Lakota Horse trailers...

tommcintire · Feb 22, 2010

Slightly off topic, I know, but I've seen more than one thread on horse trailers

. Does anyone have experience with Lakota horse trailers? A local dealer offers good prices on them, but Lakota is relatively "new" to the market, so I am cautious. Kind of going on the theory of "if it seems to good to be true, it just may be...

I'm not looking for brand bashing here... If you have a negative experience, and don't want to share it publicly, please private message me. If you think they make the greatest trailer ever, please speak up & say so...

We inspected the underside of the wife's 2 horse and discovered much more rust than we were comfortable with. Don't really want to put money into a 12 year old trailer at this point, at least if it makes more sense to just sell it (while it is still sound, but on the decline).

Thanks!

-Tom

tlbuser · Feb 22, 2010

Last spring, I was shopping for a GN, 3 Horse S/L LQ. IMO, Lakota makes a pretty nice trailer. My decision came down to either them or a Shadow. The shadow had some, IMO, nicer features and a better warranty. The saddle rack and stall divider were the two things that didn't really tickle me on Lakota. Hopefully, you added every feature you would like on your trailer before price shopping. Some things are rather ridiculous to add-on later (ramp, electric or hydraulic jack, etc.) Don't be afraid to internet price shop dealers either. Most of them will deliver up to 400 miles for free.

tommcintire · Feb 22, 2010

tlbuser said:
Last spring, I was shopping for a GN, 3 Horse S/L LQ. IMO, Lakota makes a pretty nice trailer. My decision came down to either them or a Shadow. The shadow had some, IMO, nicer features and a better warranty. The saddle rack and stall divider were the two things that didn't really tickle me on Lakota. Hopefully, you added every feature you would like on your trailer before price shopping. Some things are rather ridiculous to add-on later (ramp, electric or hydraulic jack, etc.) Don't be afraid to internet price shop dealers either. Most of them will deliver up to 400 miles for free.

Do you mind saying what about the stall divider didn't tickle you with the Lakota? That could definitely be a factor for us. In our case, we are looking for a carriage trailer, 2 straight loads in back and a 10 foot (or so) box stall in front. Got a draft horse, so slant load would be too squishy for him...

.

-Tom

tlbuser · Feb 22, 2010

The actual latching mechanism and the swing side attachment hardware. The rear butt bar used a screwed on loop. The tack area wasn't very well designed either. Cox brand was even worse, they use "cheap" hardware.

Weekend outings/Trail riding, social time for us and our Tennessee Walking Horses (Boo , pictured below). A nearby farm has a Percheron colt that I'm being pestered about. No endurance or plowing in my future plans though

CumminsLuke · Feb 22, 2010

As well as being an automobile dealer and an Auctioneer, I am a trailer dealer for one of the oldest and largest Aluminum trailer manufacturers in the world. I am not going to say which brand I sell as I am not trying to drum up business here only offer advice. If I had a nickel for every trailer builder I have seen come and go I'd be rich. Stick with one of the big companies that has a big name and has been around more than a few years. There are four or five that come to mind really quick, Exiss, 4-Star, Featherlite, Sundowner, and CM, just to name a few.