Good Morning All! I am currently trailer shopping since my trailer sold and need some guidance!

Would you consider an older high-quality trailer if it was kept in mint condition? Or would you focus on a cheaper made trailer but one that is brand new? What are some good tips and must haves for trailer shopping?

I sold my 2014 Bison, looking a 2008 Elite, however my husband thinks that is too old….

Older good quality trailer in mint condition over new cheaper one. I bought a 2007 Elite in mint condition. Love it! 

Definately an older high quality trailer.  They are built better and if you haul much they won't rattle apart. 

Older High Quality trailer that has been been taking care of as in wheel bearings kept up with, solid floors, axels in perfect shape, no leaks, check all welds all the way around the trailer, look at hinges, look at tires and see how they are wearing if wearing strange there could be a axel problem or the bearings have not been kept up with. Ask if trailer has been in shop for any repairs. Sounds fun, I love trailer shopping and seeing the different setups.

Are you looking to buy a LQ? 

Yes, I am looking to buy another LQ! And I have a very strict checklist to abide by!

Sounds fun!! Let us know what you find and buy and pictures would be a extra bonus for us. Good luck on your trailer shopping

Does anyone have reviews on SMC trailers? 

Just bumped up a thread for you about SMC trailers.

We had some conversations about this same subject.  The good brands hold their resale value.  We had a 2003 Platinum that we used for 5 years and sold it for a few thousand dollars less than we paid for it.  The cheaper brands don't hold their resale value.  We sold the 2003 Platinum and bought a 2008 Platinum.

Older, higher quality 110%. I have a 1999 4 Star, TWENTY years old, and the latches latch better than my friends 2018 Exiss. Nothing compares. My parents have a 2005 C&C for sale and people have been going crazy over it. There's a reason they're good quality and people like them. 

I wouldn't hesitate to buy an older good trailer at all.  I have hauled in everything over the years and I will say my taste has changed.  I think it depends on how much you plan to haul.  When we hauled all the time if you didn't have a good trailer, bad roads would wear it out.  Many of my friends (who used to be trailer snobs) have now switched to Lakotas (with big slide) and another just ordered a 16' LQ SMC with a slide.   They do plan to live in it for 2 months in FL,  it looked good on video.  The Lakotas I have seen did not impress me much.

We switched to a motor home and I have the cutest little Platinum 2H slant with mangers, it looks like a Barbie trailer.  I guess I'm a little bit snob.  I slept in a lot of horsetrailers before they really had living quarters.   Course now we don't run for the world we camp and trail ride.  I enjoyed the LQ way more showing horses, but camping and at my age I like the MH because hotels creeped me out before Covid.

I do think the top brands hold there value better, but I am amazed at the rigs some of these trail riders have.  I have a friend who ordered a top of the line custom Elite and he had all kinds of crazy issues when delivered.  Now it's a great trailer but he is looking at a SMC because of the room and they do have some cool features on the interior.  IMO they are trying to be like Outlaw (with nice features) but not near as nice.

Stick to the checklist and you should be very happy.  Have fun shopping, hope you find a good one.

I just bought an older Platinum and it is so well made. I wouldn't hesitate again. Has anyone had any dealings with Tackstationltd.us? they sell trailers online and they seem awful cheap but for well made trailers. Just wondering

The downside to older (whether well cared for or not) is the age of the appliances & more chance of them needing to be replaced.  Air conditioners & refridgerators are expensive, furnaces & hot water heaters not as much but still adds up.  Plumbing can get old too.  Just shop wisely.  There's not a brand out there that hasn't had issues on some trailers, even when new.    Also, SMC are owned by Lakota trailers.  Merhow is another middle range that has high ratings.  Bison was bought by Merhow earlier this year.  

Good luck. I'm shopping too and it's stressful. All the trailers I like are too far away. So many options. Old Bloomer or new Bison? Rivets or welds? I have a 2004 CM that I can no longer get latches for. I have found a couple of nice C and C trailers but they are out of business so I couldn't get replacement parts for them either. What's a girl to do?

When we were looking for the current one, there was NOTHING within 1000 miles or a little more - or they'd had their wheels run off them, they were filthy (what is with advertising an expensive horse trailer that is full of horse **** & clothes & towels all over the LQ????  Nope - if that is how they take care of it & it's not worth it to clean up the trailer for good pics, then I sure don't want it - it tells me they haven't taken very good care of it at all), were over priced (I knew what they should be running), etc.  Ended up buying one that was over 2300 miles away - & did a road trip to get it.  No regrets.  It took close to a year to find the trailer with all my things on my list & in good shape & maintained properly

Older high quality is what I would do.  I bought my 2006 Cimarron in 2013 and it's still in such good condition I have no desire to get a newer one (plus it's paid for).   The only reason I would trade would be to get a 4 horse with smaller LQs.  

Why smaller living quarter ? From what size you in now to how small?

I think I am going to go with the used 2008 Elite. It has an 11ft short wall, 8ft wide, 3 horse slants with all the bells and whistles. It does show some age in minor places but otherwise in mint condition! It has laminate interior and some places it has wrinkle on the walls in the corner. Is that a bad thing?  You can barely notice, but I went over the trailer with a fine tooth comb. What do you guys think is a fair price on this trailer?

100% without a doubt, the older high quality trailer. There's a reason those trailers hold their value.

I only buy 4star, Elite, Platinum and C&C. C&C is no longer in business but it has nothing to do with trailer quality they're very well made, high end trailers. I had a 1995 4 star for 22 years, it was SOLID and never gave me one issue related to the way it was built. I only sold it because I needed a bigger trailer, and I got a used C&C (my family's 3rd C&C).

Personally, I would not buy some of the other brands (no names mentioned) even if it was brand new, a great deal and fancy as all get out. Nope, nope, nope.