Building Your Own Custom Horse Trailer by Double D Trailers
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hoosing a horse trailer is not an easy task. There are a million things that cross a horse owners’ mind before purchasing a new trailer. Of course, there are plenty of used trailers sitting on lots that you could go pick out and take home today. The problem with choosing a pre-built trailer is that you never get exactly what you want. Why? Because you didn’t design it, someone else did! Maybe it’s just a minor issue, but you choose to settle and “just deal with it” so you can go ahead and get a trailer. This can cause major issues down the road. Horse trailers that are being built today are really built to last, so it’s important that you take your time in the buying process. Here are a few basic things you should think about before purchasing a horse trailer: What vehicle are you towing with? One of the most common misconceptions about horse trailers is that you can just hitch up to any old truck and you’re ready to hit the road. This is where we see a lot of dangerous situations happen. In comparison to other trailer manufacturers, our trailers are
extremely lightweight. Double D Trailers feature chassis (frames) that are constructed with a patented Z-Frame technology. Unlike standard aluminum or steel trailers, Z-Frame is both strong and lightweight. However, this does not mean that you shouldn’t consider other factors when choosing which horse trailer that you want. Other aspects come into play with safe towing such as tongue weight and weight distribution. Here at Double D Trailers, we call these factors the “Magic Gs of Towing.” GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) – Maximum weight # allowed for your tow vehicle. This includes trailer tongue weight, passengers, and tow vehicle weight. GCVWR (Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating) – Maximum allowed loaded weight of the trailer and tow vehicle combo. GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) – Maximum weight the axles on your tow vehicle are able to haul. Determining the Magic Gs of your tow vehicle will likely influence the next question. Do you want a gooseneck or bumper pull trailer? To make deciding between a gooseneck or a bumper pull
a little simpler, check out the above, quick reference chart. What size are your horses? When thinking about horse size, it’s crucial to consider the size of your smallest horse AND your largest horse. The horse trailer that you purchase needs to be able to fit whatever combination of horses that you will be hauling. This is another major issue that arises when purchasing pre-built trailers – all the stall sizes are the same. Say that you own both a pony, and a larger 17 hand horse. A standard manufactured trailer with 2 standard size stalls won’t get the job done for your horses. When you design a custom horse trailer with Double D Trailers, you can specify the sizes of your horses in your customization process, and we’ll build the stalls to
accommodate them. We’ll make sure all of your horses are comfortable and, most importantly, that they are safe. What do you really want in a horse trailer? Remember this: it’s okay to be picky with such an important purchase. Do you want a pink trailer? Bright and airy living quarters? A trailer to match the color of your truck? At Double D Trailers our motto is, “If you can dream it, we can design it.” Choosing to design a custom horse trailer that will fit all of your (and your horses’) wants and needs is really the ideal option, because the right trailer will be a lifetime investment. Ready to learn more? Visit doubledtrailers.com or email brad@doubledtrailers. com.
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