New Horse Hauler

[ML3 2,392]

7 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

We looked at those in comparison to the huge window unit we bought. I did not find the value in the mini split. The AC we bought was well under $1,000 and the mini split was going to be 2.5 times that or more.  

We know some people that have mini splits installed including the electrician that was going to do it.

None of them are super pleased with the results they get under outside temps about 25°. That's pretty much the entire month of January and can spread another month either direction up here.

 

 

Mini split is a heat pump so they definitely arent as good at heating especially in really cold weather. They are very energy efficient though. I dont need to keep my garage at 70° all winter.  All I want to do is keep it above freezing & then warm it up when I'm out there. Mostly,  I want it for the a/c. We have a few of them at work & they function without any issues. My dad was an industrial HVAC tech so he educated me on getting the right system for my application. My garage is 24x24. Walls are Rockwool insulation, ceiling is insulation board w/2' of blown insulation in attic. Garage door is also insulated. Well insulated building is really the 1st & most important step. 

[ebinmaine 79,622]

8 minutes ago, ML3 said:

I dont need to keep my garage at 70° all winter.  All I want to do is keep it above freezing & then warm it up when I'm out there. Mostly,  I want it for the a/c.

 

Excellent usage. 

 

 

8 minutes ago, ML3 said:

Well insulated building is really the 1st & most important step. 

 

Absolutely agreed.  

We made our workshop space as airtight as possible. Very lightly insulated. We don't need the constant temps. Just the ability to change it when we're out there and it's too hot.  

Luckily the workshop is on the dark side of the building so it stays cool.  

 

 

 

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,741]

I installed the rubber floor tiles 2x2 in my enclosed that lock together. Unfortunately they began to buckle a lot and I have to physically cover the lifting or should I say cupping joints with flatstock metal. I hope this floor holds up better than mine did. 
it is a tough call on best flooring to install in these trailer. Yours looks good Kev!

[WHX?? 57,373]

I still vote for bed liner. The best hands down.  It's tuff , cleans easy when @Achto has a bowel movement on it  , water & oil resistant, non skid & patches easily if damaged. Moisture can not get underneath it to get trapped & cause damage. You really only need e track down the sides Kev. At times it would be nice to have some along the side wall for hauling furniture and such. No backing to screw to tho. A well built trailer would have backing in the side walls and there may very well be.  

My track was is 12' one piece from a trailer outfit. The recessed tie downs were factory. 

 

Buddy Massey Jason has VCT ( glue down tiles )  in a black & white checker board which is cool but gets kinda slick. 

 

I also used it on the ass end of the toy hauler after rotted out repairs. It sealed the new deck down nicely to the sidewall against water intrusion. 

Edited Saturday at 01:35 PM by WHX??

[WHX?? 57,373]

Another thing to mention about these toys is when raising the gate do so very slowly and careful not to let it slam. You get rough with it the torsion cable can come off the spool then you have a mess. Ask me how I know.

The only way to fix it is take the spring tension off and rewind. A real PIA. I don't know why they don't use assist springs on the hinge like the campers. would eliminate a lot of hassle.  Use slit pool noodles over the cables so no one gets cloths lined and easy to see when loading or backing off. 

Edited Saturday at 01:36 PM by WHX??

[Horsin'round 464]

There, fixed it for you!

[Pullstart 70,604]

My buddy Aaron hooked me up with a nice big battery and an inverter to run light duty shore power.  It’ll go up in the nose, and maybe even have room for a winch to hook up.  I’d love to be able to pull dead stuff in, rather than push it!

Edited 3 hours ago by Pullstart
Photo

[wh500special 2,427]

On 7/18/2026 at 5:47 AM, WHX?? said:

 

Wow, I didn’t realize these trailers are so wood-intensive.  Seems like an odd material choice for something that gets drug down the interstate in the rain.  But wood is cheap, so I guess is the default choice.  Trailer campers are likely the same. 
 

Would there be an advantage to not sealing anything up on these and just allowing them to breathe?  Seems like water intrusion is inevitable, so maybe just give it the ability to dry ftom all surfaces. 
 

Fishing boat floors are typically wood/plywood too.  And obviously they get wet.  I’ve made the observation (I think) that those that have carpeting on them actually last longer than those with sheet vinyl flooring surfaces.  The carpet does soak through ftom rain from the top, but I surmise that the vinyl locks in everything from below and grossly prolongs drying time.  On my current boat the carpeted surfaces are fine, but the underside of all the vinyl covered plywood flooring is starting to flake and is discolored.  The floor is still solid, but I’m sure it’s within the next 5-10 years that I’m replacing it. (I had the floor out to mess with the fuel tank and was surprised by the difference.)
 

My observation could be confirmation bias though.  

 

Steve
 

[SylvanLakeWH 31,693]

1 hour ago, wh500special said:

My observation could be confirmation bias though.

I noted the same thing on my previous boats... 

Edited 20 hours ago by SylvanLakeWH

[Pullstart 70,604]

2 hours ago, wh500special said:

Wow, I didn’t realize these trailers are so wood-intensive.  Seems like an odd material choice for something that gets drug down the interstate in the rain.  But wood is cheap, so I guess is the default choice.  Trailer campers are likely the same. 

That is his trailer camper… toy hauler style.  

[Pullstart 70,604]

This new trailer has the rear spoiler.  It covers the rear door by quite a few inches, and @Achto turned me on to the advantage of shedding water vs allowing it to run past the seal.