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Brenderup Trailers  
Brenderup. Easy to Tow.  And That's Just the Beginning...

Almost from the day Traveled Lane Trailers opened for business back in 1996, we received calls from people who owned small vehicles and good-sized horses.  Many of these people were disappointed to find that they couldn't tow conventional horse trailers or transport more than one horse without exceeding their vehicle's tow capacity.  Their vehicles were too light, too short, too low powered, etc.  As we continued to receive calls from owners of sport utilities, cars and compact trucks, we realized there was a need to be met.  Rather than tell people to buy a conventional trailer, install expensive hitch hardware and hope for the best, we decided to find a trailer designed to be towed safely by a wide range of vehicles, small and large.  We had seen Brenderup ads in magazines and noticed their claim that you don't need a truck to tow a Brenderup.  We hadn't seen anyone else making this claim, so we called the folks in Midland, Texas (the U.S. importer and assembly facility) and requested one of their videos.  Another reason we contacted Brenderup is because their fuel-saving designs have been in production since the 1950s.  They’ve also been on sale in the U.S. since the early 1980s, so even though they're advanced designs, they're also well-proven.

Brenderups are Different Because...

Brenderups come from Denmark, and in Europe, as in most of the world where fuel is expensive, vehicles tend to be small.  But many of their horses are large.  While the trend toward smaller vehicles in the U.S. is fairly recent, Brenderup has been dealing with the small vehicle/large horse situation for decades.  Right from the start, Brenderups were designed to be towed safely by smaller, fuel-saving vehicles.  You won't need a weight distribution hitch or sway bars or expensive add-on hardware to tow a Brenderup.  This alone is enough to make a Brenderup worth considering if you don't have a large tow vehicle.  But we watched the video and realized there's a lot more to like about a Brenderup than just its easy towing characteristics.

Light Loaded Tongue Weight.  The Theory.

A Brenderup is light, but so are some other trailers.  Now for the difference.  A Brenderup is so well balanced that, when properly loaded, it carries only about 3.8-5% of its load on the tongue.   How does this compare to a conventionally designed (usually domestic) trailer?  A commonly used rule of thumb is that a conventional trailer carries about 10-15% of its load on the tongue.  And the tongue load is what you'll be carrying on or near your back bumper.

Light Loaded Tongue Weight.  Some Numbers.

What do all of these percentages mean in real world terms?  It means a Brenderup 2 horse trailer will have a LOADED tongue weight of about 165-175 pounds.   (Example assumes Royal series with two 1200 pound horses.)  For a conventional 2 horse bumper pull, expect a loaded tongue weight of 400 pounds or more.   (Conventional example assumes trailer weight of 2000 pounds, two 1200 pound horses and 10-15% of trailer + horse weight on tongue.  Be advised:  Very few conventional two horse trailers weigh as little as 2000 pounds.  We gave the conventional trailer folks the benefit of the doubt.)

For a dressing room trailer, the Brenderup difference is even more startling.  A properly loaded Brenderup Baron L series, with dressing room, will have a loaded tongue weight of about 250 pounds.  (Assumes trailer loaded with two 1300 pound horses and 500 pounds of tack, supplies, etc.  Many horses weigh less than 1100 lbs. and most folks don't take 500 lbs. of "stuff" with them, so this example assumes a heavier payload than many people will ever carry.  Baron L models are Brenderup's largest models.)  For a conventional bumper pull dressing room trailer, expect a loaded tongue weight of 700 pounds or more.  And remember, that trailer tongue weight is going to be carried near your back bumper where it will produce the maximum effect on your vehicle's suspension.  (Conventional example assumes 12% of load on tongue, 3200 pound trailer weight, two 1100 pound horses and 300 pounds of tack, supplies, etc.  If you're considering other brands, we suggest you ask for specific DOCUMENTED weights and percentages to calculate actual tongue loadings.  Expect the numbers to be close to our example.)

Light, but Strong

But wait, there's more.  The walls, roof and floor of a Brenderup form a unitized structure, and when combined with the galvanized steel chassis, the result is a trailer that's light and strong.  Most of today's automobiles feature unitized body structures because they're light and strong.  Brenderups are similar to modern autos in other ways, as well.  You'll find out in a couple of paragraphs.

How Big is a Brenderup?

A Brenderup is very roomy.  Many people assume that because a Brenderup is easy to tow, it must be small.  Not at all.  The Prestige series accommodates two horses to about 16 hands, the Royal series to about 17 hands and the Baron L series to about 18 hands.  Brenderup offers several one horse models as well.  The Solo can accommodate one horse of about 16 hands.  The Baron One models can accommodate one horse to about 18 hands.  

Stability, Loaded or Empty

You may be thinking, "with that light weight and light tongue weight, a Brenderup must be all over the road."  That assumption would be incorrect.  Like modern cars, a Brenderup is aerodynamic.  The shape helps stability.  As do the sophisticated chassis design and suspension.  (The Brenderup chassis features camber and toe-in for stability as on motor vehicles.  Brenderups even have shock absorbers!)  Brenderups track great loaded or EMPTY, even in less than ideal weather conditions.  (Ever hear anyone complain about an empty lightweight conventional trailer bouncing all over the road or being shoved by wind?  We have.)  The shape also reduces the vacuum behind the trailer, which means you don't need a large-engined vehicle to pull a Brenderup.

What's in a Brenderup for Your Horse?

Brenderup didn't just concentrate on easy towability.  The environment for your horse was given just as much thought.  The interior is bright and spacious.  Comfortable and quiet.  Nothing loose to rattle or clang.  Materials with inherently good sound-deadening and thermal characteristics.   A long ramp so even a large horse doesn't have to decide, "do I walk on it or jump across it?"  Height-adjustable chest and butt bars to accommodate different horse sizes.  The clever engineering just goes on and on .  A Brenderup even has a parking brake so you don't have to chock the wheels ( we know it's not really a feature for your horse, but it's so neat we had to mention it somewhere).

And They Lived Happily Ever After...

By the time we had finished watching the Brenderup video, we were convinced that the concept was sound.  But we had never seen one on the road (remember, this story started back in 1996).  The construction and components looked good in the video, so we ordered a couple of trailers.  We displayed one at a major show and got lots of positive comments.  We also met some long-time Brenderup owners.  They were all very pleased with their trailers.  Those first trailers were gone in no time.  And we're happy to report that the Brenderups have continued to go off our lot in a steady stream ever since.  Brenderups may look different, but people recognize a good thing when they see it.  And better yet, when they tow it.

We've only scratched the surface in describing Brenderup engineering and features.  Want more info?  Feel free to call us at 800-336-7855 or send us an email at cserv@traveledlanetrailers.com.  Want to see a Brenderup?  We keep plenty of Brenderups in stock and we even offer test drives.  We're one of Brenderup’s most experienced dealerships.  We’ve been selling Brenderups since the mid 1990s, so we know the product very well and can make recommendations for suitable tow vehicles.  We sell several domestic trailer brands in addition to the Brenderups, so if you  haven’t made up your mind whether you want a Brenderup or a conventional design, we’ll give you objective advice to help you make an informed decision. 

 The Fine Print, Sort Of:  You can pull a Brenderup with a very wide range of vehicles.  But you can't pull it with just anything.  Some vehicles are just too small or underpowered.  Even a Brenderup has to obey the laws of physics.  The Brenderup minimum vehicle requirements are relatively easy to meet, but we want you to be aware they exist.  The vehicle should have at least 120 horsepower, a wheelbase in excess of 93.5 inches and the ability to handle approximately 100 to 250 lbs. on the hitch (tongue weight or hitch loading depends upon Brenderup model - we can provide more info when you call or visit).  Vehicle minimum requirements are from Brenderup documentation.

A Little More Fine Print: While the 10-15% tongue loading we use for conventional trailers IS a commonly mentioned guideline, we don't guarantee that it applies to every trailer that isn't a Brenderup.  If you're considering another brand that you want to pull with a smaller vehicle, ask what percentage of the load they carry on the tongue.  If anyone claims to have a trailer that carries significantly less than 10-15% on the tongue, ask him or her to show you official manufacturer literature to prove it.  Feel free to give us a call if you hear numbers that sound too good to be true.

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