Buying a Brenderup...What Do I Need to Know?

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Originally Posted by jn4jenny

Yes really, you can pull them with a sedan. I did it for four years, with 168 horsepower and a 103" wheelbase. When that car died of old age at nearly 200K miles, I started pulling with a Toyota RAV4 AWD with V6 engine (which, let's face it, is a glorified car trying to look like an SUV). The RAV4 gets 268 hp and is way, way more power than I need.

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Another Brenderup owner/lover here. And like jn4jenny, I used a Volvo Sedan to haul my Solo around IL/WI events and schooling shows. I made it to 278K miles with the sedan before buying another Volvo.

My car/trailer have been used numerous time to haul furniture, riding lawn mowers, etc. I actually had my BIL try to MAKE the car/trailer fishtail by driving side to side on an empty country road. COULD NOT GET IT TO FISHTAIL!

This was a short trailer driving lesson, along with panic stops, and U-turns lock to lock on the steering wheel. All to show how stable and reliable the car with Brenderup were to handle, before I loaned it to my relatives for moving furniture....

How does the vehicle towing capacity work into this? I have a hard time believing a sedan has enough towing capacity for a trailer and horse.... yet they tow BU and horse just fine? (oh, one or two horse BU?)

L

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Originally Posted by lorilu

How does the vehicle towing capacity work into this? I have a hard time believing a sedan has enough towing capacity for a trailer and horse.... yet they tow BU and horse just fine? (oh, one or two horse BU?)

L

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For a 2-horse model you're far better off with at least 5000-7500 lbs of tow capacity, and I can't name a single sedan that passes that muster. But for the Solo and the Prestige 2-horse, some sedans and "cute utes" with 2500 to 4000 lbs of tow capacity might work. It just depends on who you are, how much crap you put in your trailer and tow vehicle, how much your horse weighs, etc.

You'll notice that so far, everyone piping up about pulling with a sedan is pulling the Solo one-horse model. That weighs 1350 lbs, although mine weighs 1400 once you account for shavings and weigh it on a wet rainy day (yes, I've put it on a truck scale in those conditions). My horse weighs 1050 lbs. That's 2450 lbs total. My Subaru had a tow capacity of 2700 lbs. My RAV4 has a tow capacity of 3500 lbs.

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Originally Posted by lorilu

How does the vehicle towing capacity work into this? I have a hard time believing a sedan has enough towing capacity for a trailer and horse.... yet they tow BU and horse just fine?

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My S70 (and subsequent S80) Volvo sedans had a tow capacity of 3,500 lbs. I tow a 1 horse Solo Brenderup in the flatlands of Illinois and Wisconsin.

I now own a Volvo XC90 SUV with a tow capacity of 5,000 lbs. Same horse, same amount of crap in my vehicle. Feels less noticeable, still stops the same way, due to the trailer brakes.

Keep in mind, I used to own and tow a 14' steel stock trailer, and then a 2 horse Merhow with dressing room (steel). They felt 'heavy' and scary to stop in an emergency with a V8 van built on a longer wheelbase than my car....

I decided the economics of 2 vehicles was 2X expensive for me (a single gal), so I started looking for a way to commute daily to my office 45 miles away, yet tow occassionally. The Volvo/Brenderup combination has worked wonderfully for me for almost 10 years!

thanks! pretty much what I thought!

I have a '93 Imperial (like the Baron but a model older) that I purchased about 7 years ago. It is a phenomenal trailer. I pull it with a 4Runner and before that a Liberty, and it hauls beautifully. It is plenty roomy for my OTTB, but I've also had a wide-bodied draft cross AND a 17.3-hand WB in there at the same time.

I had it overhauled and the floor replaced by a former B'up dealer last year. I found the floor on ebay through a former dealer out west and had it shipped. It cost a bit more, but I didn't have to wait months for the part from Europe. Just get the brakes checked about every year or so, and you should be fine. I have replaced all the tires and had no trouble finding the correct size at my local NTB. I did spend quite a bit for the overhaul, BUT that was the first expense I'd had on the trailer since I purchased it--other than new tires.

A couple things to remember:
1. Be sure to clean it out after every use. I sweep and hose off the mats and then roll the mat back and hose out underneath, particularly if my horse pees in the trailer. I leave it folded back until next time I use it so it dries thoroughly. I don't know if the newer models have this, but my mat is split down the center, allowing me to roll back just one side at a time.
2. Wash and wax at least once a year, twice if possible (once at beginning and end of season).
3. When storing, use a block under the chock and make sure it's tilted a little backward to let any water drain.
4. Do NOT use the parking brake if storing for more than a week or two between uses. Chock between the wheels instead.
5. Have it serviced once a year or if any problems arise.
6. Keep your hitch ball greased with all-purpose grease and cover with a ball cover or remove and store your hitch in a shoe box between uses. This will make hitching and unhitching much easier!

And don't let those who have only negative things to say about it but have never used one get to you. These trailers are GREAT, and with just a little TLC will be around for years. Enjoy it!

What class receiver hitch are B'up owners using on their tow vehicle?

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Originally Posted by rivenoak

What class receiver hitch are B'up owners using on their tow vehicle?

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On my Subaru, I used a Class II (rated to 3500 lbs) to pull my Solo. On my RAV4, I have a Class III rated to 5000 lbs. While we're on this topic, Brenderups take a 2" ball (those are usually rated up to 8000 lbs) and the top of your hitch ball should be 17-19" off the ground.

Hi everyone, OP here.

Thanks for the replies to my questions. And it's interesting to see how people have strong opinions about these trailers!

One other question I forgot to ask before: do people use their Brenderups for long distance travel/trailering? I'd mostly be using the trailer to go on a trail ride, go to a local schooling show, but there's a chance I'd use it for shows that are 2+ hours away, or perhaps even 12 hours away...although at that distance I'd more than likely travel with my mother in her large truck and trailer just due to the sheer amount of "stuff" that we bring.

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Originally Posted by kisstherain

Hi everyone, OP here.

Thanks for the replies to my questions. And it's interesting to see how people have strong opinions about these trailers!

One other question I forgot to ask before: do people use their Brenderups for long distance travel/trailering?

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Yes, my 3 longest trailer rides were to Otter Creek Horse Trials in Northern Wisconsin, Hill n Hound Horse Trials near St. Louis, and Richland Park HT in Michigan. Same 1-horse Solo and Volvo sedan. I will admit it was hard to get all my 'junk' into the car, since the Solo does not have a dressing room. I put my tack trunk and hay bale bag under my OTTB's nose in the front of the trailer, strapped in place so it wouldn't shift.

Horse traveled better than I did! Driving home alone after a weekend horse trial was hard! but not due to the trailer.... just tired, sleepy, afraid I might nod off on the interstate!!!

I am the owner of a St. Georges Imara (2-horse) trailer. I got it this spring. It was a 2011 demo model so I got it for $2k less than sticker price. It was sold to me by a person who used to sell B'ups. The St. Georges is very similar with some improvements, mainly the floor which is slightly slanted towards the rear and it is guaranteed for life - it does not come up so nothing to dry out. Just keep it swept, etc. I haul it with a Hyundai Santa Fe with a 5,000 tow rating. I have a 15.3hh gelding who has plenty of room.

I towed it empty, backed it up, jammed on the brakes, etc. and it never budged or bucked. I also test-towed it with a draft cross and could barely feel it. I was used to driving a friend's trailer and mine tows better. Friend has a 2-horse Trail-et and and V-8 F150 with tow package. I haul around IL & WI with longest trip about 3 hours. So far, so good :)

I have a B'up Royal TC and I tow it with a 6-cyl Chevy Trailblazer and it's a fine combination. I upgraded the suspension a bit (parts needed to be changed anyway) and when I replaced the transmission on the truck (which needed replacement before the trailer) I had them do a really beefy transmission cooler. I am really happy with this towing combination.

For the poster that said that the trailer fishtailed/lurched if the trailer was well maintained and the driving conditions were appropriate, what you're describing is nearly impossible. After I bought my trailer, I hauled it home empty, through the mountains and into a blizzard with 80 MPH crosswinds. Even in those conditions, the trailer stayed straight and true. Any other traiditional two horse would have been pulling me all over the road. I was so thankful that I bought the trailer I did because otherwise, I might not have made it home that night.

We had to slam on the brakes once when some yuppie yahoo cut us off after he left the coffee shop and it was raining pretty good. Even then, the trailer acted like a parachute, pulling us to a stop and stayed perfectly straight.

I can't say enough good things about this trailer. My only complaint is that my trailer will need a floor soon and I am struggling to find a suitable one piece replacement.

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Originally Posted by jn4jenny

For a 2-horse model you're far better off with at least 5000-7500 lbs of tow capacity, and I can't name a single sedan that passes that muster. But for the Solo and the Prestige 2-horse, some sedans and "cute utes" with 2500 to 4000 lbs of tow capacity might work. It just depends on who you are, how much crap you put in your trailer and tow vehicle, how much your horse weighs, etc.

You'll notice that so far, everyone piping up about pulling with a sedan is pulling the Solo one-horse model.

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I towed my B'up Royal (2 horse) with a Mercury Cougar, towing capacity of 2000 lbs, for years. Only one horse in it, since the 3500 lb capacity of the class II hitch would have been exceeded. It pulled fine, but it was always on flat land. My 1998 Explorer even strained going up significant hills with one horse in the trailer.
It has been nice at some very muddy parking conditions, to go in with my Explorer and pull the B'up out by myself--while everyone else is waiting for the tractor to get them out!
I had some occasional sway with the trailer in the beginning, but not for years. Don't know what changed.