I wouldn't worry about the gross trailer weight. Instead be concerned about the hitch weight. Tongue weight of the wet and loaded trailer plus the weight of the hitch is total hitch weight that should not exceed 500 pounds.


To determine hitch weight, the easiest way is to use a tongue weight scale. But if you don't have access to a tongue weight scale, you can determine actual hitch weight with two scale weights:


1] Weigh the tow vehicle without the trailer. Add the weights on both axles to get GVW (gross vehicle weight).


2] Weigh the tow vehicle with the wet and loaded trailer tied on, but without the spring bars of any weight-distribution hitch tightened. Add the weights on the front and rear axles of the tow vehicle to get GVW.


GVW with the trailer minus GVW without the trailer = hitch weight.

 

You are absolutely correct. Equispirit doesn't make their own trailers, they contract with a trailer manufacturer. They use the other company base models, have them add the safety features and other upgrades that Equispirit wants, and then they put the Equispirit label on them.


When they first started out, they used Hawk for many years, then switched to Trail-Et, and now are back to Hawk. So you are right, Trail-Et, Hawk and Equispirit are all very similar.


When I visited the local dealer last year to get a replacement breast bar pad, I looked at some of the new trailers (of course). He said that he would give me what I paid for my trailer 20 years ago as a trade-in for a new one. Talk about retaining value! Of course, a new one is now over twice what I paid for the one I have now, so I had to pass.

 

Unless you're into horses get a new fiancee. We started with one horse when I got married and now have 16, a horse farm and business.

Four Star makes a great aluminum trailer and make sure it is big enough. We have a warm blood so ours is big. A couple of our boarders bought trailers and they are too small for two horses. Put on Firestone airbags, worked great on my Tundra, now my f150.

 

Hahaha we've talked about this and ideally we want a small piece of land and 4 horses max. By the time that happens, I will be looking for a gooseneck & 1-ton. That's years down the road however.

 

oh, you are in trouble dude! LOL

We had 3 horses, had them stabled, rode them quite often then had the bright idea, hey lets save on board and have our own place where we could keep them.

Oh was that ever a mistake. I haven't rode them since we moved here, 16 years ago. No where to ride! I have to trailer them every where. Between that and the upkeep of the house and barn, it was a bad move.

ABN, Trail-Et unfortunately went out of business in 2008, they couldn't make ends meet due to the financial crisis. Too bad, they made an excellent trailer. If one can find one in decent shape, they are well worth the money.

 

Didn't know that, thanks. Probably the reason that Equispirit went back to Hawk.

 

The cheapest thing about (my wife) getting a horse was buying the horse. Then pay for board and feed, vet bills (I have helped more than one vet buy a new boat), farrier bills, tack (just how many saddles do you need for one horse?). Then riding clothes, multiple sets of britches, helmets, jackets and what the hell is a stock tie? Then horse shows, entry fees, a fee for every class entered, now stay overnight and add hotel costs, meals, and paying someone else to trailer the horse.


OK, now we're tired of that, so we'll buy our own trailer, which means also buying a tow vehicle (goodbye, Fiat Spider convertible!). And by now, she needs a better horse, but we still love the first one so we'll keep him, so double the board, vet, and farrier costs. And now the trailer and truck aren't up to speed for two horses, so that means another trailer and truck.


My advice: GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN!!!!

 

All that plus some, we have two girls, got one horse, that lasted a year, got two horses, now need a trailer, got the trailer and already had the truck. Now all good, hey trailer has tack room with air and heat, presto instant primitive camper, saved on hotel and meal bills at shows, we bring a grill now. Still horse poor but doing ok traveling every weekend of the show season, all good.

Now both girls need horse upgrades, but we keep first two as well, now board cost me 3 times my mortgage, but its for the kids lol. Horse show weekends cost more than a house payement with 3 horses now going and all the show fees for two kids showing aqha circut. Now we need a bigger trailer so I went out and got the bigger truck first and trying to pay it off this year before buying new trailer.

HOW TO BECOME A MILLIONAIRE IN HORSES, START AS A BILLIONAIRE.

 

That's good, here's another: A horse is a magical animal that turns dollar bills into manure.

 

Reminds me of what my Dad said about a ski boat. A boat is a big hole in the water, into which you pour money.