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Posts: 1395
  
Location: Missouri | At some point, hopefully next year, my husband and I need to think about replacing our horse trailer. It's an older Chaparral that actually belongs to my mom and my aunt, and they've been letting me use it for several years as they don't ever use it. But for various reasons we really need to start saving for one of our own. We'd like an aluminum gooseneck w/ a dressing room.
I only have one horse right now, and I don't foresee myself having more than 2 in the next several years. I also don't really haul with anyone usually. I'm noticing that in most cases, similar trailers in a 2h are of course going to be less expensive than their 3h counterparts. So just curious what y'alls thoughts are? Anyone ever bought a 2h and wish they'd have gone with a 3h and why? Also, is it significantly harder to sell a 2h should we ever outgrow it? TIA! |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Get a 3 horse with a stud panel, the extra stall is great for storage. I have a 4 horse, I usually use the front stall for hay, etc. it is a pain when I haul all 4 of mine and I loose that storage space. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| I have a 2 horse. I would LOVE a 3 horse, so I'm saving up my money!
I would like the extra storage space of a 3 horse - I always end up with things that I don't necessarily want in my dressing room, but don't want to put in the back of the pickup; hay bales, dirty blankets, a bbq grill, etc. I like the idea of the extra stall to store things in (with a stud divider so things don't fly around).
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 Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | We went from a Pete Zanetti two horse straight load with a tack room the size of my bedroom to a Sooner 4 horse/stock combo. HATE the 4 horse. Not sure Hate is a strong enough word. A)its so darn big you cant' get it around the drive way so you have to jack knife turn it and the winter really makes that a challenge with out getting stuck B) this makes going to races from November to about March near impossible C) did mention I am not a fan of it? I have 3 horses, I'd gladly leave 1 home every trip to have my 2 horse trailer back. Nice trailer, got a great price, hate the darn thing.  |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | definitely go for a 3 horse. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 926
| I had a 4 horse LQ and then downsized to a 3 horse LQ as circumstances changed. It seemed I always had an extra hole, even with the 3 horse. I am pulling a 2 horse BP for now, but will be buying an LQ later this year, and I'm buying a 2h. As far as selling them, if they're nice like Platinum or 4 Star, they are scarce as hens teeth. They seem to either have a 6 or 8 ft SW or they have like a 18 ft SW, so the in between like 10 or so are not that plentiful, at least that's what I've found. I go looking every now and again to see if there's something out there I can't live without.
Good Luck. |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | Thanks for all the input so far!
For those that mentioned storage concerns, let me ask you....do you feel like a two horse would be 'okay' if you had mangers and a hay rack for extra storage? Just curious! For the next few years at least, I doubt I'll go to many, if any, barrel races that require me to stay overnight and need a ton of stuff, but as my kiddos get a little bigger that *may* change. But for the next 2-3 yrs, I doubt I'll travel more than 2 hrs max one way to races much and will probably just stick to the one day deals. But I don't want to save, and buy a trailer that doesn't work 5 years from now, you know?
I've been pulling a little 16ft stock trailer BP since I turned 16, so almost 10 yrs now, I'm almost afraid to get something too big or I'll be terrible at pulling it...although everyone tells me goosenecks are easier! |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | chicks2 - 2016-03-08 4:32 PM
I had a 4 horse LQ and then downsized to a 3 horse LQ as circumstances changed. It seemed I always had an extra hole, even with the 3 horse. I am pulling a 2 horse BP for now, but will be buying an LQ later this year, and I'm buying a 2h. As far as selling them, if they're nice like Platinum or 4 Star, they are scarce as hens teeth. They seem to either have a 6 or 8 ft SW or they have like a 18 ft SW, so the in between like 10 or so are not that plentiful, at least that's what I've found. I go looking every now and again to see if there's something out there I can't live without.
Good Luck.
I actually found a Cimarron with weekender not 30 miles away, 2h, that i SO wish I could scoop up! It's in the upper end of price range we'd be looking when we DO buy, which kind of prompted me to post this. Lol! |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | rodeomom3 - 2016-03-08 2:06 PM Get a 3 horse with a stud panel, the extra stall is great for storage. I have a 4 horse, I usually use the front stall for hay, etc. it is a pain when I haul all 4 of mine and I loose that storage space.
This. I only have 1 horse and when it's time for me to buy a trailer, I want a 3 Horse with an escape door. I'd occasionally haul with friends but the storage in the front is KEY!! |
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Member
Posts: 32
| I hauled a Chaparral 2 horse for several years. This past summer I stepped up into a 10ft shortwall 3 horse platinum. Mine has the stud divider and love the extra space. I usually haul one horse but if I take my son's pony then 2. Its nice to have space to put a cooler, bike, scooter, hay... Mine has managers and use those for cords, chairs, buckets, etc.... After having the space I don't see ever going back to a 2 horse. |
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 I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | My parents have a 4 horse gooseneck and I have a 2 horse bumper pull. Even though I rarely want to haul more than 2 horses I wish I had three horse. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | 3 horse, you can always use the extra hole for hauling feed and hay, I have a 4 horse and love having the extra hole, comes in handy when going to a 3 day barrel race. |
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Expert
Posts: 1586
Location: west of East Texas | When I was trailer shopping I looked HARD for a 2H slant load and just couldn't find one. I ended up with a 3H and I really am thankful for it. I can't imagine ever going back to a 2H. That extra room has come in handy more times than I can count, whether it's hauling 'stuff' or just leaving a space between the two horses. My daughter just got a 2H to take to college and it just looks so tiny in there. She has one horse but rarely hauls alone and she's already talking about needing a 3H. Horses are like potato chips and you can't have just one! |
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 Duct Tape Can't Fix Stupid
Posts: 2749
Location: Warsaw,NY | I just bought a Loakota 3H w/LQ. i will only be hauling 1 horse. i have the stud panel in 1st stall to use as storage, i also have mangers. mayse sometimes i will haul with a friend to far away races. but u will love the extra storage and the resale of a 3h IMO is better than a 2h. U will prob rarely use a hayrack. I had one nce and used it once. Its a PIA to get the hay up there, then if its raining you cant put hay up there, unless u have a enclosed hayrack. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| I'll be the odd one out here. I have ALWAYS had 3H but I used to haul 2 horses and I used the front stall for storage. Now, I never haul more than 1 and personally, I just don't want the extra length. If my current trailer would ever sell, I will be looking for a 2H, I found one on here but can't do anything about it until mine sells. I am almost betting I will HAVE to buy a 3H because 2H are too hard to find, (I want a G/N with a living quarters). I am sure the resell is better on a 3H - but then, I had a TON of people who WOULD have been interested in mine if it was a 4H and sorry, I just don't need a 4-holer for ONE horse! |
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 Poor Cracker Girl
Posts: 12150
Location: Feeding mosquitos, FL | The extra length between a 2 and a 3 horse gooseneck is really minimal (unless you have a tiny driveway like run n rate!). The difference comes in how your dressing room is set up - some three horses are actually shorter than a two horse with a bigger dressing room.
I had a two horse with the tiniest dressing room in the world for years and only hauling one horse it was fine. I was always hunting more storage but it worked. Once I ended up with two horses going, it really got too little - especially for multi-day shows. The back seat of my truck would end up with more stuff in it than the horse trailer. Also, selling it was hard - tons of people said they really liked it but they wanted a three horse.
I bought a three horse in October and it was so nice to have that front stall for stuff (until I ended up with a THIRD horse going. Ugh. I have a problem.) I do have a hayrack on this trailer but it is a pain in the neck to get up there, especially carrying anything. I saw a trailer ad somewhere with a telescoping hay rack ladder that I really really want badly. |
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 Dog Resuce Agent
Posts: 3459
Location: southeast Texas | Three horse,
more air movement for horse.
extra storage in the front stall.
Hay mangers, not real safe climbing up and down.
8' wide, more room for horse to lower head while traveling especially if you have mangers.
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 Member
Posts: 6
Location: Indiana | I have a 4 horse and I love it! I haul and ride other people's horses plus my own and the extra storage in the stud stall is great to have. |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | Call me stupid but I honestly didn't think of the hay rack being a pain in the tail. I've never had one can't ya tell? You guys are bringing up some really good points, thanks! To the person who mentioned more air flow to the horse in a 3h, I honestly didn't think of that either.
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 Veteran
Posts: 260
Location: Oregon | When I was trading in my 3 horse keifer that was falling apart, I was looking at a 3 horse platinum. Loved it, however they had a 4 horse that was actually less expensive, had a few less bells and whistles than the 3 horse. I really didn't want a 4 horse, but decided to take a look anyway, and ended up buying the 4 horse. I actually really only haul 1-2 horses usually, once in a great while I'll haul 3 or 4, but not often. Let me tell you, I've never been happier! It didn't actually come with a stud panel, so I put a large piece of plywood against the front panel and works just as well as it is kindof locked in there due to the wheel wells being to the inside. LOVE having my extra storage stall. I keep hay, haybags, travel panels, shavings/pellets and pop up barrels all the time in there, and then pack extra stuff when I go to multi day races/camping/etc. I also have mangers for chairs/cords/hoses/buckets, etc. I do have a hay rack but all that ever goes up there is wheelbarrows (if needed) and my horse water tank. Hay is a pain to get up there and living in Western Oregon, we get a lot of rain, so I don't usually put hay up there. All in all, I'm super happy I went with a larger trailer than what I actually needed. One thing I never have to worry about is outgrowing this trailer! If I do end up outgrowing it, I have bigger problems than needing a bigger trailer!  |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | I have a hay rack on the roof (I HAD to have it) and the only reason we ever go on the roof is to change the oil in the generator. I use the front slant for all my hay bales, bags of shavings, and big tote box filled with blankets... stuff that can't fit in the mangers (which I love and couldn't do without).
Are you in a bumper pull right now? I went from a BP two horse slant to my four horse GN and I would have lost a lot of storage space had I not gotten the extra slant up front. I was used to putting my shavings, little buggy with wheels and hay bales in the bed of my pickup because I didn't have the space in the dressing room of the BP. Now, I sure don't have the space in the GN tack room for those items and so they all go in the extra slant. Sure, they could go up on the roof in the hay rack that I just had to have... but when you do most of your packing and unpacking alone (and without the help of a hay elevator) it's just really unrealistic. |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | Longneck - 2016-03-09 9:34 AM
I have a hay rack on the roof (I HAD to have it) and the only reason we ever go on the roof is to change the oil in the generator. I use the front slant for all my hay bales, bags of shavings, and big tote box filled with blankets... stuff that can't fit in the mangers (which I love and couldn't do without).
Are you in a bumper pull right now? I went from a BP two horse slant to my four horse GN and I would have lost a lot of storage space had I not gotten the extra slant up front. I was used to putting my shavings, little buggy with wheels and hay bales in the bed of my pickup because I didn't have the space in the dressing room of the BP. Now, I sure don't have the space in the GN tack room for those items and so they all go in the extra slant. Sure, they could go up on the roof in the hay rack that I just had to have... but when you do most of your packing and unpacking alone (and without the help of a hay elevator) it's just really unrealistic.
Yep, I have a BP now, storage is practically non-existent the way it's set up. I figured since I'm used to it I really don't need the extra slant, buttttt. Reading everyone's take on this I'm wondering if we shouldn't just rule out the idea of getting a 2h. My husband likes to BBQ when he goes with me in the summer and he hates the teeny tiny BBQ we bought and keep in our truck. I probably WILL need to lug around extra crap with two kids instead of just one (#2 due this sept).
Like I mentioned, we're not actively shopping yet but saving and thinking about what we'll want so all this is very helps up! |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| I had one with a hay rack on top - I used it ONCE. If you don't have a front end loader on your tractor, it's a MAJOR pain to get stuff up there. |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | Griz - 2016-03-09 11:00 AM
I had one with a hay rack on top - I used it ONCE. If you don't have a front end loader on your tractor, it's a MAJOR pain to get stuff up there.
We have a little 40's (I think) Ford 9n. So no front loader here.
I've always wondered if people actually use their hay racks, seems like most of you don't. |
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Expert
Posts: 1314
Location: North Central Iowa Land of white frozen grass | I have a 4 horse with a 10 ft short wall but the front is not finished yet. It has the stud divider. As of right now I would not go smaller. We use the front stall for all the things that we haul when we camp. |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| MOGirl07 - 2016-03-09 11:28 AM Griz - 2016-03-09 11:00 AM I had one with a hay rack on top - I used it ONCE. If you don't have a front end loader on your tractor, it's a MAJOR pain to get stuff up there. We have a little 40's (I think ) Ford 9n. So no front loader here. I've always wondered if people actually use their hay racks, seems like most of you don't.
We had a hay pod on our 6 horse, only used it 3 or 4 times a year but it was great to have when we needed it. |
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Duct Tape Bikini Girl
Posts: 2554
| No more than it increases the price, I always buy one more stall than I think I will need. Would not buy less than 3 due to selling difficulties. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 883
Location: Southern Indiana | I have a 4h w/ 10 ft short wall but recently purchased a 2 horse bumper pull to use just to run around in. It's 7' wide and has a front dressing room and rear tack. I've hauled it to 3 days shows (stayed with bf) carried 2 big horses and was able to shove shavings, buckets, feed, hay, etc. in it. As long as you have a dressing room and a rear tack your going to have plenty of room for stuff even if you have 2 horses. Now in a LQ trailer it's always wise to have that extra stall. So if you purchase a trailer with a roomy dressing room a 2 horse will do ya, but if you get a weekender I'd go with a 3 horse. Really you can find them both in the same price range. 2 horses sell pretty easy a lot of people like small trailers, they are handy! Just go with a quality brand. |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | TheDutchMan01 - 2016-03-09 8:06 PM
I have a 4h w/ 10 ft short wall but recently purchased a 2 horse bumper pull to use just to run around in. It's 7' wide and has a front dressing room and rear tack. I've hauled it to 3 days shows (stayed with bf) carried 2 big horses and was able to shove shavings, buckets, feed, hay, etc. in it. As long as you have a dressing room and a rear tack your going to have plenty of room for stuff even if you have 2 horses. Now in a LQ trailer it's always wise to have that extra stall. So if you purchase a trailer with a roomy dressing room a 2 horse will do ya, but if you get a weekender I'd go with a 3 horse. Really you can find them both in the same price range. 2 horses sell pretty easy a lot of people like small trailers, they are handy! Just go with a quality brand.
If we buy a shell, we'll eventually have a guy around here that does really nice custom LQs do a little weekender for us. It'll stay a shell for a couple of years but at some point, we'd want it finished out. I'm hoping to have the budget to get a used Platinum, 4Star, Cimarron, or Elite at the time that we buy. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 883
Location: Southern Indiana | MOGirl07 - 2016-03-09 8:41 PM
TheDutchMan01 - 2016-03-09 8:06 PM
I have a 4h w/ 10 ft short wall but recently purchased a 2 horse bumper pull to use just to run around in. It's 7' wide and has a front dressing room and rear tack. I've hauled it to 3 days shows (stayed with bf) carried 2 big horses and was able to shove shavings, buckets, feed, hay, etc. in it. As long as you have a dressing room and a rear tack your going to have plenty of room for stuff even if you have 2 horses. Now in a LQ trailer it's always wise to have that extra stall. So if you purchase a trailer with a roomy dressing room a 2 horse will do ya, but if you get a weekender I'd go with a 3 horse. Really you can find them both in the same price range. 2 horses sell pretty easy a lot of people like small trailers, they are handy! Just go with a quality brand.
If we buy a shell, we'll eventually have a guy around here that does really nice custom LQs do a little weekender for us. It'll stay a shell for a couple of years but at some point, we'd want it finished out. I'm hoping to have the budget to get a used Platinum, 4Star, Cimarron, or Elite at the time that we buy.
If your in MO like your name suggests keep an eye on Rowland trailer sales when you get ready to buy. She gets nice 2-3 horse trailers priced right in the $10-20K range quite often. I would probably vote a 3 horse then. A weekender will still be small enough to haul around easy. Don't forget about c&c they are awesome trailers! |
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 Expert
Posts: 3534
Location: Stuck in a cubicle having tropical thoughts | I have an Elite 3 horse with weekender. I used to have two personal horses that I would haul and thought I needed the extra stall for storage. Turns out I took the stud wall off the divider because the one mare had to turn around and jump off and I've never put the stud wall back on and every time i haul I have a horse in the front stall. Due to personal life, I've never gotten to use the weekender. And now I only have 1 horse I ride (I have a 2nd horse but she's a retired 34YO pasture buddy). I HATE hauling the one mare around in that big thing. Don't get me wrong, i love the trailer itself, the quality, the litlle bells and whistles, etc, i just hate that I have all this trailer for 1 horse and I never get to camp in it. I have tried to sell it off and on for 1.5 years but find for sale by owner is difficult with a horse trailer. Last summer I finally was able to send my 1 mare to a trainer, out of state. I had to make 2 different 7 hour round trips with the 3horse weekender to just haul 1 mare there and back. Then when it started getting dark and cold, I would haul to a friends indoor to ride. I hate having to pull around that 18' trailer to ride 1 horse. If I could ever sell mine, I really want a 4Star 2horse gooseneck with dressing room, but would settle for a bumper in excellent condition. I figure if i can downsize for now with just the 1 horse, I'll be happy and if I find I'm hauling more and finally staying overnight, i could always upsize again. The trailer is paif off so it's not a finacial issue at this point, but I do think about the things I could do with the extra money if i ever sell this thing and downsize.
I do casually look to see what is out there in the 2horse I'm looking for and they are far and few and when the ones in great shape do pop up for sale, they all seem to be marked sold very quickly. |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | TheDutchMan01 - 2016-03-09 9:20 PM
MOGirl07 - 2016-03-09 8:41 PM
TheDutchMan01 - 2016-03-09 8:06 PM
I have a 4h w/ 10 ft short wall but recently purchased a 2 horse bumper pull to use just to run around in. It's 7' wide and has a front dressing room and rear tack. I've hauled it to 3 days shows (stayed with bf) carried 2 big horses and was able to shove shavings, buckets, feed, hay, etc. in it. As long as you have a dressing room and a rear tack your going to have plenty of room for stuff even if you have 2 horses. Now in a LQ trailer it's always wise to have that extra stall. So if you purchase a trailer with a roomy dressing room a 2 horse will do ya, but if you get a weekender I'd go with a 3 horse. Really you can find them both in the same price range. 2 horses sell pretty easy a lot of people like small trailers, they are handy! Just go with a quality brand.
If we buy a shell, we'll eventually have a guy around here that does really nice custom LQs do a little weekender for us. It'll stay a shell for a couple of years but at some point, we'd want it finished out. I'm hoping to have the budget to get a used Platinum, 4Star, Cimarron, or Elite at the time that we buy.
If your in MO like your name suggests keep an eye on Rowland trailer sales when you get ready to buy. She gets nice 2-3 horse trailers priced right in the $10-20K range quite often. I would probably vote a 3 horse then. A weekender will still be small enough to haul around easy. Don't forget about c&c they are awesome trailers!
I think I'm only about 2.5 hrs from there...they're in Bonnie, IL, correct?
I forget but C&C but yes! They stopped making those a few years back didn't think? Or am I thinking of another brand? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 520
| barlracr429 - 2016-03-09 9:33 PM
I have an Elite 3 horse with weekender. I used to have two personal horses that I would haul and thought I needed the extra stall for storage. Turns out I took the stud wall off the divider because the one mare had to turn around and jump off and I've never put the stud wall back on and every time i haul I have a horse in the front stall. Due to personal life, I've never gotten to use the weekender. And now I only have 1 horse I ride (I have a 2nd horse but she's a retired 34YO pasture buddy). I HATE hauling the one mare around in that big thing. Don't get me wrong, i love the trailer itself, the quality, the litlle bells and whistles, etc, i just hate that I have all this trailer for 1 horse and I never get to camp in it. I have tried to sell it off and on for 1.5 years but find for sale by owner is difficult with a horse trailer. Last summer I finally was able to send my 1 mare to a trainer, out of state. I had to make 2 different 7 hour round trips with the 3horse weekender to just haul 1 mare there and back. Then when it started getting dark and cold, I would haul to a friends indoor to ride. I hate having to pull around that 18' trailer to ride 1 horse. If I could ever sell mine, I really want a 4Star 2horse gooseneck with dressing room, but would settle for a bumper in excellent condition. I figure if i can downsize for now with just the 1 horse, I'll be happy and if I find I'm hauling more and finally staying overnight, i could always upsize again. The trailer is paif off so it's not a finacial issue at this point, but I do think about the things I could do with the extra money if i ever sell this thing and downsize.
I do casually look to see what is out there in the 2horse I'm looking for and they are far and few and when the ones in great shape do pop up for sale, they all seem to be marked sold very quickly.
This sounds like the trailer we want! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | Looks like I will be the odd man out. I used to pull a 3H with midtack and 6' shortwall. It was all fine and dandy. I then downsized to a 2H with a 5' shortwall and I don't ever want to go back to a biggen. It is so nice to be able to get that little trailer in and out of anyplace I might need to. I am never worried if I can make a turn around tight spots....... I do stay in it for weekend shows but it is just a shell up front with a mattress. But the extra foot in the DR makes all the difference in fitting extra things. I do haul 2 horses often and the hay for them just goes in the bed of the truck. Tack in the reat tack and any extra rolling boxes or carts that won't fit or my cooler go in the DR until I get to the show. I have some area rugs on the floor so if the stuff is a bit dirty on the bottom I can just shake them out once I get to the show and unpack and unload.
I can see with you hauling the family though how that front stall with a stud divider might be a good idea. thinking kids bikes and such.
oh and FYI I have bought and sold a couple 2H in the past 10 years and they have all sold in a couple of months tops. They are hard to find used so resale on them is good if they are a good trailer. In fact I sold my 2H much faster then my niece sold her 3H most simply because 3H forsale used are a dime a dozen so people can be very choosey on what they want and find one pretty close to home.
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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | I have an Elite 2-horse. I love it but do need to upgrade b/c my daughter is old enough to come along and I need the extra hole. My poor trailer also doubles as my barn... I use it as my tack room and it's also my tie rack. With all my stuff in it (literally, everything b/c I don't have a barn...) I still have no issue finding storage. But, it's not a LQ...
FYI, I searched everywhere to find my 2-horse and ended up driving to TX for it. So, I wouldn't count on them being cheaper.
eta: should probably mention that I haul two giants (16h+) and I have to pull the divider out for them to fit (just in case that's an issue for you.) With the divider, one could fit comfortably in the rear stall... or as an accordion in the front stall :)
Edited by just4fun 2016-03-10 9:57 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | just4fun - 2016-03-10 9:41 AM
I have an Elite 2-horse. I love it but do need to upgrade b/c my daughter is old enough to come along and I need the extra hole. My poor trailer also doubles as my barn... I use it as my tack room and it's also my tie rack. With all my stuff in it (literally, everything b/c I don't have a barn...) I still have no issue finding storage. But, it's not a LQ...
FYI, I searched everywhere to find my 2-horse and ended up driving to TX for it. So, I wouldn't count on them being cheaper.
eta: should probably mention that I haul two giants (16h+) and I have to pull the divider out for them to fit (just in case that's an issue for you.) With the divider, one could fit comfortably in the rear stall... or as an accordion in the front stall :)
I chuckled a bit at the 'accordion' comment. :) The horse I have now IS a big girl. 16 hands, and LONG. So thanks for giving me something else to consider! |
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Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | MOGirl07 - 2016-03-10 10:03 AM just4fun - 2016-03-10 9:41 AM I have an Elite 2-horse. I love it but do need to upgrade b/c my daughter is old enough to come along and I need the extra hole. My poor trailer also doubles as my barn... I use it as my tack room and it's also my tie rack. With all my stuff in it (literally, everything b/c I don't have a barn...) I still have no issue finding storage. But, it's not a LQ...
FYI, I searched everywhere to find my 2-horse and ended up driving to TX for it. So, I wouldn't count on them being cheaper.
eta: should probably mention that I haul two giants (16h+) and I have to pull the divider out for them to fit (just in case that's an issue for you.) With the divider, one could fit comfortably in the rear stall... or as an accordion in the front stall :)
I chuckled a bit at the 'accordion' comment. : ) The horse I have now IS a big girl. 16 hands, and LONG. So thanks for giving me something else to consider!
Stall size probably isn't any different in a 3-horse, but maybe you can pull out one divider and still have an extra hole?
I just never (seldom) use my divider.
Big horse problems
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 A very grounded girl
Posts: 5052
Location: Moving soon..... | I went from a 3-horse with LQ to a Warmblood 2-horse. I wasn't going anywhere where I needed a 3-horse with LQ. The vets that I purchased the 2-horse from were hauling 16h and taller horses. They could only get one of their monsters in the trailer, so I purchased it. It is real handy and I have friends that I go with if I am going further than 100 miles from my home. |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | just4fun - 2016-03-10 10:09 AM
MOGirl07 - 2016-03-10 10:03 AM just4fun - 2016-03-10 9:41 AM I have an Elite 2-horse. I love it but do need to upgrade b/c my daughter is old enough to come along and I need the extra hole. My poor trailer also doubles as my barn... I use it as my tack room and it's also my tie rack. With all my stuff in it (literally, everything b/c I don't have a barn...) I still have no issue finding storage. But, it's not a LQ...
FYI, I searched everywhere to find my 2-horse and ended up driving to TX for it. So, I wouldn't count on them being cheaper.
eta: should probably mention that I haul two giants (16h+) and I have to pull the divider out for them to fit (just in case that's an issue for you.) With the divider, one could fit comfortably in the rear stall... or as an accordion in the front stall :)
I chuckled a bit at the 'accordion' comment. : ) The horse I have now IS a big girl. 16 hands, and LONG. So thanks for giving me something else to consider!
I just never (seldom) use my divider.
Big horse problems
I totally didn't finish my thought there...sorry! . I should've finished that with 'something else to consider - the width of the trailer.' Lol! She's fine in friends' trailers that are 7.5' wide w/no mangers. I've hauled her in 7.5' wide trailer with mangers before and she had room just couldn't put her head down. :-/ In an 8' wide trailer, she practically has room to dance. I did haul with one time in a 7' wide with someone, and she was squished. I'd forgotten about that til now... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 883
Location: Southern Indiana | MOGirl07 - 2016-03-09 10:11 PM
TheDutchMan01 - 2016-03-09 9:20 PM
MOGirl07 - 2016-03-09 8:41 PM
TheDutchMan01 - 2016-03-09 8:06 PM
I have a 4h w/ 10 ft short wall but recently purchased a 2 horse bumper pull to use just to run around in. It's 7' wide and has a front dressing room and rear tack. I've hauled it to 3 days shows (stayed with bf) carried 2 big horses and was able to shove shavings, buckets, feed, hay, etc. in it. As long as you have a dressing room and a rear tack your going to have plenty of room for stuff even if you have 2 horses. Now in a LQ trailer it's always wise to have that extra stall. So if you purchase a trailer with a roomy dressing room a 2 horse will do ya, but if you get a weekender I'd go with a 3 horse. Really you can find them both in the same price range. 2 horses sell pretty easy a lot of people like small trailers, they are handy! Just go with a quality brand.
If we buy a shell, we'll eventually have a guy around here that does really nice custom LQs do a little weekender for us. It'll stay a shell for a couple of years but at some point, we'd want it finished out. I'm hoping to have the budget to get a used Platinum, 4Star, Cimarron, or Elite at the time that we buy.
If your in MO like your name suggests keep an eye on Rowland trailer sales when you get ready to buy. She gets nice 2-3 horse trailers priced right in the $10-20K range quite often. I would probably vote a 3 horse then. A weekender will still be small enough to haul around easy. Don't forget about c&c they are awesome trailers!
I think I'm only about 2.5 hrs from there...they're in Bonnie, IL, correct?
I forget but C&C but yes! They stopped making those a few years back didn't think? Or am I thinking of another brand?
Yep Bonnie, IL. I bought my platinum from them.
Ya I think C & C went out of business either 2008 or 2010. They are almost made better than Platinum or 4 star. All good brands though! |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| rodeomom3 - 2016-03-08 4:06 PM
Get a 3 horse with a stud panel, the extra stall is great for storage. I have a 4 horse, I usually use the front stall for hay, etc. it is a pain when I haul all 4 of mine and I loose that storage space.
This!!! I would be lost without my 3rd stall for storage. I almost wish I had a 4 horse now. |
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| MOGirl07 - 2016-03-08 5:08 PM
Thanks for all the input so far!
For those that mentioned storage concerns, let me ask you....do you feel like a two horse would be 'okay' if you had mangers and a hay rack for extra storage? Just curious! For the next few years at least, I doubt I'll go to many, if any, barrel races that require me to stay overnight and need a ton of stuff, but as my kiddos get a little bigger that *may* change. But for the next 2-3 yrs, I doubt I'll travel more than 2 hrs max one way to races much and will probably just stick to the one day deals. But I don't want to save, and buy a trailer that doesn't work 5 years from now, you know?
I've been pulling a little 16ft stock trailer BP since I turned 16, so almost 10 yrs now, I'm almost afraid to get something too big or I'll be terrible at pulling it...although everyone tells me goosenecks are easier!
I have noticed very few people use there hay racks because I think they are kind of a pain to load/unload. I board my horse so I like the extra storage for other things. I dont do many overnight races but I like to throw a bale in there, water buckets, shavings, pitchfork, water, etc. That way I keep my dressing from clear of junk. I dont necessarily have it full but I think I would have a hard time getting that storage in elsewhere. |
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 Toastest with the Mostest
Posts: 5712
Location: That part of Texas | I looked for years before finding and being able to get the 2H goosneck (dressing room) that I now have. Cindy Hamilton had to put up with me stalking her dealership web page all that time but it finally paid off when I was able to get the one I wanted used. I was ready to buy it new (wanted the ramp with it too) but got very lucky in finding exactly what I wanted in a nearly new used trailer.
I don't know if it depends on the part of the world you're in but it wouldn't take me long to be able to sell mine if I ever wanted to. I get stopped by people asking me about it almost everytime we haul somewhere because they want one.
Mine is so easy to manuever and get around town in if we have to haul to a bigger city. What I love about it is that it is small/short enough that when we park, we only take up two parking spots (no overhang) so you can get into places with it that a bigger trailer can't be left at. The people who originally bought it added an extra foot to the dressing room so mine is bigger than most and it's perfect for me to store all my tack and supplies -- even has enough room to put my golf clubs in if I want to take them along. I'm so glad that I bought it even though I had to search for it so long. I'll never sell this one.
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  Color My World
Posts: 4940
Location: My perfect world bubble | When I was looking for a LQ trailer I wanted something small enough I could easily pull it around town for local trips but big enough to haul two 16.2H+ event horses. I didn't want mangers and had some specifics since I was pulling with a 2500 GMC Duramax. I ended up having Platinum build me what I want, I have a 2H slant but we offset the slant wall so the stalls are longer, and my 2H is actually the same size as a 3H in the horse area making the stalls extra wide. With an 8' shortwall it's the perfect size for my daughter and me and I adore it. Platinum was able to build lots of really neat features for me since I don't want mangers or an extra stall and I couldn't be happier. I would highly, highly recommend them and the dealer I worked with.
Edited by Paintbrlrcr 2016-03-12 11:48 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | Paintbrlrcr - 2016-03-12 11:47 AM
When I was looking for a LQ trailer I wanted something small enough I could easily pull it around town for local trips but big enough to haul two 16.2H+ event horses. I didn't want mangers and had some specifics since I was pulling with a 2500 GMC Duramax. I ended up having Platinum build me what I want, I have a 2H slant but we offset the slant wall so the stalls are longer, and my 2H is actually the same size as a 3H in the horse area making the stalls extra wide. With an 8' shortwall it's the perfect size for my daughter and me and I adore it. Platinum was able to build lots of really neat features for me since I don't want mangers or an extra stall and I couldn't be happier. I would highly, highly recommend them and the dealer I worked with.
If you don't mind sharing....I'd love to see pics! |
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2 horse vs. 3 horse trailer?