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Minimal Towing Rigs

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  • #21
    Inertia brakes are usual on European trailers - less likely to fail than electrical ones. And a lighter, more aerodynamic and better balanced trailer rarely sways (Anti sway bars are never used on Brenderups) and is easier to stop than the relatively very heavy, crude American style heavy metal box on wheels. I'm not saying they're perfect but they're designed very thoughtfully.
    ----------------------------------------
    PSSM / EPSM and Shivers Forum
    http://pssm.xanthoria.com/
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    • 4 likes

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    • #22
      Here in the US, we tend to drive further with our loads and it's not just the ability of towing but stopping. So the minimum I would haul with a two horse or one horse trailer is my dodge 1500 with a tow package. That 10,000 lbs in towing capacity. And gives you lots of stop. I had to stop fast when a deer went skidding across the rd after on coming driver hit it. I would not have been able to stop that quickly in a smaller vehicle. Before I made my purchase I talked to a mechanic, not a sales person.

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      • #23
        I don't know where people get that everything is nearby in Europe and people only haul for 10 minutes in these trailers.

        You will see tons of them and it can be five or more hours between home and shows in a European country just as here.

        Mostly I go within 2 hours because I hate driving farther than that but it's not like everything in Germany is 10 miles apart or less.

        ​​​​​​its not worth arguing about with people who have never driven a European trailer. A lot of assumptions are being made.
        Originally posted by PeanutButterPony
        you can shackle your pony to a lawn chair at the show...so long as its in a conservative color.
        • 6 likes

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        • #24
          This is a very interesting discussion. My truck is nearing the end of it's life, and I'll need to change out my daily driver within the next year, so I'm contemplating consolidating and changing out my trailer for a lightweight one. I'm thinking something like a Ford Explorer and a Brenderup. My biggest horse is 17 hands and I only generally tow one at a time--and it's usually him. I have a neighbor with a Brenderup, so I'm going to ask her if I can experiment, I think, and see if we both like it. We live in serious mountains, so that is a consideration for me.

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          • #25
            Originally posted by atr View Post
            This is a very interesting discussion. My truck is nearing the end of it's life, and I'll need to change out my daily driver within the next year, so I'm contemplating consolidating and changing out my trailer for a lightweight one. I'm thinking something like a Ford Explorer and a Brenderup. My biggest horse is 17 hands and I only generally tow one at a time--and it's usually him. I have a neighbor with a Brenderup, so I'm going to ask her if I can experiment, I think, and see if we both like it. We live in serious mountains, so that is a consideration for me.
            It's worth noting that at this point, the newest brenderup available here is a 2011 model, at least 6 years old. The European trailers change a lot more than conventional trailers year to year - I just got mine in February and they just came out with an extended length model, one with an actual dressing room, and a slant model, in the line I bought. my trailer also doesn't really feel anything like a brenderup to use since I have full double wall aluminum sides vs fiberglass.

            If you are going to consider purchasing new I would see if you will be in an area where someone has a new one you can see. I was very surprised when I saw them in person and I love all the features of my trailer - but if I had made the decision on the basis of an older brenderup that would not have been the case.
            Originally posted by PeanutButterPony
            you can shackle your pony to a lawn chair at the show...so long as its in a conservative color.

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            • #26
              Pretty common to see setups like that here in Australia. Lots of people tow with 2wd sedans. Rarely see anyone with the sort of monster trucks you guys have.

              I've towed my mare for years with a Forester. Light trailer with a pony, always well under the towing capacity of the vehicle. Never had a problem stopping in a hurry, going up very steep hills etc and the AWD has pulled us out of some very muddy situations. It wouldn't do a heavy trailer with two big horses, but its worked just fine for my needs.
              • 1 like

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              • #27
                Re cost of Euro style trailers- I have a mid price Boeckmann which I bought used for less than a comparable N.A steel or aluminum trailer, but you almost never find them used. Check out Maple Lane Trailers here in Ontario and compare prices. They also hold value well, are smooth riding for horse, quiet and cool (fibreglass roof).
                There are several dealers around, unlike Brenderups.
                I tow mine with a V6 Hyundai SUV. I prefer not to drive on expressways with horses for many reasons, but the trailer safety is not one.
                My cousin has an enormous draft cross (17.2 and solid!) who travels in a Brenderup Solo pulled by a smaller pick up.
                Euro trailers come in more sizes than N.A. trailers, so if you've got a big guy, check roof height.
                ADDENDUM: just looked at prices- $14.500 for a new standard 2 horse with tack storage. And that is Can $
                Last edited by demidq; Sep. 24, 2017, 02:05 PM.
                • 1 like

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                • #28
                  Originally posted by Xanthoria View Post
                  I towed a 2006 Brenderup Baron with a V6 or V8 4Runner for 10 years. Bought it new for $16k, sold it for $10k this year. Not bad! I only sold it cos my baby horse got too big for it. I've ordered an EquiTrek Show Treka L from the U.K. and will tow that with my V8 4Runner. Can't wait!
                  Interesting photo here to go with this thread --
                  http://www.equi-trek.com/products/show-treka-l

                  Also answered my question about Americans wanting trailers with dressing rooms.
                  "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- George Bernard Shaw

                  Comment

                  • #29
                    Originally posted by soloudinhere View Post
                    I don't know where people get that everything is nearby in Europe and people only haul for 10 minutes in these trailers.

                    You will see tons of them and it can be five or more hours between home and shows in a European country just as here.

                    Mostly I go within 2 hours because I hate driving farther than that but it's not like everything in Germany is 10 miles apart or less.

                    ​​​​​​its not worth arguing about with people who have never driven a European trailer. A lot of assumptions are being made.
                    Yep, my Brenderup tows WAY differently than my steel trailer that I had before. I hauled it from the hilly part of Ohio to Michigan during a thunderstorm/wind storm with little issue. It doesn't even feel like its back there half the time. I always knew that my steel trailer was back there, and I was towing it with a much larger vehicle. I never worry about getting on the highway and can get up to highway speed without issue in the Brenderup. I also love that I still get 18 mpg vs the 12 I was getting in my bigger truck with the steel trailer.

                    RH Queen O Anywhere "Sydney"
                    2009 Sugarbush Draft mare
                    Western Dressage
                    Draft Mare blog
                    • 1 like

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                    • #30
                      Originally posted by RPM View Post

                      Interesting photo here to go with this thread --
                      http://www.equi-trek.com/products/show-treka-l

                      Also answered my question about Americans wanting trailers with dressing rooms.
                      Yes - I'm looking forward to having those two little bunk beds, a sink and a gas stove! Horse camping will be pretty darn cozy

                      All in, with the larger size and tiny LQ, the Equi-Trek is a bit under 3000# unladen compared to the 2150# of the Brenderup Baron, but my V8 truck tows 7500# so I feel confident it'll work great.
                      ----------------------------------------
                      PSSM / EPSM and Shivers Forum
                      http://pssm.xanthoria.com/
                      ----------------------------------------
                      • 1 like

                      Comment

                      • #31
                        I can't wait to hear more reviews of the Equi Treks! I am currently driving a 1994 (!!!) B-up, but have been eying the equi treks as a potential replacement should next horse be bigger (quite likely). Since I tend to camp at horse shows, I'd love the tiny living quarters.

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                        • #32
                          It's not the actual forward hauling I worry about it's the stopping! Plenty of vehicles can move trailers but try to make a stop in a reasonable time without losing control is the hard part.
                          • 1 like

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                          • #33
                            In the UK a towed trailer tends to be used, with appropriate vehicle, for pony club or hunting or fun rides or for people who compete with one or two horses. This is generally an economic decision, based on the cost of running vehicles and the high cost of fuel, insurance etc and the problem of storage when not in use, rather than towing duration or stopping distance or going up hills. Trailers are extremely functional and engineered to be stable. There are many brands available, from British and other European companies. By law, the vehicle and trailer should not exceed 50 mph on single carriageway, 60 mph on dual carriageway. I was recently passed by one doing 80 mph on a motorway [= interstate]!
                            People who live away for days over a competitive season, or like comfort and have disposable income, despite keeping horses, tend to have horseboxes. This cuts down on accommodation and stabling costs and provides a social centre for friends at a show. At the very top end, these can be like luxury yachts with computerized stabilizers to level out the ride for the horses at the back in their climate-controlled stalls.
                            The only time I have seen a big American truck with a gooseneck trailer here in the UK it was hauling QHs to a show. I think the owner was getting into the American spirit. Getting it in through the narrow gateway provided local amusement.
                            "Good young horses are bred, but good advanced horses are trained" Sam Griffiths

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                            • #34
                              I have a mid sized Brenderup. Used it for eventing and hauling my one horse. Now switching to endurance and equally wonderful. My horse travels well in it. A bit more maintenance of the floor - I pull the matts ever time and sweep up the floor and roll them up so the floor never has moisture on it under the matt. I have hauled it with a small SUV - worked but not my choice, a mid size SUV OK but still not great and a V6 ecoboost Ford - perfect!!! I absolutely love the trailer. Just plan easy to handle and deal with. Too bad no dealers to assist with maintenance.

                              Comment

                              • #35
                                Originally posted by silverdog View Post
                                I have a mid sized Brenderup. Used it for eventing and hauling my one horse. Now switching to endurance and equally wonderful. My horse travels well in it. A bit more maintenance of the floor - I pull the matts ever time and sweep up the floor and roll them up so the floor never has moisture on it under the matt. I have hauled it with a small SUV - worked but not my choice, a mid size SUV OK but still not great and a V6 ecoboost Ford - perfect!!! I absolutely love the trailer. Just plan easy to handle and deal with. Too bad no dealers to assist with maintenance.
                                I am worried that if anything should break on my Brenderup, I may be SOL on getting it fixed.
                                RH Queen O Anywhere "Sydney"
                                2009 Sugarbush Draft mare
                                Western Dressage
                                Draft Mare blog

                                Comment

                                • #36
                                  Originally posted by Minxitbabe View Post
                                  It's not the actual forward hauling I worry about it's the stopping! Plenty of vehicles can move trailers but try to make a stop in a reasonable time without losing control is the hard part.
                                  Not in a European trailer.

                                  Again, people who have never driven one make assumptions based on what they know, which is not the same at all.
                                  Originally posted by PeanutButterPony
                                  you can shackle your pony to a lawn chair at the show...so long as its in a conservative color.
                                  • 3 likes

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                                  • #37
                                    Originally posted by Draftmare View Post

                                    I am worried that if anything should break on my Brenderup, I may be SOL on getting it fixed.
                                    I'm not sure where you're located, but CT Trailers in Bolton, CT can handle normal maintenance and putting in new floors. Mountain Top Trailers in NH can order parts if something obscure goes.

                                    Comment

                                    • #38
                                      I drive a 94 Brenderup and have not had trouble with maintenance and repairs. My local shop has no issue with replacing lights, breaks, etc.

                                      I did need a new floor this year, and OEM replacement floors are not available, even from Mountain Top Trailers. While my local shop *thought* they could figure out how to weld in some extra supports to convert the floor to pressure treated lumber, I decided to make the 4 hour drive to Taylor Boyz in Midland, VA, who seem to be considered B-up floor experts. $1500 and a week and a half to get my floor replaced, and I am feeling pretty good about how long a new floor will last me (not that I'm not cleaning it out and rolling my mats up between uses, still!). If the original floor lasted 23 years (yowza), I think they're pretty well made.

                                      Comment

                                      • #39
                                        Originally posted by OuttaShape View Post
                                        I drive a 94 Brenderup and have not had trouble with maintenance and repairs. My local shop has no issue with replacing lights, breaks, etc.

                                        I did need a new floor this year, and OEM replacement floors are not available, even from Mountain Top Trailers. While my local shop *thought* they could figure out how to weld in some extra supports to convert the floor to pressure treated lumber, I decided to make the 4 hour drive to Taylor Boyz in Midland, VA, who seem to be considered B-up floor experts. $1500 and a week and a half to get my floor replaced, and I am feeling pretty good about how long a new floor will last me (not that I'm not cleaning it out and rolling my mats up between uses, still!). If the original floor lasted 23 years (yowza), I think they're pretty well made.
                                        The husband of a friend of mine converted my Brenderup to a "normal" wood floor. It wasn't easy, and she says they will never do one again! However, I am hoping with care it will last the lifetime of this trailer. Here are the during and after pics: https://draftmare.wordpress.com/2017...railer-update/
                                        RH Queen O Anywhere "Sydney"
                                        2009 Sugarbush Draft mare
                                        Western Dressage
                                        Draft Mare blog

                                        Comment

                                        • #40
                                          Originally posted by Draftmare View Post

                                          The husband of a friend of mine converted my Brenderup to a "normal" wood floor. It wasn't easy, and she says they will never do one again! However, I am hoping with care it will last the lifetime of this trailer. Here are the during and after pics: https://draftmare.wordpress.com/2017...railer-update/
                                          Well, it looks like they did it right! Mine was done the same way, right down to the bevel of the boards by the ramp.

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