Home Forums Gear Horses and ATV's Questions To Ask When Buying A Used Horse Trailer Online

Selection instate is small to nil.

Looking at some out-of-state dealers online. We found a trailer that meets our specs. There are lots of pics on the site and it looks in good condition. I won't be able to put my own eyes and hands on it, though. A friend will haul it up for us.

What questions are needed/appropriate to ascertain soundness and condition?

From my bad experience...put a tape measure across the front and back of each set of tires to check for a bent axle. I bought an old one a few years ago that turned out to have both axles bent. They'll eat tires like crazy.

Condition of floor, mats,tires,brakes,lights,wiring, rust. How old are tires?(check DOT label as to when they were made. First number is the week they were made,second is year.

Get underneath and hit the floor boards with a hammer to check for rot

What ype of trailer plug does it have. That will tell you a lot about th eage.

Is it bumper pull or goose neck? If goose neck and aluminum check the entire frame, especially the gooseneck part from the trailer chassis all the way to the neck. They tend to crack at the welds a lot when used on rougher roads.

9 yo GN, steel, so I'm sure it has a 7pin RV plug. It looks to have not been used an awful lot, or just well cared for. Mats, paint, overall condition looks great. I just won't have hands on until it arrives, if we buy it.

Mike don't you want to borrow my black one?

The Black Mariah?


Yes...I don't!

Wouldn't the misses like a living qtrs trailer for christmas?

No she wouldn't. And don't be stirring things up!

Actually the trailer we're looking at is pretty much a clone of Jane's but with an extry stall. It would be very functional in the scheme being hatched.

...bearings. And how is the jack working? I'm getting ready to have to replace mine.

I would definitely look at the support steel under the floor.

A trailer can have a new floor put in and look great. But if the steel below the boards is rusting out, that new fresh wood isn't worth much.

I look at the tires really closely to see if they are wearing even. Definitely want to put it up on a jack and check the bearings. Most any trailer I have bought, I get the bearings packed/replaced right away.

Look for cracks in the main structure like saddlesore said. Also look closely at welds that are weight-bearing (rear gate hinges, side door hinges, interior dividers etc.).

Lots of other things but those are the ones that come to mind right away.

PS Where is the trailer?

Electric brakes working, pics of lights actually working, check for cracks on the 90 angle and the goose neck coupler,

A lot of this are things I would look at automatically. Friends that will haul it are knowlegable and kno what to look at and for, plus they don't want problems between there and here so it's in their interest for the trailer to be sound.

This current one IIRC is in MT. By the time everything comes together it likely won't be the one we saw on line, but similar. Purchase and hauling probably won't be until April-May time frame.


Good suggestions - keep them coming.

Get a set square and have them check the frame. I've seen a few with bent/twisted frames.

I am in MT. Let me know where it is and I can go take a look.

Will you take $1000 less is always worth a try..

I have an aunt and uncle that spend time in Billings and are ranchers with lots of trailer experience.

Tarkio - PM sent

Good tip, Dan.