Horse Trailer Buying Tips
When purchasing a new horse trailer, there are numerous features to bear in mind. One significant feature is whether the horse trailer will have a gooseneck or bumper pull design. There are many reasons why you may gain from either design. Let's compare these two designs to see which will work best for your needs.
Bumper Pull Designs - Good and Bad Points
Bumper pull designs, also referred to as tag-along designs, are trailers that attach to a hitch on the hauling vehicle. The trailer then "tags along" after the towing vehicle and therefore a part of the whole vehicle.
Advantages
There are many good aspects of bumper pull trailers. They regularly cost less than a gooseneck horse trailer. It's not compulsory to own a 4x4 pickup for pulling the trailer, because of this more people can haul this design of horse trailer with their normal car. Normal turns are often more easily done because the tag-along will go along with the direction of your tow vehicle. The storage space required is less for the horsebox as needed for a gooseneck trailer. Finally the trailer doesn't have to be classified as a "commercial" vehicle with regards to licences as the weight of both the horsebox and tow vehicle is commonly less than 10,001 lbs.
Negative Points
There are several disadvantages as well. These type of trailers do not present as much space for clothing and tack. Some bumper pull designs may not be adequate for towing over two horses due to the type of hitch necessary for the weight of the trailer. Also, these designs are more likely to to fishtail on bendy roads, which can be risky.
Gooseneck Designs - Advantages and Disadvantages
Gooseneck trailers vary from bumper pull designs in their style of hitch. The hitch is attached inside the hauling 4x4's bed using a ball and coupler joint. This layout provides a number of benefits. It won't wobble or fishtail like a bumper trailer is likely to, and pulling is more stable. They also provide more area for living space, which can be convenient for camping and overnight trips. The gooseneck layout is also more easy to reverse up to and align with the ball while attaching it to your pulling vehicle, because you can see it easily from the rear window. The gooseneck style is safer without the worry of the trailer becoming detached while travelling on the highway.
Bad Points
There are also some disadvantages. Gooseneck designs cost more and are usually bigger so they must be towed with a pickup that is capable of pulling it. The hitching design is also more expensive for a gooseneck design. A further disadvantage is that during the hitching of the trailer, you must climb into the load bay of the truck to complete the attachment. Also, you will need to remove your load cover from the truck to tow a gooseneck trailer.
The Right Design For You
Whether you're considering a bumper pull or gooseneck trailer, you can search on the web to check out various features of each. If you're on a tight budget, you can search for used horseboxes for sale and horse trailers for sale to find a bargain. Reflect on the plus points and disadvantages of each design prior to handing over any money. For more information and horses for sale, visit the Horse and Pony Directory
