Buying a New Trailer? Consider All the Factors

Buying a new horse trailer is much like purchasing a new home. You don't settle for good looks alone without considering all the factors: structure, features, resale value, etc. What you need is the trailer that will function best for you and that keeps your horses safe and comfortable when traveling. When in the market for an equine conveyance, the following tips and design features are important to review.

ALUMINUM OR STEEL?
Horse owners now have a choice between aluminum and steel trailers. Aluminum trailers traditionally hold their value longer and, with just minimum maintenance, are far less likely to rust and corrode. Plus, most trailer owners report that aluminum trailers pull much easier. However, if you choose to purchase an aluminum trailer, make sure that's what you're actually getting. Many companies producing "aluminum" trailers are in fact only wrapping the frame in aluminum sheeting. Unfortunately, beneath the sheeting on these so-called "aluminum" trailers is a heavy steel frame. Steel will rust if exposed to the elements. Even if it is painted or coated, rocks, debris and the constant flex of the trailer as it travels can peel or chip the coating and allow moisture to do its dirty work. Ask your sales person for specifics on frame materials.

LIGHT AND AIR FLOW
Consider the size of the windows and the amount of light and air entering the trailer. A good trailer has large feed door windows to admit the maximum amount of light and air, so your horses can be calmer and healthier during their travels. A feed door should be solidly constructed and fit snugly to form a good seal; one that is two inches thick and double sealed should meet these criteria. When it comes to your windows, make sure they're easy to operate, too. They should have a centered handle, not one placed at the top. They should also be free of clumsy cables. In addition, Featherlite recommends buying a trailer with an interior that has a white lining. This is brighter than the alternatives and helps create a calmer environment for your horses.

FLOOR MATS AND WALLS
Featherlite recommends testing the trailer's floor mats to ensure that your horses will receive the most comfortable ride. Most trailers come with rubber flooring, but differences in rubber quality and thickness can greatly affect your horse. Three-quarter-inch rubber allows horses the greatest amount of cushion without compromising their stability, also reducing the chance of injury and fatigue. It's also important to have rubber on the walls of your trailer. After all, your horse has more than just feet. While the rubber doesn't need to be as thick as the floor mats, a layer of it on the walls can effectively reduce the impact of a horse being bumped around on rough terrain. Rubber also cuts down on noise.

LIGHTING, DIVIDERS AND TIES
Lighting systems are imperative safety measures for all equestrians. Today, the most popular type of trailer light is the LED. This small, light-emitting diode uses less energy, is more powerful and visible, and lasts considerably longer than conventional lighting. Plus, many say that LEDs look better, too. Look for them in the form of marker lights, brake illumination and interior atmospheric lighting. Like the seat belts in an automobile, dividers are designed to secure your horses. Unlike seat belts, however, dividers that are not secured properly will swing about, possibly causing injury to your horses at worst or upsetting them at best. In evaluating a divider/latch system, you want to ask: "Will the divider stay shut?" and "Is the divider solidly constructed?" A system in which the divider locks into a cache recessed in the wall of the trailer is suggested. This system eliminates protruding parts that might possibly injure a horse. A divider should be solidly constructed (corrugated aluminum is an excellent material), reinforced along the perimeter and supported in some way so it won't sag and rattle. Tying your horses takes only a few minutes and is worth the effort due to the safety and peace of mind it provides. Take a look at how the tie ring is secured. Welded tie rings offer more strength and reliability than those that are secured with a lag screw. Sound-muffling rubber- coated tie rings, which Featherlite offers, create a significantly quieter trailer when traveling down the road-not to mention a calmer horse. Take a look at the quantity of tie rings, too, both inside and outside the trailer, to make sure the number available meets your needs.

TACK AND MORE
Trailers do more than transport horses; they also keep gear organized. Most models offer some type of tack option, and some even have multiple options. If you do need a tack room, check out how you access it. Can you get to it without letting the animals out? Good tack positions allow exclusive access and also have proper locking systems that don't require the use of gaudy padlocks. Speaking of locks, confirm that the entire trailer locks-from the camper door and manger right up to the windows. New trailer owners should also take precautions to eliminate damage caused by tack and other equipment that was not secured properly. An adjustable saddle rack will make loading your saddles and other equipment easier.

VENTILATION AND WIRING
Providing adequate ventilation is one of the most vital things you can do for your horses. No matter the time of year, horses require at least some ventilation during travel due to the body heat they create. During the hot summer months, ventilation becomes even more important. Featherlite recommends that vents be positioned down the center of the trailer. This allows for the air to be efficiently drawn into the trailer and properly circulated throughout. Non-rusting aluminum vents with some type of screen to prevent foreign matter from entering the horse area are the key features you should look for. Also, look at how all the trailer's wires are bundled. You want a trailer that bundles all the wires in a protective jacket, such as Featherlite's wiring harness, instead of individual wires. When using individual wires, the wiring is more exposed to the weather and potential damage-plus the wires are more likely to be connected incorrectly. Bundling provides a water-tight seal, protects against wire wear and tear, and makes connecting wires easier.

BUILDING AND BUYING IT YOUR WAY
When shopping, don't feel you are limited to what you see. Many trailer manufacturers allow you to build your trailer your way. You can choose all the features and options best suited for you and your horses. Don't settle. Find a manufacturer that works well with fulfilling customers' needs, and buy the trailer that works best for you. The dealer will generally have financing options available. As with automobiles, there are many incentive programs out there-including those with no interest and those that feature payments for a selected amount of time. Before you sign the check, give the manufacturer's warranty and trade-in value a look. Determine what the warranty covers and whether an extended warranty can be purchased. Horse trailer owners most often prefer trailers with warranties of eight years or more. Even the best trailers can experience problems from time to time, so it's good to be prepared. Finally, search the used trailer market to get an idea of trade-in value. A good trailer will hold much of its value for at least a few years.

The Rating Game
Adapted from "The Best Wheels for Your Horse," by Tom and Neva Scheve with Sandra Cooke, which first appeared in Practical Horseman.

Ratings tell how much weight the components of the tow vehicle and trailer can handle safely. Just as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, the rating of an entire rig is only as high as its lowest-rated part. Trailer axles: Look for a rating of 3,500 pounds per axle, for a total rating of 7,000 pounds. Empty, the average two-horse trailer weighs about 2,400 pounds; a 7,000-pound rating will give you a wide safety margin even for a fully loaded trailer carrying two big horses, hay, grain, water and so on. Trailer tires are rated individually; their total ratings should be the same as those of the other components. (One reason a level trailer is important: Each tire carries the weight equally.)

Coupler: This is a socket device at the front of the trailer tongue that connects to the hitch ball on the tow vehicle. Its rating should at least equal the combined ratings of the axles.

Tow vehicle hitch: A frame-mounted receiver hitch has two sets of ratings. The weight-carrying rating tells you how much tongue weight (the weight the trailer tongue puts on the hitch at the coupling point) the hitch can safely hold on its own. The weight-distributing rating gives the weight it can safely hold with the help of a system that distributes the tongue weight to all the wheels of the tow vehicle and trailer.

Although some hitches have a weight-carrying rating of up to 7,500 pounds, using a hitch with a weight-distribution system (also called an "equalizer hitch") spreads the weight of the rig more evenly between trailer and tow vehicle, which contributes to safer handling. For safety, when you're hauling a horse trailer with any vehicle smaller than a half-ton pickup truck or a Chevrolet Suburban or Ford Expedition, you must use a weight-distribution system.

Tow vehicle: The towing vehicle guide that every major vehicle manufacturer publishes tells you both the maximum weight that the vehicle you're considering can tow (that's the gross vehicle weight, or GVW, of the loaded trailer) and its total gross combined vehicle weight rating, or GCVWR (that's the weight of the loaded trailer plus the weight of the tow vehicle loaded with passengers and cargo). Stay within these ratings to avoid putting your horse and yourself at risk.

As a final checkpoint, pay attention to your intended tow vehicle's actual weight. Some 3,800-pound vehicles are rated to pull 5,500 pounds-but using a tow vehicle that's light isn't a good idea if the cargo it's towing is alive and shifting around.

Tom Scheve and wife Neva have three horse trailer books to their credit, including The Complete Guide to Buying, Maintaining, and Servicing a Horse Trailer (available at www.HorseBooksEtc.com) and Equine Emergencies on the Road with Jim Hamilton, DVM.

A Trailer Buyer's Guide
Looking to purchase a new equine vehicle? Here are some of the brands available:

Brenderup Real Trailers
2800 South County Road 1207
Midland, TX 79706
(800) 745-1306
www.BrenderupRealTrailers.com

Circle J Trailers
C/o Western World Inc.
200 N. Kit Avenue
Caldwell, ID 83605
(800) CIRCLEJ
www.CircleJTrailers.com

CM Trailers
P.O. Box 680
200 County Road
Madill, OK 73446
(888) 268-7577
www.CMTrailers.com

Elite Trailers
7700 SW 29th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73179
(405) 745-5757
www.EliteTrailers.com

EquiSpirit Trailer Company
230 N. Bennett St.
Southern Pines, NC 28388
(910) 692-1771
www.EquiSpirit.com

Exiss Trailers
900 E. Trail Blvd.
El Reno, OK 73036
(877) 55-EXISS
www.Exiss.net

Featherlite Trailers
Hwys. 63 & 9
Cresco, IA 52136
(800) 800-1230
www.FeatherliteInc.com

4-Star Trailers
10000 NW 10th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73127
(405) 324-7827
www.4StarTrailers.com

Hart Trailers
Highway 81 S.
Chickasha, OK 73018
(888) 810-HART
www.HartTrailer.com

Hawk Trailers
P.O. Box 270
Manawa,WI 54949
(920) 596-3080
www.HawkTrailers.com

Kiefer Built Trailers
P.O. Box 88
Kanawha, IA 50447
(888) 2-KIEFER
www.KieferBuiltInc.com

Logan Coach
P.O. Box 746
Logan, UT 84323
(800) 742-7047
www.LoganCoach.com

Sooner Trailer
C/o Universal Trailer Corporation
11590 Century Blvd., Suite 103
Cincinnati, OH 45246
(800) 256-6668
www.SoonerTrailer.com

Sundowner Trailers
9805 OK Hwy. 48 South
Coleman, OK 73432
(800) 438-4294
www.SundownerTrailer.com

Trails West Trailers
65 North 800 West
Preston, Idaho 83263
(208) 852-2200
www.TrailsWestTrailers.com

W-W Trailer
P.O. Box 807
Hwy. 199 West
Madill, OK 73446
(580) 795-5571
www.WWTrailer.com

PHOTOS 1-2: TOP PHOTO COURTESY FEATHERLITE TRAILERS; BOTTOM PHOTO COURTESY EQUISPIRIT TRAILERS

PHOTOS 3: PHOTO COURTESY OF SUNDOWNER TRAILERS

PHOTO 4: PHOTO COURTESY OF FEATHERLITE TRAILERS

PHOTOS 5-6: PHOTOS COURTESY OF FEATHERLITE TRAILERS