Monday 29 March 2021

Trailer Must Haves?

I think I've been talking about getting my own trailer for the 10 year extent of this blog. I finally went and picked one up this past weekend. 



It's never to late to achieve those goals, lol.

I ended up buying new because I live at least one ferry ride from anything and that pretty much automatically makes any trip an overnight one. It made me anxious buying used 'unknown' where I didn't know the maintenance, miles, or history. I know it's not a car and a trailer only has so many things to maintain, but still...given my middle-of-nowhere location I really need reliable and as few surprises as possible.

With the current used market super hot and prices approaching new, it became a no brainer to just set a budget, go to the dealership, and see what I could get. Luckily, they had the three trailer brands I was interested there to look at, and it worked out the one I ended up choosing was in stock and ready to go. The one I had originally reserved to pick up ended up not being the one I chose, so I'm glad I was able to get there in person and look, even though it meant a 16 hour travel day!


A few compromises were made, but this checks all the boxes for things I need - small and relatively light for our F150 to tow. Aluminum body that won't rust and windows that close and lock, since it's parked in our driveway in the Wet Coast rain.

So, that's accomplished. As a person who tends to like having only a very basic level of 'things', it still seems a little odd to have it sitting in the driveway. But, if ever there was a year when I'd deem a trailer essential (with Bridget's upcoming trips to the Island), this is it.

Anyway, as a newbie trailer owner who is planning multiple overnight trips...I'm hoping the more experience crew can make recommendations on what I need to stock the trailer with. 

It came with interior/exterior lighting, a water tank, spare tire, all that. The doors and windows lock, so I'm cool with storing trailer dedicated essentials in there full time. The tack room is not huge but I am a minimalist. It came with hooks, blanket bars, saddle racks, and organizers installed.

Off the top of my head, I'm needing a roadside kit for tire changes, I'm thinking a first aid kit, and the obvious practical things like trailer ties and hay bags. You wouldn't think trailer ties would be a rabbit hole I could get lost in, but with one horse who doesn't solidly tie, and one who has allergies and really needs to be free to travel with a lower head, I'm indecisive.

So, readers - any recommendations for must-have items you can't live without? On the flip side, is there a commonly recommended item that you didn't find useful?




SHARE:

30 comments

  1. I hear a camera is a good add. I think there was a good post on this a few years ago (maybe 900facebookpony)?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, yes...I was scoping cameras last night. There’s some nifty looking ones that use Bluetooth and connect to your phone, I thought a cool idea as it saves cost and extra screens.

      Delete
    2. I got one called a hitch camera on amazon, it sends the feed by wifi to my phone. It was about $100, and I just sit it in the rear window super easy. I don't use it much any more but when I first started trailering it did make me feel better. Or on the rare occasion I'm with a new horse.

      Delete
  2. I have the same trailer a 2021 model but mine is a three horse! Just make sure with your tire change kit is a breaker bar works like a dream with overly tighten lug nuts!
    I like trailer ties like these https://shop.keddies.com/shires-equestrian-bungee-breakaway-trailer-tie/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw9YWDBhDyARIsADt6sGbsSIo5VOW98xje59yc9GZQay8zuXunDXgGMPgx-Zpn2gYibjZ3oG0aAh0REALw_wcB
    I hate ties with Bull snaps and these also have the panic snap on the other side.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Trailer twins! Congrats on your new trailer. Thanks for the link, those look like a solid choice.

      Delete
  3. eeeeeee so friggin excited for you!!! this has been a long time coming, you must be THRILLED to finally seal the deal :D

    in terms of equipment... honestly, i've outfitted my trailer slowly bc it's easy to spend a LOT of money FAST, while still not catching all the things you'll actually need. tire iron and trailer-aid block are all i need to change a tire. i have elastic bungee trailer ties but have been told by many to *not* use them (they essentially become projectiles if they snap, and often hit eyes...). you can *never* have too many hay nets, hanging hooks, and buckets. a portable air compressor is very useful for on-the-go tire checks. i have one of those manure buckets in its own little cart -- a life changer for easy clean up onsite and once back home. and honestly... beyond that? it kinda depends on your set up, ya know? in any case, congrats again!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oooooooh and camp chairs and a multi-pack of bungee hooks lol

      Delete
    2. Chairs are vital! Chairs with cup holders! I'm going to have to start slow, I'm slightly panicking over spending so much on just buying the thing. Safety essentials first, then nice options like fans and cameras, manure bucket cart after.

      Delete
  4. Freedom!!!

    Pick up some grease and spray lubricant and use annually on moving parts. I was told to use white lithium grease on hinges and things like that. A small basic tool kit (screwdrivers, wrench, hammer).
    I like to keep a grooming kit, spare halters, leads and lungeline in the trailer so that I know they are always there.

    You're gonna have fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We keep a small toolkit in the 'big' truck, but good reminder, I should have one in the trailer for the odd time I use my smaller truck to get around.
      Finally, a place to hide some extra halters...for some reason I have a large collection of them? :)

      Delete
  5. Congratulations! I have zero regrets about getting my trailer even though it is expensive (purchase price plus I have to pay my barn extra to store it). I don't think I have made use of anything you wouldn't expect - I do have a portable mounting block (mine also has storage underneath, I store my braiding gear in there). I have 2 half-bale sized hay bags for overnight trips so it doesn't make a huge(r) mess. And I have doubles of pretty much everything except my saddle I keep in there so I don't have to do much packing!
    Oh I had fans installed after I bought mine and it was a great decision for me, but maybe you don't get as warm up north.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A mounting block wouldn't be a bad idea. The dealer took one look at how short I am and was like "PLEASE DO NOT use the trailer fender as a mounting block!" :D

      Delete
    2. Haha I still do that sometimes when I'm too lazy to take the block out (or am not comfortable about leaving it our while I ride)

      Delete
  6. Congratulations! Such a nice feeling to have your own wheels :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It feels a little surreal still. I haven't actually used it yet...still so new and pretty. I'm going to drive around empty a couple times after work this week to get my 'backing up a trailer' skills refreshed too.

      Delete
  7. First aid kit for sure. I had a more complicated on the road first aid kit than barn first aid kit when I was hauling, bc you never know what you need on the road. Jugs for water on the road - I always hauled with 2-3x the water I needed. Extra halters and lead ropes. Tristan won't load without a chain shank, so I always had one in there. I also got a roadside kit that included flares & reflective triangles in case I ever had to pull off the road in the dark.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I'm going to put my barn first aid kit in the trailer, along with a human one! I feel like every time we travel there is some kind of adventure. Good point about the water - the trailer has a big tank, but we've been stuck in city traffic or ferry delays for 5+ hours some times and they drink so much.

      Delete
  8. Fire extinguisher rated for vehicle fires that is easily reachable just inside the trailer door (I have mine bungeed to the wall), a TrailerAid, and as someone else said, a breaker bar for the tire iron that you KNOW you can actually use to muscle the lug nuts off. I also keep zip ties in mine after my tire delaminated and sent my fender flying and the cop used zip tie handcuffs to patch up my electrical. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! A fire extinguisher! Pretty much all of our trips will include at least an hour of driving through unpopulated areas. In mountains in the summer there is always at least one burnt vehicle on the shoulder that didn't make it.

      Delete
  9. Congratulations. I agree with buying new. It will last forever. I have things I keep in my trailer pretty much all the time: chair, extra halter, lead, lunge line, whip (lunge and dressage), fly spray, gloves, jacket, hat, buckets, grooming kit. I also keep extra cotter pins and trailer ties. I don't use the bungee ones. I bought some a while ago that are velcro- they will separate if the horse comes onto them but the halter won't break and you have a grab stap to get the horse. I love it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. On one hand, happy it's probably going to be the one and only trailer I buy. On the other, slightly depressing I'm already old enough to contemplate 'forever' purchases lol. Extra cotter pins! Yes! I've already lost one. Chairs are a must. Lunge line and whip are the first things in there - I have been carrying them up and down a 2km road to the ring and back the last 3 years and I'm so done with that!

      Delete
  10. Congrats.
    Trailer Aid and 4way tire iron are musts. I also have a dewalt battery charger air compressor thing that is very handy to have.

    For trailer ties I still haven't found one I love yet. But I do love these things for horses that don't tie well. I don't like hard tying anyways so this makes me feel a lot better.
    https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Safe-T-Tie_Breakaway_Horse_Tie_Tether_Release_2-Pack/descpage-STTBTR2.html

    The smartpak nylon hay bags have always been my favorites and are easy to fill and hang.

    Enjoy your adventures!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congrats.
    Trailer Aid and 4way tire iron are musts. I also have a dewalt battery charger air compressor thing that is very handy to have.

    For trailer ties I still haven't found one I love yet. But I do love these things for horses that don't tie well. I don't like hard tying anyways so this makes me feel a lot better.
    https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Safe-T-Tie_Breakaway_Horse_Tie_Tether_Release_2-Pack/descpage-STTBTR2.html

    The smartpak nylon hay bags have always been my favorites and are easy to fill and hang.

    Enjoy your adventures!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Safe-T-Ties and Trailer Aid have been ordered today - so many good reviews and recommendations for both - thank you! My husband just bought a charger/air compressor thing yesterday as a surprise for me, so exciting!

      Delete
  12. is it slant or straight? I ended up getting a slant and while not thrilled but it is okay now that I have used it. Remus is not a huge fan of it and does do a bit of protest until we move but he loads in it fine.

    I am so excited for you. We did the same bought new. It just made the most sense overall. i was looking at used that cost almost 10k that were 10 years old or older. I second the smartpak nylon hay bags. CONGRATS I want photos of the inside! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a 2H slant - a friend has an older model of the same trailer so I know my two fit happily inside. I'd have had to gone with straight haul or a bigger slant one if my horses were bigger than 15.2ish though - it's not an overly big trailer. I was seeing used ones 4 or 5 years old asking same price as new and still selling in a few hours - it seemed worth it to just pay the extra taxes and get new!

      Delete
    2. exactly and yes Remus fits fine in the front stall leaving plenty of room for his (cough cough) bigger warmblood friends to ride along :) I am very happy with my new one so hope you are with yours. If there had been that brand near me I would have looked at it! ENJOY!!

      Delete
  13. AHHHHHHHHHHHH! Congratulations!!!!
    How freaking exciting!
    I might be repeating what others have said but:
    1. First Aid kit (I always bring wraps and gauze and whatnot for potentially cut legs, etc)
    2. Spare halter/ lead
    3. Tire iron/ spare tire (make sure it's inflated! Don't ask me why this is on my list, lol. Almost like I mayyyyybe got a flat but the spare was also flat - that was a lot of fun... NOT.)
    4. I have a little jack as well too and I like it!
    5. Dielectric grease - this has saved my butt a few times when my stupid trailer plug and truck don't want to work together and register the trailer lights! (This being said, when you park it at home, I recommend putting a bucket or something over the jack and plug to keep the rain/dirt off of it!).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, great list. Good tip re: the trailer plug. We had one part of it not working, and found out some ford trucks do not have the proper fuses installed to power the entire plug...apparently we were supposed to get a bag of fuses when we bought the truck. And put them in ourselves if we decided to tow a trailer! Despite it coming with a tow package. So weird. I bought the fuses and relays yesterday, and now I'm kind of feeling done with troubleshooting trailer plug issues :)

      Delete
    2. I do the bucket thing I had a cover that literally rotted so need to order a new one but a bucket does great :)

      Delete

BLOGGER TEMPLATE MADE BY pipdig