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| Starting to consider upgrading trailers in the next few months. We know we want a 4-5 horse, aluminum, and living quarters. No kids yet, but plan to start a family soon. I would like a ramp and hay pod (I think). What are your experiences with brands and options? Must haves or OMG-I'm-never-doing-that-again moments. Thank you for your feedback!
Edited by barrelracer66023 2016-09-06 3:28 PM
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
   
| I have an Elite which what a friend recommended. They have a huge Elite that they lived in for several years. It still looks new. Neither of us have ever had a problem with our trailers. A women hit mine on the back by the fender. It scraped my trailer but demolished her car.
My trainer had a Platinum. It has definitely been used a lot. It has he'd up well to. Either of these brands will give you good service. Hope that helps. |
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| Thank you for the input! I have a friend that loves their Elite, but wanted to see what others had experienced. Thanks for sharing! |
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 Three in a Bikini
Posts: 2035
| I have a 4horse Cimarron and it is very well made. Everything is heavy duty and I have zero complaints about the quality.
If I could do it all over again though, I would ABSOLUTELY get a slide out. There is always someone sleeping on my pull out couch and it gets very tight in there.
I would also get a mid-tack and a hay rack but those would be more for ease of convenience. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1037
| Platinum makes a great trailer. Holds up well to hauling and I have never had any problems with any of mine. We have been pulling LQ's by them for 15 years, just bought a new BP this weekend. I just really like everything about how they are made.
Elite is a very good trailer also, but I have not pulled one with LQ.
We had a 6 horse Hart that was a great trailer but again no LQ (have heard they pull heavy when you add the LQ).
Really like the older Bloomers, but have heard lots of negative about the newer ones. |
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| Thanks for all your feedback! |
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | Must haves would be a walk through door for sure, and screens on the horse windows. I love the stock rears and drop down heads.
Have had great luck with Elite and Platinum  |
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 Expert
Posts: 2674
Location: Silver Lake, MN | I have a Sooner stock/combo that I love. It is my first LQ trailer and it has been great. I actually took the ramp off mine cause I have had them before and found them to be a pain if it was wet out and if anything got stuck in the springs it wouldn't closer properly but I know many people like them. Mine does not have managers which has been hard when it comes to selling because most people want them, I like that it didn't have them as I haul unseasoned horses and it's less for them to get into and they can get their heads down if needed.
Mine has an on board roof mounted generator which is awesome just push a button and you are good to go. Plus an automatic awning. I love both of these features. |
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | I have a Cimarron, which I like. My daughter has a Merhow, and wow, what a well made trailer!! |
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| Thank you! I hadn't thought about the screens. I guess if needed I could add those on after? On the stock windows on rear side do you worry about precipitation? That's my biggest fear. We have a 4 horse now with bus windows on the rear side, and I wish they offered more airflow. |
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| Thank you for the help, these are all things I hadn't considered. |
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Expert
Posts: 2674
Location: Silver Lake, MN | We don't have all the slats out on ours cause we use the first stall for storage but even with a heavy rain it stays pretty dry so I don't worry about it much. I like the air flow as well and with colts I like having something solid to tie them too. |
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It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | barrelracer66023 - 2016-09-07 1:23 PM Thank you! I hadn't thought about the screens. I guess if needed I could add those on after? On the stock windows on rear side do you worry about precipitation? That's my biggest fear. We have a 4 horse now with bus windows on the rear side, and I wish they offered more airflow.
Nope I don't worry about it at all. You can take the bottom out and leave the top in and you would rarely get anything. It's super nice to have more airflow in the summer! |
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 Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | Our old trailer that we sold had a ramp. It was a royal pain in the a$$. If you live anywhere that it freezes, or gets snow, that ramp is a dangerous frozen ice slick in the winter. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I had a ramp for a long time then didn't for about 15 years, now I have one again. Love it. Won't be without a ramp in the future. |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| I do not have screens on my trailer. Don't know many that do have them. Have hauled horses for 50 years many miles in an open stock trailer. Personally I feel happy to have a roof. Screens are not high priority. Never had a ramp but I do think that would be nice. Have had a few horses with injuries where it would have been handy. Mid tacks seem to have kind of phased out but every one I know that has one loves it. A necessity for long stays for feed, hay etc. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| I prefer drop downs all the way around because it gets hot here and that makes for lots of airflow - mine has bars in the front to keep them from sticking their heads out.
Definitely a walk through door - I had them on my last 2 trailers and never used them but I've tried selling my latest trailer (just to downsize and people won't touch it just because it doesn't have a walk through) - personally, I always stored my hay, grain, buckets, etc. in the front stall so I couldn't use the walk through but everybody else on the planet must do it differently!
I've had CM, Hart and now have a Platinum. I've liked them all about equally although I think the Hart was heavier.
I like the extra wide and extra tall - plenty of room for the horses and plenty of headroom in the bed of the living quarters. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1037
| Griz - 2016-09-08 5:17 AM
I prefer drop downs all the way around because it gets hot here and that makes for lots of airflow - mine has bars in the front to keep them from sticking their heads out.
Definitely a walk through door - I had them on my last 2 trailers and never used them but I've tried selling my latest trailer (just to downsize and people won't touch it just because it doesn't have a walk through) - personally, I always stored my hay, grain, buckets, etc. in the front stall so I couldn't use the walk through but everybody else on the planet must do it differently!
I've had CM, Hart and now have a Platinum. I've liked them all about equally although I think the Hart was heavier.
I like the extra wide and extra tall - plenty of room for the horses and plenty of headroom in the bed of the living quarters.
Why does everyone want the walk thru door?
What do yall use it for?
I searched high and low for a trailer WITHOUT one.
Maybe I'm doing something wrong lol |
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 Poor Cracker Girl
Posts: 12150
Location: Feeding mosquitos, FL | kboltwkreations - 2016-09-08 8:46 AM Griz - 2016-09-08 5:17 AM I prefer drop downs all the way around because it gets hot here and that makes for lots of airflow - mine has bars in the front to keep them from sticking their heads out. Definitely a walk through door - I had them on my last 2 trailers and never used them but I've tried selling my latest trailer (just to downsize and people won't touch it just because it doesn't have a walk through) - personally, I always stored my hay, grain, buckets, etc. in the front stall so I couldn't use the walk through but everybody else on the planet must do it differently! I've had CM, Hart and now have a Platinum. I've liked them all about equally although I think the Hart was heavier. I like the extra wide and extra tall - plenty of room for the horses and plenty of headroom in the bed of the living quarters. Why does everyone want the walk thru door? What do yall use it for? I searched high and low for a trailer WITHOUT one. Maybe I'm doing something wrong lol
I like mine for when it's raining so I don't have to track mud into the LQ or when we go camping with the dogs then I open the door and air condition the whole horse area. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| Walk through door is nice to have! Expecially if it is raining. Its one of those things I don't use very often, but when I need it, it is good to have. I didn't want a mid tack, I just use the first stall to put extra stuff in. I think the ramp depends on where you live. Everyone I know that has one loves it, but it like never snows here. If you are getting a living quarters and can afford it, please please get yourself 8 ft wide with mangers. The mangers are the single best investment I have made, ever! I love mine. On brand, I love platinums but couldn't afford one like I wanted so I went with a Lakota. I love it but there are minor things that would have been better quality if we would have been able to buy the more expensive trailer. When I say minor, I mean like bolts in the fold down tack needed to be better done, and that's literally it. The only other thing I noticed when trailer shopping is make sure you pay attention to how tall it is. The standard is 7'6" but some trailers are only 7 or 7'4" so make sure you sit up in the bed before you buy to make sure its tall enough ;) |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I love my 8' wide with 16"'mangers. Plenty of room for all our horses to get their heads down and/or stretch out and pee and I can still store buckets under the mangers among other things like fans, bags of feed etc.
Screens - if you want them and have mangers realize you probably can't add them (at least not with the tools we have available) the divider angle at the manger makes it very difficult, impossible for us, to get a drill into the corner to mount a screen.
Drop downs or stock slats on the butt side.
Big fridge. My little fridge is sufficient for me and another adult, although we often pack drinks in a cooler as well. |
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| This is all such great information to have, thank you all!
I hadn't thought of the ramp freezing. We live in an area that's hit or miss with snow and ice. Luckily, I trailer is shedded most of the time. If it's that nasty out I can promise I'm staying home. ;-)
The stock sides were something I ruled out, but you all have convinced me that's not such a bad thing.
To those who have a walk through and open it up for the dogs: Does the air conditioner do a good enough job so they don't roast in the back? Seems like a great idea if your a/c can keep up!
Does anyone have small fans installed in stall area? Do you like them? |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| kboltwkreations - 2016-09-08 7:46 AM
Griz - 2016-09-08 5:17 AM
I prefer drop downs all the way around because it gets hot here and that makes for lots of airflow - mine has bars in the front to keep them from sticking their heads out.
Definitely a walk through door - I had them on my last 2 trailers and never used them but I've tried selling my latest trailer (just to downsize and people won't touch it just because it doesn't have a walk through) - personally, I always stored my hay, grain, buckets, etc. in the front stall so I couldn't use the walk through but everybody else on the planet must do it differently!
I've had CM, Hart and now have a Platinum. I've liked them all about equally although I think the Hart was heavier.
I like the extra wide and extra tall - plenty of room for the horses and plenty of headroom in the bed of the living quarters.
Why does everyone want the walk thru door?
What do yall use it for?
I searched high and low for a trailer WITHOUT one.
Maybe I'm doing something wrong lol
I haven't the foggiest idea other than use it for a mud room.
Like I said, my last 2 had them and I NEVER used them - not ONCE. - I guess I'm doing something wrong, too!  |
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Poor Cracker Girl
Posts: 12150
Location: Feeding mosquitos, FL | barrelracer66023 - 2016-09-08 2:11 PM This is all such great information to have, thank you all!
I hadn't thought of the ramp freezing. We live in an area that's hit or miss with snow and ice. Luckily, I trailer is shedded most of the time. If it's that nasty out I can promise I'm staying home. ;-)
The stock sides were something I ruled out, but you all have convinced me that's not such a bad thing.
To those who have a walk through and open it up for the dogs: Does the air conditioner do a good enough job so they don't roast in the back? Seems like a great idea if your a/c can keep up!
Does anyone have small fans installed in stall area? Do you like them?
It did really well. It wasn't cold cold but it was cool enough I could have slept back there if need be. My A/C is a beast - it'll freeze me out. |
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| What brand trailer do you have? I assume the brand uses similar a/c's in all their trailers. |
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Poor Cracker Girl
Posts: 12150
Location: Feeding mosquitos, FL | barrelracer66023 - 2016-09-09 1:43 PM What brand trailer do you have? I assume the brand uses similar a/c's in all their trailers.
I have a Sundowner and I think the A/C is a Dometic? Maybe? I think that's the most common one. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 912
Location: Alabama | The walk thru door is a must have for me. I use it often!
It is great when you are loading a broodmare and foal, I can easily walk out the front while someone closes the divider behind. Much more safe than trying to go out the back under the divider. I like if I have a load on and I need to get to the first horse while at a rest stop I can do so without having to unload everyone. It serves as a great mud room. It also makes life easier when it is coming a flood and you have to saddle/unsaddle horses on the trailer.  |
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 Too Skinny
Posts: 8009
Location: LA Lower Alabama | Insulation! You can't pay enough for that stuff!! The good trailers are insulated all the way round so your ac would probably handle keeping it cool enough. Maybe not freezing but cool! |
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| Another great question for sales people! Thank you for the help! :) |
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 To the Left
Posts: 1865
Location: Florida | Only problem with 8' wide is the mirrors on your truck need to be extended. |
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 Ms. Elvis
Posts: 9606
Location: Running barrels or watching nascar | streakysox - 2016-09-06 9:05 PM I have an Elite which what a friend recommended. They have a huge Elite that they lived in for several years. It still looks new. Neither of us have ever had a problem with our trailers. A women hit mine on the back by the fender. It scraped my trailer but demolished her car. My trainer had a Platinum. It has definitely been used a lot. It has he'd up well to. Either of these brands will give you good service. Hope that helps.
That happened to us too.
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Opinions wanted!