When looking for a new trailer, there are various features to bear in mind. One important aspect is whether the horse trailer will be of a bumper pull or gooseneck design. There are a number of reasons why you might benefit from either type. Below we will look at the two designs and explain a little further.

Bumper Pull Trailers – Advantages and Disadvantages
Bumper pull layouts, also called tag-along designs, are equestrian trailers that connect to a hitch on the hauling vehicle. The trailer simply “tags along” at the back of the hauling vehicle and does not become a part of the complete vehicle.

Good Points
There are a few plus points of bumper pull trailers. They usually cost less than a gooseneck layout. It’s not essential to use a pickup truck for pulling the trailer, because of this more people can pulll this design of horsebox with their normal car. Turning is frequently more easy because the tag-along design will follow the direction of the towing vehicle. You don’t need a large amount of space for the trailer as you would for a gooseneck trailer. Finally the trailer does not need to be labelled as a “commercial” vehicle for licencing as the weight of both the horsebox and tow vehicle is typically below 10,001 lbs.

Negative Points
There are many disadvantages as well. These type of trailers do not present as much space for the dressing/tack room. A number of bumper pull designs may not be sufficient for transporting over two horses as a result of the design of hitch needed for the load of the trailer. Also, bumper pull designs tend to weave on curvy roads, which can be risky.

Gooseneck Layouts – Good and Bad Points
Gooseneck trailers are different from bumper pull trailers in their style of hitch. The gooseneck is joined inside the hauling 4×4′s bed with a ball and coupler mating. The gooseneck trailer offers a number of benefits. It doesn’t sway or fishtail like a bumper trailer tends to do, and towing is therefore more stable. It provides more room for living space, which can be handy for camping and long trips. The gooseneck layout is also more easy to back up to and align with the ball while joining it to your towing vehicle, as you can view it without problem from the rear window. The gooseneck layout is safer without the fear of the load coming unhitched while driving on the highway.

Bad Points
There are also some negative points. Gooseneck designs normally cost more and are as a rule larger so they have to be pulled with a 4×4 that is able to handle it. The hitching design is also more pricey for a gooseneck design. A further negative point is that while attaching the trailer, you normally have to climb into the bed of the pickup to finish the attachment. Also, you will have to remove your load cover from the truck to tow a gooseneck trailer.

Choosing the Right Style
Whether you’re thinking of a bumper pull or gooseneck layout, you can search on the web to research a number of styles of each. If you’re on a tight budget, you can search for used horseboxes for sale and horse trailers for sale to find a bargain. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of both designs prior to buying. For more information and horses for sale, visit the Horse and Pony Directory

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