Alternatives to Van Life: Living Quarters Horse Trailers

While most living quarters horse trailers are used for competitive equestrians traveling from show to show with style and comfort, most living quarters horse trailers could be used for nomads wanting more storage and versatility from their rigs than what an RV or van can offer.

The Benefits of a Living Quarters Trailer as an Alternative to an RV or Van

Most horse trailers have removable panels in the back which creates a large open space for storage or recreational vehicles. This is easier to travel with than an RV or Van hauling a flatbed or utility trailer. Most have sturdy, secure doors that can be locked, and dropdown windows for air circulation.

Some horse trailers with living quarters include a built-in drop-down ramp to make loading large objects such as recreational vehicles much easier. Having the enclosed storage area protects your ATV vehicle from road damage and is less visible which helps with theft.

With so many varying sizes you can pick out the ideal trailer size depending on what you would like to bring with you on your trips. Horse trailers typically come in 2-horse, 3-horse, and 4-horse sizes but there are larger trailers available that can haul over 10 horses. So depending on your lifestyle, there are many options that could fit your needs.

Types of Living Quarters Trailers

Another thing to consider is the style of the trailer, specifically horse slant load vs. straight load.

Slant load refers to the style where horses are loaded diagonally into the trailer and are all tied to one side (usually the left side). On straight-load horse trailers horses are loaded straight in and are two horses wide.

There are many variations of loading styles (i.e. rear load and side load), but the important thing to consider is the construction of the panels and dividers. Typically slant load dividers are easier to remove and could open up the back of the trailer for ATVs, golf carts, grills, or other storage needs. Straight-load panels can be removable as well, just make sure you verify before purchasing.

Stock trailers or livestock trailers are another great option as they do not typically have as many dividers and panels. Stock combo trailers offer a living space with a wide open area, however, they are not fully enclosed. They have openings throughout the sides to allow for air circulation, which can allow water and debris into the back of the livestock trailers.

Depending on make and model you can have a more simplistic and minimalist living area all the way to luxury finishes with slide-out options creating more space. Some have just enough room for a loft-style bed, while others have a bedroom, bathroom, living room, retractable awnings, dinettes, and kitchen set up. Either way, you should consider the layout and floor plan of the living area and the amount of work (if any) it would take to prepare the space for your needs.

Make sure to confirm all panels and attachments are removable and convertible. For example, most living quarters horse trailers have a tack room with built-in saddle racks. Some tack rooms are located towards the front and some are at the back. Keep in mind rear tack rooms could make loading larger items more difficult while tack rooms toward the front of the trailer allow for more functionality. This room could also be converted into a storage closet with tons of vertical space. Make sure to inspect the layout and location to see how you could best use this space for traveling.

Consider the type of truck you have and make sure it is set up properly. Many trailers come in different materials and hitch styles. Trailers come in gooseneck and bumper pull styles.

Gooseneck horse trailers attach to a hitch in the center of the truck bed, which limits storage options and vehicles that can pull this type. Bumper hitch trailers can be more versatile and allow for the truck bed to be utilized for storage. Make sure your vehicle is properly equipped for the trailer you are considering.

Best Brands for Living Quarter Trailers

Featherlite trailers are popular and have established a great reputation in the industry. Featherlite offers all aluminum trailers which combats rust and is a lighter alternative to steel-framed trailers. Many Featherlite trailers offer rubber mats in the horse area of the trailer and built-in ramps.

4 Star Trailers have a high-quality product, especially for those looking for a smoother and quieter ride. 4 Star Trailers offers clients customizable trailers with both gooseneck and bumper pull options. They have patented technology in their flooring systems that will outlast most wood and steel flooring.

Sundowner Trailers have been an industry leader for years. They provide an affordable, customizable aluminum product without skimping on quality.

Cimarron Trailers have been at the forefront of innovation in the industry. They continue to improve safety features and technology in their products. Cimarron offers customizable trailers in both gooseneck and bumper pull options.

Logan Coach Toy Hauler offers a ready-to-go option already outfitted for recreational vehicles with many different layouts and upgrades to choose from.

Merhow offers a wide variety of all aluminum styles including livestock trailers, toy haulers, and horse trailers. All are very customizable and offer top-of-the-line features including a man door between living quarters and the horse living area, a single piece of aluminum for the roof, hydraulic jacks, and all the creature comforts of home.

Lakota Trailers is one of the top-selling living quarter horse trailers and stock trailers. Lakota offers many sizes and layouts to fit everyone’s needs. They also offer unique features and upgrades such as an outdoor kitchen option, power awning, insulated floor in the living quarters, and roof storage options.

SMC Trailers offers fantastic stock trailers that already have an open area in the horse living quarters area. Some models have a doorway between the living area to the stock area of the trailer, which can be a very functional and convenient feature in all seasons. All are constructed with a single piece of aluminum for the roof, which deters leaks.

Trails West Trailers have many sizes and styles to choose from, but all trailers with living quarters only come in gooseneck styles. However, they do offer 7’ and 8’ wide options, which is nice if you need that extra space or prefer a narrower rig.

Bison Trailers provides many customizable packages starting with the Ranger, Silverado, Trail Hand, and the Ricochet. Each is loaded with practical and luxury features such as drop windows, hydraulic jack, aluminum ramps, generators, and comfortable living quarters features.

Exiss Trailers products range from compact living quarter horse trailer models to large living quarters with stock trailers with a midtack option. They offer only goosenecks with living quarters but they include great features like aluminum wheels, 40-gallon water tanks, two waste water holding tanks with monitoring systems, and rubber mats in the rear of the trailer.

Where to Shop for Living Quarter Trailers For Sale

You’re in luck! Fastline has multiple listings available for living quarter trailers underneath our Horse trailer section.

Feel free to reach out to the specific dealers of each listing if you have questions.