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 Extreme Veteran
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| Looking for something that I can safely pull with a half ton, as that's what looks like it will fit into my budget the best truck wise. Leaning toward a 2 horse because I'll only be hauling 1 horse 90% of the time. If I need to haul more I can borrow my parents' rig. LQ (and by LQ I mean somewhere with electricity, AC and a bed) aren't a necessity, again because if I'm going overnight the option to borrow the parents' rig is there - but it would be nice not to have to borrow.
Must haves: Gooseneck (I HATE everything about BPs - hooking up, backing up, turning, the way they pull...), slant load, can pull with a half ton, can fit my 16.2 solid built gelding comfortably
I've found a few that meet my must haves and budget:
2001 Elite 2H with a weekender type package (cabinets/closet, microwave, fridge, AC, bed). Solid rear tack, mangers, walk-through door, 7x7x14. $15,500. My concern with this one is that it's a little more than I was hoping to spend (was hoping to stick to $13,500 or under) and the width with the mangers...I would LOVE to have them though.
1996 4 Star 2H with a weekender type package (tons of cabinets/counter, microwave, AC, bed). Solid rear tack, 7'6" wide, 7'6" tall, looks like roughly 14'-14'6" long. $11,495. Concern is lack of storage, and the LQ are super awkward - nowhere to sit other than up in the bed. It would be fine for a while, but would get super annoying by the end of the summer.
1991 4 Star 2H with a weekender type package (cabinets, microwave, fridge, vanity, AC, bed). Solid rear tack, walk through door, 7x7x14. $11,500. Concern is lack of storage, and I'd want to redo the LQ if I kept it for more than a couple years.
1993 4 Star 2H. No rear tack, 7' wide, 7' tall, looks roughly 12'6" long. $8,900. Concern with this one is lack of storage with not having the rear tack (with the front tack, I would use rear tack for hay/feed/buckets).
2000 4 Star 2H. Almost identical to above trailer, but has a collapsible rear tack. $12,500. Concern with this one is that it's in Canada - I'm in northern SD so distance isn't so much a concern rather than if there are charges/tariffs/taxes/whatever to purchase a trailer internationally.
1999 Exiss 2H. Collapsible rear tack, no measurements listed. $9,950. Concern is the brand.
Any thoughts on any of these?! I don't need to buy something RIGHT now, but need to by April-ish. I don't want to miss out on a great trailer, but also don't want to buy something just to buy it. I also would really like to be able to trade it in or resell it a few years down the road when I'm ready to move into a larger rig and have it hold its value. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
      Location: mi | I just sent the ad for the Elite to my niece as she is also looking. That is a nicely set up trailer for the 3' shortwall. The mangers won't effect the width as it is all under your horses nose. So if he fits in a standard 7' wide trailer the mangers shouldn't make a difference. FYI if he is longer bodied be sure to measure the trailer and not go any smaller then 7'. Alot are only 6'10 or 6'8 wide. We haul one boy that is all of 16.2 and long bodied. He has to go in the back slot of a 7' but he fits and doesn't complain. You get a couple extra inches in that slot.
The Elite is a good brand and not super old. Even on the aluminum trailers be sure to check the floor for pitting.
You can pull any 2H GN all Aluminum with a good half ton. She is replacing a bigger 1999 Exiss that the ONLY issue she had with it was the roof had to be resealed as it leaked. Don't let the brand scare you but it does have a rep so resale will be a bit lower then others.
FYI if we were closer to oklahoma we would be taking a truck to look at that Elite tomorrow. :) and don't be afraid to negotiate with them. I thought the price was pretty fair but would for sure to talk them down.
Edited by ajs2002 2015-01-14 11:58 AM
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
           Location: Kansas | Darn...too bad your wanting a slant. |
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 Extreme Veteran
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| hoofs_in_motion - 2015-01-14 12:13 PM
Darn...too bad yourΒ wanting a slant. Β
I know...my horse is much happier riding in a slant though! |
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 Extreme Veteran
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| ajs2002 - 2015-01-14 11:53 AM
I just sent the ad for the Elite to my niece as she is also looking. That is a nicely set up trailer for the 3' shortwall. The mangers won't effect the width as it is all under your horses nose. So if he fits in a standard 7' wide trailer the mangers shouldn't make a difference. FYI if he is longer bodied be sure to measure the trailer and not go any smaller then 7'. Alot are only 6'10 or 6'8 wide. We haul one boy that is all of 16.2 and long bodied. He has to go in the back slot of a 7' but he fits and doesn't complain. You get a couple extra inches in that slot.
The Elite is a good brand and not super old. Even on the aluminum trailers be sure to check the floor for pitting.
You can pull any 2H GN all Aluminum with a good half ton. She is replacing a bigger 1999 Exiss that the ONLY issue she had with it was the roof had to be resealed as it leaked. Don't let the brand scare you but it does have a rep so resale will be a bit lower then others.
FYI if we were closer to oklahoma we would be taking a truck to look at that Elite tomorrow. :) and don't be afraid to negotiate with them. I thought the price was pretty fair but would for sure to talk them down.
I know...I'm loving that Elite, just a little iffy on the price tag and whether Dusty will actually fit or not. |
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      Location: mi | How far away is the trailer load him up in the big rig and go see if he fits.
I had also sent her the info on the Exiss as that trailer looks really clean in the pictures. I had clicked on the 96 4 star and it looks good and priced right. We just have figured we didn't want to go that old. Not that it might be a perfectly good trailer, they just over the years have done so much improvement in the suspension and the way the trailers ride that we didn't want to go too old. With your guy being so big you might want to look at the '96. Those are the only 3 from your list that I thought looked good.
Edited by ajs2002 2015-01-14 1:38 PM
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Extreme Veteran
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| I would go with the 2001 for resale value purposes if you end up hauling more than one horse and get a larger trailer. Hard to even give away trailers old than that sometimes... Personally I would stay away from Exiss.. not very well built. If you have concerns about storage, if you're hauling one you can always have a stud divider put in and store the excess of your stuff in there. Personally manager are a life saver. so much room! |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
           Location: Florida.. | I wouldnt buy a exiss for resale value they dont hold up..
I wouldnt buy a 7 wide with or without mangers.. to short.. it does make a differance believe me
you also said you dont need a LQ type deal so Id go for more horse room and less you room.. |
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 Ms. Poutability
Posts: 2362
      Location: In my own world | No manger is if it's 7ft wide. I have a 7ft wide and horses are cramped enough. Your horse wouldn't be able to put its head down. And don't get the Exiss. If you are hauling only 1 horse you can use the other slot for storage |
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Member
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| I think you just need to relocate to Wyoming and Ill haul you around! Dusty would like to have his girlfriend Syda to haul with I'm sure. Sorry to mess with your thread, miss you!
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| WY Can Chaser - 2015-01-14 5:13 PM
I think you just need to relocate to Wyoming and Ill haul you around! Dusty would like to have his girlfriend Syda to haul with I'm sure. Sorry to mess with your thread, miss you!
Kaycee!!!! Yes Dusty misses Syda LOTS! He flirted with a new girl named Lola last summer, but Syda's always on his mind ;) |
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 I Don't Brag
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| I have a '93 4Star (NOT FOR SALE) that I bought new. It is a stock combo, no rear tack and the LQ is 22 inches on the short wall, so my saddle rack is on the short wall. I had a boot box built along the drop that can serve as a place to sleep if necessary, and that gives me TONS of storage. If you are looking at 2 horses and don't need an overnight LQ, and plan on hauling 1 horse most of the time, what do you need so much storage space for?
My biggest reason for posting is that since you are looking at older trailers, be sure to look UNDERNEATH!! At 11 years I had to replace all of the crossmembers attached to the steel subframe and this past year (at 21 years old) had to replace the entire subframe and axles. Granted I live in the frozen North and have put on a lot of winter miles on salted roads, and I have to bet my little trailer has close to a million miles on it. Just want to warn you that the LQ and horse compartment are not all that you need to look at. I just put $5200 into my trailer, but I LOVE it, so it was worth it. I'd hate to see you buy a new-to-you trailer and then within a few years have to put that kind of money in to it to keep it road worthy.
Good luck on your search! |
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  Friendly horse swapper
Posts: 4122
   Location: Buffalo, TX | Ditch the Exiss and any of them 7' wide with mangers....A lot of 2 horse GN's were built with 15" wheels and tires...I would be sure I got one that was upgraded to 16" wheels and tires....bigger bearings & more rubber = less time on the side of the road... |
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 Extreme Veteran
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| Thank you everyone! |
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