4 Horse Trailer brand questions

[Dices]

We're looking at getting a new (or fairly new) 4 horse trailer (no living quarters) which will be primarily used 3 times a week for fox hunting during hunt season (July-Dec) and probably almost as frequently during late spring-hunt season for trail rides/out of stables training etc.

We've looked at several trailer places in the NE Ohio area which carry the following brands:
Exiss,
Featherlite,
Blue Ribbon,
Elite.

I've done quite a lot of unsuccessful searching on the internet to try and find some sort of product reviews, so thought it wouuld be worth asking on here as to what people think of those brands.

So what are peoples' opinions on the above trailers? Both good and bad input with things to look out for would be much appreciated.

I've pretty much ruled out Featherlite as we came across a 2nd hand one that looked like it did not stand teh test of time very well and seems to be the one that all the other trailer dealerships knocked for the lack of quality.

[ponygirl]

Of the 4 you listed, I'd look at Elite and then maybe Featherlite. I'd pass on the other two. I know nothing of the Blue Ribbon trailers. Exiss is not a quality trailer.

[AKB]

I love my Sundowner. If you get one used, be sure to inspect the floor. Some models have corrosion that Sundowner usually fixes at no charge.

Make sure that whatever you get is big enough for your horses. Foxhunters can be big horses, and you don't want to have to squash them in. My neighbor's Featherlite is not big enough for her horses, so they often won't load. They go right in my trailer.

[jcotton]

4-Star is my only recommendation

[Trakehner]

Eby (built in PA and OH), 4 STAR and Jamco.

Everything else nowadays just seems pretty tinny. Looked at Keiffer (very tinny), Colin-Arndt (most amazing crappy welds I'd ever seen on a trailer), Featherlite quality has gone way down (I had a lovely 2-horse extra-everything I had custom built in 1986...no comparison to the modern stuff)...and the list goes on since so many trailers are now built on the same assembly line.

[MunchkinsMom]

Eby (built in PA and OH), 4 STAR and Jamco.

Everything else nowadays just seems pretty tinny. Looked at Keiffer (very tinny), Colin-Arndt (most amazing crappy welds I'd ever seen on a trailer), Featherlite quality has gone way down (I had a lovely 2-horse extra-everything I had custom built in 1986...no comparison to the modern stuff)...and the list goes on since so many trailers are now built on the same assembly line.

I agree, those were my top choices (with Eby being #1) but only 4-Star has a dealership in my area, and they were a bit out of my price range. Then I stopped in at the Shadow dealership, and really liked what I saw. So, I traded in my well-made '92 Keifer (the all steel version) for a new Shadow. You might want to take at look at them also.

Here is a link to their website:

http://www.shadowtrailer.com/index.php

You could also try to attend the Equine Affair in Columbus next weekend, where you could really do some comparison shopping all in one place.

[rooroo8]

Maybe someone else already suggested this, but I'd go check out Horsetrailerworld.com, they have a forum chat that discusses everything trailer related. We bought a used Exiss (I think its a 2001 or 2002) and the roof leaks. We found out later Exiss tried out many different roofing systems (and for all I know maybe their new ones work - the older ones are not so great) and are known, among other things, for leaky roofs.

Next time around I think I'll go for a used 4 Star.

[ACS]

IMHO ... Featherlite = best trailers! :D

[Touchstone Farm]

I've only owned Featherlite's...for about 19 years. My very first one (2-horse, BP), I sold for about what I paid for it and it sat out for 10 years in all the WI seasons. I've only traded up because I want a larger trailer, and now own a 3-horse FL with LQs. I have had good success with FLs, and have used them on short and long trips (24-hour, straight through).

I also think the 4Star is a good, well-built trailer.

[Rubs Not Pats]

I traded my Elite in for a Sundowner and boy am I sorry. My Sundowner is a piece of crap! That Elite was the best made trailer I have seen in years. You can order them custom.

[mvp]

C&C are well-designed and well-built. The company is a spin-off of 4-star. Both are good, higher-end trailers, built with all kinds of emergency and convenience features included.

If you can find a used one, I think you will be happier than buying a new trailer of lesser quality

Also, you (and your horses) might really dig a stock trailer. That's also a good way to save some coin without sacrificing safety, function or size.

Featherlites tend to be noisy, IMO. Jump up and down in one and listen.

Sundowners don't last well, IMO.

Best of luck with your search!

[NoDQhere]

I'll second C & C. We have a 5 horse head to head and it is hands down the best trailer I've ever seen or pulled. The horses love it as well!

[Mrs. Cowboy]

Have you considered Titan trailers? I loved my first one enough to go to Nebraska again for a second one. My 5-horse size combo stock is double walled steel, generously sized, and was a bargain at less than 10K, including rumber floor,and upgrades to windows and tack room. I've seen some used Titans and they really hold up well over time. The interior of the horse compartment is designed for horses' safety and comfort. Neil at Midplains Equipment in Kearney, NE will always write you up a custom quote for whatever design you want. www.midplainsonline.com He sells more Titans than any dealer in the country, so he can get the best deals from the factory.

This brand of trailer is in such demand, it's often cheaper to buy them new and custom, because used ones are hard to find. In fact, my first Titan (a 20' stock trailer) cost me $6K brand new, and I sold it three years later for $7500!

[ponygirl]

C&C has apparently filed for bankruptcy. Heard that from a someone in the industry. So...maybe start looking at them as they might be deals to be had.

[mvp]

A black day indeed! All flags at half mast! They make a very nice trailer and are pleasant people to work with. Too bad.

[cyndi]

I have a Featherlite I bought new in 1992 and have been very pleased with it. I can't believe it's 17 years old this year! I never thought I would EVER have a horse trailer THAT long, in the humid south.

I have it serviced and inspected every year, do regular maintenance, etc. I have NEVER had any trouble with the wiring, etc. and every trailer I owned before it, it seemed every time I hauled it, I had to work on the brake lights.

It has sat outside the entire 17 years and has been used very, very much.

I have not taken very good care of it - as far as hauling out mats and hosing it down between uses. Frankly, the mats are so heavy I can't do it by myself. It may get done once a year if that. Even with that, the floor only has a few tiny pitted holes - maybe size of bb's - that the trailer place said I should "watch."

I look at new trailers every year at our huge 3-week long rodeo, but really can't justify it when there's really nothing wrong with mmine. I will probably have the floor replaced and have it another ten years. Plus, mine has a ginormous dressing room, and none of the new ones have dressing rooms that big.

[Dices]

Thanks for everyones input - it's all been very helpful and some information has helped find other dealers in my area of other brands which I intend to look at soon. A few brands mentioned however can only be found at dealers at the other end of the state which is a shame.

Shame to hear about C&C - they're one of the trailers I found nearby and have to admit that I'd not be comfortable spending money where aftersales and future spare parts would be non existant.

Someone mentioned getting a stock trailer to save money - from my research I've ruled out those as looking at the specs/details I do not believe that they would hold up to the heavy use the trailer would have to cope with (floor beams spaced further apart for example).

I have to admit that I'm surprised about so many postive Featherlite comments - as I mentioned in my original post, the 2nd hand ones looked incredibly poor and looked like they did not stand the test of time and use well. It's also been the brand that trailer dealers have consistantly warned about.

Munchkinsmom - thanks for the info on the equine fair this weekend.

Shame about the negative info on the Exiss, I have to admit that it was a front runner until I heard about this.

Any more info/tips is still appreciated - keep them coming please!

[mjrtango93]

Love my Featherlites as well, thats all we have. I am on my 3rd but through no fault of the trailer, just trading up sorts of deals. I plan on having this one a very very long time. They take a lickin and are still great, no leaks, no electrical issues, just one small problem with the door latch on my tack room but that was my own stupid fault :no:. Trainer also has Featherlite, as does friend. Different models, shapes and sizes. They make a Big Horse model for those bigger boned ponies and I don't think horses come big enough to not fit in there. I would recomment them to anybody I meet. As for the others avoid Exiss (I believe somebody on the BB has a whole thread about the mishaps with her new Exiss), I really like Elite, but alas I can't afford one. Never heard of Blue Ribbon so can't comment. I know alot of people also like Sooner.

[Mrs. Cowboy]

I mentioned stock trailers and pricing for comparison (that I have sold mine after using it hard and gotten more money than I paid), but Titan makes horse-style trailers also. I happen to prefer stock, but all the Titan's I've seen are excellent quality, and hold up well under severe use.

Did I not mention that I also hunt, and travel with horses for weeks at a time? :D

[ponygirl]

Eby makes a good trailer.

[secretariat]

I know some people have had problems with Sundowners, but we're on our second one and would recommend them both (moved from 3 horse to 4 horse). We put in a potload of mileage hauling (60,000 miles in less than 3 years), so we do rigorous annual and semiannual maintenance -- and these are BIG horses, smallest probably 1200 pounds up to a couple of 2000 pound drafties. Always have the trailer loaded, if we've only got 3 horses entered we take a baby for the experience. Dressing room with 2 beds and cabinets which we installed ourselves. Big enough loaded with stuff for 3 or 4 weeks that the dually grunts when we hook it up. Easy enough to tow that when we had a water pump problem, the 250 pulled it home -- fully loaded.

I'd love to have a heavier duty trailer, but frankly can't afford it. I would like to post my complements to Trailers America in Cincinnati, as they've been great to deal with (traded the 3-horse for the 4), provide great advice and maintenance services; always helpful and supportive. I highly recommend them -- if you're in the mid-continent area, give them a call and ask their advice. They're pretty rare -- honest advice, free.

[Jumphigh83]

Run ..do NOT walk from Featherlite/Exiss..the old ones are NOT the new ones and they are both made by Universal Trailers (be careful of Horsetrailerworld.com they are sponsored by Universal ergo, biased) I am on second factory replaced trailer that needs to go in AGAIN as we speak for MORE warranted work (if I had the time to lay it up AGAIN for several days/weeks) Do a search on this BB as a matter of fact....Good luck!

[RU2U]

I LOVE my JAMCO

Mine is now 12 years old and I get asked where I got my new trailer all the time. I've sent 2 other people to them and both are extremely pleased also.

I did get fed up with the dealer in the US and called Jamco direct in Canada (We also live near Cleveland). We designed it over the fax and picked it up ourselves and couldn't be happier. Nice People. They added some extras to my trailer because they were trying a new design all at no charge so it was great for me. I would buy another in a heart beat.

Check them out as I really do feel that they are worth the money.

[PONYPULR]

If you can wait till October, go to Quarter Horse Congress in Ohio. There is a huge trade show there, and there must be 20 or thirty brands represented. You can do a great job of comparing trailer to trailer there, and the dealers bring a lot of inventory, so you could go home with a trailer at a very good deal!!

[mares tails]

4Star (http://www.4startrailers.com/) !

.

[Hunterlover]

I went with a Dreamcoach and it's awesome. Heavy duty welds and aluminum. Rumbar floor so you don't haveto spray it out after everytrip! I went thru Richard Small in Maine. I custom ordered it and it was done in 6weeks! It's not tinny at all.

[Tasker]

We have a Jamco 4 horse head to head with the full stud dividers & other options to make the 4 stalls into box stalls & the 'neck' is air tight for a possible bunk sleeping area. Love it...no other way to put it. The horses have tested the trailer (as horses tend to do) and it is the best made trailer of any of the ones we've had. It was a 'journey' to get what we have but here goes...

Years ago we had a Kingston 4 horse h-h...it was steel, heavy but the horses had a great ride. It was very dark inside though even with the lights on and quite hot in the summer sun at a competition. After a 2 horse Trail-et, had a customized 4 Star with a 6' tackroom that had a 4' ramp on one side and was lined & rigged out for another horse, 6 stalls in the rear with side & rear ramps. It was a beast for the skinny PA back roads. It was traded in for a Hawk that had 2 stalls and space in the front (18' on the floor), so a smaller horse could ride backwards.

Friends have a Shadow. If I were shopping for another gooseneck and didn't want to spend quite as much as we did on the Jamco, that is what I would go with now. Another set of friends have had several Eby's...but for the $$, we went with the Jamco as the welds were/are better.

Good luck with whatever you decide to buy.

[ponygirl]

I went with a Dreamcoach and it's awesome. Heavy duty welds and aluminum. Rumbar floor so you don't haveto spray it out after everytrip! I went thru Richard Small in Maine. I custom ordered it and it was done in 6weeks! It's not tinny at all.

Dreamcoach is a nice trailer. They spun off their design from Hart Trailers. Basically it's a Hart badged as Dreamcoach.

[MajMeadowMorgans]

Trail-et. http://www.trail-et.com/

I have a 1989 Trail-et that still looks brand new. I will never have another brand. I heart my Trail-et :D

[Fireangel]

I must say I love my Eby and can be customized to anything you want. I have a two horse that is a straight load with a side ramp and box up front. Great for going by myself with my mare that doesnt tie. I just pull her up front and tack her up. I had the dealer put a door between the horse box and tack room. If you can afford it they are such nice trailers! Just my two cents...

http://www.mheby.com/horse/assets/pdf/Eby%20Victory%20Series.pdf

[ponygirl]

Blue Ribbon was apparently started by someone who was associated with Exiss. Just FYI there.

[Dices]

Once again, thanks for everyone's input.

Using the 4 Star website, I've come across a nearby dealer that I need to checkout, but I suspect from their website that they will not have in stock what we are after, but will still give them a look.

So far we have narrowed it down to two trailers which are comparrable in price;
1, a new 2007 Elite Trailer, which I like for it's build quality and I feel will last for a long time even despite the heavy use it will go through.
2, a new Blue Ribbon which the Girlfriend likes due to the 7ft6 height (compared to 7ft for the Elite).

She's the one who'll use the trailer as part of a work, so her's is the final decison so we'll have to see how things develop when we go back to the sales people.

[Fancy That]

Turnbow makes awesome custome trailers. I love love love mine!

I can't believe noone's mentioned Turnbow?? http://www.turnbowtrailers.com/

Agree with others about these great brands:
Eby
4Star
Jamco
Elite
Titan

[cssutton]

With Sundowner, it depends on the model.

My daughter has a steel Sundowner and I am not impressed at all. Cheap cheap.

On the other hand, I have an all aluminum Sundowner (727?) that I have pulled over 200,000 miles and it has never given me one single problem. I do get the wheel bearings packed and everything inspected for corrosion, acid washed, etc., twice a year.

That said, I have looked at the Eby and door latches, hinges, partitions all are much heavier. I am very impressed and would probably buy an Eby if I were in the market.

However, my Sundowner is so good and is the exact trailer I need in terms of size, length, etc., so spending money for a new trailer makes no sense.

Mine is 7'6" inside with an insulated roof. If you have 16.2hh or larger horses, much desired.

CSSJR

[Personal Champ]

A 4 horse slant Featherlite I bought new last year. I LOVE THAT TRAILER. Great quality, pulls the nicest of the other brands I've owned (Titan 3 horse and Trailet 2 horse), and the horses love it.

I am selling the trailer, though, due to some changes we've been making, not a reflection of the trailer AT ALL.

[Flying Hill]

I have a Trails West 4-horse slant and absolutely love it. I did a lot of comparison shopping and chose it because it was so sturdy and well-made, and the slant stalls were 2 feet longer than any other brand. It also has a nifty side tack compartment and was very good vlaue for the money. My trainer, who has 3 trailers of his own, always asked me if we could use mine because he liked it so much. http://www.trailswesttrailers.com/