2020 Featherlite 8117 Horse — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $15,000–$26,000. There are 3 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.
Kestrel Take
A premium all-aluminum horse trailer from the brand many consider the gold standard — Featherlite's build quality, corrosion resistance, and resale are top of the class. The same non-negotiable horse-trailer safety checks apply: floor integrity under the mats, brakes, bearings, tire age, and structure. A well-maintained Featherlite with a sound floor is a safe, durable, high-resale trailer; pull the mats and verify the floor and running gear.
What we checked
Not checked against public records
Towable trailers are in NHTSA’s database and we intend to use it. We have not switched it on yet because recall notices name sub-brands and floorplans rather than the model we key on, and folding them in carelessly would put another trailer’s recall on this page. What follows is our own write-up, and it has not been reconciled against an official record. Treat it as a starting point, not a verdict.
Known Issues for the 2020 Featherlite 8117 Horse
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
Even aluminum trailers can have floor/support corrosion or rot (many use wood or aluminum plank floors); pull the mats and inspect thoroughly — a horse-safety issue.
Repair cost (estimate): $500-$4,000
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Sound brakes and bearings are essential with live animals; test and inspect.
Repair cost (estimate): $200-$1,000
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Check tire date codes; replace age-expired tires.
Repair cost (estimate): $300-$1,000
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Inspect dividers, doors, latches, and the roof/seals for damage and leaks.
Repair cost (estimate): $100-$1,500
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Floor rot/corrosion under mats
- ✗Weak brakes / bad bearings
- ✗Old-date-code tires
- ✗Damaged dividers/latches or roof leaks
Good Signs
- ✓Solid floor (mats pulled and inspected)
- ✓Working brakes, serviced bearings
- ✓Fresh tires, sound structure
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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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