Horse trailer: Cheap alternative?

[dwilson]

Have you seen how cheap horse trailers sell on Ebay?  Why haven't I ever seen anyone using these at the track?  They're big, heavy duty, lots of compartments and cheap.  I was thinking about getting one and replacing the floor (would you want to sleep on the old one??).  Total investment could be much less than $1,000  The only down side I could think of would be the extra tools of a 2 axle trailer...

[tzracer]

I would check the frame very carefully. Urine is quite corrosive to steel. Not sure how easy it would be to get the smell out.

Horse trailers I have seen are not fully enclosed and do not seem very wide.

[Zac]

A two horse tailer would comfortably fit two bikes, but you would most likely want to remove the center partition if there is one.  Because horses are a lot heavier than bikes, the trailers are built heavy and therefore ARE heavy, which could be more of a tax on the tow vehicle.  Depending on the trailer, most allow all the weather in, but the trailer would still be much more secure than an open trailer.  A tack room at the front would be nice for gear.  

Personnaly, I wouldn't want to clean it out  :o

-z.

[Decreasing_Dave]

A two horse tailer would comfortably fit two bikes, but you would most likely want to remove the center partition if there is one.  Because horses are a lot heavier than bikes, the trailers are built heavy and therefore ARE heavy, which could be more of a tax on the tow vehicle.  Depending on the trailer, most allow all the weather in, but the trailer would still be much more secure than an open trailer.  A tack room at the front would be nice for gear.  

Personnaly, I wouldn't want to clean it out  :o

-z.

Why remove the center partition??  You can roll a bike in each side and not ever tie it down.  When you get to the track, just roll it back out.  

It's the perfect set up!!   ;D ;D

[Super Dave]

Weight.  A good size tandem axle horse trailer is going to weigh a good deal.

Resale.

Who are you going to resell it to?  With the resale of cargo trailers being so good, it's hard to loose when you resell it.  

But I doubt that you'll have a long line of people waiting to buy a converted horse trailer.  Might not be worth the effort.

[Jeff]

The one thing I've learned in the last 4 years of racing is that settling will get you nowhere.  It leads to frustration because you don't have what you really need.

Don't spend $30 on a crappy used canopy because you'll throw it away.  Pit with someone else until you can spend the $200 on a GOOD canopy.

Cheap trailers are exactly that... Cheap.  

[Nate R]

The first year of racing taught me the same thing Jef4y talks about.

Hey wait a minute, he sold me the $30 canopy he speaks of!  >:(    

   ;) :D    J/K. It was better than nothing, but certainly wished I could've afforded the $200 one.

[Jeff]

Hey wait a minute, he sold me the $30 canopy he speaks of!  >:(    

Ya know, to this day I still regret not just giving it to you...  I owe you one Nate...

[Nate R]

You owe me one canopy??  ;D

Seriously, I got what I paid for out of it.  :)  So, I don't mind at all. The alternatives were to spend more $ (which I didnt have), use a tarp and PVC, or  no canopy.

[cstem]

Why remove the center partition??  You can roll a bike in each side and not ever tie it down.  When you get to the track, just roll it back out.  

It's the perfect set up!!   ;D ;D

Roll the bikes out?  I would just lower the ramp, get back in the truck and hit the gas!