Horse Trailer Buying Tips

Now’s the time to upgrade or invest in a horse trailer, before the next riding season starts up. But choosing the right trailer is going to be about more than what’s affordable and easy to use. There are lots of considerations you’ll need to make when making your final purchase, some of which we here at True Value Trailers & Power Equipment list below. Check them out for yourself, then stop by our location serving Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Fountain, and Canon City, Colorado to see some of the models we have available right now.

Think of the Horse’s Needs

Your primary concern should be your horse. Even a trailer that your horse doesn’t particularly like can leave it stressed and unhappy. Check to make sure there’s enough ventilation and air flow. The longer you're on the road, the warmer the inside of your trailer is going to get, especially during the summer when the sun is beating down. Keeping the air flowing through your trailer is an important part of keeping it cool.

You’ll also want to make sure there’s enough room for all your horses. The last thing you want is for them to feel panicked and start kicking around. This can hurt another horse or damage your trailer while you’re en route.

Finally, consider ensuring there’s enough lighting inside your trailer. Horses are going to be calmer when there’s enough light for them to see (an instinct they picked up when running from predators). This can be helped with windows that’ll provide natural light to seep in.

Budget

Of course, most considerations won’t be as influential as your budget. You’ll want to set a range that’s realistic for you and the market. This way, you won’t snub yourself of trailers that could provide you with lots of great features, but you also avoid setting your heart on models you can’t afford.

If you’re looking for more affordable options, don’t forget that buying pre-owned can be a great option for you. This will give you everything you’re looking for at a much more affordable price. Keep track of features that are necessary and ones that you can skip in order to properly choose a horse trailer that’s right for your budget.

Understanding Weight

Weight is going to be an important factor for any trailer, regardless of what you load on it. Firstly, you’ll want to make sure that whatever your tow vehicle is hauling isn’t too heavy. Different tow vehicles have different towing capacities, and exceeding these limits can not only make you less efficient, but it can also make you a road hazard, as your tow vehicle won’t be in complete control of your horse trailer

Also, you’ll want to be aware of when your entire towing unit has a gross vehicle weight rating of over 10,001 pounds. When this happens, your vehicle is classified as a commercial vehicle and you’ll need special licensing to operate it.

Tow Vehicle

Speaking of weight, you’ll also want to make sure you have the right tow vehicle for the job. This is going to require understanding your tow vehicle’s gross combined weight rating (GCWR). This will give you the maximum amount of weight your particular tow vehicle can handle, combining the weight of the vehicle, any towed vehicles (like your trailer), passengers, and cargo. You’ll need to be well within your GCWR to safely and efficiently haul your horses from one place to the next. If your current vehicles don’t do the trick, then you’ll need to factor in the money you’ll spend on renting or buying a different tow vehicle.

This should hopefully help you get started in your search for your next horse trailer, but you might have other questions or concerns, so visit us today and let us know how we can help you! We welcome all patrons from Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Fountain, and Canon City, Colorado