Horse Trailer Buying Tips

When purchasing a new trailer, there are several features to bear in mind. One important aspect is whether the horse trailer will have a gooseneck or bumper pull design. There are several reasons why you might benefit from either design. .

Bumper Pull Horse Trailers - Good and Bad Points
Bumper pull layouts, also called tag-along layouts, are equestrian trailers that join to a hitch on the hauling vehicle. The trailer then “tags along” after the hauling vehicle and is not a part of the whole vehicle.

Good Points
There are a few advantages of bumper pull trailers. They generally cost far less than a gooseneck design. It’s not compulsory to use a 4×4 pickup for towing the trailer, because of this more people can tow this design of trailer with their current car. Manouverability is frequently more easily done because the tag-along design will go along with the direction of the towing vehicle. You don’t need a large amount of space for the horsebox as needed for a gooseneck trailer. Finally the trailer does not have to be classified as a “commercial” vehicle with regards to licences as the weight of both the horsebox and towing vehicle is commonly less than 10,001 lbs.

Disadvantages
There are several disadvantages as well. Bumper pull trailers do not present as much storage for the dressing/tack room. A few bumper pull designs may not be enough for towing over two horses due to the style of hitch necessary for the weight of the trailer. Also, bumper pull designs are more likely to to weave on curvy roads, which can be risky.

Gooseneck Horse Trailers - Plus and Minus Points
Gooseneck trailers differ from bumper pull designs in their style of hitch. The gooseneck is attached from within the hauling truck’s bed with a ball and coupler mating. The gooseneck trailer offers several benefits. It doesn’t sway or fishtail like a bumper trailer is likely to, and pulling is therefore more stable. They also provide more room for living space, which can be suitable for camping and long trips. The gooseneck design is more simple to back up to and line up with the ball whilst hitching it to your towing vehicle, because you can see it without problem from the rear window. The gooseneck design is more safe without the worry of the load becoming unhitched while driving on the highway.

Negative Points
There are also some disadvantages. Gooseneck designs are more expensive and are generally bigger so they must be towed with a 4×4 that is powerful enough to tow it. The hitching design is also more expensive for a gooseneck layout. Another negative point is that while hitching the trailer, you normally have to climb into the bed of the truck to finalize the process. Also, you will have to remove your camper top from your 4×4 to haul a gooseneck trailer.

Choosing the Right Style
Whether you’re considering a bumper pull or gooseneck design, you can check on the internet to research a range of designs of each. If you’re on a tight budget, you can search for used horseboxes for sale and horse trailers for sale to find a bargain. Think about the advantages and negative points of each design before handing over any money. For more information and horses for sale, visit the Horse and Pony Directory