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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
  
| Im sure this has been discussed before but I will be in the market for a newer trailer soon so I need some help.
What are your must haves/don'ts in a living quarter trailer if you use it alot?
I will be using it mostly for weekend barrel runs where I will be staying in it, and some rodeos. |
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Location: Not Where I Want to Be | bed
no stove
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 927
Location: Iowa | air,generator, walk through door to the horses, couch, bed, closet, sink,toilet.
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
 
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | Walk through door...fridge...full bathroom and kitchen..no oven but i use my stove a lot....and i prefer a dinette over a couch. ..i have a generator that is portable and i hardly use it so a gen is not high on my list....m |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | I had to have a 2 burner stove, separate sink in bathroom, 6.0 cu ft fridge, generator, walk thru door to horse area.
Things I wish I had now that have a trailer?
The thermostat in the nose and a bigger kitchen sink. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| I was thinking pretty much all of that. I was debating the stove thing. I have seen that some of them have the 2 burner, but alot of higher end stuff doesnt so i wasnt sure if it is a priority. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 575
| Walk through door to the horses-- I put luggage back there a lot of the time to free up space inside. Its also nice to be able to use as a "mud room" to leave muddy boots etc.
Mangers-- the storage underneath them is just the best.
Couch vs. Dinette-- I think the couch makes for more comfortable sleeping, if that's something you're worried about
8 cu. ft. fridge-- oh my gosh, once again the extra space makes a world of difference
Those are the features of our trailer I'm thankful we have most often. Although I'm sure there are some amenities we are missing out on too!
Also* I was once told it's so much easier to not have an on board generator, because if anything goes wrong and the generator needs servicing, you don't have to take the whole trailer in to get it done. Just unload your portable generator and take it in!
Edited by rpreast 2016-02-05 1:21 PM
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Location: Not Where I Want to Be | horsiace1025 - 2016-02-05 2:17 PM
I was thinking pretty much all of that. I was debating the stove thing. I have seen that some of them have the 2 burner, but alot of higher end stuff doesnt so i wasnt sure if it is a priority.
from someone that has spent a ton of time in one
you think you will love the stove but you will use it about 3 times before you decide that it's a bigger pain in the a than it is worth.
It will also make your trailer stink.
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | The stove made my trailer smell like bacon. Darn. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 274
| Awning on both sides...no slide...no stove...large bathroom...midtack. On demand hot water. Duct A/C Heat, Onan Generator, Fuel Tank for generator on side of trailer....
Edited by Warriors Mom 2016-02-05 2:04 PM
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Member
Posts: 32
| thermometer for A/C, the bigger refrigerator( my son loves having the freezer for popsicles) , lots of lights outside the trailer, hydraulic jack, USB port deal, if you are spending the money go on and get onan and gas tank! Mangers- outside spicket.
Another thing I like is since I have a kid- the dvd player is in the radio and not a TV/DVD combo, He can reach the radio a lot easier then the TV.
get you a sharp rocket vacuum cleaner!
I bought a 2015 Rolling M this summer and love my trailer. I have a lot of room. Its a 10ft shortwall- 3 horse. It has everything I want. The only thing it does not have is the awning.
Also, watch where your bridal hooks are in the tack. Some place up high so that you have to get in the little tack compartment to get them. I have some high and low.
Edited by Polly05 2016-02-05 2:23 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| Thanks! Im trying to make sure the tack in the back has plenty of room. The trailer i have now is not wide enough so the headstalls are hard to get out.
Would you say a blanket rack is a must? I was thinking it would be really nice to have one.
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 Regular
Posts: 90
Location: Las Vegas | It really depends on you. do you like to cook your food? or would you rather buy food alweekend? I personally love cooking breakfast and and my travel buddy does the dinner. so we love using the stove. I spend a lot of time in the trailer. the new trailer I was looking at has a convection oven/microwave that I think is the way to go. You can use it just like and oven.
I always travel with people or dogs so a slide out is a must. It really makes all the difference in the world. Walk through door to the horses is great because you can use it as a mud room and extra storage. My travel buddy and I go nuts that her trailer doesn't have a screen door. So us me thats a must.
Like I said it really depends on YOU and what you like. Everyone is so different. I know so many people that never cook in their trailer, but I love it so everyone eats with us lol. Ask yourself How often will I be staying in it? Do I want to cook? Will I be alone most of the time or have other people or dogs. When Im at the rodeo do I like to sit around the trailer and hang out? If you have never had an LQ take a could trips with a friend that does and really think about what would and wouldn't make that trip better. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| cannchaser21 - 2016-02-05 3:15 PM
It really depends on you. do you like to cook your food? or would you rather buy food alweekend? I personally love cooking breakfast and and my travel buddy does the dinner. so we love using the stove. I spend a lot of time in the trailer. the new trailer I was looking at has a convection oven/microwave that I think is the way to go. You can use it just like and oven.
I always travel with people or dogs so a slide out is a must. It really makes all the difference in the world. Walk through door to the horses is great because you can use it as a mud room and extra storage. My travel buddy and I go nuts that her trailer doesn't have a screen door. So us me thats a must.
Like I said it really depends on YOU and what you like. Everyone is so different. I know so many people that never cook in their trailer, but I love it so everyone eats with us lol. Ask yourself How often will I be staying in it? Do I want to cook? Will I be alone most of the time or have other people or dogs. When Im at the rodeo do I like to sit around the trailer and hang out? If you have never had an LQ take a could trips with a friend that does and really think about what would and wouldn't make that trip better.
My husband does alot of the cooking but he always wants to go out when we go to new places. But I know that if we had it we would use it and i would be more inclined to cook lol. thanks for your help. |
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | an additional generator switch in the nose, largest sinks possible, convection microwave, large bathroom, access doors on each manger, largest fridge, closet space. I work for a trailer manufacturer, and I get to play and design trailers all day... so my dream trailer is always changing as I'm seeing new things.
Edited by TwistedK 2016-02-05 3:44 PM
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | I have a swinging blanket bar and I love it. I use the bottom bar to slide bell boots on. Sometimes I really have to push to get it to go in it's corner to shut the back door, but it's not a deal breaker.
I should also add that I much prefer a couch than a dinette because it's much faster to make a bed and much more comfortable of a bed. I have a friend that I sometimes haul with and I hate sleeping on that darn table... And it's more work. My closet has a table I can use with my couch, but I never use it. |
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Expert
Posts: 2122
Location: The Great Northwest |  For fun take a look at the 2016 Bison 4 Horse Slant with 19' LQ. This is the Premiere. It is Stunning the features it has to offer. Dixie Horse & Mule Company at Wicksburg, Alabama has it for sale. Bison didn't have it on their site so it must be a one of a kind. |
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Veteran
Posts: 105
| If you want a stove put it in so it is flush with cabinet tops. I love my convection oven. |
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 Duct Tape Can't Fix Stupid
Posts: 2749
Location: Warsaw,NY | I am currently looking for a LQ, my wants r walk thru door to horse area, as 1st stall will be used as a mudroom/storage, mangers, larger fridge, stove as i used it alot previously, slide out and i travel w/3 frenchies, i like the couch over the dinette, but was told the dinette makes a biggger bed, i had a dinette before and hated it, at least 10'sw, drop windows on rear r nice but not neccessary,
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| mangers. electric jack. i love an l shape couch.
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | We haven't had a LQ in ages but I've traveled with people that do. Tip out is nice if you will be parked all weekend. Not ideal if you are rodeoing and constantly on the run. I'd say bigger sink area in the bathroom rather than the sink. Lots of closet space. Storage for luggage---I don't know anyone who actually unpacks clothes INTO the trailer. Think about cowboy hat storage. I'd rather have a ice chest than a fridge....I don't trust the fridge to stay cool enough. Microwave....meh. I'd rather have a toaster oven. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1526
Location: Texas | Mid tack that leads into the LQ is an absolute must! It serves as a mud room!
Fold out couch
Removable middle floor table
No stovetop
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 Veteran
Posts: 288
| Thinks I loved about ours (4 star) rear tack plus a mid tack, LOTS of storage. Wish it would've had a dinette instead of all the counter space. Did not use fridge at all. It didn't have a stove and I didn't miss it. |
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Location: Mississsippi | I agree 100%!
Yes Walk thru to Mid Tack
Yes Mangers
Yes Propane
No Stovetop
No Awning
No Combo toilet in the shower
Those are deal breakers for me
After all these years and different trailers.... I'm spoiled and have a 31", 4" mid tack, 3 horse with a slide.
I only have 1 sink in the bath and don't miss a second.
I keep the couch up & dropped table down with pillows to lounge on and store stuff under it.
I will never part with it! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 600
Location: Oklahoma & Texas | I had a custom trailer built last year...best splurge was the electric jack...sure don't miss hand cranking lol I don't spend a ton of time in my trailer except to sleep n eat maybe escape the elements for a bit...i love the separate bathroom in mine...big shower with glass door not a curtain..walk through to horse area...i wish I'd gotten a mid tack...my rear tack is great but I tend to use my 1st stall storing stuff which is fine because rarely do I haul 3 at once but if you plan to use all your stalls often definitely get a mid tack...i got a hay pod but have yet to use it but I like having it as an option..i got a ramp which I love...horses sure back out easier ...never had one before so first few times with some older horses they were weirded out by it but they all figured it out quick and my young ones never knew the difference and now they're all spoiled by it...and not that it provides a ton of protection but I like the idea that if I get rear ended they have a little more protection back there...i also upgraded the lights so all my lights inside and out are LED and sure saves power on generator and light up super bright...i got exterior lights on both sides and rear that light up super great for loading at night or being outside trailer at night .. i paid extra for drops on rear as well as front and so glad I did..I'm in texas so anything for better air circulation in summer is a good idea.. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| For those who have a generator (the husband is insisting that we have to have one) is it easier for it to be on top or in the last manger?
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Member
Posts: 32
| On top!
have it prewired- with a switch inside...
I use the manager for storage and that would take up good space if you put it in there. |
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 Three in a Bikini
Posts: 2035
| Must Haves:
Couch
Toilet
Shower
Wish I Had:
Slide Out
Awning
Mid Tack
Hay Rack |
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 Draw the Line
Posts: 1371
Location: Too Far North | We just bought our 3rd and hopefully last LQ trailer. We traded around acouple of times until we got what works for us. Wish I had known what we really needed b4 we started out with LQ's.
Our must haves..and we camp in a lot of rough country, ( off road in the big horn mountains) not parking lots or campgrounds.
Lots of clearance underneath so as not to have all the stuff underneath ripped out in fields and roughcountry back roads.
Mangers
completely insulated horse area
Generator
Heat is more important than AC, we can always use a fan...but we live in Minnesota so hot weather is not really an issue.
A big shower with lots of hot water. Toilet
couch. we never used a table in the trailer, we always eat outside on a portable picnic table
Awning
LED lights. easier on the batteries
gas stove. never used an oven
a single sink, NOT a double sink. I found I needed the counter space over a double sink.
Walk through area to horses.
We got a 3 horse but never haul 3. the 3rd slot is for hay, buckets, grain etc..
We made sure the rear of the trailer was wide enough to fit a 4 wheeler in. YOu never know when you just want to go camping without horses and bring the off road toys.
WE got the widest trailer we could, our horses don't fit in the small narrow trailers comfortably and sometimes they are on the road for a few days and we want them comfy.
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W E R M FLOORING a must have. no mats to drag out and clean
Edited by trainmaster 2016-02-09 11:51 AM
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Member
Posts: 32
| get a 8ft wide and not 7ft.. makes a big difference... |
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 Double Standards Don't Fly
Posts: 1283
Location: At the barn | 8' wide
Slide, so much more room when couch is pulled out for bed.
Larger bathroom
Generator on top, mines a diesel and it's very quite!
Generator cut off switch in bedroom!
Mine also has sliding doors in the bedroom and that is great!
Awning is great! Provides shade!!!!
Drop downs on butt side!! Really helps to let heat out! I will never buy a trailer without them!
Polylast flooring!!! Great traction, NO SHAVINGS!!!, AND TONS OF CUSHIONING! Best floor I've ever had!! |
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Veteran
Posts: 291
| I cook quite a bit in my trailer but don't have a cook top, I just pack an electric skillet with! |
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 Poor Cracker Girl
Posts: 12150
Location: Feeding mosquitos, FL | Like somebody else said, it depends on how you live. I go by myself so I bought a 7' shortwall. I usually don't even bring a dog so my trailer is little but perfect size for just me and easy to haul all over creation. My husband and I very occasionally stay in it camping but that only works because we really, really like each other.
I prefer the dinette over the couch. I like having the built in table and most of those trailer couches are just not as comfortable as my lounge chair outside so I never sit on them anyway. Bonus: no grown person wants to sleep on that so I still have the whole trailer to myself. 
My next trailer will have: mangers (my kingdom for mangers), an external spigot for fresh water, some kind of WERM/Polylast fancy floor, a bigger fridge, and a solid shower door.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1037
| Im going to be the odd one out and say no walk thru door, instead have the bathroom counter bigger.
I use my 4th stall for feed, buckets, roping dummies, etc. though so I can never imagine using a walk thru door.
Things I couldnt live without that we have:
*pull out trash cans
*vac system
*tv service
*generator on top (I had so many problems with it being in the last manger, gets too hot)
*pocket door to the bathroom
*lots of cabinets/drawers
*XL shower
*2 large doors on 1st, 2nd manger
*escape door on the curb side
*enclosed nose
*Polylast floor (I got this last year and it has made my life so much simpler!)
Things I have and NEVER use:
*big sink in the kitchen
*awning
*oven part of microwave
*gas furnace (it never gets cold enough here so that the electric cant keep up)
Things I wish it had:
*thermostat in bed area
*pocket door to bed area
*more outlets/updated outlets with USB
*ELECTRIC HOT WATER! I hate hate hate using propane.
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 Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
Location: SW North Dakota | Ours is completely custom- it was my second LQ, and I still screwed up on a few things. My kids and I use ours almost every weekend in the spring-fall (one HS rodeos and one JH rodeos, plus Ammy rodeos all summer).
Mine is a stock combo, which I love because I can haul 6 horses, but sadly, I have no manger storage.
Things that are perfect for us: - Small bathroom, no sink. The kitchen sink is 18" from the toilet, so that works well. Separate toilet/shower.
- Couch AND a dinette- both make into beds, with storage under one dinette bench (perfect for blankets and pillows).
- Forced air furnace- we live in ND!
- Large Midtack- used as mudroom
- No slide and no awning. Because it's usually me and the kids, I didn't want things that would stop us from moving if they broke.
- 8' wide
- Large, sealed, weatherproof haypod. We can easily fit 10 bales, plus buckets, lawnchairs, sacks of grain, vet kits- lots of stuff that is handy to have, but we may not use everyday.
- Additional roof storage rack. Works perfect for an external water tank, roping dummies, wheelbarrow, etc.
- Universal sized propane tanks. Easily swapped out almost anywhere if we run out.
- "Overhead" generator that's hardwired into the LQ.
- Walkthrough all the way from LQ, through midtack into horse compartment. Easy access if we use the first gate for coolers, etc. In hindsight, the door from the mid tack to horses probably wasn't needed and I lose a little space in my mid tack.
- I upgraded all the wood in the LQ, for resale value.
- One TV. I opted out of a TV in the neck, which saved me $800.
- "Cave" style neck bedroom. Has a sliding door that can shut. That way, the kids can watch movies and I can slide that solid wood door shut and get away from the little monsters.
- I do have a stovetop, but have a slim fitting glass cover on it, so I can use the counter space, too.
- LQ SW is 11'6", plus mid tack, plus 16' of horse space- its kinda long and heavy (15K # empty)
- Dual electric jacks- help with leveling to an extent and I'm SUPER happy not to crank!
- EXTRA heavy duty tires and axels
- All sewer and grey tanks are long and shallow, nothing hangs lower than the trailer frame- I have great clearance!
Things I'd change: - I have little closet space for hanging clothes. This sucks. I didn't want extra length on the trailer and I wanted to cram a lot of stuff into a small space, but often debate if I shouldn't have gone 2'longer and had a big closet in my LQ
- My fridge is small, but again, not sure what I'd change for the big fridge. We pack drinks in a cooler, so it's not too big of a deal.
Overall, I'm really happy with mine. It's a 2015 Platinum with a Compass conversion package. It's very pretty and homey! |
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Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
Location: SW North Dakota | kboltwkreations - 2016-02-09 2:17 PM Im going to be the odd one out and say no walk thru door, instead have the bathroom counter bigger. I use my 4th stall for feed, buckets, roping dummies, etc. though so I can never imagine using a walk thru door. Things I couldnt live without that we have: *pull out trash cans *vac system *tv service *generator on top (I had so many problems with it being in the last manger, gets too hot) *pocket door to the bathroom *lots of cabinets/drawers *XL shower *2 large doors on 1st, 2nd manger *escape door on the curb side *enclosed nose *Polylast floor (I got this last year and it has made my life so much simpler!) Things I have and NEVER use: *big sink in the kitchen *awning *oven part of microwave *gas furnace (it never gets cold enough here so that the electric cant keep up) Things I wish it had: *thermostat in bed area *pocket door to bed area *more outlets/updated outlets with USB *ELECTRIC HOT WATER! I hate hate hate using propane.
My water heater is electric over gas and I LOVE IT! Hot water almost immediately and recovers super fast. Great water pressure, too. Makes me shower more often. ha. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
Location: Roping pen | Things I haven't seen mention-
Door (like a manger door) from the outside to the clothes hamper cabinet. This way, you don't have to have to drag muddy clothes back up thru the cabinet.
Holder for the manure fork in the horse compartment. I put ours on the bulk head wall above the horse's back.
Drop doors on tail side.
17.5 minimum or better yet, 19.5 tires.
Paid for is the best option.
Good luck!
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1037
| ND3canAddict - 2016-02-09 3:34 PM
kboltwkreations - 2016-02-09 2:17 PM Im going to be the odd one out and say no walk thru door, instead have the bathroom counter bigger. I use my 4th stall for feed, buckets, roping dummies, etc. though so I can never imagine using a walk thru door. Things I couldnt live without that we have: *pull out trash cans *vac system *tv service *generator on top (I had so many problems with it being in the last manger, gets too hot) *pocket door to the bathroom *lots of cabinets/drawers *XL shower *2 large doors on 1st, 2nd manger *escape door on the curb side *enclosed nose *Polylast floor (I got this last year and it has made my life so much simpler!) Things I have and NEVER use: *big sink in the kitchen *awning *oven part of microwave *gas furnace (it never gets cold enough here so that the electric cant keep up) Things I wish it had: *thermostat in bed area *pocket door to bed area *more outlets/updated outlets with USB *ELECTRIC HOT WATER! I hate hate hate using propane.
My water heater is electric over gas and I LOVE IT! Hot water almost immediately and recovers super fast. Great water pressure, too. Makes me shower more often. ha.
I wonder if its possible to switch out my propane water heater for an electric one???
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Must haves in a LQ trailer