Trendy
Trailers
Weatherford business helps
equestrians travel in style
BY JENNY EURE • PHOTOS BY GLEN E. ELLMAN
“Today, people
enjoy being with
their horses rather
than going to a
hotel.”
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hen it comes to equestrian events,
there’s a handful of horse enthusiasts who have chosen to forget
hotels – instead, they’d rather cozy up in an
ultra-luxe, 4-Star trailer with living quarters
from Outlaw Conversions.
Weatherford’s Wayne Hodges Trailers –
the official horse trailer of the National
Cutting Horse Association – sells the trailers, which combine the long-lasting durability of the
4-Star brand with Outlaw’s trademark for
comfort and western elegance. Even in the
world’s cutting horse capital, the trailers’
level of quality and craftsmanship isn’t
something found at every dealership. In
short, they’re the Rolls-Royce of the horse
trailer/living quarters combo.
It’s not unusual for Wayne Hodges
Trailers to sell more than 100 of the living
quarter trailers every year – which adds up
to a hefty sum, considering new trailers
start at $40,000 and can run in excess of
Fort Worth Business Press • Dec 2006
$200,000.
The dealership also offers horse, livestock
and cargo trailers, but it specializes in the
living quarters options.
Wayne Hodges, owner of the dealership,
said about 30 living quarters trailers – both
new and used – are typically in stock. Half
of the customers opt for custom jobs, a
process that takes about six months, and
can be as taxing as designing a house.
First, customers come to the lot and pick
out the shell for the trailer. Single and double slide-out living quarters are available
(the double slide-out provides maximum
space – expect it to cost at least $150,000)
and customers can choose to raise their
ceilings to eight feet from the seven-foot
standard. The basic trailers offer eight- to
10-foot shortwalls, but the more luxurious
varieties usually run at 18 to 20 feet.
Then, of course, there are the horses to
consider. While the four-stall trailer is most
popular, customers can opt for up to six
stalls – just as long as the trailer isn’t more than 53 feet
long.
The fun part is designing the interiors, a job that
General Manager Kathleen Mehlschau and Sales Associate
Cindy Skinner work on closely with customers. Every
detail is given the utmost scrutiny, whether the customer
wants a punchy western theme, with cowhides and rustic
woods, or is seeking a touch of western elegance, with
suede walls and ostrich or alligator skin accents.
Copper sinks, tile backsplashes, leather accents and
shiny, luster-finish woods like alder, hickory and oak are a
mainstay for the fancier jobs. Because the living quarters
are made to be hauled, countertops are made of lightweight materials like Formica. Vinyl or even hardwood
floors with mosaic tile inlays or tile can be found in entryways. Some trailers feature sliding pocket doors leading to
the master bedroom and bathroom for enhanced privacy.
Wood detailing can accent the cabinetry – which many
times comes with a built-in TV and DVD player. (One
trailer features a 32-inch plasma TV.) Convection ovens
are included, and customers who crave the comfort of a
home-cooked meal can even opt for recessed cooktops
with built-in ovens.
Sometimes, it seems like the less people use the trailers,
the fancier they buy them, Hodges said. Typically, he
added, people who live in their trailers on a continual
basis opt for the more basic eight to 12-foot shortwall,
with simple woods and regular wallboards (forget the
suede). About $38,000 is the starting price for such trailers. For those customers, practicality is key.
A good portion of Hodges’ customers will come back to
buy something new every couple of years, and have the
dealership sell their old trailer.
Most importantly, the living quarters provide another
alternative to the usual horse show experience, whether it’s
for a quick nap between shows, a cool respite on a hot
summer day or a place to grill burgers with friends.
For some, it’s the ability to be close to their horses.
“Today, people enjoy being with their horses rather than
going to a hotel,” Hodges said. HS
Hodges’ trailers feature upscale
living quarters complete with plasma
televisions and leather sofas.
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