------------HANDYCHECKLIST------------
Used-Trailer Shopping Tips If your budget doesn’t allow for a new horse trailer this year, consider a well-cared-for, well-designed used trailer. Here’s a shopping checklist.
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
When buying a used trailer, look for a roomy, well-ventilated, well-lit model with a safe, sturdy design.
■ Avoid impulse buys. Don’t buy the first trailer you see. Shop around. The wrong trailer is no deal at any price. ■ Consider your horse. Put your horse’s safety and comfort first. Look at the trailer from his point
of view. Avoid dark, stuffy trailers. Look for a roomy, well-ventilated, well-lit trailer with a safe, sturdy design. ■ Determine the GVWR. Determine the trailer’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. The GVWR, which
relates to the axle and coupler rating/capacity, tells you how much the trailer can weigh with horses and cargo and be safe to haul. Older, smaller used trailers can have lower GVWRs than larger, newer models. It’s easy to exceed this limit. >>
USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
8
Spring 2020
