Horse trailers on the lot of Double J Trailers in Woodland
It’s easier now more than ever to buy a horse trailer in Clark and Cowlitz counties. Given the vast horse community in both counties, one may only need to ask their neighbor who in the area has a trailer for sale to find what they need. And if that doesn’t work, there are multiple Facebook groups based in the area that regularly post and share trailers for sale, along with newspaper and online classifieds and local dealers.
Finding a trailer isn't the problem — finding the right now can be.
To learn more about buying trailers, The Reflector spoke with Nathan Berry, sales manager of Double J Trailers in Woodland last week.
Steel vs. aluminum
The question of a steel versus an aluminum trailer comes down to the price one wants to pay, Berry said. Aluminum trailers run more expensive, but are much lighter and won’t rust.
One compromise for buyers is a steel frame with aluminum skin, which isn’t as light as the all-aluminum but drops the price some.
Bumper pull vs. gooseneck
In regards to drivability, choosing between a gooseneck and a bumper pull trailer might be one's biggest decision.
Bumper pulls generally cost less and can be hitched to a larger variety of vehicles, so one does not need a pickup truck to haul the trailer.
But the bumper pulls run small. Those looking to have a connected changing room or hoping to haul more than two horses should consider a gooseneck.
Berry said they sell a lot more bumper trailers than goosenecks at Double J.
New vs. used
When it comes to buying new vs. used, Berry said one should have the similar mindset as they would when buying a car.
There are typically no warranties on the used ones, and one should consider the loss of value in the first couple years.
Berry said it can be helpful to have a relationship with the dealer, which you won’t have when buying used.
