Maple Lane Equestrian Trailers

Your Tow Vehicle Requires:

• Class II or Class III Hitch
• Flat 4 electrical plug (no electric brakes, so no need for a round 6)
• 2" ball set at 18-20" measured from the top of the ball to the ground, depending on the trailer model being towed
• Vehicle Wheel Base minimum of 93"; minimum of 100" for SUV's
• Minimum of 125 horsepower engine: V-6 engine recommended
• Tow package is recommended

Engine Power

The minimum requirement is 125 horsepower. We recommend a vehicle with a V-6 engine, which provides sufficient power to accelerate into traffic, to move easily in and out of traffic and sustain your speed on hilly terrain. More power is always better when you need to manage through Canadian weather, over our rugged terrain, and hills, and through city or highway traffic. Most drivers prefer to tow with a V-6 engine and are quite comfortable with a towing capacity of 3500lbs.

Some vehicles offer a tow package - it is always worth considering, as a tow package supports the work of your engine. Tow packages are designed to keep your engine cool, and it often includes the wiring as part of the package.

If you already have a round 6 or round 7 plug, an adapter which reduces to a flat 4 can be easily found at your local automobile parts store, or in the automobile section of your nearest department store.

Click on the tabs above to learn more about towing Böckmann horse trailers.

Tow Vehicle Wheel Base

The minimum is 93", however we do recommend at least 100" for SUV's. A wider wheelbase provides stability in a tow vehicle. As with anything - more is always better ... we recommend at least 100" of wheel base.

Aerodynamics

In order for a mid-size vehicle to pull a trailer easily without stressing its engine, aerodynamics are key. The aerodynamic roof-line eliminates the vacuum that builds up behind a flat roof trailer - like behind a transport truck. It is the vacuum that makes a trailer bounce around behind a tow vehicle.

Remove the vacuum - create a more stable ride for the horses. Vacuums also create a drag behind a trailer. In order to break that drag it requires a very powerful engine in the tow vehicle . If the vacuum is eliminated - so is the requirement for a powerful engine.

Aerodynamics are built into all Böckmann horse trailers.

Trailer Balance

In order for a mid-size vehicle to be able to tow a trailer that is heavier than what is described in the vehicle's manual, there cannot be any extra weight on the hitch beyond the capacity of the vehicle.

To create a trailer that does not significantly "lean" on the tow vehicle, European trailer manufacturers have designed a trailer that will be "self-supporting" or be well balanced. The placement of the "load" is the key to a well-balanced trailer.

Europeans have solved this by placing the horses directly over the dual axles. The dual axles directly support the primary load...the weight of the horses. When horses are loaded ahead of trailer axles, the horses weight is supported by the tow vehicle rather than the axles.

For this reason, knowing your vehicle's tongue weight capability is an important factor.

Tongue Weight

European regulations only allow about 4% of the total trailer weight to be on the tongue of the trailer ... a maximum of 150 kg or 330 lbs of tongue weight for the largest European trailer. To determine your vehicle's capacity to tow a European horse trailer, consult your manual for your vehicle's towing capacity.

Take 10% of that towing capacity ... for example, a 2003 Ford Escape has a towing capacity of 3500 lbs. 350 lbs is 10% of 3500 lbs. 350 lbs is the amount of weight the Ford Escape can safely bear at the point where the tongue connects to the hitch. 350 lbs is greater than the tongue weight of a European 2-horse bumper pull trailer, making the Ford Escape, with a V-6 engine, an excellent tow vehicle.

Independent Braking System

In order to be towed safely behind a tow vehicle smaller than a standard truck, European horse trailers must have an independent braking system. This independent braking system ensures that the trailer never pushes the tow vehicle.

For more details, see Braking Systems page.