Bateson Derby's

alsxx

alsxx

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Who has a Bateson Derby, what are they like? I've heard generally good reports about Bateson's, but you dont see so many of the Derby models around.

Also, if anyone has had one plated at a lower weight, what was the cost involved, can you only have it done if you buy brand new, or could a second hand one be re-plated?

I'm thinking of getting one (probably new) and having it plated at a lower weight as it would only be for my 14.2 mare and I am then well within the 3.5 tonne limit so no need to take my towing test.
 
I love mine - best little trailer ever and so light that I can tow with my car. Also easy to move into tiny parking areas by hand even if you are on your own and I am not a big strong lass.

When I got the trailer, Stinky fitted in with the partition in, but this year he has now grown (and still going) to just over 15 hands and really filled out - he is a gypsy cob so I took the partition out. I cross tie him and bought the rear bar.

He travels very well in the trailer and it is stable and easy to tow. Light and airy and well made. I have no problem that it is only rear load with my chap.

Theresa_W on here sometimes uses it for her 15.3 big cob mare and she is fine in it as it has good head room.

Why not speak to Batesons about the plating - they are very helpful people.
 
Thanks that's really helpful! Good to hear they are easy to move by hand - we have a really small parking area at the yard so that could come in useful!!

I will contact them to ask about the plating!

The only thing on them i dont like the look of is not having solid 'top doors' - how do you find that?
 
I have no problem with not having solid doors and I travel without the cover as my chap is a sensible and sort and not bothered about things coming up behind, plus I like plenty of fresh air going in.

When stored, I do put the cover on and not had any real problems with wet getting in. Once after some amazing hard rain and driving rain there was a little leak, but not to be concerned with.

If I am not using it for a while in winter, I tend to take the mats up and leave them standing on their side to make sure floor is kept dry as possible just in case.

If you only ever intend to travel one horse you can buy the mare and foal version which is exactly the same as the Derby but just has the breach bar and no partition.
 
I used to have an Ascot and it was amazing.

The problem with Ifors is they are very very hot to travel horses in in Summer, whereas I find Batesons lovely and cool (as they are predominately fibreglass, rather than metal I guess).

Also don't Ifors still use the old stem-and-leaf (or whatever) suspension system, which isn't very good for horses joints, whereas Batesons have the new suspension system which ALL cars now have.

Also the lack of a ramp made getting my horse into the trailer just the easiest thing in the world
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I just sold my Derby (to Wiltshire Fire & Rescue!) due to personal reasons, but I did think it was a smashing trailer. Mazzie (15.2hh Argentine TB) fitted in easily and I never knew she was in the back. I also took Genie (14.3hh Chunky Welsh D) in it and she fitted in comfortably. It's a smashing little trailer, I just don't trust trailers generally anymore, otherwise I never would have sold it.
 
No advice on the Derby I'm afraid as I've never seen one, but I just wanted to check you'd calculated your weights for avoiding the B+E test ok. (I've suffered the pain of reading the DVLA website back to front!)

Not only does the trailer MAM need to be less than your vehicle's kerb weight, but the trailer's MAM plus the vehicle's MAM must be less than 3.5t

Do you know the kerb weight/MAM of your vehicle?
 
Kerb weight of car is 1900kg, so as unladen weight of trailer is 675kg and weight of mare is just over 450kg (my other one is only 13hh so weighs quite a bit less!) I was planning on getting it plated at 1500kg which still gives me room to spare to add a water container etc giving total MAM of 3.4 tonnes. Also means I'm towing well under 85% of my vehicle weight.

I know the pain, I've done so much reading on it all! Learning to tow would be such an expensive exercise for me, my parents are in hampshire so I can't get anyone to teach me and as I would only ever tow one at a time it makes sense to do it this way! If I took my test I'd then need another car to tow a heavier trailer etc to get the ratios right...
 
I'm afraid that it's the Maximum Authorised Mass of the car + MAM of trailer that must be under 3.5t.
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If your car's kerb weight is 1900kg, then it will be capable of carrying a good 500-600kg load and so your MAM of the car will be too high to couple with a trailer and stay within the reg. Sorry.

My set up is;

Car kerb weight = 1505kg
Car MAM = 2035kg
Trailer MAM = 1450kg

So trailer MAM is less than car kerb weight and car MAM + trailer MAM = 3485kg which is under 3500kg. It's really tricky to get the balance of it all right and still have a good enough towing vehicle.
 
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