Is your trailer clean and organized?

[PVBZoE]

I have a two horse slant that is packed to the ceiling with stuff. I don't have a barn or tack room, so everything has to go with me everywhere.
fortunately i have a closet in the house to keep my hunt clothes in...

I'm going to organize this weekend.

any suggestions?

I do have a tack trunk, but it needs to have nothing on top so i can get in it. i've also found that there are hooks on very strong magnets. then i don't have to drill (!).

help!

[JoZ]

Hahahahahahahahaha! :lol:

If you saw my trailer you wouldn't take ANY suggestions from me! The worst thing in mine is that I have carried HAY in the tack room -- even bagged it has made a colossal mess. That reminds of another spring project... thanks a bunch.

Anyway, I like the idea of the magnetic hooks but wonder how strong they are? I like the hanging organizers with pockets of various sizes. I try to organize grooming/feeding supplies in buckets with lids, so if they tip over, things aren't all the heck over the place.

I hope you get a lot of good ideas because... I will use them! :cool:

[bhrunner06]

hahaha yeah right! clean and organized trailer?! HAHAHA!

id love some tips as well!

[Guilherme]

At the start of a trip, yes. At the end, not so much. :)

We finally got so tired of hauling "stuff" we got really ruthless with our needs and cut the amount of stuff dramatically. I'm married to a packrat (for 35+ years) so that means some big sacrifices for her and some patience (and compromise) for me.

Inventory what you have and put everything into one of three categories:

1. Need to have

2. Nice to have

3. Superfluous.

Discard all of Cat. 3. Trim Cat. 2 by 50%. Then reinventory and redistribute and chuck all of the new Cat. 3 and reduce Cat. 2. Chances are you'll be able to sell a bunch of stuff, throw out stuff that's gone bad, and have a nice and clean trailer!

Good luck with your project. :)

G.

[oldenmare]

Actually, the trailer is the one place in my life that stays organized - it is my tack room as well for all my current riding gear/tack as no tack room (yet) in barn.

Get a second trunk - you can get a decent Rubbermaid trunk at Lowes/Home Depot for a mere $40 (nothing compared to "horse" trunk costs). Put that in first and pack it with everything that isn't used on a regular basis. Pack smart - least needed on bottom and work up from there. Push this up against front wall (towards nose) of trailer, leaving a "walk-in" space at the trailer door.

I also hang a 5 hook rack from the attached bridle racks in the trailer - then I have 7 hooks to use for various items (bridles, longe lines, halters/leads, side reins). I also hung a bandage rack in my trailer - hung up high in the back - I can reach the polos, standing wraps if needed and keeps them tidily out of the way.

I store water/feed buckets under the saddle racks. I also manage to wedge my Rubbermaid step stool (known as my "mounting block") in there as well. But I removed the built in saddle racks and put a free-standing 3 rack in (needed more racks for saddle pads) and tied that in to the former saddle rack holder-slots. Got an extra rack for my pads and more space under for buckets.

I then have a sport trunk (I think its considered the pony size - not as wide as the standard sports trunks) - this has all my grooming equipment, helmet/gloves, boots (wrapped in towel for protection) in it - I slide that in last and pull it out first - the smaller size makes it easier for one person to handle plus it fits in /out of door easily. Its great for working out of at shows, clinics, other facilities and at home.

I also manage to have room for a Rubbermaid storage box (about 2' wide by 18" tall and 14" deep) - I keep all medical supplies in that AND I have a small trashcan.

Just staying on top of everything is the key - the first time you put things back in sloppily, the whole system starts to fall apart.

And I have a 1987 2 horse BP with a standard (small) dressing/tack room - its just a matter of finding what will fit that makes the best use of storage and space. Took a while to reach this system - but works like a charm and I always have what I need on hand (extra girths, pads, stirrups/leathers, bits/bridles, etc). If only I had money for an extra saddle!!! (like that will help my riding!!!)

[2bee]

"Is your trailer clean and organized?"


Yes.

[DMK]

"Is your trailer clean and organized?"


Yes.

Ditto

[strawberry roan]

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
As I was packing the trailer tonight as we are hunting early tomorrow I thought gee, I really should tidy this up. Next week...:lol::lol::lol:

[Gryhrs]

We look FABULOUS heading to a show then like a cyclone moved thru the premises on the way home.

Keep the ideas coming. I need help too!

I put down a washable throw rug so that the floor stays somewhat cleaner and so I don't get wood shavings in my breeches when changing (hate that.) I also keep a collapsible(sp?) wooden hanging racks for damp saddle pads, sheets, etc. A portable bridle rack comes in handy also as I run out of hooks. Extra broom, shovel, muck fork, buckets, feed tubs all stay in the trailer fulltime.

[deltawave]

Not yet, but soon. One of my beloved spring rituals is cleaning out the WHOLE inside of the tack room, right down to the carpet, vacuuming it out and putting stuff right back in again, inventoried, fixed, replaced as needed and generally spiffed up and ready to go for show season. :yes:

Come November, it looks like a bomb went off in there, of course. ;) I usually just do minor pick-up after shows and schlep things in and out as needed.

This year I have a couple of little shelves to re-hang (I use those magic fastener things, they last about 2 years IME) but everything else is holding up OK with the latest "system", consisting mostly of rubbermaid containers, wire baskets/shelves and a spring-loaded curtain rod across the top to hang stuff.

[Fairview Horse Center]

My trailer is immaculate! The secret is, I have not used it yet. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[deltawave]

Here is the website that I would love to go spend a lot of money exploring. :)

http://www.organizedbarn.com/

[county]

I just hauled 10 head of cattle yesterday in my trailer. Clean? Not hardly!!!!

[HalfArabian]

I wish! It probably looks like one of those houses that have been riffled threw looking for something.

Karen

[mvp]

Yes! My trailer is clean and organized-- a sort of "thank you" to God for giving me my own after years spent mooching rides with others who didn't care for their rigs.

Of course my house is knee-deep in cat hair....

[sh6455]

A great source for organizing tools is the container store. I bought some metal shelving that my husband installed in the tack compartment. The baskets clip on to a little verticle strip that he screwed into the walls. It is very strong, baskets are adjustable and you can put all your bottles and jars of stuff in those. We have extra hooks for bridles etc .

[pintopiaffe]

Just be careful of hanging things on metal walls. It gets really noisy with the clanking and vibration. (think bits jingling constantly with the road vibration...)

To me anyway, I think the horse deals with enough stress when trailering, I don't want the added noise and banging if I can help it. If you can hang in bags (bridle bag, the hanging organizers etc.,) GREAT. Will keep stuff tidy too.

JMO.

Trailer stays mostly organized. As others have said, is incredibly well put together when we leave and arrive... a disaster at the end of the day/weekend. I unload in my backyard if it's night, and will tend to leave it parked there (in a not-so-convenient spot) until I re-organize, or else I don't. ;)

I use a Black & Decker (?) trunk I got at Home Depot thanks to CotH. Plus a rolling saddle rack that has an underneath basket for cleaning stuff and I can hook the bridle over the handle. (I COVET one of those two saddle dolly-type racks.) I have mostly a set of travel *everything*, exception being saddle, bridle and girth (though I carry extra bridle & girth in bottom of trunk) so everything lives on the trailer. I collected these over time. It's nice to be able to lend someone a spare bridle or reins or halter or such after a trauma. ;) It also lends more to the organization when things just live where they belong. I hung a canvas brush organizer in front, and I love that. Saw a bridle rack inside a bag that I have yet to see again, when I do, I will snag it. For now bridle is put up correctly and in the box, or over seat of saddle.

[rivenoak]

I need to post the photo of Risk-Averse Rider's trailer at the end of last year's hunt season. :lol:

[Dirty Little Secret]

relatively so- always is going to a show but coming home not as much.
I am getting better about having 2 sets of everyday things so that I can keep a trunk packed and on the trailer when I used to travel frequently. I use trunks more than hangers/etc. in my trailer.

[kahjul]

I am an organizer (and neat freak) by nature so yes, the trailer is clean and organized and the envy of my friends! Here are some tricks/tips:
-Put cheap indoor/outdoor carpeting on the wall behind hook/hangers. This will eliminate the noise of bits, etc on the walls.
-I hang all my blankets and saddle pads on a bar that is up high in the far corner (that wasted space area). I use clothspins to hook the pads to hangers and close the front chest buckles on blankets around the hanger. You'd be surprised how much fits there and it's easily seen and accessible. I have 6 blankets and at least a dozen pads (bit of a pad wh%&^) I also have a folding chair, my show hat (in a bag), and a bag of show cleaning emergency stuff (bleach stick, magic eraser, tide stick, etc.)
-Store buckets and rake behind the blankets. You know where they are if you need them, they don't need to be in sight.
-bridles and strap goods can share hangers if they are spares (make sure to put your good bridles on rounded hangers). Keep your good bridles and stuff you use often by the door.
-I have a bandage bag-best investment ever!! It hangs on a tack hook and holds a case of vetwrap, bandage scissors, gauze, telfa pads, 8 pillow quilts, 12 standing wraps, 4 polos...
-I keep my hay bag, shipping boots and shipping halter in the back of the trailer. She eats out of the haybag when in the trailer or tied to it so I grab all those things before putting her in.
-On the door organizer (you can use one made for the job or buy a $10.00 shoe organizer at Walmart) holds all kinds of crap!
-small mirrored medicine chest stays behind the saddle racks and has needles, syringes, bute, banamine, human bandaids, eye ointments, etc. and is light enough to set on the back of the truck for a show mirror. (I put a small hasp lock on it since it holds nasty stuff)
-1 long, narrow rubbermaid trunk holds a bunch of stuff and leaves me room to walk in.
-1 small toolbox holds clippers, ext. cord, braiding kit and tools.

[IsolaBella09]

I have to have everything clean and organized and when I saw our trailers, I said, "Uhm, do you mind if I clean out the trailer?" :lol:. In the main one we use, we have 5 saddle racks as well as a huge bridle rack that holds bridles, halters, lunge lines, whips, cross ties, miscellaneous items, etc. and two blanket racks for coolers, blankets, etc. We have a muck bucket with pick and broom in there for the day shows as well. There is also a 2 step mounting block, which comes in handy a lot. When we go to bigger shows, we will bring our trunks to keep all our tack and equipment in there as well, so there is more room for other things like the million saddle pads we have. We lock our trunks up at night in the trailer.

Make the most of what space you have. Putting everything organized in bins or bags to prevent clanking is helpful and you will know where everything is. Have at least one spare halter and lead, a lunge line, coolers, etc. Also, having everything labeled makes things a lot easier to find.

[MunchkinsMom]

My trailer is immaculate! The secret is, I have not used it yet. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Same here. But it will be since I still have all the trailer stuff in their appropriate containers from my old trailer just waiting to be put in the new trailer.

[Mrs. Cowboy]

Saw a bridle rack inside a bag that I have yet to see again, when I do, I will snag it. For now bridle is put up correctly and in the box, or over seat of saddle.

Here you are PP! I have one, and LOVE it! The small pockets are perfect size for spurs and gloves.

http://www.horseloverz.com/Patented-Halter-Bridle-Bag-with-Rack-pr-356647.html

[Seven-up]

Organized?

Well, yes, only because there's nothing in it.

Clean?

That's a different story. There's so much dirt and dust on the inside and outside, there could very well be a horse hidden in there that I thought I sold long ago.:winkgrin:

[AZGlory]

I use products from www.organizedbarn.com. Started with the trailer dressing room kit and added on from there. The cheapest and best product I have ever used. I don't have to unpack and re-pack any more. I LOVE it and so does everyone that rides with me!

[Fairview Horse Center]

Same here. But it will be since I still have all the trailer stuff in their appropriate containers from my old trailer just waiting to be put in the new trailer.

All my "stuff" is still in the horse van, and I haul around a TON of stuff. I am determined to minimize what goes over into the trailer. I can't haul around 6 to 9 anymore like the van, so you would thnk I need less. Unfortunately I will still need the kitchen sink, or at least the coffee pot, cups, tables and chairs, sleeping mattresses, ... <sigh>

[cyndi]

As many have noted, trailer is very organized on the way TO show, not so much coming home.

Here are some ideas I've found helpful:

1. Have multiples of grooming stuff so it 'lives' in your trailer and that's a whole list of things you don't have to pack every time. I have two totes of grooming stuff that live in the trailer. One is for brushes/combs/etc. and the other is for grooming products like shampoo, show sheen, etc. Also living in the trailer are buckets, bucket hangers, rake, hose, broom, chairs, extra girth, extra halter/lead rope, cooler, sweat sheet, helmet.

2. I put those 'command' hooks on front walls of my dressing room (wasted space!) to hang 'soft' things like jackets (weather changes quick down here!) and other stuff.

3. I have a clothes bar in my trailer, but it's so tall I can't reach it so it's fairly useless. I got a fabric shoe bag and hung it from the clothes bar, and in the little pockets I keep sunscreen, gloves, tp, sunglasses, and other small things that might get lost otherwise.

4. I also keep a 'jiffy jack' ramp thing for changing tires, and safety cones/triangles.

[PVBZoE]

wow!! thanks for all of the great ideas!! i printed them out, so i don't forget.

kahjul, i think i can use all of those suggestions, except my first aid kit is in a tool chest that is easier to carry around. the bar that you put your blankets on, how is that secured? is that a tension rod? does it damage your trailer?

halfarabian, my trailer looks like that right now!

oldenmare, can you explain your saddle rack situation further? i hate what i have now, the racks are spaced too far apart. do you have a picture or a link?

deltawave, thanks for the link to organized barn. when i get my refund i'm going there.


as for my spring cleaning, everything is out and in the driveway. now i just need to put it back in. i should've taken before/after pictures...

thanks!

[Risk-Averse Rider]

I need to post the photo of Risk-Averse Rider's trailer at the end of last year's hunt season. :lol:
You do not.

[LisaW-B]

I'd like to see the picture! :D

[Mrs. Cowboy]

I took my "before spring cleaning" pictures last night. I can't wait to get in there and get it clean!

My tip for the day though - if to look for a canvas hamper bag, either at Walmart/target or a craft store. I found this one for $2, and it's holding all my leg wraps in the trailer. It zips open in the front for easy access to pillow wraps, etc.

http://www.organize-it-online.com/images/hangcanvasbag.jpg

[PVBZoE]

i'd like to see that pic too!

[kookicat]

Yes, mine is very clean and tidy. My strap goods are in hanging bags, brushes and boots in clear plastic boxes, rugs in a wooden chest, first aid kit attatched to the escape door. Everything else goes into clear plastic boxes which stack. I use bungee cords to hold everything in place. :) I use hay nets with the bottom half woven in with baler twine so the hay can't drop out of the bottom. Rubber mats help too- they're so much easier to hose down! :D

I learned my system grooming for my trainer at upper level events. You need to have everything tidy but still to hand when you're working with three or more horses that need to be at a certain place for a certain time. I think the most I managed was five horses by myself. That was an interesting day!

[Acertainsmile]

My trailer stays pretty organized and clean. But please dont look in my car! :no:

Lots of good tips here, I will have to try a few!