Boston/American/Barn doors on trailers?

[tobiano1984]

I'm doing lots of trailer-related posts at the moment, first time buyer alert! What are people's thoughts/experiences of barn door trailers, like Bateson have an option, as do Fautras? I like the idea of smaller ramp (I like the step on American trailers as well) but never used one before.

 

[Spring Feather]

Love them. Step-ups are so much better than ramped trailers imo.

 

[webble]

I haven't used them but am about to buy my first trailer too I like the idea and have read good reports

 

[southerncomfort]

I have a Fautras. Absolutely love it.

Mine all prefer stepping on and I haven't yet had any horse refuse to load.

 

[LittleBlackMule]

I have barn doors and no ramp on my Pegasus trailer. I don't know if it is a mere coincidence that my new horse, who would take 3 hours to load with his previous owners, now walks straight in with me.
I also use the trailer to collect big round bales of hay, and it makes life so much easier when the forklift can drive right up to the back to load them.

 

[MyDogIsAnIdiot]

I'm another buyer who's looking for one with barn doors - they're very scarce. My old YO had a Bateson with them and never had a horse refuse to load.

 

[meesha]

Friend had bateson with barn doors, was travelling horse home who booted the door and it flew open whilst they were travelling, apparently this happens on older commercial lorries with same doors too.

 

[Spring Feather]

Friend had bateson with barn doors, was travelling horse home who booted the door and it flew open whilst they were travelling,

These small European trailers aren't that popular over here but I helped a friend load a horse in a Bateson just the other day and the locking mechanism on that trailer was the usual, huge long bar which attaches at the top of the trailer and goes all the way down to the floor. How could the door be booted open? Unless it wasn't latched properly, or are the locking mechanisms different in the UK?

 

[LittleBlackMule]

^^This^^
There's no way the doors would come open on mine, and I think the mechanism is the same as on the Bateson. It would have to not be latched properly.

 

[meesha]

As far as know was latched but big horse kicking it flexed door allowing it to pop out

 

[BSL]

Another Fautras owner, I have a Fautras Proven, with left front door unload. It also has a mechanism that enables you to release the breaching strap at horses head should you wish to back horse out. I love mine. My horse, who used to be a nightmare to load, now goes in like a dream. I can even load by myself now, as he is happy to stand eating his hay whilst I go and shut the back up. Brilliant trailer that tows superbly.