So I am slowly shopping for a LQ trailer. I know I want an 8ft wide 2-3horse slant(I like the slants but my horse is pretty big) with a small lq. I have a half ton truck rated for 11000lbs(it also is made to have bigger everything for towing...its the new gm models) and most shows are 3 hours away on flat quiet roads. If I haul farther or through cities, I have my bfs 250 duramax that I could also use. Anyway, my question is what brands do you prefer(i know 4star are plantimum are amazing but thats top budget stuff) do you prefer new or used? Must haves? Not sure if I want mangers but the xtra storage is nice.

My personal opinion...

i dont think half ton trucks should be pulling gooseneck trailers.  I just don’t feel the suspension is made for it and in the event that you lose your trailer brakes or need to stop suddenly you may find yourself under trucked.  I never want to be under trucked.  Half tons have come a long way since I had one - but I still cringe when I see someone with a trailer the size you’re talking on one.

For an 8’ wide trailer, unless you have a full 8’ long bed, you’re really going to need to watch the shape of the trailer nose and find a tapered one, other wise you will sacrifice your rear window when backing.  

Here’s the thing - lightweight is not always better.  Consider that the trailer is wrapped around your prize possessions and in the event of an accident is what will protect them.  There are no national safety or crash ratings for horse trailers.  Ive had lighter weight trailers and I’ve got a higher end brand now that I bought used and the structural design is so much better, so much heavier built - I feel my horses have a shot in a wreck now.  Both were full aluminum trailers.  

That’s just my .02 for whatever that’s worth.  There’s a lot of threads on here you can find discussing towing with a half ton truck.

I pulled with an F150 and then a Dodge 2500 for about 9 years until I upgraded to a diesel. I started out with a BP 3 horse steel frame sundowner and that thing was HEAVY. Sold it and now our BP is a 3 horse calico. My 1/2 tons did an ok job of pulling but the stopping was a different story. I never got into an accident but I was very careful. Especially when I had 3 horses in there. For about 3 years, I was hooked up and hauling probably 4 nights of the week. 
Now to answer your questions....
We upgraded trailers last year and I will say I LOVE having mangers and a mid tack. Sure makes storage so much easier. We went from a 4' SW that was just a shell to an 8' SW with a bathroom, kitchen and an onboard generator. Its the perfect size for my husband and I and the 4 heelers. We put a 30 gallon water tank in the mid tack cuz the water tank in the trailer doesnt go far. 
You could easily make do with a 4' SW that is finished out. Have a walk thru door and put a cowboy shower in the first stall. Have a microwave and carry a grill with you. I would haul with your truck first though and see how it handles it. 

I dont have a preference on brands since we havent hauled different ones. I loved hauling our CM but it just wasnt big enough with the 2 of us and dogs. It pulled great, was a perfect size and if we could have, we would have hung onto it for local shows. The sundowner is great. Its older but solid made. Its just BIG and I dont like hauling it to the local stuff. Now to stay in for several days, its great. 

My pocketbook couldn't afford new, so i went with a used, 3 horse slant, 10 ft shortwall, 8ft wide, Elite, with mangers, permanent rear tack, stud stall in the front. It's perfect for me and my husband & it has everything I wanted in an LQ. I shopped for over three years before I finally found one that I liked and wanted to put my money into. However, there is no way in heck I'd pull it with anything less than a 1 ton. It's not super heavy, but you can definately tell it's on the back of our pickup. I would feel "over trailered" in anything smaller and would be concerned with braking and whether or not it had a beefy suspension to properly tow the trailer. 

I personally like the mangers for extra storage, since the furthest I haul is about 6 hours away and that's like one time a year for an associations finals. If you were going longer distances, consistently, I'm not sure I'd want the manger because I'd want my horses to be able to get their heads down.

It was important for me to have the stud stall because I don't have a pod or a hay rack on top, so that's where I stash all my hay, grain, muck buckets, etc.

Inside the only thing I wanted was plenty of storage, since I do have a hauling partner that comes with me for a lot of races, and a shower and toilet that are separate. The rest is just details in my opinion.

If money didn't play a factor I'd definately have shopped for a side load with a permanent rear tack. Those are the cat's meow in my opinion.

Ok, well SO said I can use his 3/4 diesel whenever. I really want an 8ft wide.....anyone have any experience with em. Is there any trailers that have longer slants in a 7ft wide?

Just my opinion, but my trailer is 7' wide & there is plenty of room for my horses. I have a long 16h barrel horse & he fits perfect. The advantage of 8' is actually 1) having room for mangers if you want them & 2) having extra room in the LQ. That extra foot does make a difference in the space you have to move around in the LQ. The advantages of 7' wide are 1) less weight & 2) easier to see around while driving, easier to pull, park, etc

I have a 7.5 wide Featherlite with mangers, I feel like it is the perfect compromise because I still get the convience of storage but I can also see around my trailer better than with an 8 wide. Slants are still plenty big