dancing horses

dancing horses

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

DIY- Trailer Organization


As riveting as my rides on Carmen are for everyone I thought that it was time for a change in topic.

Since my pretty little trailer came home I've having fun getting it set up. My idea is to have some items that stay in the dressing room so that I don't have to remember everything. Right away I put a lead line, leather halter, lunge whip in the room. I then purchased a grooming kit, feed bin, water bucket and a fold up step stool. And the best clinic/horse show chair ever:

Mine is red but otherwise the same

I've been trolling the internet for ideas.Shannon wrote about this folding camp wagon. I immediately went out and purchased it:
its awesome, it folds up small and can carry up to 150 pounds
There were two things that I wasn't happy with. One is that the spare tire is in the way. A friend suggested that I put it on the outside. And I may do that but becaue my trailer is shiny and new I'm relunctant to put holes in it. So Ed moved the tire for me to be more out of the way:
my chair, whip, stool wagon , bucket and grooming kit all organized. 
The tire used to be where the bucket is now.

 I also want more places to store things. I found a system at the organizedbarn.com site. But it was expensive and once I factored in CAD pricing and shipping it was not feasible. Olivia at DIY horseownership is a genius at finding ways to duplicate or make her own things. She was my inspiration so I looked at the system and decided that it could be duplicated.

We already had a wire rack (like for store displays). So I had Ed and Andrew mount it on the trailer wall just to the left of the door. That space seemed like wasted space to me- the trailer came with small shelf at floor level but the rest of it was wasted. I went to the store and bought some baskets to hang. I have more to get but doing it this way  has cost us no more than $50 and time:
I have purchased more baskets since this photo. 
This is all making my inner hoarder very very happy. I have one more thing to hang up in the trailer but I haven't decided where to put it yet:
It folds down when not in use. From Lee Valley

Does anyone have other trailer/barn organization hacks that they can share?

21 comments:

  1. I need that fold down hanger, it's brilliant! I use the space behind the door for a water tank, but I think I will mount something like that on another wall in mine.

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    1. yeah, I haven't figured out where to put the water tank.....

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  2. I'm ashamed to say I've had my trailer for 6 years and have done NO fun organizational things.... maybe that should be a winter project for me! I do have some basic stuff stored in there (spare halter, lead, treats, my folding chairs, etc) but I love the idea of that rack with the baskets! Mine has a clothing bar already so that's helpful at least.

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    1. Mine has a bar as well but it's so tall that it's kind of useless. I haven't figured out the wine rack yet... ;)

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  3. My trailer functions as my primary tack room, which I don't prefer, but since I don't have any other enclosed tack room, it has to be. Mine is cramped beyond belief. I need ideas so thanks for sharing yours!!

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    1. That would be hard but I see how that works as well. My tack room in my barn is getting cramped so I can't imagine using my trailer!

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  4. Love the wire rack holder, great idea! I have a small living quarters in my trailer, but no clothes storage, I need to get a few of those fold up hangers!! Good luck!

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  5. I'm glad to be such an inspiration. I love that fold out hanging rack. I think I might need something like that myself. I also need to empty out my trailer and re-do the floor. I wanted to put my spare on the outside, but the trailer shop people said my trailer was too thin and that the tire might tear the skin off. So it's still in the tack room annoying me.

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    1. I can see where that rack could be very useful!

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  6. It was hard for me to tell based on one of your pictures, but is the wall behind the bridle rack just metal? I went to Home Depot & got some of their cheap runner carpet, & glued it to the wall behind mine to eliminate the clanking of bridles & other hanging items. :) Love it, & it works great! (Not really an organizational tip, but thought I'd share anyway.)

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    1. Yes it is metal and I was trying to figure out how to stop the clanking. Thanks!

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  7. All good use of space. My tire was mounted outside so that gave more room. One thing we had that came in handy was a blanket rack, it was on two chains with dowel rods with a ring on top to hang on the wall, so we could hang multiple blankets or coolers. Another was a mounted rack for polos and other wraps. They didn't take much space but were useful. Also put up a mirror and some hooks for clothes and helmets. The one indispensable item was a camp toilet because those port a pottys at shows are disgusting. Your trailer looks great. Have fun organizing.

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  8. Sara @ Roaming RiderAugust 31, 2016 at 12:24 PM

    My trailer is a work in progress, but I think it is nearly there. The one item that changed it all for me was a blanket bag. I believe I bought it from Schneiders and it is meant to store saddle pads and blankets when at a show. The hubby attached mounting brackets to the inside wall and I hung it up. It now securely holds rain sheet, light weight winter blanket and extra pad keeping them clean and out of the way.

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  9. Some of the other things you might consider include:
    Road side emergency kit
    First aid kit-for horse and human
    Spare whip
    Cot or inflatable mattress
    Extension cord(s)
    Fan
    Broom,shovel,manure fork
    Buckets and feed tub
    Radio
    Cooler/blanket

    I have accumulated a lot of duplicate stuff over the years and leave one set in the trailer all the time for shows so it stays nicer, and is there already!

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