The Horse Trailer Lives!!
With some help from hubby (still on a nice patch since last weekend's lovelyness) the trailer was freed from its mud and snow grave and after a quick mexican fiberglass job on the roof vent from yours truely, it's good to go. I just love duct tape don't you?
Seizing the moment I threw a bunch of easy to grab tack in it and put some items in the back that I stored in the living quarters over the winter. Let me just take moment to fill you in on some Steph history so you understand why I do some of these things.
In college I wished for a living quarters trailer but could not afford one working part-time so at the AQHA and Open shows that I attended I would clean out my 3 horse bumper pull stock trailer as best as I could - set-up a cot, cooler, sleeping bag, all of my show clothes and camped for the entire show in my trailer. Shortly after I got my first "real" job one of my old hometown "colville" horse buddies decided to sell a 2 Horse Slant LQ Horse Trailer she just recently aquired - it didn't have plumping other than a hand pump sink and no air conditioning, but it did have a bed, table, fridge, micrcowave, lots of cabinet space, rear tack and lots of nice windows with blinds. It was just right for one person AND it was cheap. PERFECT. I paid for it in full put a little work into it and still have it to this day. It's metal so it's not as light as I would prefer but it's only a 2 Horse so it's small enough that my half-ton Ford truck can handle it with some enhanced suspension and good tires.
I've had this little package for 8 years now - I have kinda outgrown it but it's paid for itself and I love the lack of a monthly payment so I am making it work for little longer. Everything in it works perfectly with the exception of the roof vent that I ruined this winter - although annoying it should only cost me 60 - 70 bucks to fix this summer. And I could use the oppurtunity to replace my current roof vent / fan combo with a much nicer one that would keep me much cooler - so I may just do that if I have the spare cash. Another bonus is that hubby set up my trailer a couple of years ago for dry camping. I have generator and an invertor for my battery. The battery will power most of my LQ and inner trailer lights and my roof vent fan (which sucks the hot air out of my trailer and blows it outside - you'd be AMAZED at the differnce this can make). Kick on the generator and I can have TV, Coffee, Fridge, curling iron, heat, AND no RV Hook-Up fee at the horse show. If this sounds cheap to you, it is - but when you are working for a living and still trying to afford to horse show every little bit counts. Because I insist on avoiding needless fees (like RV hook-ups) I have spare cash get nice show clothes when I need them or a new peice of horse tack or horse clothing and its not a bank breaker.
Because my trainer is in Lewiston, ID I don't usually haul my own horses to the shows. I would have to drive 2.5 hours to pick them up then however long it takes to get to the show - plus if the horses go with him he has an extra day or so that can ride them and prepare them before I get to the show after I get off work on friday, this is important with younger horses. When I have a nice broke show horse I will make the effort to haul him myself to avoid mileage fees. Because of my lack of horse cargo I can store a large amount of equipment, feed and shavings in the "horse compartment" of my trailer - and I do.
So after throwing my gear back were it belongs I hit the house and finished my clean up efforts. Leaving me with only trailer packing to do tonight. Luckly I got food the other day and I got my truck tuned-up on Monday so I am feeling pretty prepared. I will take my packed trailer to work with me and leave for the show the second I get off work! I am SO excited I could just burst!
Regardless of a tune up I will still check the following items before I leave in the morning:
- oil
- washer fluid
- air pressure on truck and trailer tires
- trailer/truck electrics
- coolent level
I check this stuff before I go anywhere with the horse trailer.