Re: RC: horse trailers

["Nancy Mitts" <mitts_n@hotmail.com>]

Beth,
We haven't had good luck with torsions on tag-a longs. Since they don't have 
equalizers, bumps in the road moves the load center fore & aft. Continually 
increasing & decreasing tongue weight making them very difficult & unstable 
to pull.
I'm not sure a Surburban would be rated to pull the 4 horse loaded with 4 
horses. I think they're only rated about 5000#, & You'd have around 10,000# 
tow weight.
A slant load at 42 degrees works well (it's the best). Our horses definately 
prefer it. Most trailers built today stand the horses at 30 degrees, in 
which case a straight load might be better.
In our experience, horses don't really like ramps. It's been harder to teach 
the horses to go up a ramp than step up into a trailer.
Enclosed trailers pull easier (less wind drag). For venilation we use drop 
down windows on both sides. We recommend using white on the top half & roof 
of the trailer.

Monte Mitts
http://www.ciwtrailers.com


 >From: "Beth Gunn" <happyhoofprints@hotmail.com>
>To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
>Subject: RC:  horse trailers
>Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2001 09:25:06 -0400
>
>I am looking at horse trailers.  I will need a 4 horse tagalong.  No 
>dressing room in this one.  Steel, light color and will have walls and 
>floor matted and padding a 4 foot height area, padded breast/butt bars.  It 
>will probably be combo type for ventilation reasons...it gets very hot and 
>humid here coastal SC.....also $$$ reasons.
>I will be pulling it with my good running '88 Surburban.  And Arabians are 
>regular size...15h...1000#...Usually, just 2 at a go.
>Any opinions out there?  Pulling hitches?  Vehicle properly rated to pull 4 
>horse?  Also, combo versus closed in type horse trailer?  How do you keep 
>the closed in type from getting hot?  Straight load vs slant?  (think 
>straight load gives horse more options on which diagonal to rest)  Will 
>also be my first ramp load shich I do think is good.
>Any opinions on manufactorers, prices, etc.?  Anyone else pull with 
>"Burbies"?
>It will have rubber torsion suspension...maintenece on trailers?
>Thanks, folks!!
>Good Riding
>Beth Gunn
>HappyHoofprints@hotmail.com


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