15 Top Tips for Renting a Horse Trailer

If you own a horse and want to travel with it, a horse trailer is an essential piece of equipment. The only problem is that buying one can cost you a lot of money, making it beyond a lot of people’s budget.

However, there is an alternative, which is to rent one instead. Leasing offers many advantages over buying – and for anyone who thinks it might be the right solution for them, here are our top tips for renting a horse trailer to make sure you’re doing it right.

15 Top Tips for Renting a Horse Trailer

1. Go local and private

It may depend on where you live, but in many places it can be difficult to find businesses that are willing to rent horse trailers – in which case, your best bet is to go private and research locally.

If you have a network of friends who are also interested in horses, you can ask those around you to see if anyone knows someone who might be willing to hire them. It’s also a good idea to ask questions at your local stable, horse club, or horse association.

Then there’s always the internet – Facebook is one of the best tools for connecting with people who might have a trailer for rent, and you can also check out other social media platforms to see what people are advertising.

2. Know the current rate and bargain

If you find someone local willing to rent a trailer, make sure you know the running price so you can be confident when it comes to discussing the price.

The amount you will pay will be determined by the size and quality of the trailer you are renting, but the best thing to do is to search online for commercial companies that rent trailers to find out how much they are.

Just to give you an idea, a basic two horse trailer should cost about $60-100 per day while a big three horse excavator will cost you somewhere in the region of $150-180 per day.

However, prices can fluctuate, and during periods when trailers are in demand such as weekends, you will likely have to pay more than this to get one.

3. Find a well-established and responsible company to rent from

If you are lucky enough to live near a company that will rent a trailer, first make sure the company has a good reputation – or if you have a choice, make sure you choose the most reliable option.

Again, ask among your friends and other acquaintances involved with horses. Ask at your local stables if anyone has any notes, and of course be sure to do your proper research online.

Hiring from an undesirable company can cause you all kinds of problems, so it is best to find someone you trust before signing any papers or handing over any cash.

If you’re not sure about the credibility of the company that’s offering to rent a trailer for you, don’t be afraid to walk away and stick to privacy instead.

4. Choose the right model for your needs

Again, it depends on where you live and how easy it is to rent horse trailers there, but make sure you choose a trailer that fits your needs.

If you only have one horse to transport, you don’t need a huge bent-head trailer that seats three horses and has a separate living area.

One of these things will also cost you a lot to rent, and it will also be more difficult to drive, especially if you are inexperienced, so think about your requirements and choose accordingly.

5. Make sure your vehicle is able to tow the trailer

Another point to remember before renting a trailer is that the vehicle you are driving should be able to tow. For example, a regular tall tag trailer requires either a Class III or Class IV hitch, so if you don’t have this, you won’t be able to tow the trailer.

Also pay attention to the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). This tells you the maximum weight the vehicle has to tow, including the weight of the vehicle itself, the passengers, the trailer, and the horses inside.

If you overtake a GVWR, you risk failing brakes, blown tires or broken suspension, all of which can cause an accident while driving – so make sure your trailer isn’t too heavy for your vehicle.

6. Check the condition of the trailer with the dealer

When you have agreed on the trailer to rent and made sure that it is compatible with your vehicle, you need to check it carefully with the dealer who accompanies you.

Make sure to note and point out any damage found before you rent it and document everything by taking pictures.

It is your responsibility to spot any problems before you drive, and if you don’t take photos of any damage before agreeing to rent the trailer, the company may be held liable for the damage when you return it, even if you don’t. t cause it.

A good idea is to shoot the trailer while you’re checking it out as well, so even if you miss something, you can always come back to the video later – and the damage is probably visible there, relieving you of any blame.

Finally, don’t forget to check that the brakes, lights, and other features are also working properly before accepting the trailer.

7. Check your insurance policy

It is important to check your insurance policy and company policy before driving a trailer.

In many cases, mini-trailers will not need to be insured separately because they are covered by vehicle insurance – but this may depend on your condition, and also depends on the size of the trailer.

Also ask for the rental company’s insurance card and vehicle identification number before you leave.

Finally, keep in mind that you will probably not be covered for any damage caused by the horse, so if your horse damages the trailer, you will be expected to pay for it.

8. Read the contract carefully

This doesn’t just apply to horse trailer rental, it’s a good general life tip too: always make sure you read the contract carefully and thoroughly before signing, and make sure you understand everything.

For example, make sure there aren’t any additional fees that you have to cover hidden in the small print.

Usually, reputable operators won’t try to pull off any scams, but you never know, so make sure you’re aware of what you’re signing before you put pen to paper.

Also, insist on taking a copy of the contract with you, just in case.

9. Insist that paperwork is done correctly

Always insist that you do the paperwork properly and don’t hire from a company that tells you it’s not necessary.

If there’s no contract and all they want you to do is hand over cash and drive, that’s a big warning sign that the company isn’t completely trustworthy – so make sure the paperwork is in order or walk away and find a trailer elsewhere.

10. Have a backup plan for the bad things along the way

Although when you go on a ride with your horses, hoping that everything will be fine, you should always prepare for the worst.

This means that you should make sure you take the rental company details with you and you should tell friends about your trip before you leave.

As with any road trip, make sure you have spare tires on board, and don’t forget to take food and supplies – both for you and the horses.

That way, if anything happens to you down the road, you’ll be prepared to deal with the situation.

11. Practice first before driving with horses

If you have never driven a vehicle with a trailer, it is highly recommended that you take it on the road for a test run before putting the horses in.

Trailers aren’t particularly difficult to maneuver, but you don’t want to learn with live animals, so take them for a workout first.

When reversing, there is a simple trick to remember: put your hands under the steering wheel, and if you want the trailer to turn left, move your hands to the left. To turn it to the right, move your hands to the right.

12. Check the trailer for damage and clean it before returning

When returning a trailer, make sure you do a thorough damage inspection before returning it. This way, you can anticipate any problems and possibly repair damage before the rental company sees it.

Finally, give the trailer a good cleaning and hose down. Some companies will charge you to clean if your trailer is dirty, so you can save a little money by doing it yourself.

13. Consider renting for longer periods to save money

A helpful tip to remember is that if you rent for longer periods, you can often get a better deal. For example, the daily rate if you rent for a week will work less than the daily rate for a day – and the same will be true if you take it out for an entire month.

This means that by planning ahead and anticipating when and how often you will need a trailer, you can reduce costs quite a bit.

14. Consider renting a trailer

Another option is to rent a trailer. This is a good idea if you don’t want to buy a trailer outright but still need to use one often.

The price you pay will be much lower than it would be to rent a trailer per day, and it is much easier to get financing for renting a trailer than to get a loan to buy a trailer.

There are other advantages as well. If you rent a trailer, perhaps on a two- or three-year contract, you can have it and rent a newer model at the end of each contract, which means you’ll always have the latest equipment.

Also, after leasing, you may have the option to purchase the trailer at a discount, which is a beneficial solution for both you and the rental company.

However, if at the end of the contract you decide not to buy it, there is no obligation to do so, which means you have nothing to lose.

15. Consider buying a trailer

Alternatively, if you often need to rent trailers for your horses, it’s time to bite the bullet and consider buying one after all.

Remember, trailers can last a long time, and at the very least, you should expect to get at least a decade of use, if not much more.

Owning a trailer also means that you are familiar with it. You know how to handle it, so you’ll be confident driving with it, and your horses will also know the trailer well, so they’ll be more comfortable getting in and out of it.

The best way to determine if a trailer is a worthwhile investment is to start by calculating the amounts. Calculate how many times a year you need to rent a trailer and determine how many years you will need to use the trailer to be a smart choice.

For example, if you spend $500 a year renting a trailer, it will only take six years to make up for the $3,000 cost of buying a trailer.

However, you should also consider the added convenience of owning a trailer and not having to go through the hassles of renting one every time you need to move your horses.

For this reason, some people may want to invest in a trailer, even if it is likely to take a little longer to recoup.

It is not a difficult task when you know what to do

You see, although it may seem complicated, renting a horse trailer is not that difficult when you know what you’re doing. So if you need to rent a horse trailer in the future, just follow the tips in our guide and we are sure you will find just the trailer you need.

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