Posted 2014-11-12 11:54 AM (#161524) Subject: Fitting an 8 1/2'W x 24'Lx7'T American Hauler trailer for horses
Member
Posts: 8
Location: Sullivan, OH
We just bought this trailer to use for both a 3 horse trailer and also to carry the super stock dirt track racing car. Got the added payload capacity and extra overhead and side venting, and lights inside. Ramp door exit in rear and 36"wide people exit on side in front.
NOW... to fit it for the horses. I know we have to find rubber sheeting for the walls and rubber mats for the floor. No problem.
How to make stall dividers that can be easily removed or folded against the wall is another story. I found prebuilt stall dividers for $700.00 each, but that's just too steep. Also found the new padded divider that hangs from the dividers that will work to separate the horses from the front of the trailer and it's assorted tack and tool boxes.
Really need to find out if it's possible to buy used dividers... or a plan to build our own. Our horses are seasoned travelers with no issues thankfully, but we still want something strong. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Posted 2014-11-12 12:57 PM (#161527 - in reply to #161524) Subject: RE: Fitting an 8 1/2'W x 24'Lx7'T American Hauler trailer for horses
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
Ok I had to soak on this a bit. I am not trying to sound negative or judgmental, just trying to understand. You are really planning on hauling your horses in a completely enclosed race car trailer? Yes I see you said you upgraded the payload and venting. But they will be inside a completely enclosed trailer, as in vents, but no windows? Does upgraded payload allow for side strength for a kicking, stomping horse? I know people have been told that toy haulers are not designed for the rigors of hauling a horse. Is this different? Once again, just curious, not trying to sound negative. I just cant quite imagine hauling a horse in a completely enclosed type trailer like this. Or is yours modified to contain windows also?
Posted 2014-11-12 3:17 PM (#161530 - in reply to #161524) Subject: RE: Fitting an 8 1/2'W x 24'Lx7'T American Hauler trailer for horses
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
What floor and floor joist setup do you have...remember a horse can stomp his hoof down on that floor with serious force that a race car will never do...:)
Posted 2014-11-12 6:28 PM (#161533 - in reply to #161524) Subject: RE: Fitting an 8 1/2'W x 24'Lx7'T American Hauler trailer for horses
Veteran
Posts: 124 Location: Calgary, Canada
Looking at the online specs of the American Hauler, the floors on most (all?) of their trailers appears to be made out of 3/4" plywood. Combined with the floor truss system, this may be acceptable for a 3000 lb race car (a static load), but with the dynamic load of a horse (a live load), the floor may be a weak point in this application. I would also suspect that the walls might be too light for a "horse trailer application", unless special upgrading was performed. Wooden floors of horse trailers are typically made with 1-1/2" to 2" thick wood ... which I would believe is considerably stronger than 3/4" plywood. Unless substantial structural changes to the standard trailer design were made when the trailer was manufactured, it may not meet the strength requirements to be used as a horse trailer. For your consideration. Regards, 3CW
Posted 2014-11-13 9:59 AM (#161546 - in reply to #161524) Subject: RE: Fitting an 8 1/2'W x 24'Lx7'T American Hauler trailer for horses
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 399 Location: Ottawa, Illinois 61350
Too bad you didn't go the other way; and purchase an 8.5 wide aluminum stock trailer that was 7' tall with a ramp and Plexiglas. You would have had a stronger trailer for horse useage, and one that was more flexible for installing slant dividers. Just my thoughts.
Posted 2014-11-13 3:35 PM (#161550 - in reply to #161524) Subject: RE: Fitting an 8 1/2'W x 24'Lx7'T American Hauler trailer for horses
Member
Posts: 8
Location: Sullivan, OH
We have been working closely with not only American Hauler, but also the dealer who is a former Amish with substantial horse knowledge.
Yes. the axles, brakes, tires, payload, floors and walls are being upgraded to a much higher level than standard. They are even checking into the rubber for the walls and floors can be found near the factory.
Bruce at American Hauler has been fantastic with each and every concern so far. If things continue to go right we will be ordering this coming Saturday.
I've looked at stock trailers. To get one of this size, add everything it needs is MUCH more expensive. Even trying to buy a simple divider alone is $688.00 each... and I need 3. That doesn't even include the hardware! It's just crazy the profit they want on horse trailers. I checked with a fabricator yesterday and he can make them for less than 200 to my specifications... and be stronger to boot. Wish me luck! I'm in my 60's. I don't want huge trailer payments till I die!
Posted 2014-11-14 10:41 AM (#161561 - in reply to #161560) Subject: RE: Fitting an 8 1/2'W x 24'Lx7'T American Hauler trailer for horses
Member
Posts: 8
Location: Sullivan, OH
Oh... and I forgot to mention that I hadn't seen an 8 1/2' wide horse trailer. 8' yes, but that's not enough width to fit his stock car. Just really trying to service 2 needs with one trailer. My horse trailer was hit by a tornado last year. We're going to salvage as much out of it as we can... i.e. dividers and etc.
All in all we're looking at about 10 grand with all the upgrades we added. Find me a steel framed, aluminum basic horse trailer at that price for this size and I'll be impressed. I've looked. If they're out there.... I don't know where.
Posted 2014-11-14 1:15 PM (#161564 - in reply to #161524) Subject: RE: Fitting an 8 1/2'W x 24'Lx7'T American Hauler trailer for horses
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
Hmmm well, the maximum allowable width of a trailer is 8'6". I guess what you call an 8 1/2. My LQ trailer is 8'6" wide. Of course the interior will be slightly more narrow than this. But even the trailers that are advertised a more narrow width, are still 8'6' with the fenders. That is why they have wide fenders. So you are either going to have wheel wells inside the trailer or the wheels will be set under the trailer bed/floor, like our GN flat bed trailers are that we haul tractors on. Am I not correct?I hope you end up with a suitable trailer like you hope to get. My original question though is, do you intend to haul your horses in a completely enclosed trailer with no windows? side from structural integrity to accomodate the forces created by a horse, I just cant seem to imagine hauling them in a totally enclosed box, venting or not. I would think you would still have issues with ammonia and air flow, and summer heat from the animals bodies.
Posted 2014-11-16 8:32 PM (#161595 - in reply to #161524) Subject: RE: Fitting an 8 1/2'W x 24'Lx7'T American Hauler trailer for horses
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430 Location: TN
There is a reason a stock trailer is much more expensive- they are built to haul a live load and are that much more heavy duty. Not for nothing, but I'm from Lancaster County, PA, work with the Amish on a daily basis, and horse hauling is not something they are experts in!
Posted 2014-11-17 11:26 AM (#161607 - in reply to #161524) Subject: RE: Fitting an 8 1/2'W x 24'Lx7'T American Hauler trailer for horses
Member
Posts: 8
Location: Sullivan, OH
Thanks for your input! The trailer has now been ordered. 8.5 wide x 24 long x 7.5 tall. 12000# axles, upgraded to 1.5' floor and walls with rubber mats to be installed by dealer on entire floor and up halfway on each wall. 4 overhead vents, 4 outside vents, 4 LED lights inside, one window, one 36" door, double floor ramp in rear, heaviest aluminum exterior available with stone guard in front. Dealer to install additional stone guard up each side halfway up. Dealer to install 3 outside ties, and 3 inside ties.
I have had a Moritz 16' stock trailer since 1993. I had the side openings filled with plexiglass. The only ventilation was 2 little circle vents in the front, and about 10" of opening at the top of the rear door. THIS trailer will be 10x better ventilated and at least 2x brighter inside. Another 6" of head room too!
I won't go into the extra things added for the sake of the race car, but I will say after all was said and done we came in under $11,000 tax and all. The best part is that my turnaround will have only ONE trailer in it versus 2, and that both the horses and the car have upgraded from their previous trailers IMMENSELY!
Yeah, I don't have the Budweiser clydes for horses, or a formula one race car either.... but our trailering needs... AND our budget... we're happy. Thanks again for all your suggestions! I actually learned alot from a professional horse hauler that lives nearby too. It was all appreciated!!51
Posted 2014-11-17 2:16 PM (#161611 - in reply to #161524) Subject: RE: Fitting an 8 1/2'W x 24'Lx7'T American Hauler trailer for horses
Member
Posts: 8
Location: Sullivan, OH
They say it usually takes 4 weeks, but with the holidays we may not get it until the end of Dec. or maybe even early Jan.
I'll be happy to post pics once it's all done and finished!
BTW- My truck is a Dodge 3500 dually with the Cummins diesel in it. Finally I'll be able to look out the mirrors and see the trailer behind me, and maybe even feel like I'm pulling something! LOL Love my truck!!!!
Posted 2014-11-17 3:29 PM (#161618 - in reply to #161524) Subject: RE: Fitting an 8 1/2'W x 24'Lx7'T American Hauler trailer for horses
Member
Posts: 18
Location: Leslie Mi
blackthunderranch glad you nailed down your trailer and have it on order I also am interested in pictures please.
To comment on the stableboy there was a dealer with one at an equine expo here in Michigan over the weekend and so took a gander first hand, they had it in a triple axle toy hauler that was extremely lifted the ramp up to the rear end was quite the climb and angle, I will say (mho) this unit is not for the first trailer ride (horses) it is for the well seasoned veteran, the sides that make up the stalls appear heavy enough aluminum but are very short, also there is not a metal head high front so if you have a nibbler the front of your trailers garage is going to sustain some chewing, there is rubber that is laid on the floor the rear gates have a single latch and as it is portable there was some racking to the rear gates and some side to side movement of the whole unit, I understand what is trying to be achieved but this maybe close to crossing a line that was not meant to be crossed, there are fifth wheel campers and living quarters horse/livestock trailers for a reason. Tim
Posted 2014-11-17 4:09 PM (#161619 - in reply to #161524) Subject: RE: Fitting an 8 1/2'W x 24'Lx7'T American Hauler trailer for horses
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 399 Location: Ottawa, Illinois 61350
Still bet your gonna wish you had done it in a stock trailer; and yes they do make 8 1/2 foot wide stocks. There is no way I would haul either my horses or cattle in a trailer built by a cargo manufacturer. It just isn't the same "animal".
Posted 2014-11-18 5:53 PM (#161666 - in reply to #161524) Subject: RE: Fitting an 8 1/2'W x 24'Lx7'T American Hauler trailer for horses
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
I can't wait to see what your insurance carrier thinks of this rig. With all the modifications done outside the factory, you know things won't go down well in court.
Fitting an 8 1/2'W x 24'Lx7'T American Hauler trailer for horses
