I recently bought a 1991 merhow verylite but the upper doors are missing and the man I bought it from said it was like that when he got it. But is it possible for me to buy them somewhere or are they even made anymore? I was thinking about hiring a welder to make them for me but if I could buy them already built that would be even better. These are what I'm talking about http://cdn.equinemediaworld.com/htw/u/d/00960/0451300/451350-c75a9f...
Posted 2015-11-29 11:50 PM (#165472 - in reply to #165471) Subject: RE: Upper trailer doors
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Except for storing the trailer unsheltered outside and keeping the back rain free ... Leave them off. The open area makes for a very cool trailer ride for the horses. If your horses are too cold in Winter, blanket them... Something I doubt will happen in Houston....If you still want upper doors, Have a local shop fabricate them for you. Ask them to design it to allow you to fasten the doors open against the sides. (for cooling, while on the road)
Posted 2015-12-04 7:10 PM (#165504 - in reply to #165471) Subject: RE: Upper trailer doors
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
LSurb, you really don't want to use the upper doors unless it's raining and nearly freezing. Having doors that pin back to stay open is how you will use the trailer 90-98% of the time. I'm a North Texas girl and the worst thing you can do is put your horse in a metal box that has too little ventilation and have a horse you can't ride hop off the trailer. Even in freezing weather I would only use a sheet in my two horse trailer even with the side windows slid open and top doors shut with both roof vents full open (one forward one rear facing.) Hauling a sweaty horse in the winter is a recipe for a disaster and an upper respiratory infection making the horse unridable. I've hauled for 4+ hours and not even had my time in the ring, heartbreaking and expensive. Rule of thumb from my old horse vet was if the windows are fogging up then you need to vent the trailer more. Longer hauls bring about the increased exposure to urine fumes only tipping the scales more in favor of fresh air movement. You can always add blankets and hoods if needed to adjust the temperature in the winter. I have had horse friends from N TX talk about pulling horses off trailers in the summer after being stuck in traffic only to find horses of the verge of collapse. The inside of a trailer can get CRAZY hot without air flow most horse owners don't learn this lesson early enough.
Posted 2015-12-04 9:26 PM (#165505 - in reply to #165471) Subject: RE: Upper trailer doors
Member
Posts: 9
Location: Houston
I want the doors. End of story, I do not want my horses to be rained on when we are traveling and I know to leave them open most of the time. I do not want my trailer being open when stored and I take pride in how clean my trailer is, I would like to keep it that way and with the doors I could.
Posted 2015-12-07 7:07 AM (#165519 - in reply to #165471) Subject: RE: Upper trailer doors
Regular
Posts: 56 Location: Belchertown MA
Would have to agree with you about hauling in the rain, got caught in the rain a couple times with our small stock trailer we use for day trips and when we got where we were going the horses were soaked and covered with road grime getting sucked in the top of back door (sides have plexi on them most of the time). Made some plexi pieces to cover most of back top and much better. I store round bales in it when not using so need it clean and dry as well. Good luck finding doors,was a good suggestion to check dealers for some old ones that would work.
Upper trailer doors
