Cheval Liberte/Bateson/Ifor.....

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Parkranger

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that is the question!

I think I prefer the look of the Cheval Liberte and Bateson and you seem to get alot more for your money......

I have £2000 to £2500 to spend and have to have front unload and don't want something too old.....

Any suggestions of where I shoudl look? Looked at horsemart etc but not alot around.

I think I could buy a new Bateson for £3500 but I'd rather save a grand and get something a few years old! x
 
I have an Ifor Williams and I'm happy with it. Got it new over 6 years ago now and still looks good and they hold their value well.
 
I have a Cheval 2003XL and am thrilled with it.
Found it hard to find a secondhand Ifor and so decided to get a new one for about the same money.
Easy to hitch up and great to tow with. Lots of room and the fact you can front unload both sides is a real bonus. Also like the fact you can either have the ramps as a ramp or a barn door. Only thing I don't like is the tack locker, its to cramped for a saddle and it gets in the way when you are loading or unloading so have taken mine off as the only thing I had in there was a bucket and rug!
 
I think youll have a job finding a bateson for 2-2.5k, my friend has just had to buy a new one, coz there arent many 2nd hand ones around. The yare really popular. And youre right, you do get more for your money.

Ive got an Ifor, had it about 2 years now and bought if from new. I love it and so does horsey!
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Saying that, I might ge a Bateson Ascot later in the year, just coz I wont more space, Ifor's (505's anyway) are abit snug!
 
Ifor are great and very well built hence they are so popular but the design isnt quite right- the front ramp is on the drivers side- which means (God forbid) anything happens you have to unload horses into the middle of the road. Plus it means the bigger horse has a tighter turn out.
 
I have the Bateson Deauville & it's great. The front ramp opens on the correct side, unlike the Ifors, it has external tie rings unlike the Ifors, it doesn't rattle as it goes along. It tows beautifully, light & airy & unladen weight of only 860kg makes it one of the lightest of it's type. Oh & it will take two horses up to 17h (has a 7'03" headroom)

You can pick upo good second hand ones & they hold their price. IMO far better than the Cheval & Ifors

Forgot to say it comes with a double saddlerack at the front aswell
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http://www.horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM711CABH/Advanced/True/Page//Web/DisplayHorseboxDetail.asp
 
I have a Bateson, Deauville, we got it purely because they hold their value my (very lucky) friend got a second hand one 2 years old and sold it a few months ago for more than she paid for it!! Might be worth putting that extra grand in if you possibly can.
 
None of the above an older Rice trailer or perhaps a Richardson.
I love my Rice, I've had it for 10 years now and it was three years old when I bought it for £200.

It's cost me the grand some of £500 in that time which includes a new floor and it's never ever let me down. (odds on saying that are it will go wrong now
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)

It's definitly my best horsey buy.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have a Bateson, Deauville, we got it purely because they hold their value my (very lucky) friend got a second hand one 2 years old and sold it a few months ago for more than she paid for it!! Might be worth putting that extra grand in if you possibly can.

[/ QUOTE ]

think it might be all about the bateson then
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I've got the Bateson Ascot and I love it as do the ponies. I plumped for the Ascot to get the built-in tack locker - and it does take 2 saddles!
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Have you given any dealers a ring? I got mine brand new for about £400 less than the brochure price. No idea if my dealer was particularly good or if he just wanted my trade!
 
You won't see many Bateson Ascots for less than 3.5k, secondhand - have been looking myself. A new one will set you back about 4.5k.

Does anyone know the actual horse area length of the Ascot? Is it shorter than an Ifor 510 because my mate (who will be sharing it will me) is convinced that Batesons aren't long enough for her 16.3?! Her horse isn't particularly long in the back...
 
I think I definately prefer the Cheval Liberte - purely for the suspension etc. Think I'd go for one without a tack locker as Ty can paw in the box and is likely to take it out in one go!

Try finding one though - it's a bloody nightmare! x
 
I think you have to pay extra for the Pullman suspension on the CL, it is an option although the dealer we looked at them at only imported those with it, so check. They are not very well made, very poor finish with lumpy welding etc. Not sure about secondhand values. Very good spec though. We went for an Ifor in the end. The ramp being on the 'wrong' side isn't really an issue; in an emergency you can always back the horse out.
 
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