To all you trailer owners!

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mischamoo

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I have just become the owner of my very first trailer and was looking for handy hints and tips for things I can keep in there that help with storage, safety etc. i.e. do you use bungee ties instead of baling string for tying up etc. There’s a tack locker already fitted in the trailer and it’s capable of holding 2 x 16.2 hh. Its towed by a 4x4 with a hefty size boot, any suggestions for carrying/storing tuff in there rather than the trailer etc?
 
No real storage tips as mine all ends up chucked in together in the boot of the car! I did have a great rack in my old land rover that took two saddles.

I use quick release trailer tie ups in my trailer as I travel my mare on her own cross tied. They stay in the trailer all the time.

I store travel boots etc in a large box that lives in the trailer.

I have some containers that I use for water that I got on ebay which used to contain food flavourings (so smelt of lemon when I got them). Much cheaper than buying from a shop. A friend got one from a garage that had had distilled water in it.

Have fun - it is great having your own transport.
 
Put it all in the car - the heavier the car the better for towing. If you do put anything in the trailer make sure it's tied down properly - the last thing you want is things moving and getting tangled up in the horses' legs as you travel. The only thing I have in my trailer is one of those shoe storage hangers that hang over the back of a door with lots of pockets to put shoes in. I hang it on the jockey door and it's great for brushes and little bits and pieces and it saves having to pack a grooming kit every time.

Mine is all loaded so neatly when we go but ends up a total mess on the way home! The one thing I'd say is put your back seat down if you can and use the back passenger doors as opening the boot door (if it opens outwards rather than upwards) can be a pain as it hits the jockey wheel. I used to drop the jockey wheel, but kept forgetting to put it back up, so I don't bother now and just use the side doors.
 
I keep two extra lead ropes already tied to baling twine in the trailer, so that when I load the horses I just have to clip their headcollars to the hanging lead rope, and unclip the one I led them in with. Much quicker than tying up, especially if your tying points are high up. Useful also for poor loaders as you can quickly clip them on, then run round the back to do the breech bar, before they change their minds and back out again.

I keep a tub trug, poopscoop and rake in the front of the trailer, secured with a bungee, which is handy for cleaning up after himself at shows.
 
Heucherella said:
I keep two extra lead ropes already tied to baling twine in the trailer, so that when I load the horses I just have to clip their headcollars to the hanging lead rope, and unclip the one I led them in with. Much quicker than tying up, especially if your tying points are high up. Useful also for poor loaders as you can quickly clip them on, then run round the back to do the breech bar, before they change their minds and back out again.
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This. I keep two ropes tied permanently and just clip them on when loaded.

Also having found out the hard way, travel with a hi viz tabbard or triangle as my trailer lights broke when a fuse blew. i had to wait to get 'recovered' on the hard shoulder as it got dark and really wish i'd had a reflective tabbard i could have tied on to the back of the trailer (or a triangle).
I now travel with spare fuses and a spare hi viz/reflective vest.
And have some bailer twine spare in the boot as you ALWAYS need it :-)
 
You don't say which trailer but make sure (if possible!) you can detach and drop the breast bars from outside!

On an Ifor Williams, cross headed screws can be removed from outside which release the fixings inside the trailer so the breast bar drops down. In practice, these cross headed screws are difficult to undo so I've replaced the ones on my trailer with Allen headed bolts. They cost very little off Ebay and are a lot easier to remove in an emergency with an Allan key. Strongly recommended! You'll be glad to know this if your horse ever gets a leg over the breast bar, which has happened twice with me, and it is a very cheap fix.
 
hoggedmane said:
I have some containers that I use for water that I got on ebay which used to contain food flavourings (so smelt of lemon when I got them). Much cheaper than buying from a shop. A friend got one from a garage that had had distilled water in it.

Have fun - it is great having your own transport.
Click to expand...

Have just bought a couple of these off ebay too, glad to have a purpose for them now!

Heucherella said:
I keep two extra lead ropes already tied to baling twine in the trailer, so that when I load the horses I just have to clip their headcollars to the hanging lead rope, and unclip the one I led them in with. Much quicker than tying up, especially if your tying points are high up. Useful also for poor loaders as you can quickly clip them on, then run round the back to do the breech bar, before they change their minds and back out again.

I keep a tub trug, poopscoop and rake in the front of the trailer, secured with a bungee, which is handy for cleaning up after himself at shows.
Click to expand...

Great idea with lead ropes already tied! And yes have just purchased a tubtrug for the trailer for this purpose, didnt think of securing with a bungee though so will invest in one of those for it. Thanks!

Law said:
Also having found out the hard way, travel with a hi viz tabbard or triangle as my trailer lights broke when a fuse blew. i had to wait to get 'recovered' on the hard shoulder as it got dark and really wish i'd had a reflective tabbard i could have tied on to the back of the trailer (or a triangle).
I now travel with spare fuses and a spare hi viz/reflective vest.
And have some bailer twine spare in the boot as you ALWAYS need it :-)
Click to expand...

Spare reflective tabard and baling twine, easily stuffed into the boot of my car at no extra space, thanks! I've just brought some of those collapsible plastic storage containers to go in the boot of my car too to keep grooming kit in, boots etc etc and find these would be much more accesible to hand and keep them in one place then scouring all round a packed boot for everything! Will ask the OH to obtain some spare fuses for me as thats something I'd never thought I'd need and taken for granted.

Dry Rot said:
You don't say which trailer but make sure (if possible!) you can detach and drop the breast bars from outside!

On an Ifor Williams, cross headed screws can be removed from outside which release the fixings inside the trailer so the breast bar drops down. In practice, these cross headed screws are difficult to undo so I've replaced the ones on my trailer with Allen headed bolts. They cost very little off Ebay and are a lot easier to remove in an emergency with an Allan key. Strongly recommended! You'll be glad to know this if your horse ever gets a leg over the breast bar, which has happened twice with me, and it is a very cheap fix.
Click to expand...

I've got a Cheval Liberte and from memory I'm sure it's got the screws on the outside that release the fixings for the breast bar. Thanks for mentioning as will check now if they're easily removeable, like you say if ever the unfortunate happened, it would be easier if they can be quickly removed.

If anyone else has anymore handy hints or tips, keep them coming!!

Thankyou all! :D:p;):)
 
annagain said:
Mine is all loaded so neatly when we go but ends up a total mess on the way home! The one thing I'd say is put your back seat down if you can and use the back passenger doors as opening the boot door (if it opens outwards rather than upwards) can be a pain as it hits the jockey wheel. I used to drop the jockey wheel, but kept forgetting to put it back up, so I don't bother now and just use the side doors.
Click to expand...
Ditto, I have an old landrover defender for towing, and the back door always whacks the jockey wheel. And when i'm in a hurry, trying to get stuff out of the jeep, the door bangs off the jockey wheel and slaps me on the head. Unfortunately for me, no side doors, but i always have everything in the jeep. At least you can lock the jeep.
 
I was recently given some good advice, to keep an allen key that fits all the bolts in your trailer. Someone I met at a show said that she really wished she had one when her horse was spooked, reared and got its legs over the front bar. Will be keeping one on my when ever towing from now on just encase.

I also recommend getting insurance that covers picking up you and your horse not just the empty trailer. The company we are with will then also take horse to the nearest BHS livery for the night.

We also has a sort of small wheel ramp so that if we burst a tire we don't have to unload to replace it. They cost about £40, well worth it if you get a flat tyre on motorway slip road.

Our car is used to keep all the tack in, we rarely go to away shows so it works fine for us.
 
I always keep a Trailer Jack in my car on outings cos you can actually change a punctured wheel without having to unload the horses.
Also I keep something like a boot jack that I can wedge under one side of the ramp if it isn't quite on level ground. It stops the ramp being wobbly for the horse and also it doesn't strain it when the weight of the horse is on it.
 
Here is my beast :) (the float, not the car lol)

float_zps98a775ed.png


In the tack box above the mud guard I keep -
First aid kit - complete with gamgee and vetwrap
electrical tape
bailing twine
a stanley knife
a hammer
disinfectant (for the floor)
horse electrolytes

In the front tack box I have-
a pooper scooper
water containers
feed tubs
chaff bags
suncream
trailer pin adapters
my horses tack
spare rugs
spare boots (for me)
spare feed

and for the extras eg - boots, bandages, bits, saddle blankets, bridle numbers, shine spray, platting gear, hoof black, make up etc I have these tubs (one per horse) with all their respective gear. It makes getting ready for a show so easy. I don't have to run around trying to find things as I have multiple sets.
Capture-2_zps4661c14f.png


I carry a bale of hay and all my equipment to change tyres in the boot of my car. :)

In terms of storage, plastic tubs are awesome. You can seal them, they are easy to clean and they are cheap to replace if they get broken.

As long as you prepare for the worst, you will be fine if it happens!
 
I don't put anything on the trailer except the horse.

Everything else goes in the car. I tend to take only the things I need, excess weight is a waste.
 
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