In a state that is synonymous with the cowboy, it is no surprise to see a pick up truck with a horse trailer in tow. As a Dallas RV repair shop that fixes RV’s, motorhomes, and all manner of towable living quarters, we frequently get asked for help repairing horse trailers with living quarters.
While not exactly the same as pull behind “toy hauler”, horse trailers with living quarters are a great way for horse owners to spend longer periods of time on the road with their horses. And these types of pull behinds do share some similarities and face similar repair issues as a camper or toy hauler. When hauling your horses in your trailer, with so much precious cargo, it’s important to maintain your trailer for a safe and comfortable experience for you and your horses.
Here are the five most common repairs for horse trailers with living quarters that we frequently see here in Dallas:
1. Damage to Ramps
Ramps are a great feature for any horse trailer. However, they are also often the first necessary repair, due to all the wear and tear that they endure.
Difficulty raising and lowering a ramp is often the first sign of weakness. If you are having difficulty raising and lowering the ramp on your horse trailer, you should begin by carefully inspecting any springs and hinges for corrosion or detachment.
Make sure you also pay mind to the strength and integrity of your ramp. Whether you have a wooden ramp or a metal ramp, you should occasionally check the material for weak spots, dents, or chips.
2. Broken Windows
Trailers can get hot, especially in a place like Dallas, and it’s important for your horses to get fresh, cool air on long trips. Sliding windows on trailers are well-known for breaking. Check to make sure you can easily open, close, and latch all windows in both the horse trailer and living quarters before you hit the road.
3. Broken Bars and Broken Horse Ties
Over time, horse ties and rings will begin to wear out. Prior to taking any trips, check the integrity of all horse tie leads, rings, mounting points, and hardware. Replace any hardware that has signs of corrosion and make sure all tie leads are in good condition.Never tie a horse solid. Make sure you use a tie ring to give the horse some slack in case the horse panics.
4. Improper Tongue Weight
Another common issue among horse trailers with living quarters is a heavy tongue weight, which makes towing unsafe and can even damage the towing vehicle. Improper tongue weight will lead to poor handling and likely hitch failure. Always make sure your vehicle’s towing capacity and the tongue weight capacity of your towing hitch can support the vertical tongue weight of your loaded trailer. Don’t forget to factor in the weight of your cargo (horses, feed, personal gear, etc) into your final tongue weight.
5. Broken welds, failing rivets
Due to the stress placed on horse trailers, the frames, and the constantly shifting weight in the back from the horses, rivets can pull through and welds can even crack or break completely rendering the trailer anywhere from at risk of damaged siding or lost trim or even dangerous to operate until repairs are properly made. Even the most expensive or highest quality trailers can leave the factory with defects. It is important to do frequent inspection on your trailer and at the first sign of an issue, schedule an appointment to have it repaired before it leads to bigger damage down the road.
Now that you know the most common problems for horse trailers with living quarters, make sure to inspect your trailer regularly. To ensure the safety of you and your horse, you should always take care of any necessary repairs to your horse trailer prior to taking any long trips. For repairs on horse trailers with living quarters in Dallas, contact us.