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[RC] Thuro-Bilt Trailers (long) - Ridecamp GuestPlease Reply to: Karen Nelson knelson@xxxxxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================== I bought a T-B in spring of 2001 for the 2000 mile XP. I bought a 4 horse bumper pull, and had a few changes done at the factory, and more done in Anderson at Iron Eagle Welding. I had the factory add another set of pin holders so that the bulkhead wall could be moved back, changing it to a 3 horse, but adding about 3 feet to the tack room. Since we were taking so much supplies for the XP, trying to anticipate everything, I needed the room. I have never moved it back. I have room for Rubbermaid containers with most of my tack. Since I don't have a barn, I take most everything with me. I had the saddle rack upgrade done, which means it is on a swing basis, at the tack room door, freeing up lots of floor space and the inside wall space, where the static saddle rack is usually located from the factory. I recollect this cost $250 extra. I had the option of 3500 or 5200 axles. I got 5200's. I would ask today if I could go up even further to 7000 pounders. I never asked if I could get them. I did find one thing that really bothered me about the standard factory set-up. The tires. This 4 horse trailer from the factory came with load range C tires. I felt that was an injustice to the horses and to the driver. It is ok for my 1700 # 2 horse trailer, but I feel woefully inadequate for a 4 horse with max capacity of 10400 #'s. I upgraded to load range D and when I have to replace them, I will look at load range E. I got the wall mats, along with the floor mats. I then took the trailer to Iron Eagle and he built me the largest hay rack on the top he had ever made. He worked for Halco trailer for 10+ years, and never got asked for one more than 6 x 7. I got a rack almost 7 feet by almost 13 feet. He was very careful to brace it very well, with 4 legs on each side, and good runners across the ribs on the top. The welding was very good, and he fashioned a winch for lifting bales and bag food to the roof, which is self braking, and has no hooks to pinch your fingers. I wind it a number of turns, but I don't have heart failure doing it. It swivels 360 degrees, so I could load hay on the top of an adjacent trailer if needed. I would like to have had the foresight to make the rack another 3-4 inches taller, giving me more places to hook the bungee cords. I can easily add another rail's worth. The ladder to the top is stout, and there is a plywood floor to spread the load well. Steve also put large D-rings at the left rear of the trailer to allow me to strap a 55 gallon drum there for water. I had installed a spigot in the drum, so I can use a short hose to get my water out. For the XP, I also had 2 more barrels for water with spigots, 45 and 47 gallons each, in the tack area. The welding shop added more lights,inside and outside, added outside rings, so that I had 4 on each side. I also had the local upholstery shop make me "skirts" that covered the wheel openings for the XP. I figured that the horses would be bored and paw, and altho the trailer comes with edging on the wheel openings, I wanted to be as safe as possible. They snapped on like a tonneau cover on a pickup,onto the fenders, with rebar sewn into the bottom so that they didn't fly around easily. I installed a Rubbermaid bos with a lid that I could padlock onto the tounge, which carried extra trailer parts. Had full set of brakes, bearings, and other stuff. Bolted onto the trailer tongue so it couldn't be easily taken. Probably the dumbest thing I didn't think of was to ask the factory to run a full set of metal halter holders across the bulkhead door inside the tack room. It came with 4, but it would have been easy to have it be 8. Don't know how I missed that. I would also agree with the comment about the rubber bumper at the rear. It is sturdy. Sorry this is so long. I really like my Thuro-Bilt. I would buy another in a heartbeat. By now, you have figured out that I had that puppy loaded for the XP to the brim. The trailer gave me no trouble on the entire trip. It tows very well, and I don't have a new truck. Trusty 76 Chevy 454 dually is still working for me. Not always the fastest, but we got there. ===========================================================Riding alone is when you teach a horse all the "tools" and "cues" he needs to handle the trail, to hold a speed, deal with hills, etc. It's also where you develop the "bond" that causes him to "defer" to you before losing his cool. ~ Jim Holland ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ===========================================================
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