Any advice on large horse trailers with living. Are they any good?

[sparky1981]

So we are looking at possibly buying a large horse trailer with some sort of living space/ seating area. Has anyone got one of these? Like an equitrek or similar? Are there any problems with them? Do they tow well. We have a long wheel based Ford ranger with a huge pulling capacity. Are they better rear facing? Any advice would be great thanks

 

[Annagain]

Equitreks are a brilliant idea and are very well designed but the build quality hasn't always been the best. I know the older ones in particular had issues with several different things, particularly the ramp rotting and axle issues with very early ones. The newer ones now have no wood in them so might be better but I've not looked into them recently. They tow very nicely and in my experience (my friend had one and we went on it a lot) horses load and travel very well one them. Rear facing really seemed to suit mine.

I looked at the Eventa when it first came out and felt the horse area was very small for my two big boys - the rear loading, herringbone set up makes it seem very small in comparison with the Equitrek. (Equitrek had a patent for a side loading trailer so no other company could copy it - I think that has expired now but nobody seems to have replicated the design.) The living was very nice but it feels to me that they've focussed on the comfort for humans rather than the horses.

Depending on why you want one with living, another option could be the tent IW have developed to attach to a 511 / HBX trailer.

It goes without saying but particularly with an Equitrek if you're buying second hand take someone knowledgeable and check them out really carefully or pay for a pre-purchase inspection.

 

[HuskyFluff]

I loved my equitrek star treka. The horse travelled really well in it, it was excellent to tow (I barely noticed it was there with my disco 2), and the living though small, was fine. I'm quite sad I sold it, but the horse retired and my other horse wasn't going to be ready for a few years.

 

[Britestar]

I have an Equitrek Night trekka. Love it. Prior to that I had a show trekka for 10yrs.
Just make sure you service them regularly .

 

[FitzyFitz]

I have a very old Equitrek day trekker. The horses travel much better in it than our old Ifor Williams and although we only have day living the extra storage and ability to make a cuppa at an event is lifesaving.

However, it's VERY heavy, very long and low slung (got to watch speed bumps and farm tracks) and although the design is brilliant the build quality on them is not always great. The ramp material on the old ones is deadly slippery when wet too, I've put non slip decking paint on it!

Ifor Williams have a big trailer with living that a family friend of ours has now and that's excellent, another friend has the small no living equitrek and has no problems with it so I would suggest looking carefully at reviews and asking around about particular models and ages.

 

[sparky1981]

Thanks for your replies. So helpful