How long is a three horse trailer?
In this blog post, we will answer the following question: How long is a three horse trailer? We will explain how to measure a three horse trailer and review the state laws regarding the maximum allowed lenght when towing a trailer.
How long is a three horse trailer?
A three horse trailer’s length will vary on the make and model of the trailer, and whether it has living quarters or not. Generally speaking, a three horse trailer can be from 10 ft to 40 ft long:
- Bumper Pull horse trailers: 16 ft to 19 ft long
- Gooseneck horse trailers: 21 ft to 27 ft long.
How do I know how long my horse trailer is?
If you are not sure how long your three horse trailer is, there is a simple way to measure it.
When measuring a horse trailer you must find the height of the trailer, the interior dimensions of the storage options, and the exterior dimensions. The dimensions of a horse trailer vary widely. The measurements allow you to properly plan your trip or to know precisely the details of the sale of a horse trailer.
Here’s how you measure a horse trailer:
- To measure the height of a horse trailer, one trick is to put a ladder adjacent to the highest point on the trailer with the horse trailer unloaded and level. Use a tape measure to determine the height of the vehicle. Measure from the highest point on earth for the most accurate measurement.
- To measure the length of the horse trailer, measure from the front-most corner of the back to the length of the trailer, but don’t measure the tongue. Measure the width of the rear of the trailer, not including wheel wells, if the wheel arches protrude from the trailer.
- To measure the volume of the horse trailer, measure the height of the inside of the trailer from floor to ceiling, the length of the rear wall of the doors, and the width from side to side. Multiply the three measurements to get the cubic volume.
For example, a trailer advertised as a 13-foot trailer indicates that the length of the rear wall of the doors is 13 feet. The cubic feet measurement indicates the cargo space of the trailer, for example, a trailer with interior measurements of 10 by 6 by 4 meters has a volume of 240 cubic meters.
How long of a trailer can I legally tow?
In the US, the average length of a towing combination is 45’. In the table below we present the trailer towing dimensions in the US and other state laws :
| State | Trailer Towing Dimensions |
| Alabama | Height, 13’6″ Width, 8’6″Length, 40′ |
| Alaska | Height, 14’Width, 8’5″Length, 40′ |
| Arizona | Height, 13’6″Width, 8′ (8’6″ on certain federal road systems)Length, 40′ |
| Arkansas | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″Length, 43’6″ |
| California | Height, 14’Width, 8’6″Length, 4 |
| Colorado | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″Length, not stated |
| Connecticut | Height 13’6″Width, 8’6″Length, 40′ |
| Delaware | Height, 13.5 ft.Width, 8’6”Length, 40 ft |
| District of Columbia | Height,13.5 ft.Width, 8’Length, not specified |
| Florida | Height, 13′.5″Width, 8′.6″ (on certain federal road systems)Length, 40′ |
| Georgia | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″Length, not stated |
| Hawaii | Height, 14’Width, 9’Length, not stated |
| Idaho | Height, 14’Width, 8’6″Length, 48′ |
| Illinois | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″; Trailer length, 45′ |
| Indiana | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″Trailer Length, 40′ |
| Iowa | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″Trailer Length, 53′ |
| Kansas | Height, 14’Width 8’6″Trailer length, not stated |
| Kentucky | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″Length, not stated but not to exceed the maximum combined length of 65′ |
| Louisiana | Height, 14′; Width, 8′.6′; Length, 40”; |
| Maine | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″Trailer length, 48′ |
| Maryland | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″Trailer Length, 40′ |
| Massachusetts | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″Trailer Length, 40′ |
| Michigan | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″Trailer length, 45′ |
| Minnesota | Height: 13’6″Width, 8’6″Trailer length, 45′ |
| Mississippi | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″Trailer length, 40′ |
| Missouri | Height, 14′ (some exceptions or restrictions to this); Width, 8’6″ (some exceptions or restrictions to this); Trailer length, not stated; |
| Montana | Height, 14’Width, 8’6″ (special wide body regulations)Trailer length, not specified (total maximum combined length of 75′) |
| Nebraska | Height, 14’6″Width, 8’6″Trailer length, 40′ |
| Nevada | Width 8’6”Length 45 ft. |
| New Hampshire | Height, 13’6″Width 8’6″Trailer length, 48′ |
| New Jersey | Height, 13’6″Width, 8′ (8’6″ on certain federal highway systems)Trailer length, 40′ |
| New Mexico | Height, 14′, on designated rural interstates, some exceptions; Width, 8’6″; Trailer Length, 40′ |
| New York | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″ (there are some exceptions or restrictions to this); Trailer length, 48′ |
| North Carolina | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″Trailer length, 35′ |
| North Dakota | Height, 14’Width, 8’6″Trailer length, 53′ |
| Ohio | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″Trailer Length, 40′ |
| Oklahoma | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″Trailer length, 40′ |
| Oregon | Height, 14’Width, 8’6″Trailer length, 45′ |
| Pennsylvania | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″ (8’6″ on all state routes, 8″ limit on some roads, but posted); Trailer length, not stated |
| Rhode Island | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″Trailer length, none stated |
| South Carolina | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″Trailer length, 48′ |
| South Dakota | Height, 14′ on designated rural interstates, some exceptions; Width, 8’6″; Trailer length, 53′ |
| Tennessee | Height, 13’6″; Width, 8’6″; Trailer length, 40′ |
| Texas | Height, 14′; Width, 8’6″; Trailer length, not stated’; |
| Utah | Height, 14′; Width, 8’6″; Trailer length, 40′. |
| Vermont | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″ Trailer length, 46′ |
| Virginia | Height, 13’6″; Width, 8’6″; Trailer length, 45′ |
| Washington | Height, 14’Width, 8’6″Trailer length, none stated; |
| West Virginia | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″Trailer length, 40′ |
| Wisconsin | Height, 13’6″Width, 8’6″Trailer length, 48′ |
| Wyoming | Height, 14′ Width, 8’6″Trailer length, 45′ |
The law states that, for example, any means of transporting animals must be previously disinfected by an authorized center. The other alternative that horse owners have is to take a course to obtain the official certification that allows disinfecting, disinsecting and derating these vehicles.
At a private level, we can carry out the transfer of these animals, but with certain limitations. These are:
- Only within the same autonomous community.
- Both the animal and the vehicle must be legally in the name of the interested party. In addition, the driver must be the owner of both.
- The displacement must not be for profit.
- In some states, it is not possible to transport more than two horses, so pay attention to that!
How to choose a horse trailer?
There is an ideal horse trailer to choose from for everyone. An ideal horse trailer comes equipped with premium quality wheels and tires that range from 13 to 14 inches depending on the type of trailer. In addition, to prevent the trailer from moving when left in static, they include a brake so that the horses do not suffer any mishaps.
A good horse trailer offers different capacities depending on the horse transport needs. The smallest is capable of carrying up to 1600 lbs. And the largest should have a capacity of up to 5000 lbs.
Therefore, analyze the characteristics of your animals and select the product that best suits your requirements from our wide range of horse trailers.
The bottom line
As you can see, depending on the trailer make and model, three horse trailers can vary greatly in length. It is important to know the length of your horse trailer so that you don’t break any laws while towing, especially out of state.
If you have any questions, comments or tips on the content, please let us know!
FAQ on How long is a three horse trailer?
How big is a 2 horse trailer?
A standard 2 horse trailer is 6’ width, 7’ tall and has a stall length of 10’. Of course, depending on the horse trailer brand and model, it can vary in size and the weight is capable of holding.
How many horses can fit in a trailer?
Up to six horses can fit in a trailer, depending on the size and model of the trailer. When transporting more than one horse, the minimum height inside the compartments must exceed the height at the withers of the tallest animal by at least 30 inches (almost 75 cm).
How tall is a draft horse trailer?
A draft horse trailer should be at least 8’ tall. A draft horse weighs on average 1,400 to 2,000 lb and has a height of 16 to 19 hands (64 to 76 inches) As these are heavy horses, you will need a spacious trailer to transport the horse in safety and comfort.
What are the top 5 trailer brands for horses?
The top 5 trailer brands for horses are:
- Sundowner;
- Featherlite;
- Trials West;
- Exiss;
- Titan.
Other FAQs about Horse Trailers that you may be interested in.
How heavy is a 4 horse trailer?
How do you unhook a bumper pull on a horse trailer?
How do you finish a horse trailer Living Quarters?
