Used Horse Trailer Buying Guide

Horse trailers are indispensable for horse owners as you need them to take your animal anywhere, from the local vet to a horse show in another state. These aren’t the cheapest vehicles so you need to make sure you’re getting the right one or it’s a good chunk of money down the drain. One way to save some cash is to buy a used horse trailer.

At Double B Trailer Sales, we know people get more nervous about buying used than buying new. We’ve compiled this guide so you don’t feel out of your depth when you go shopping for a pre-owned horse trailer. If you’re looking for quality new or used horse trailers, visit us at our location in Centerville and Hurricane, Utah.

Fix a Sum

You need to look into your finances to see how much you want to spend on a used horse trailer. This way you won’t waste time checking out models that are out of your price range. With a fixed budget, you’ll also avoid overspending. Get a good quality model that’ll last you years and give back good ROI.

Decide on Features

Once you’ve decided on the amount you want to spend, look into what features you want in your used horse trailer. With the right features, you’ll get a much better towing and travel experience but the price will also hike up. Only invest in the features you know you’ll use and ones that can make the journey better for both you and the horses.

Trailer Must-Haves

Since you’ll be transporting a live animal instead of inanimate cargo, you need to give extra attention to the insides of your used horse trailer. There has to be proper airflow. A livestock trailer can also get really dirty from feed and animal droppings. To ensure the horses don’t suffer, there should be plenty of fresh air circulating in the trailer. There should be at least one vent opening in the nose, one in the rear and a few on the sides. Your horse also needs plenty of room to lower his head below his chest to exhale out contaminants.

Horses are big animals and need some space to accommodate them. They’ve also been known to be claustrophobic, which can make them very stressed out. Your horse trailer should have enough room for them to stay comfortable and safe. They should also be able to have enough room to use their necks and heads for balance.

Third, is there enough lighting? Horses are prey animals. Their instincts associate the dark with a place where a predator may be lurking. Keep the used horse trailer well-lit to make it more inviting for your animals. Look for models that have an interior painted with light colors, windows that let in natural light, and interior lights.

Which Hitch Style

Horse trailers usually connect to their tow vehicles in one of two ways: gooseneck and tag-along. With a gooseneck hitch, the trailer extends over to the tow vehicle, while a tag-along uses a tongue to connect to the tow hitch that extends from the tow vehicle’s frame. Both have different advantages that’ll help you decide between them. Gooseneck trailers can handle much more weight while tag-alongs are easier to hitch and unhitch. Ensure the trailer hitch is compatible with your tow vehicle.

Construction Materials

Different horse trailers are made of different materials. Steel trailers are strong, heavy, and able to transport even the biggest horses. Aluminum trailers are light and more brittle. This makes them easier to tow, but they can suffer more wear and tear from your horses. While steel can rust and aluminum can corrode, it’s not likely that this will be a significant consideration if they are painted or coated with anti-corrosive material. 

We hope this guide helps you make your final choice! If you need more information or if you’d like to check out our used horse trailers for sale in person, head to Double B Trailer Sales in Centerville and Hurricane, Utah. We invite all our friends from Salt Lake City, St. George, Ogden and Washington to get in touch with us today.