I have been trailer shopping for a few months. By that I mean I cruise through Craigslist and Dreamhorse looking for deals or dreaming about owning certain ones.
I found one this week that is just across the river in my price range ($4,000 or less:-). It is a two horse slant Triton with a tack room. I have an appointment tomorrow to go check it out. I have heard the arguments for both straight and slant, and I really haven't formulated my own opinion yet. I was just looking for a trailer that seems to work for me. I have people telling me to keep looking and find a three horse, but for my first trailer, I don't mind having it be a bit smaller. I know so many women out in the blog world have much more experience than myself with trailers, so I am just fishing for opinions and thoughts on the Triton. I have heard of the brand, but don't know much about it. The woman has a very expensive eventing horse and she told me she replaced the floor last year before a competition in CA. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Also, if anyone out there can give me any advice about what to look for and what ask when I go see it, that would really be appreciated. Thanks everyone for your help and input on this...you all are such a great resource and I value your opinions.
I have been trailer shopping for a few months. By that I mean I cruise through Craigslist and Dreamhorse looking for deals or dreaming about owning certain ones. 
I found one this week that is just across the river in my price range ($4,000 or less:-). It is a two horse slant Triton with a tack room. I have an appointment tomorrow to go check it out. I have heard the arguments for both straight and slant, and I really haven't formulated my own opinion yet. I was just looking for a trailer that seems to work for me. I have people telling me to keep looking and find a three horse, but for my first trailer, I don't mind having it be a bit smaller. I know so many women out in the blog world have much more experience than myself with trailers, so I am just fishing for opinions and thoughts on the Triton. I have heard of the brand, but don't know much about it. The woman has a very expensive eventing horse and she told me she replaced the floor last year before a competition in CA. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Also, if anyone out there can give me any advice about what to look for and what ask when I go see it, that would really be appreciated. Thanks everyone for your help and input on this...you all are such a great resource and I value your opinions. 
12 comments:
Well, I'm no expert on trailers, but I'd never buy a slant-load. Too much unloading and re-loading just to get to the horses at the front...That said it's your call, if you like it get it.
My trainer makes the same argument against slant loads. She saw a horse flip at the front and it freaked the others out and it was pure mayhem. I figure for the most part it will just be Maddy in the trailer. But a lot to consider.
Hi Jules,
Trailer Looks nice. How old is it?
Some people say two doors are more difficut...but I borrowed one for a year and it did have two doors, I got used to the order of things.I prefer on big door myself.
-The back ridge needs rubber edges(it looked) for safety.
Nice thing about a slant is(grey horse reminded me) You can distribute the weight MORE evenly in the trailer...one horse can be put in the front or middle. While a solid divider makes you put the horse on one side or the other. Unless you can find one with a movable divider (newer) and then your horse may choose how to stand.Yet they are mainly standing to one side still.
If I ever got a striaght...I'd make sure the divder either came out or cold be opened to one side or other.
My mare is soo claustrophobic, going into a straight load is like going into a coffin to her; everything is close and touching!
-Rust...jsut look for that in the main seems of the trailer.
-You choose...to have a horse back out...or turn around with slant.
-hieght for head clearance
-Pick up the matts, check for rotten wood. Make sure all is not at all rusty down there for support.
-looked like the windows had screens. Do they drop down?
- Water tank? Room for one?
- Solid wall between horses and tack room is nice. As if not... MUCH dust/hay comes over to tack and urine may seep through as well.
-when were the trailer brakes worked on last?
Can't think of any more!
If you get a three horse...there is more room for hay storage inside, for trips.
Okay...wowee..you are getting so close!
KAC
I agree, would not by a slant load. I have a 16' Moritz Stock trailer that I bought new for under $4500. I turned the front into a tack/changing area and the back is wide open. When I go somewhere with my horse, I always have a stall with me. I can enclose the slats in the cold months. Horses seem to love having the space.
I've never owned a trailer so I'm not a pro on this topic, but I've driven with many girlfriends. The two horse would be lovely to turn around and maneuver. All my friends have slant-loads and we've never had a problem with needing to get to the front horse first. That's called planning, I believe.
Email Smells Horsey http://lifepundit.typepad.com/smellshorsey/
and see what she has to say since she's just been in the market.
I might add that we have a two horse straight load with a divider and have never had a problem with transporting one horse or two. If you do transport one horse they always go to the left, because the road crowns and the right side would be lower and so you put them on the left to distribute the weight more evenly. I was told this by someone I trust.
If there is a trailer place near enough to you, I would ask to take it there if you are seriously considering buying it, and have them check it out carefully. See if there is a usable spare tire, the floor is of utmost importance as are the brakes and electrical connections. Buying a used trailer is always tricky. I just always figure there is a reason other than what the seller is telling you, so it's just important to have it all checked out by a professional before any money exchanges hands.
I'm this year contemplating a trailer too in the similar price range. There is so much to compare and consider. Slant and straight load seem to be more of a personal preference thing although some people say one or the other is easier on the horses. Becomes a bit like debating philosophy. You've already received some good tips here, I'll have to take note for my future search.
I'll just put in a vote for 2-horse vs 3, whether it's slant or straight (I like straight because it loads the horses' legs more equally as they adjust to stops and starts, turns etc.).
With a 2-horse you have far more agility and you will just use it more. Friends who have gone to 3-horse stop trail riding except for Big Production rides because it's too much trouble to get the trailer out, and from point A to point B, and back in.
Lots of good advice and opinions here. We've owned straight and sland loads. I personally would never return to a straight load. Too claustrophobic in the straights in my opinion. I like the option of being able to turn a horse around for unloading or backing out. Easier when training young horses too, as there is much more open space and it's like stepping up into a stall sized area. Having a new floor is a good thing, make sure it has good working electric brakes and no rust like Kacy said. Bumper guard to protect canon bones and plenty of head space. Also, I would not own any trailer without a fully enclosed rear door because on gravel roads all dust filters right back inside trailer if there is an opening in back. We have a 3-horse slant stock trailer and a 4-horse Exiss slant. If you don't need a bigger trailer, I think you would enjoy the ease of pulling and turning around of the smaller one. Goosenecks are also a lot easier at pulling than bumper pulls, but they are harder to back up in my opinion. I think if the trailer is in good shape, that sounds like a very fair price. Happy hunting!
ME, I have had both. I started out with a two horse straight load, now I own a three horse slant. I will never go back to a straight load. My horses travel much easier in the slant. Having a horse who's had EPM and has issues trailering because of it, I have seen the differences to two different styles have for the horse. Dandy comes out of a straight load with rub marks. In the slant load he is fine as long as he is in the last slot. But even if he rides up front, he still has less rubs than in the straight load. That sold me.
As for what to look for, the safety of the floor is most important. But you can't always tell by a visual. Poking the wood for strength is important.
My pet peeve about my current trailer is it leaks around the overhead vents. So if it's raining my horses get wet. I hate that.
I've owned both slant load and straight load and will never go back to straight load. Many horses (one of mine included) do not ride well in a straight load. They balance better in a slant load and the story I got from trailer sales places is that the reason slant loads were invented is they put a bunch of horses in an open trailer and video taped how the horses travelled when left to their own devices. They all balanced themselves slantways in the trailer.
Loading and unloading are so much easier in a slantload. People have said to make them back out because they "bolt" out, but I let my horses turn around in my slantload and have taught them NOT to bolt out.........no problem!
also, if any horse freaks out in a trailer, it upsets the horse(s), slant load or straight load, doesn't matter. One thing I would like in my slant load are the slam dividers. I have divider that has a pin closure and it has come "open" during transit by the horses leaning on it. I need to make something that is not able to be popped open and can be secured (or) take the divider out!
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