I was
lucky enough to be able to travel with a friend to Tevis before making my
trailer purchase. She had a brand new trailer with LQ that I was able to
sleep in for a week and also drive and park. Going with her
made my decisions easier when I purchased my own. But, still, having the
opportunity to purchase a second one still found me changing several things
after living with the first purchase for a while. I should also say
that I live in the Pacific Northwest, so while
we do have some hot weather in the summer, we don’t have the humidity and
I don’t have a need for an air conditioner which removes the requirement
for a generator. I’ve had my current trailer for almost 4 years.
My
friend had an 8’ wide 3h slant , 8’ short wall, with dining table
that converted to an extra bed, solar power, no air, no microwave (can’t
have those unless you run a generator), full bath, larger refrigerator, back
tack, stud wall in first stall, pass through door from bathroom to first stall,
stove top (no oven), kitchen sink, stereo factory installed, living quarters
door on passenger side, hay rack, mangers in horse area with separate
water pump and water holding for horses built in.
What I
decided to order was:
7’
wide 3h slant, , 6’ short wall , rear tack, solar power, smaller fridge,
l-shaped couch that didn’t convert, cowboy shower with porta potty in the
1st stall, 1st stall with stud divider, pass through door
to first stall, LQ door on driver’s side, hay rack, no mangers, no water
for horses built in (carried it in hay rack). I didn’t want the
black water tank, so this setup gave me a gray water tank, with no black water
holding tank. The cowboy shower is a hot/cold shower that
goes into the 1st stall. The water control knobs are on the
wall, with a hand held shower. The shower pan is removable and drains
onto the ground through a small hole in the floor of the 1st stall.
The shower surround was a fabric curtain that could be stored if you wanted to
put a horse back there. I found this solution to be fine as long as it
wasn’t very cold where we were riding. When it was cold
(frequently in the PNW), we would put a coleman propane heater back there in an
attempt to warm up the area, without much success).
That
trailer was totaled in a wreck and I had the opportunity to order
another. The new one:
8’
wide 3h slant, 8’ short wall, rear tack, solar power, LARGE fridge,
stove top AND OVEN, full bath, dining table that converts to extra bed (I would
do a fold down sofa if I were doing it all over because the dining table that
converts is cramped and uncomfortable to eat at), no mangers in the horse area,
no pass through door, hay rack (still carry water up there and I love this
solution), outside water spigot, living quarter doors on passenger’s
side (I preferred them on the driver side, but the model I wanted couldn’t
be configured that way),
I didn’t
notice any difference at all when maneuvering the trailer with regard to the
width between the 8’ and 7’ trailers. The 7’ wide
trailer is still 8’ wide between the wheel wells, so you still have to
maneuver the 8’ width getting in and out of places. I didn’t
care for the mangers in the 8’ wide trailer because they’re really
too high for an Arab and they just take up so much room inside that the horse
can use to lower his head and clear his airway if necessary. I love the
stud wall in the 1st stall because when I go to a ride, I used that
area as a mid-tack and put all my large things (hay, picknick table, feed, etc)
in there. The stud wall keeps things safely out of the horse area. Also,
an escape door to the first stall is necessary so that you have easy access to
that area. You can also store corral panels in there (I have mine on
the back of my trailer with a swing gate that really works slick). Dumping
the black water tank just ended up not being a big deal and I really, really
enjoy having the shower inside where I can turn on the heat if it’s cold.
I don’t miss the pass through door between the bathroom and first stall,
because I just don’t have a need to go out there since the bathroom isn’t
there anymore. I love having solar power. I have never run
out of power yet, even when camped up in the mountains and running the heater
all night. I do have 3 ceiling vents and two of them have circulating,
thermostat controlled fans for good ventilation since I don’t have air
conditioning (one over the bed, one in the kitchen area and another in the
bathroom). I also LOVE having the oven and I wouldn’t even consider
the small fridge again………….just get the large one!
I
would definitely shop the used trailers before buying brand
new. You’re likely to be able to find a 10 year old
trailer that is a really good deal and has very little wear on it.
Karen
Standefer
Referenced
Post:
Has
anyone ever heard of renting or leasing a horse trailer with LQ? I know
everyone has different preferences so it doesn't really do any good to ask what
folks look for in a trailer but if you've only had a 2 horse bumper pull and
want to dive in and get a trailer with LQ how did you all decide what your
preferences are without trying them out first? For example, I'd love a trailer
with a shower but they are so much more expensive, then I read about a
"cowboy shower" and have no idea what it is or if it would be what I
am wanting. Or mid tack versus back tack area, I'm not sure what I would like
better. Anyone in the SE willing to rent/lease a truck and trailer for a week
or two? :-)
Thanks for any input.
Kathy R - SE
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.7.4/351 - Release Date: 5/29/2006
