With so many horse trailers on the market which trailer is right for you? The answer to this question is different for every person and every situation. This article’s intent is to help you make that decision by breaking down how much different trailers weigh. Armed with this information you can consider what is best for your rig and your situation.
Horse Trailer Weights
There is an endless number of options and weights when it comes to horse trailers. Here is a general breakdown of horse trailer weights and the weights that the options place on them.
Aluminum Horse Trailers Weights
Aluminum horse trailers are renowned for their inability to rust and can last for decades. “In terms of visual appearance, owners can restore their trailer’s exterior with an acid bath that renders the trailer lustrous and pristine in minutes” (Featherlite).
The aluminum trailers also weigh less than their steel compatriots. There are some drawbacks to all aluminum trailers though. Most trailers nowadays are not constructed with 100% aluminum. But for those that are they overheat inside the trailer, horses can rear through the roof, and the floor can become brittle (Double D Trailers, 2014).
Using Featherlite trailers as a guide, the following aluminum horse trailers’ empty weight is:
Bumper Pull Horse Trailer Weights Without Living Quarters
- 2 horse- 3,000 pounds
- 3 horse- 3,800 pounds
- 4 horse- 4,400 pounds
Gooseneck Horse Trailer Weights Without Living Quarters
- 2 horse- 3,400 pounds
- 4 horse- 6,500 pounds
Bumper Pull Horse Trailer Weights With Living Quarters
- 2 horse- 3,000 pounds
- 3 horse- 3,800 pounds
- 4 horse- 4,400 pounds
Gooseneck Horse Trailer Weights With Living Quarters
- 2 horse- 4,650 pounds
- 3 horse- 5,400 pounds
- 3 horse- 5,400 pounds
Bumper Stock Trailer Weights Without Living Quarters
- 12’- 2,300 pounds
- 16’- 2,750 pounds
- 20’- 3,200 pounds
Gooseneck Stock Trailer Weights Without Living Quarters
- 16’- 3,000 pounds
- 20’- 3,500 pounds
- 24’- 3,900 pounds
Steel Horse Trailers Weights
Though steel trailers can rust and weigh more than aluminum trailers, that in no way means they cannot last a long time and be a good trailer for many years. In fact, a quick look on Craigslist will reveal that there are still all steel horse trailers that are over 20 years old!
There are also variances on how much steel a horse trailer has. There are many companies who use steel in conjunction with aluminum to improve the final product.
Using Double D Trailers as a guide, the following steel horse trailers’ empty weight is:
Bumper Pull Horse Trailer Weights Without Living Quarters
- 2 horse- 2,400 pounds
- 3 horse- 3,200 pounds
- 4 horse- 4,100 pounds
Gooseneck Horse Trailer Weights Without Living Quarters
- 2 horse- 4,600 pounds
- 3 horse- 5,300 pounds
- 4 horse- 6,300 pounds
Gooseneck Horse Trailer Weights With Living Quarters
- 2 horse- 7,300 pounds
- 3 horse- 7,900 pounds
Weight Analyzation
It should come as no surprise that the heaviest trailers are the ones that have living quarters. That is one thing to take into consideration when looking at trailers. Horse trailers that have living quarters are very convenient, but they come with a cost weight wise and money wise.
There is also a noticeable difference between aluminum trailers and steel trailers, with the lightest trailers overall being aluminum stock trailers. One of the reasons that stock trailers are the lightest is because they don’t normally come with a tack/dressing room and saddle racks.
No matter the trailer, weight distribution inside needs to be taken into consideration. As seen in the video above, when a trailer has most of the weight in the back it is far more likely to fishtail out of control. Making sure the majority of the weight is in the back end if very important.
The Proper Towing Rig
Always beware of overloading your rig. Brice from CoolHorse.com’s trailer and truck sales says, “Go by your rig’s tow rating, but remember to figure in 1,100 pounds per horse and figure in 400 pounds for tack.” The bottom line is, keep the trailer weight plus everything else within that tow rating to protect your rig, your cargo, and yourself.
Tires are another thing to take into consideration when hauling a horse trailer. Make sure the tire pressure is where it needs to be; “Underinflated tires create heat and friction, which transfers into the bearings and the brake system… if under heat for a long enough time they can burst into flame” (Bodin, 2013).
Whatever trailer you end up buying make sure that you follow all safety guidelines. Nobody ever walked away from an accident or broken rig being glad that it happened.
Index
Bodin, D. (2013, July 02). Retrieved March 02, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64LA-DX2SlQ
CoolHorse.com, B. (2018, March 2). Trailer Weight [Interview].
Double D Trailers. (2014). How Much Does Your Horse Trailer Weigh? Retrieved March 02, 2018, from https://www.doubledtrailers.com/horse-trailer-towing/
Double D Trailers. (2014). The Rise and Fall of Steel and Aluminum Horse Trailers: Why Z-Frame is Taking Over. Retrieved March 02, 2018, from https://www.doubledtrailers.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-steel-and-aluminum-horse-trailers-why-z-frame-is-taking-over/
Featherlite. (n.d.). Aluminum Trailers vs. Steel Trailers. Retrieved March 02, 2018, from https://www.fthr.com/owner-support/trailer-use-and-care/aluminum-trailers-vs-steel-trailers
Featherlite. (n.d.). Bumper Pull Horse Trailer Weights [Brochure]. Author. Retrieved March 2, 2018, from https://www.fthr.com/-/media/FeatherliteCMS/Files/Weight%20Indexes/BP-Horse-Trailers.pdf
Featherlite. (n.d.). Gooseneck Horse Trailer Weights [Brochure]. Author. Retrieved March 2, 2018, from https://www.fthr.com/-/media/FeatherliteCMS/Files/Weight%20Indexes/BP-Horse-Trailers.pdf
Featherlite. (n.d.). Stock Trailer Weights [Brochure]. Author. Retrieved March 2, 2018, from https://www.fthr.com/-/media/FeatherliteCMS/Files/Weight%20Indexes/Stock-Trailer-Weights.pdf
S. (2016, October 04). Retrieved March 02, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jk9H5AB4lM
