Who drives an 8' wide trailer?

[LoveToJump]

I am not sure which forum this belongs in, so I will start here.

Currently, I have a standard width 4 Star trailer. I would really like to get a used LQ trailer, but, everything that I find is 8' wide. I am a little tentative about going 4' longer and also a foot wider at the same time. The width makes me more nervous than the length. Really only when getting gas (I do not have diesel and have to use regular pumps) and then moving around horse shows/events.

What are your experiences?

[LMH]

LOVE mine LOVE it...but I do have a dually so my truck was already that wide.

It makes it easier for me-if my truck can make it through, my trailer can.

If I had a normal truck it may make me nervous.

[rmh]

Same here. I have a dullay. My new trailer is that wide plus it is seven feet longer than my old trailer. The length has been more of a problem that the width.

[LoveToJump]

LOVE mine LOVE it...but I do have a dually so my truck was already that wide.

It makes it easier for me-if my truck can make it through, my trailer can.

If I had a normal truck it may make me nervous.

Hmmm, that makes sense. What about turning around in tight spots. Does the width of the trailer make a difference? How long is your trailer? Thanks

[LoveToJump]

Same here. I have a dullay. My new trailer is that wide plus it is seven feet longer than my old trailer. The length has been more of a problem that the width.

Do you just feel the stress in tight turns (like around barns/trailers at horse events), or is it all the time when you are turning on the roads, like at tight stop lights?

I was chicken when I bought my current trailer because I had never pulled before. I don't know if I would get past this, or it would be a problem. I guess you don't know until you try.

[greysandbays]

Making a right hand turn at a stoplight in a small town could be tricky.

You almost have to stay in the main lane and just as you are committed to the turn, some ninnyhammer is apt to try squeaking you by for a right hand turn, not thinking that your trailer tail is gonna pinch him. Some big goosenecks going through our town have to swing way over into the left lane of the road they are turning onto. Which I understand is illegal, and if an accident ensues, it will be officially their fault, whether it was or not. But taking out the stop light with the corner-cutting tail of a long trailer isn't legal either.

[Fantastic]

You'd adjust in no time, I'm sure! LQ's make your life so much easier!

If you have the right truck to pull a LQ trailer (dually) with mirrors that adjust wide so you can see behind it, the width is no different. If your mirrors don't adjust wide enough, you can buy aftermarket extension mirrors.

You swing wide around corners and such more because of length than width. You always use your mirrors and follow the back corner of the trailer to make sure you don't hit anything. It's the hay pod on the top that has given me a problem because it is so high, my mirror can't see it unless I adjust it way up. Yes, I've hit a few things with the hay pod! :mad:

When I bought my LQ trailer I went from a 20'L x 8'W GN and a WB 2h straight GN w/ DR, to 34' on-the-floor. The biggest problem I had was after driving the new big trailer for awhile, realizing that my truck was inadequate for such a huge (heavy and long) trailer. Of course the sales person said my truck was "just fine". Um, no! So, make sure your truck will accomodate a LQ trailer so you don't get it home and then realize you also need to buy a new truck!:cry:

[Fantastic]

LovetoJump, what type of truck and trailer do you currently have (dually? length width of trailer?). What is the length of the trailer you are interested in?

Seriously, you WILL adjust to a new trailer and be happy you got it, I promiss!:winkgrin:

[CatOnLap]

i have a 27 foot GN that is 8 feet wide- same width as my dually crew cab long box wheel wells. But my mirrors stick out about another 6 inches, so I never get myself in to too tight a squeeze while going straight. Turns, backing up? a little more practice is needed. I used to drive an 11 foot BP with a short box, regular cab, single axle. The whole rig was less than 31 feet long. The new one is about 50. That was a big change!

I just pretend my rig is a semi trailer- swing the cab wide around corners and the trailer follows- about 3 feet to the inside it seems. Backing up is a whole new ball game- I took mine out to the back pasture a few times and practiced with cones. No accident that I now have 2 squished cones going to the dump, but better that than my trailer.

However, the new rig is so much easier to drive for so many other reasons that I am just slowly learning how to be comfy in it.

[LoveToJump]

LovetoJump, what type of truck and trailer do you currently have (dually? length width of trailer?). What is the length of the trailer you are interested in?

Seriously, you WILL adjust to a new trailer and be happy you got it, I promiss!:winkgrin:

Thank you for all of your help!! I have a Dodge Ram 2500. Not a dually. I currently have a 4 Star 2 horse gooseneck with a 4' short wall dressing room. I would be happy with a 6' short wall. I just really want a shower, and my 4' would be so claustrophic if I put a shower in it. I have slept in my bare trailer, with mattress in gooseneck. And I LOVED it!!! I had a fold out chair and a t.v. tray for my comfort area, a cooler for my fridge, and a bucket with a lid for my 'you know what'. I don't need all the creature comforts.

I am so tired of worrying about getting a hotel. Then driving to and from the hotel. I would love to have everything in one place. I am an eventer, so a shower is really crucial. Seems I am either competing in torrential downpour or when it is 100 degrees.

Thanks again for all of your help!

[Southernboy]

LTJ,

Do you have a short-bed or long-bed truck? If you have a short-bed, you will not be able to make as tight a turn as you did with your previous trailer. Shouldn't be a deal breaker, but you will have to be a little more careful during tight maneuvering.

[rmh]

If it is a short bed there are set backs you can use.

[katarine]

The width won't mess with you on turns, it's the length. Just go easy, take care to realize the GN tracks a smaller arc than does the towing vehicle on a turn, and you'll be fine. I drive a dually and if the truck fits the gap, so does the trailer. I pull at 20' box, and prefer it over a small BP- I know where it is, I can see it back there LOL!

[LMH]

Mine is 23' 'on the floor' so not HUGE but enough to make me think on turns.

I actually had a wicked funny mistake YEARS ago-with a different LQ.

I pulled into an Arby's after a show, thinking I saw a big parking lot in the back.

Oh HELL no-it was a DRIVE THRU ONLY.

And by the time I noticed and freaked there were maybe 4-5 cars behind me and now one would let me back out.

I made the turn, placed my order (had to eat) and managed to take out the ENTIRE awning at the cashier.

No...I wasn't feeling a little...uncomfortable.
:lol:

[foggybok]

Mine is 23' 'on the floor' so not HUGE but enough to make me think on turns.

I actually had a wicked funny mistake YEARS ago-with a different LQ.

I pulled into an Arby's after a show, thinking I saw a big parking lot in the back.

Oh HELL no-it was a DRIVE THRU ONLY.

And by the time I noticed and freaked there were maybe 4-5 cars behind me and now one would let me back out.

I made the turn, placed my order (had to eat) and managed to take out the ENTIRE awning at the cashier.

No...I wasn't feeling a little...uncomfortable.
:lol:

I bent the sign they put up to warn you about the height at a Burger King drive through.... Forgot I had the stock rack on the truck for moving... Boy did I feel dumb....

I am seriously thinking of getting a small run around town trailer because I get nervous in my big one...Not sure why, the gooseneck theoretically is easier...But I must say, the extra wide makes me nervous..... that and old age I guess:). And around here there are some really tricky trailheads, so I want a smaller trailer. I think if I was just going to shows, it wouldn't be so bad (although sometimes those places could get hairy....)

[Fantastic]

Confession of a big LQ trailer driver: Okay, my turn! Wasn't going to scare the virginal LQ driver, LovetoJump, but I guess she need to know what it's REALLY like driving a tall LQ trailer! Keep in mind, this is over the last 4 years since I've owned this trailer, so it's not like it all happened in a month!

Dreaded Hay Pod Experience #1: I took out part of the permanent wood 20W x 40L awning at the vet's office where you unload the horses. Scarey thing is: Didn't even feel it! I saw a piece of wood go flying under my tire and though "WTF! What's that wood doing in the driveway!". Stopped to unload the horse, and saw the top of the trailer was still wedged under the awning. Got in the truck, pulled forward and ripped part of it down as I pulled forward!:eek: Ran up to the office to inform whem of what I'd just done, said I'd pay for repairs - just let me know. They were okay with it and I guess their insurance took care of it! Boy, did I ever feel like an inadequate driver!:o

Dreaded Hay Pod Experience #2: Took out half of a HUGE wood shingle sign for a big horse show facility I was showing at! Half the sign was stuck on the roof of my trailer, so I got out to climb on top to survey damage. The sign was so stinkin old, the shingles pretty much desinigrated, and I could see the ancient SQUARE NAILS it was built with!:sadsmile: A guy saw what happened and said, "I won't tell if you won't tell!". I'm like, "Are you kiding?! (little miss concience here) A hit and run?! I couldn't live with myself knowing I ruined their sign and not informed them.". Sheepishly went into the office to inform them what had happened. Said I'd pay for it, here is my isurance info, etc. I kept expecting to hear from them, but I never did.

Dreaded Hay Pod Experience #3: Just last week end as I was pulling into the parking lot to go trailer riding, the Evil Hay Pod again took control of my trailer and slammed itself into a tree! I guess it like it 'rough'?!

The Evil Hay Pod certainly has a mind of it's own, and it is one tough cookie! To this day, it does not have one dent, and has minimal scratches! I dunno, I guess the Hay Pod God above is looking out for us or something?

Happy Hauling!

:lol:

[LoveToJump]

LTJ,

Do you have a short-bed or long-bed truck? If you have a short-bed, you will not be able to make as tight a turn as you did with your previous trailer. Shouldn't be a deal breaker, but you will have to be a little more careful during tight maneuvering.

I DO have a short bed truck...how did you know? I never considered the turning radius with 2' shorter bed. thanks for the pointer on that!

[LoveToJump]

Mine is 23' 'on the floor' so not HUGE but enough to make me think on turns.

I actually had a wicked funny mistake YEARS ago-with a different LQ.

I pulled into an Arby's after a show, thinking I saw a big parking lot in the back.

Oh HELL no-it was a DRIVE THRU ONLY.

And by the time I noticed and freaked there were maybe 4-5 cars behind me and now one would let me back out.

I made the turn, placed my order (had to eat) and managed to take out the ENTIRE awning at the cashier.

No...I wasn't feeling a little...uncomfortable.
:lol:


That is HYSTERICAL!! It is nice that we can laugh at ourselves. And scare the newbies!

[LoveToJump]

rmh....what do you mean there are setbacks I can use with a short bed truck?


Fanstic...you are very funny. Thank you for being so truthful. I never, ever considered the extra height of the haypod as a factor in anything.

Since we are all being honest here. The first year that I had my trailer...mind you, 2 horse with 4' short wall dressing room (not huge by any means)...I ran into (lightly) the protection bars at the end of the gas tank lines (the ones that prevent you from actually hitting the gas tank), and I clipped the corner roof of a stabling complex, and I skimmed a boulder at a horse show.

That was 3 years ago and thankfully I have figured out how to use my mirrors . DUH!

[rmh]

With a short bed if you turn too tight the front of the trailer will take out your rear window. Hide a hitch or something like that make a coupler that will set the trailer back about a foot(?). My friend uses one and hasn't had any problems. However he doesn't get off road( primitive camping). Full hook up only. He hasn't had any trouble turning. I wonder about pinching the bed on a sharp angle. They advertise in some of the trail mags and other horse mags.

[LoveToJump]

rmh, OH! I must have mine set back. I have one of the hide-a-hitch or whatever. I can turn my trailer really tight and not hit the back window of the truck. Close...but, not touching.

[greysandbays]

Dreaded Hay Pod Experience #2: Took out half of a HUGE wood shingle sign for a big horse show facility I was showing at! .... Sheepishly went into the office to inform them what had happened. Said I'd pay for it, here is my isurance info, etc. I kept expecting to hear from them, but I never did.



They'd probably been hoping somebody would take it out so they could get a new one. Whoever controls the purse strings couldn't say the old sign was just fine anymore...

[Jaegermonster]

I have 2 gn trailers.
One is a 2h straightload, and has the tapered nose.
The other is a 28' 3h LQ. It does not have the tapered nose.
I pull them with an F250 short box 7.3 diesel. The truck is an 02, just got the big trailer last year. Next on the purchase list is a dually. I put two helper springs in the rear end of the truck when I got the big trailer, which I highly recommend. It helps tremendously when pulling the LQ. It just beefs the suspension a bit and seems to make life better on the truck and the horses.
I do not have the setback hitch. When pulling the 2h, and backing, the nose won't hit the window because it's tapered. When pulling the LQ it will because the nose is not tapered.
So don't take it for granted, check first before you end up backing it up into your window.

Ditto pretty much what everybody else said. You just have to pay attention to what you are doing, which you should be doing anyway, but even more so.
Plus I got a mirror extension for the passenger side(my truck just has the regular mirrors). The trailer is wider than the truck and I couldn't see around it on that side to change lanes or for turns. I feel much better with the extra mirror.

[The Blue Bullet]

My trailer is 8 1/2 feet wide and I have no problems with it. I didn't notice much of a difference between it and my old trailer.

[LoveToJump]

I have 2 gn trailers.
One is a 2h straightload, and has the tapered nose.
The other is a 28' 3h LQ. It does not have the tapered nose.
I pull them with an F250 short box 7.3 diesel. The truck is an 02, just got the big trailer last year. Next on the purchase list is a dually. I put two helper springs in the rear end of the truck when I got the big trailer, which I highly recommend. It helps tremendously when pulling the LQ. It just beefs the suspension a bit and seems to make life better on the truck and the horses.
I do not have the setback hitch. When pulling the 2h, and backing, the nose won't hit the window because it's tapered. When pulling the LQ it will because the nose is not tapered.
So don't take it for granted, check first before you end up backing it up into your window.

Ditto pretty much what everybody else said. You just have to pay attention to what you are doing, which you should be doing anyway, but even more so.
Plus I got a mirror extension for the passenger side(my truck just has the regular mirrors). The trailer is wider than the truck and I couldn't see around it on that side to change lanes or for turns. I feel much better with the extra mirror.

This is why I love this forum. My current trailer does have a tapered nose. It never occured to me that is why it doesn't hit the window. I bet you are spot on with that.

You guys are terrific and are helping me a great deal! Thanks

[SmartAlex]

We have a 8' wide 4 Star, and the only time I have to watch is Gas Stations, Toll Booths and construction zones. I haven't had any problems, and I don't haul that often. But I love the trailer!

[LoveToJump]

OK, even with the 'horror' stories, I think I would be ok with an 8' wide trailer. Although, I still think I would prefer one that was not that wide.

I will start my search for a 2 horse that has a tapered nose, and has a 6-8' short wall LQ. My truck should be able to handle that, and with better mirrors, I should be able to drive it.

Thanks again!

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

Unintended consequence, I'm sure, but this thread has been very entertaining.

Ok, carry on....