about that name.
Any ways the Harts are very nice expensive and the part I hate they are very heavy. I loved my 2006 4Star 14'LQ, never had a problem. I bought a Logan ( early 90's), they are built in Utah. It was a 4h slant bumper pull w/big dressing room, I had for over 10 years, sold it for the same amount I bought it for. Never had a problem- well built- loved it- pulled great. The WW was just a 2h pull, but was nice and no problems with it either. I've had 2 Elite LQ- one 10' and the newer one I have now 15' LQ with mid tack 3h. The Elite brand is really well built and pulls nice, course it's 58' long overall. This will be the last trailer I'm thinking, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Elite at all. Never heard of the BlueRibbon.
Edited by Aqhaczy 2014-10-29 1:53 PM
|
|
| |
|
 Veteran
Posts: 164
| If you want no problems and best resale value, Elite, Platinum, 4Star, Hart, or Bloomer are all comparable and all the top tier brands. They do come with that price tag, but to keep my horses safe on the road and to keep myself comfy for long rodeos, it's worth it. Never heard of BlueRibbon. Featherlite is an OK brand, and like someone else said it's better for stock trailers but doesn't have the best "rep" as a LQ horse trailer. I've heard Logan's to be cheap but I don't know first hand. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 2161
Location: NW. Florida | On an Elite trailer is the ceiling for the horses insulated? In pictures I've seen it doesn't look like it. |
|
| |
|
 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| I have a Cimarron and LOVE it. It seems to always get overlooked. I sold our 6 horse to an ex 4 Star dealer who was buying the Cimarron for his son. He considered them right up there with 4 Star. An insulated roof is standard on the Cimarron as well as one handed easy to use latches on the dividers that have to protruding pieces/edges to poke your horse. My husband likes the welds on the windows and doors ans how strong the foor is. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
Location: Roping pen | My advice is to be honest in how you are going to use. If you put 20k plus miles on it a year, want resale value, can't handle little things going wrong, the top tier of trailers might suit you best.
If you are just a weekend warrior with limited hauling, and/or don't mind trim/weather stripping falling off, window issues, a lower level trailer might work. Also, if you store it inside with top maintenance, you will prevent a lot of the little things from develop into big things on a mid level trailer.
I have had most all types, and Hart is at the top of my list. Elite is right there as is Cimarron. Bloomers are over priced and I hate the piano hinges they use on the windows. 4 Star has weather stripping issues around the windows. Platnium has cheapened their's up a lot in the last few years and have some things they have changed I do not like. I call all of these in the top shelf range.
If you consider your trailer an investment, the top shelf brands hold there value and are easy to resell. Not so much on the others. If you plan on trading up often, a top shelf trailer is general best.
As far as Hart being heavy, yes, they are as is most top shelf trailers...interesting fact--we went from a 2009 Cimarron to a 2013 Hart, added 1' to the LQ, upgraded to Outlaw LQ, 17.5 tires, and a hay rack and Hart weighs only 400 lbs more than the Cim. that had a lot less features.
Our local, nationwide, LQ company states Bloomer is the heaviest, than Elite, Cim, Hart, Platnium in that order...when identical trailers are weighed...but not that much difference.
Good luck and get what works for you and your budget.
Edited by Spin Doctor 2014-10-29 3:42 PM
|
|
| |
|
 Last Comedian Standing 
Posts: 10919
Location: South Texas | Elite is just that ELITE! |
|
| |
|
 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | rodeomom3 - 2014-10-29 3:20 PM I have a Cimarron and LOVE it. It seems to always get overlooked. I sold our 6 horse to an ex 4 Star dealer who was buying the Cimarron for his son. He considered them right up there with 4 Star. An insulated roof is standard on the Cimarron as well as one handed easy to use latches on the dividers that have to protruding pieces/edges to poke your horse. My husband likes the welds on the windows and doors ans how strong the foor is.
The 7 horse Cimarron in my signature is a nice trailer. I've always had Elites, but I would definitely look at a Cimarron in the future. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 20
Location: Penrose , Colorado | C & C they went out of business in 2009 but there trailers are right there with the best if you can find one. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 2258
| I also have a Cimarron and love it. I have had a couple of horse throw fits in there and you can't tell, the horses came away good to because it is smooth and solid on the inside. I would buy another. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | Thanks everyone. I am trying to find used and have a few wants so it does limit me. I don't haul a ton but I have tended to sell all of mine so far at around year 5. So resale is important. In fact I just sold my featherlite for really close to what I paid for it. I think if you take care of it that also helps for resale. Anyways thanks you have really helped! |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 544
| does anybody have feed back on TWISTER? |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
Location: Roping pen | Never owned one. But have seen several at the local LQ shop. Not impressed due to several non horse/user friendly designs. It also appears to me, when compared to other top of the line trailers, most all structural components are a gauge lighter material. According to my friends, they have sent several trailers back to the factory before they even got started on the LQ. Most due to leaks, but some due to just poor workmanship. One example is that the side extrusions that make the side wall, were put in upside down. That allowed water infiltration when put thru their leak test.....
Might of been just a few oops trailers that do happen, but I am not impressed.
Above are just my opinion and in no way reflect anything but that...
|
|
| |
|
Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7622
Location: Dubach, LA | Don't Bloomers have a lot of tire issues? |
|
| |
|
 A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
Location: Southern Oregon | I'm a Charmac fan. I have owned several of there trailers.....From early 90's models on up and I have always been happy with the construction. fit and pull ability of these trailers. |
|
| |
|
 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | CanCan - 2014-10-30 7:45 AM Don't Bloomers have a lot of tire issues?
Some of the newer ones had axle problems, which caused tires to blow frequently. I don't know if they fixed the problem or not. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1028
| Out of those you listed originally, I'd say 4Star or Hart. I sold my used 4Star this summer and actually made some money on it, but I did take immaculate care of it. I really like the looks of the Twister and Cimarron trailers I've seen too. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | Are the runabouts for 4 star and the Medallion for Hart made the same as their Higher priced trailers. I am thinking its just a change in options and it looks like each might be a couple inches narrower. Anyone have experience with those models of those brands?
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 2457
| ajs2002 - 2014-10-30 9:50 AM
Are the runabouts for 4 star and the Medallion for Hart made the same as their Higher priced trailers. I am thinking its just a change in options and it looks like each might be a couple inches narrower. Anyone have experience with those models of those brands?
You are spot on. If you look at the runabouts, they have a few less options on them - like no graphics, a single drop rear window, etc. The Medallions are a bit more narrow, don't have mangers, etc as well.
Same main construction - like axels and frames but without the "extras" that some of the other models have. |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 544
| spin doctor
were you referring to the twister???
|
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 823
Location: East Texas | I bought a used hart a few years ago and sold it last year for what I paid for it. I bought a used elite after that and I can prob. sell it for what I paid for it. Both of these are well built and have held up good. We haul locally (most all trips under 2hrs) 4 or five times a month and have had no problems. |
|
| |
|
 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 480
Location: Oklahoma | Honestly, I don't think I would buy any trailer that was made in the last 10 years. IMO, the quality isn't the same as it used to be. They use thinner metal, lighter hinges etc. You will get the most bang for your buck with a Four Star made in the 1990s. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | Alrighty I have narrowed it down to a 4star or Hart. Side by side a runabout or a medallion. They are really close to the same price 4star is a tad less expensive and I can get the werm flooring which I really want. Will either option be the wrong choice?
|
|
| |
|
 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | lindseylou2290 - 2014-10-30 10:04 AM
ajs2002 - 2014-10-30 9:50 AM
Are the runabouts for 4 star and the Medallion for Hart made the same as their Higher priced trailers. I am thinking its just a change in options and it looks like each might be a couple inches narrower. Anyone have experience with those models of those brands?
You are spot on. If you look at the runabouts, they have a few less options on them - like no graphics, a single drop rear window, etc. The Medallions are a bit more narrow, don't have mangers, etc as well.
Same main construction - like axels and frames but without the "extras" that some of the other models have.
The Runabouts for 4-Star are 6'10" wide. It is correct that there are a few less options on these trailers. Length can be added, but they cannot be made wider. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1543
Location: MI | Anyone have any thoughts on the Shadows? We are starting the search for a LQ horse trailer...we won't be hauling a ton of miles, but I can see using it fairly frequently (will double as a travel trailer for us). Will be stored inside. My husband was looking at their website yesterday and appreciated it, but they don't seem super popular. |
|
| |
|
 Banjo and Baby
Posts: 7259
Location: South of Canada and North of Mexico | My friend just traded in a Featherlite LQ for a brand new Logan.. talk about VERY nice. You BARELY have to close any doors or windows on it, its weird! Has the side rear tack which is very roomy, I wish I would have bought one two years ago when I bought my new FL. She also didnt have to sell a kidney to buy it. |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 832
Location: Kansas (but Great Lakes member since 1978) | i'm pulling a new Platinum that is twice as large as my 1996 Sundowner with a slide out and integrated pod and I'm getting better mileage pulling than my smaller trailer. It pulls like a dream and everything is top quality. Duba's did the interior and let me design the trailer and the living quarters.... lots of extra features. I'm guessing it's balanced differently as my ton truck has no trouble hauling it. I keep log books so I know exactly what my mileage is from year to year... Just adding this so you don't count out a bigger trailer for fuel economy.... I was skeptical about it but driving the same routes from year to year with similar weather conditions is proof enough for me. I'm very VERY happy with my new Platinum. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | Just an FYI I did ask 4 star if there are any structural differences between the runabout and the deluxe model. There are some differences in the framing.
Deluxe models have enclosed extruded tube side posts throughout the sides. These are 1"x21/2", 1"x4", & 1"x8"
The Runabout has extruded C-Channel side posts. These are 1.5"x3" Deluxe models have a sub frame made of 4"x4" steel tube and steel angle, the Runabout uses 4"x4" steel angle and the axle tubes become part of the frame. All other features are the same materials with the exception of the Runabout bottom rail which is the same height, but has an offset in its vertical wall which allows the width to extend beyond the torsion arms for maximum trailer width on 102" axles. |
|
| |
|
 Veteran
Posts: 233
| daisy - 2014-10-29 7:59 PM
does anybody have feed back on TWISTER?
I have a 2013 Twister Select Series and LOVE IT! Switched from a Bison and the craftsmanship is not even comparable. It's so nice, light, and hauls like a dream. Message me with any questions. |
|
| |
|
 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | Hubby just bought me a new to me 2004 LQ Exiss. Only owned it about 3 weeks. Have hauled in it about 3 times and we are using it for the first time next weekend. So far I really like it. Only dislike is I do not like how close the saddle racks are placed to the door in the rear tack. I can't store my saddle pad on the empty rack because it gets smashed into the door.
When we first started looking I was going to go with the Bison's but decided I wanted something a little higher end and better built since I want it to last us a while. |
|
| |
Lets Talk Trailers......