Slant or Straight Load?

[Lindsey]

We are looking into gettinga new trailer soon. Right now we just have a stock and Sheza moves around in it to much, and for her safety she needs to be confined. We are looking for a 2h bumper pull, but between slant and straight load I have no idea what to get.

The straight loads are nice, easy and classic, and the horses have good balance when stopping and going. You can get one horse out without unloading all the other horses. The bad things about them are that horses tend to "crawl" up the walls in turns, and have bad balance when turning. Also, to get a straight load that is big enough that Sheza wouldn't freak out in, you get into the $15,000's. We usually only travel with one horse, so that means the trailer would be unbalenced most of the time.

The slants are nice because of the weight distribution, and they can be opened up easier. They are also good to find at cheaper prices. The bad things are that you have to unload all horses to get to one, and the horses are rocked around a little when starting and stoping.

They both have the good points, and the bad points.

Has anyone delt with Kiefer Built trailers?

This is the trailer we are looking at www.kieferbuiltinc.com/horse%20trailers/eagle_xla.htm

The trailer is super dirty, just needs to be cleaned up a bit, and it's only 3 years old and in great shape!

[h2opony]

To me it all depends on what you feel most comfortable hauling your horses in. Like you said there are advantages to both.

I am currently in the process of selling my two horse slant load to move up to the equispirit 3 horse trailer that can convert into a two horse, making the third stall a storage area for atvs or any other equipment we may be bringing. Equispirit makes trailers that are very open, and fit large horses well (i regularly haul 18 and 19 hand warmblood stallions, mares, and geldings) so this feature definately scored points. As far as Kiefer built trailers a friend of mine has one (about 3 years old) and she likes it. I am partial to the Equispirit, Featherlite, and Bloomer series.

From the link seems like a very nice trailer though. You can check out the equispirits at www.equispirit.com/info/used_horse_trailers.htm

It all depends on what you are most comfortable with in the end.

Goodluck trailer shopping!

[Lindsey]

Thanks, I LOVE the trailer you are looking at getting. I think it is one of the best designs I have ever seen. It is so practical, yet it's $15,000 or so out of my price range

[ShainaTN]

I personally like Featherlite trailers. They are very light weight and easy to pull, also rust resistent because of the all aluminum body. They have perfect flooring in the horse area, so your horse will not slip and have better balance on the road. I've looked in a Keifer built trailer... it was really nice and really expensive because it had a very nice living quarters. Here is the place that I plan on getting my future trailer: www.southeasttrailers.com/horsetrailers.asp?p=Horse/Stock%20Trailers

The Keifer built that I looked in is on that list towards the bottom. You'll notice it's hefty price! You can find a featherlite that is a bp that is in the $6 grand range, which isn't too bad, especially brand new!

Good luck, and I'm sure you'll find the trailer that meets your needs!

[ShainaTN]

here's a direct link to one of the smaller more affordable bp's of the featherlite:

www.southeasttrailers.com/detail.asp?id=123&p=Horse/Stock%20Trailers

[Lindsey]

Show me where I can get a Featherlite for around $6,000! The kiefer is not my favorite, but it was priced at $5,800, which is in my price range. If I can find a Featherlite at around that price I would jump on the deal!

[ShainaTN]

What you'll have to do to find the $6 grand deal would be find your local featherlite dealer, and ask them if they can get your an older model, 2003, 2004, etc. If you have someone that is good at getting a dealer to get the rock bottom price, you can get a steal of a deal on a trailer!

[ShainaTN]

OOOO, I just found one on ebay....

cgi.ebay.com/2005-FEATHERLITE-3H-TRAILER-W-LIVING-QUARTERS-5800_W0QQitemZ300006753584QQihZ020QQcategoryZ16239QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Lindsey]

I will see if we have any featherlite dealers around here. We went to a small dealer today, looked at some Intergity trailers, really nice, but priced us $13,000!

[erikasbackyard]

I know it has become very fashionable in recent years to haul horses in trailers the size of small buildings. I find it interesting that many of them are on quite small wheels, resulting in a really nasty ride. As you say yourself, your horse moves around a lot in an open trailer - I have found that my horses have always ridden more quietly and arrived less stressed when they were more confined, and had LESS space. They can sit comfortably on butt bars, lean on the sides without scrabbling around, etc. The best trailer I ever had is a small two-horse that was still the old not-tall height. It has bigger than average wheels, is well balanced, and rides like a charm. It presently is retired because it needs some time and attention from a welder, but it was a wonder. I used to haul my 15h horse and my 17.2 Percheron in it. (The Perch didn't have much room to wave her head around, but she wasn't a head-waving sort, even at 2 yrs). The heavy (or only) horse goes on the left side, which is the high side going down the road. Anyway, just something to keep in mind - the trend toward bigger wider taller is not necessarily what the horses care about, and the bigger WHEELS will get you a nicer pull for you and a nicer ride for them.

[twnpnds]

A horse can balance better in a slant. I did the test. I stood standing forward in a trailer and had my friend drive around. It was hard keeping my balance when starting, stopping, and turning. Then I stood at an angle. Much better in the balance department. Try it sometime. This can be done in any trailer. Stand like your horse would and try not to hold onto anything unless you are going to fall. Think you will be surprised.