Ten Things You Should Know Before You Buy Your Next Horse Trailer

There are only around 150 horse trailer manufactures. Wouldn't be nice to have that many truck choices? It would take more room than I have here to compare slant loads, straight, box, reverse slant etc. We'll do that in a later series. So after asking your friends which trailers they like and checking out the top online horse trailer forums, now you need to decide new or used and if you want aluminum, steel or a composite. How wide of a trailer do you need? If you are just starting in the trailer world, I suggest a 6 or 7' wide for better visibility until you are proficient in trailering. Even though the trailer fenders may still make you 8' wide, seeing all the way back along the trailer wall, is a help.

1) Make sure the trailer fits you and your horses. Some folks trade trailers every 3 years, like cars and other folks keep trailers for decades. Resale is important which usually relates to the quality of the trailer. But be sure, the stalls fit your horse. Ask to try the trailer out and see just how your horse fits.

2) On base model steel trailer, some have shackle leaf springs like RV travel trailers. I would spend the extra money and get torsion axles. (tubes with rubber inside for the axle movement) Air Stream travel trailers had this kind of axles in the sixties which is part of what set them apart. Torsion axles have a better ride for your horse that leaf springs. If you have flats and run out of spares, you can "hang" a torsion axle without a tire and still get to the next town or destination.

And most important is the way these two axle suspensions handle. Torsion axles are a more controlled movement. Leaf springs with a shackle hanger system, ride rougher and have dramatically more wearable parts. But in a evasive maneuver like swerving to avoid a deer or vehicle in your blind spot, leaf springs will load up with energy from the swerve and rebound the trailer back the other way too far. You will see more RV trailer accidents with leaf spring suspensions than horse trailer accidents with torsion axles and most of it comes from how the suspension reacts in emergencies.

3) If you are looking at a used trailer, you know the routine, check the floors under the mats and under the trailer, look at the wiring for junction boxes in enclosed wire loom for maintenance and upgrading. You may want to add accessories that are electrical, so make it easy on yourself with a good wiring setup. Look at the welds all over especially in the neck/tongue and door openings. Jack up the trailer to inspect axle movement and how tight the wheels are. Take someone with you that has experience with trailers.

In the age of the internet, it's a popular choice to buy a trailer on the net sight unseen. In this case you'll want lots of pictures and some kind of guarantee that the trailer is sound with your right to inspect the trailer before the final payment

4) Check those wheel bearings and lug nuts. My unscientific survey shows about 30% of trailer owners will have a wheel fly off the trailer, bearings and all. It's surprising how many folks will tell you about the wheel that passes them on the road. Normal wheel bearing maintenance is an annual event. Some axles can be greased from the outside and some are called permanently lubed. Look at your owners manual or contact the manufacture for maintenance schedule. On the axles that can be greased from the outside with a grease gun, don't over do it, or you may be packing your brake shoes with grease. Not good.

Trailer wheel stud bolts are stud pilot where trucks are hub pilot. This just relates to where the weight is carried. But trailer wheel bolts are notorious for coming loose. Especially on aluminum wheels, where the wheel stretches at first, it's very important check the wheels every 50 miles, then 100 miles. Be sure to tighten in a star pattern, I have a 18 Volt 1/2" cordless impact wrench I carry, just to check wheel bolts.

5) Aluminum being the most expensive, resolves the rust issue thus a good choice in states with high humidity or heavy snowfall salted roads. But aluminum still needs maintained and cleaned monthly under the mats. With steel trailers, you'll want the sheet metal galvanized and the main frame should be coated or painted. Using a truck bedliner material is becoming popular. Composite trailers may have steel frames, aluminum or galvanized sheet metal and fiberglass fenders or roof and in some cases the walls are compost. All steel trailers will be the least expensive, so decide if you want a entry level, not keeping it long or if you want one that uses galvanizing throughout the trailer and is designed to longer life.

6) Look for reviews of the trailers you've narrowed it down to. It's good to see how they are made, what's under the sheet metal and flooring. If the factory is close enough, go for a tour. Judging from the outside, what catches my eye are the lines, just like a car. Is the "look" something you like? Though not important as far as dependability, we are emotional beings, and I have a easier time making payments on something I'm proud of. And this includes picking a trailer with a good reputation. Whether you are comparing new or used trailers, go find 5 year old trailers in the brand you are judging. Just like trucks, seeing how a used one holds up tells most of the story.

After I find a trailer with "eyeball", then I get technical, like how is the gooseneck attached-reinforced, or is the tongue reinforced? I look at welds, this is usually a good way to tell you if you are looking at a top trailer or a entry level trailer. Since horse trailers can last for decades, consider how construction will effect resale value. I look at the hinges on doors and windows compared to other trailers, another sign of where in the trailer compares in the list. I look at the rear door framing too. Some manufactures heavily gusset and fishplate the corners as this area with the largest opening can be the first place for welds to crack.

7) Some trailer manufactures will have a entry level trailer line and a top trailer line. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples with other brands. When you compare trailer prices, it will be easier to see which trailers are priced into the top tier and which trailers are entry level.

8) You can use the top internet horse trailer website classified to see what other folks and dealers are asking for their trailers. This is also a good tool in deciding what to ask or except for your old trailer. So much information available today. Check out the trailer manufacture website, so see what they have that might be special to your choice.

9) One of my favorite places to compare horse trailers is the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus Ohio in October. Almost every major trailer manufacture is there, You can spend weeks there just looking at trailers. I've seen people do that too, look at every trailer and spend the last week narrowing it down to the exhaustion stage.

10) Ask for help and advice from everyone, then sort through it for what makes sense to you. Go to horse events and ask owners about their trailers, horse folk are a helpful kind and will usually tell you all about their trailer experience. Take notes.