REPOSTING--Greetings, got a brand new horse trailer about 8 years ago, a Trails West Sierra II, slant load. Had about 200 miles on the thing when the axle broke. I was hauling a 1000 lb horse when the trailer suddenly seemed to lurch backward; I thought my horse had some how fallen over. I did not hit anything. Then I thought I had a flat tire and was stunned when told I had a broken axle. I was responsible for the full cost of the repair. I got real curious when a girlfriend who bought the same model trailer (new) and had her axle break shortly after she bought it. She did not hit anything either. I took lots of pictures when the Automobile Assn guy who came to fix my "flat" tire had the wheel off. The guy confirmed that it did not appear that I hit anything. My helpful husband, who was not in the vehicle when the axle broke doubted me. I can manage the doubting husband, but was curious if any one else has had an axle break with this trailer? Happy trails!
Posted 2014-07-23 4:10 PM (#160105 - in reply to #160104) Subject: RE: Help! Trails West--2 Broken axles!
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610 Location: Northern CA
My friend has the Gooseneck trailer and the welds broke where the gn and the deck meet. She too bought hers brand new and had to have it all re-welded. Yes, this was a Trails West Sierra model. 2005 or so? With a LQ.
Posted 2014-07-23 4:25 PM (#160110 - in reply to #160104) Subject: RE: Help! Trails West--2 Broken axles!
Member
Posts: 5
Location: grass valley CA
Thanks Jackbrat, this is interesting. Mine is a 2005, girlfriends' who also had her axle break, is probably a 2011. Both of our trailers have a tack room, no LQ and are bumper pull. Shoddy materials/workmanship perhaps?Jer
Posted 2014-07-23 4:36 PM (#160114 - in reply to #160104) Subject: RE: Help! Trails West--2 Broken axles!
Veteran
Posts: 145 Location: Harrisburg, OR
I sold a used 2007 Trails West to a customer and the axle broke on their way home. We had gone through the trailer and nothing looked amiss. I paid for the new axle but assumed they had to have hit something as the trailer checked out during our inspection. They swore up and down they hadn't hit anything. Apparently they were right.
Posted 2014-07-24 3:50 PM (#160134 - in reply to #160122) Subject: RE: Help! Trails West--2 Broken axles!
Member
Posts: 5
Location: grass valley CA
Howdy Brokenboot (hope you get that fixed!)You were right to be curious, I screwed up. I reposted my initial message to correct this. My trailer is a Trails West Sierra II two horse slant load bumper pull bought from (& repaired by) the same Sundowner dealership. My girlfriend's trailer is the same model as mine, bought from the same dealer but is newer. Sorry for the confusion. Also, my Trails West is a 2006 (not 2005).Good catch Brokenboot!Jer
Help! Trails West--2 Broken axles!
