Two days ago received my new 2006 3h GN Hart stock/combo trailer!  Looks awesome, but....after looking it over carefully, I noticed the rear (single) door does not come all the way to the trailer floor. When it's closed, the door is TWO inches above the bottom. I can stick my entire hand from the outside, under the door into the stock area. From the inside, the gap is more than obvious, and a foal could easily get it's hoof under the door. What gives? Is this normal for the new Harts or any stock combo trailer? On my old1985 Featherlite stock/combo, the door is completely flush with the floor, no gap whatsoever. With the holidays, can't call the dealer or the factory, so wonder if any body can tell me how their stock/combo rear door looks.

It's a horse trailer, which is why I didn't know if it would help :-)

I did a little checking on this site for Hart dealers.  I only found 1 dealer that showed the back side of a single door stock trailer.  It looks to be up from the bottom also.  Check it out http://horsetrailerworld.com/home/trailerdetail.asp?ID=65988

Turfa

Hi Terri; Thanks for your reply. So if the 2" gap is normal, what's the point of it? Besides the possibility of a broken leg or a torn off shoe, how 'bout the shavings flying out the bottom as you're hauling?! After looking at four stock/combos (all single door, of various brands) at two nearby barns, none have a gap except mine. 

Well, guess I'll get answers tomorrow when I call the factory. Perhaps I'm making too big a deal of this, but it physically looks like poor manufacturing, with the door not flush with the floor. I KNOW Hart has a good reputation, so either I'm too picky, or they goofed up.

I have never had a problem with the shavings falling out.  My trailer has solid sides almost all the way up so there is not much wind along the bottom of the trailer.  Maybe they left the gap so urine can run out easier?

>>Maybe they left the gap so urine can run out easier?<<

Maybe. Rather have the urine than a pulled leg or shoe. Anyway thanks for your replies!

Is it 2" with mats in the trailer or from the aluminum floor? I'm on my second stock combo (Featherlite and Elite), both have about 1" gaps from the aluminum floor which works out about right once the mats are in place.

KP

Just got off the phone with the Hart manufacturer. It's not a defect. That's the way they do the stock single rear door. The person I spoke with was unable to give a reason for such a large gap: 2 1/4" from the rubber mat.

So I will either weld an add'l 1" or so on the bottom of the door, or figure some way to fill the area in with rubber mats. I do not like that gap.

Let me say, though, that I've had nothing but positive communication with the Hart factory. They're friendly, very prompt with returning phone and email messages; and they make a darn nice trailer.

iCE CRM, my trailer is a horse trailer (4 horse slant)and it has the gap.  

Hi TrishLLC; Good suggestion, as I am leaning towards putting in rubber matting to close the gap instead of welding on an extra 1" of door. The trailer already has a rubber bumper as you described: wonder how it would look with two.  Like....lips??!! lol.   Might be worth a try, though. 

Pulled two horses in it for the first time, and when they walk out, they want to step on the very rear of the trailer, right where the gap is and only has metal on the floor. IOW, since the rubber floor is not flush with where the door hits, there is the metal floor of the trailer. Ok, am I like overanalyzing this! I may be the only trailer owner who's bothered by the gap and four inches of metal floor!

Off topic: It was really interesting to pull a gooseneck instead of a bumper. Can't say I like backing the "tank" up (ok, it's only a 19' box), as I am a pro at backing a BP, and the goose is a whole different exercise. But the ride was much smoother for horses and humans, and the truck seemed to like hauling it better. Very cool.

Its a 98 featherlite.  And its steel, not aluminum.

>>Your mats don't extend all the way out?  mine go to the rubber bumper.<<

No. That's part of the problem too. The mats stop four inches from the end of the trailer. There is a metal strip holding the mats in place, then the four inches of metal. My horse stepped on that on his way out and nearly slipped off the end of the trailer.