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much for the average pickup to tow safely. For those who want the comforts of home while at events, the living quarter trailer is a perfect match, and if you are a fullblown, every weekend team roping participant who travels your local of national geological location, a living quarter trailer is a must. For those who might only be a local jackpot roper or the occasional roper, a living quarter trailer may be more of a hassle then it would be if you had a smaller trailer to maneuver through your local city of town in. Really the decision is yours and a living quarter trailer can also provide camping vacations with your horses, as well as variety of other avenues. Many times the type of trailer you finally decide on often takes precedence over the next hurdle to discuss and that is the difference between gooseneck or bumper pull hitches. Most smaller trailers come in either style, however, when you step it up to a larger 4,5, 6 or maybe even larger horse trailer, or add in the living quarter areas, your decision is made for you; which is a gooseneck style hitch. Although a bumper pull trailer can accommodate a dressing room, or larger tack compartment, a gooseneck trailer most often allows for a little more room. Although the decision of what type of hitch is often determined by the trailer itself, if a
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roper wants to pull the trailer with a SUV or a motor home, a bumper hitch is the only option they can have. On the other hand, should a roper want to step up into a multi-horse, large living quarters trailer, there is the option of using a semi-tractor for the towing vehicle which often require a gooseneck style hitch. These initial considerations are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to selecting a new trailer to tow to future team roping events. Many other things such as interior trailer height, drop down windows, step in or ramp style loading, tack compartment size and configurations, as well as storage areas, feed bunks, hay racks and built in water storage. These features can be moved into your own priority list of things you want or must have in the trailer. Additionally, you need to keep your horses safety in mind. Features such as ventilation throughout the trailer, escape doors, footing options and overall safe configurations of the trailer should be evaluated. You next horse trailer may be new or
used, but should be what you want and what fits your needs. Sometimes, just because it may be a good deal, a trailer should be overlooked because it does not endure what you need. You may have to haul more than 2 to 3 horses at a time so everyone in the family can participate at the event, you may want to add the comfort of a large living quarter area so you can relax and enjoy the full benefits of the event, or maybe you need a trailer for multiple purposes such as hauling cattle when you are not team roping. No trailer fits everyone’s ideal preferences and that is why there are so many options available. Begin your search of your next trailer with all of the possibilities in mind and get out there to see if your budget and ideas come together for your purchase.
t is the nightmare of every team roper. Late for an event and a blowout on the side of the road, or heading out to load the horses up and find one or more of the tires on your trailer flat. Maybe even worse, stuck on the side of the road with a blowout and finding your spare flat. Now you are only equipped with a cell phone and a credit card for the nearest mobile tire repair company. In all of these cases, one thing is the culprit; it is the tire or tires of your horse trailer. They may look like their in good shape from the outside, but they may not be. Every horse trailer owner should pay close attention to their horse trailer tires to help avoid these types of dreadful problems. Knowledge about tires can make all the difference when buying new ones, or inspecting the ones currently on your trailer. Trailer tires are different from truck or car tires. The difference is how they are manufactured. Trailer tires are made to withstand heavy loads, while car and trucks tires are made for maneuvering and traction, as well as load bearing. Trailer tires should not be used on cars and trucks and vise-versa. They are manufactured to do different things related to the vehicle or trailer they are installed on. All tires have codes to represent their design and capabilities. The ISO Metric tire code consists of a string of letters and numbers that identify the tire including tire size. Other Identification marks on the tires include what type of tire it is, load bearings and more. These letters and numbers include the following. Knowledge of the ISO Metric code, and the other Identification symbols on a tire can be helpful when you go to purchase new tires or when inspecting them on your trailer.