Written by Rachael Kraft (Last Updated 5/17/2023)
A Bumper Pull Horse Trailer is a reliable and suitable horse trailer model for many horse owners. However, for some reason, Bumper Pull Horse Trailers have a somewhat undeserved reputation of being not as safe as other types of horse trailers such as a gooseneck, for example. So, the question is: are Bumper Pull Horse Trailers safe? The answer is yes! In this article, we've listed the top 10 features to look for to help you assess if the Bumper Pull Horse Trailer you're eyeing on is indeed built with safety and comfort.
If you know how to recognize a safe Bumper Pull Horse Trailer, you should have no worries when you’re on the road with your favorite equine companion. First, you have to consider 3 primary categories when evaluating any horse trailer, namely: road safety, horse safety, and your own safety. Next, you have to watch out for 10 signs when shopping for a Bumper Pull Horse Trailer in particular:
1. Excellent Weight Distribution
Remember that buying the most expensive or feature-rich horse trailer you could find is not guaranteed to be the right move. Sometimes, what you need could be worth substantially less than what you’re prepared to pay for, and it would still have the typical features of the most functional and safest Bumper Pull Horse Trailer possible.
Here are 10 features that will ensure you'll have the safest horse trailer on the highway.
An exceptionally safe Bumper Pull Horse Trailer should be designed in such a way that the majority of the weight of your horses is carried over the axles, reducing the strain on your tow vehicle and making maneuvering easier. A quality suspension system built for the weight of your loaded trailer is another important feature you need to keep the little bumps along the way from becoming big problems.You can add a weight-distributing hitch to help make pulling your trailer easier, but if it’s already designed for success you’re miles ahead of the rest.
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You can add a weight-distributing hitch to help make pulling your trailer easier, but if it’s already designed for success you’re miles ahead of the rest. An exceptionally safe bumper pull trailer is designed so the majority of the weight of your horses is carried over the axles, reducing the strain on your tow vehicle and making maneuvering easier. A quality suspension system built for the weight of your loaded trailer is another important feature you need to keep the little bumps along the way from becoming big problems.
Older Bumper Pull Horse Trailers weren’t necessarily designed with braking in mind, but today’s trailers should be. Not only should a new Bumper Pull Horse Trailer feature electric brakes on all four wheels, but an additional emergency breakaway system with a rechargeable battery as well. A fully loaded horse trailer can build up a lot of momentum on the road, making it hard to stop as quickly as your tow vehicle. This is why the better the brakes are, the safer the trailer will be on the road. The emergency breakaway system is designed to stop your trailer, should it somehow come unhitched while in tow.
A safe Bumper Pull Horse Trailer should have lights on the outside of the trailer. They should be bright and visible - not just any lights will do. LED lights are some of the brightest on the market, and that puts them among the safest options for your new horse trailer.
Your lighting needs don’t stop there either. The lights in the trailer's interior should be sufficient and bright, too. This is a safety feature many people neglect. Make sure your new trailer has lots of lights so you can work inside the trailer safely should it get dark before you finish loading or unloading.
It may seem small, but a big aspect of a safe Bumper Pull Horse Trailer is insulation. Remember, your horses are basically standing inside a metal box flying down the highway, hence, even in the middle of winter road heat builds up, not to mention that loud sounds can make a nervous horse downright spooky. Look for a Bumper Pull Horse Trailer that has light-colored, insulated roofs to help keep your trailer cool. Sidewall insulation is also crucial for a quality noise-dampening effect.
Most horse trailers have some padding, but an exceptionally safe Bumper Pull Horse Trailer will have thick padding. A quarter inch of flimsy foam isn’t going to do much for a horse that’s thrown against the horse trailer if you’re forced to make a sudden stop. Look for a Bumper Pull Horse Trailer that has padding at least an inch and a half thick. Thick padding will do a much better job of protecting your horses should they need it. That’s also plenty of padding to protect your horse (and trailer!) in the event she decides to kick or paw at the walls.
Even in a well-insulated Bumper Pull Horse Trailer, air movement is vital to protect your horse from overheating. In a horse trailer, having big windows, roof vents, and tubular head dividers increase the air circulation around your horses and help keep them cool and calm. This is especially important in small Bumper Pull Horse Trailers that can fill with stale air quickly because of their limited internal space.
I know it’s hard to imagine that your horse might try to hurt you, even in a moment of panic, but the reality is that even the calmest horse may get nervous or worse when being loaded or unloaded. That’s why it’s so important to choose a safe Bumper Pull Horse Trailer with a walk-through door located near the front. Never underestimate the power of a horse who’s terrified of the horse trailer, and make sure you can get out of the way if the need to flee arises.
Full-width loading doors on a Bumper Pull Horse Trailer are extremely important. Young horses or those that don’t travel all that often can be hard to get in and out of a small trailer, and who can blame them? They’re not used to trailering and you’re trying to get them to walk into a tight, small space. Full-width loading doors make loading and unloading from the horse trailer a million times easier. Thanks to this safety feature, even inexperienced horses are less likely to balk when there’s a big, wide opening to walk through.
Having an extra divider may seem small and seemingly insignificant - but it’s a big deal when it comes to horse trailer safety. Having an extra divider at the end of your Bumper Pull Horse Trailer to secure your horses safely before the doors shut can help you avoid a lot of headaches and accidents. With your horses locked in their stalls, you can choose when they leave without having to rush around because they’re trying to force their way out before you’re ready.
Often the most overlooked horse trailer feature is flooring. This matters a lot if your priority is safety. The right flooring prevents slipping, makes horse trailer loading and unloading easier, and provides additional noise, vibration, and heat insulation. Choosing safe horse trailer flooring materials on a Bumper Pull Horse Trailer such as Rumber flooring are considered to be a safety feature. Additionally, this horse trailer flooring type is easy to clean and maintain.
When properly designed, Bumper Pull Horse Trailers can be just as safe as any horse trailer model. You only have to shop carefully. No one plans to get into a horse trailer accident, have an antsy horse, or let your trailer heat up. But since you can’t control everything, it’s much better to get a safe Bumper Pull Horse Trailer now than to wonder what happens when things go wrong. Keeping your animals, other drivers, and yourself safe should be your top priority when you choose your next Bumper Pull Horse Trailer.
For over 25 years, Double D Trailers' mission centers on producing the safest horse trailer out there for both horses and humans. Feel free to contact the Double D Trailers team today if you have additional questions or concerns about owning a Bumper Pull Horse Trailer you'll be truly proud of.
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