Equi Trek to buy or not???

I've witnessed two very nasty accidents of horses in equi trek so would never buy one, both caused by horses getting over front bar area trying to get out Jockey door I think, smashing there heads through the roofs.

That's why I bought a ifor Williams.
 
I've heard bad things about them...such as the builders using lower quality fixtures/materials in order to keep the weight down...

But I've never personally owned one - but from what most people tell me, other makes/companies making similar sized/designed little lorries are much better
 
My OH services and restores trailers/lorries for a living and doesn't have an awful lot of good things to say about equi-trek, low build quality, bad customer service and after care...
 
I've had my equi trek for over 10 years and never had any problems! Although it is now awaiting a new axle but that was caused by my Mum driving off with the ramp still down into a wall! In the mean time i've been using an ifor williams and really miss the extra space in both the living and the horse area.

They have had a few problems with the axles in some of the models which were recalled but I think the new ones are fine.

The customer service wasn't as bad as what we'd heard, we rang when the axle broke to get a new one and they were really helpful.

Regarding the horse going over the bar through the jockey door I've seen this happen in an ifor wiliams as well.
 
I've got an older 5 star, I've only had it a few months but so far no complaints! Best things about it are the ride quality, it just sits on the road so nicely, and also my little horse who has always been a toad about loading will go straight in, never need a helper, and in past on various lorries and trailers including ifor and batesons I would always need someone to help me!
 
Feathered said:
My OH services and restores trailers/lorries for a living and doesn't have an awful lot of good things to say about equi-trek, low build quality, bad customer service and after care...
Click to expand...

SNAP

And mine is now selling them ....

He's had 20+ years in trailers/boxes ....
 
I have a Spacetreka and love it. It's like having a small lorry without the hassle of plating. Smooth ride, easy to tow - great space with the living. My horses love travelling backwards.

As for the accidents - the same can happen in a trailer if the horse is a panicker and sees the jockey door as an escape route.

These type of accidents have happened in the Renault lorries. The answer is to ensure you have a collapsible breastbar by replacing the screws with spring clips. The build quality is not amazing, but that said the only problem I encountered is the axle recall.

A few years ago a horse broke loose and jumped out of the back of an Ifor on an A road locally. They rarely come up for sale secondhand which I take as a good sign.
 
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I have had mine nearly 4 years & love it, have travelled thousands of miles with it all over the country with no problems at all. Pony travels well & couldn't be without the living & tack locker now. The axle recall was for the Showtrekka L only, mine is a Showtrekka M.
 
I have one of the older 5 stars and it's fabulous. Sound, solid, and tows briliiantly. It's easy to hitch and reverse and I've never had anything travel badly - even those whose owners claim don't load / travel in trailers do so in mine with no bother. We love it. It is for sale, but only because we no longer go to shows so it's a bit surplus to requirements really. I've also had dealings with the service department over the years and find them very helpful.
 
Just to be clear my OH does not agree with the comment on poor quality/poor cust service he certainly doesn't give poor customer service!
 
I started off with an old Ifor 510 and loved it, traded it in for a 511 and had nothing but trouble - and I mean real trouble. On the 3rd time of it going back the dealer sent it up to Ifor in Wales and they had it a month yet when it came back it still wasn't right. The list of problems could fill this page but the worst of it was when it starting coming unhitched when I was pulling away.

After a year I gave up and traded it in for an EquiTrek ( interestingly I would have got more on the trade in for my 12 year old 510 than I got for my 1 year old 511 ) and I love it.

Yes there are a few things that could be better, for example the saddle rack gave way on me during my last trip BUT I had 4 saddles on a 2 prong rack so I'm completely to blame. I love the fact my girls stay dry when it's raining, I love the fact I keep everything in the tack room so when going somewhere I only have to pack tack and the girls travel beautifully in it. They used to sweat up like crazy in the 511 but there's never even a damp patch on them after travelling in the Space Trekka.

I'd definitely recommend one but you do have to bear in mind the quality of the build could be improved in places.
 
Friend on the yard sold her bateson for an equitrek and says the build quality is nothing like as good as her bateson
 
Love mine. Had it for 8 years from new. Not had any problems with it, new axle after bumping it repeatedly up and down a 12 step ( issue at home). Now needs a new gas strut, but it's not an emergency.
Have traveled
 
Love mine. Had it for 8 years from new. Not had any problems with it, new axle after bumping it repeatedly up and down a 12 step ( issue at home). Now needs a new gas strut, but it's not an emergency.

Have travelled 1000's of miles in it, slept in endless nights in a row. Horses love it and travel really well. Would not swop it.
 
We have had a Space treka for nearly 6 years from new.. Tows great but thats about it we have had some issues. firstly there was an issue with the chassis and we were told we were using it incorrectly but driving over fields. Eventually it was fixed as an independat engineer said it was a fault in the chassis. Then the axle was replace as part of a recall.

now the floor is dipping and is dangerous. They said when it was serviced it was just like an MOT only good on the day. Have take said trailer to a local coach builder who said they can repair and would also put in some more cross members as there weren't enough and replace the whole floor, cost over 2K. Equi Trek dont want to know, dont return calls etc it was the same when the chassis was damaged.
If I had the money again I would look else where
 
Who did you buy from?
Who are you dealing with at Equitrek please?
Where are you based and pm me with your contact details.
 
have had for 2 years
Horses like travelling backwards
great having space to plait/change etc
would opt for extra vent as air flow in horse area not fantastic particularly when carrying 2 big horses
condensation dripping from roof of horse area an issue as drips onto rugs on rug rack
tack locker door catches snag on everything
have had numerous issues - front window leaked and water damaged living worktop - still under warranty so replaced FOC
other repair all out of warranty
axle needed replaced
seat cushioning wouldnt stay in place on bench & needed attachment sewn on
loading side rear window leaked into tack locker below damaging interior
horse shower electric pump broke rendering shower & sink in living unuseable, tank riveted on so difficult to check if it was actual pump that was broken
bottom arm of saddle rack in off-side tack locker broken off at weld after minor use
living door handle detached
 
I've not read every comment but my personal views are from comparing the market is Equi-wreck as a very well known company near me calls them. I was disappointed to see the price of them and the Alexander's were similar but the Equi-trek looked very minimal made against the Alexander's. I won't be buying an EQui-trek.
 
Its obvious that they must be built of lighter materials to be able to be so big and under weight. Hubby (mechanic who services them sometimes) would not let me have one for anything. We used to have a livery who had one, her horse cracked the back wall from kicking. That said, they are very popular, there are lots of them around, so lots of happy customers. I do like the style of them, the tack room etc. I don't like the extra long ones, they don't look right on their axles! I also hate that they are so bright and can be seen from miles away. The sleep in ones always seem claustrophobic to me!
 
I think you either love them or hate them I have a space treka and I love it and I've never had any problems there a good and bad point for all trailers happy shopping
 
Common theme in the replies even from people who like them! Replaced axle!!!! and some of thoise have obviously been lead to believe it was their fault and swallowed the cost of replacement themselves when it was a quality issue down to equitrek.
Some mention replacement under recall,just remember they were forced into that recall by vosa wereas most reputable manufacturers would have held their hands up and rectified the issue! Hate to think how many owners have replaced axles themselves not realising there was a general problem.
 
Having shared one for a few years we hated it. They are made of cheap materials.. Also there was a report somewhere of 2 horses (fairly recently) dying in an equitrek. The trailer turned over on its side and there was no way of the horses getting out :(
 
Had my space trekka m for 3 years, towed well, horse travelled brilliantly, sold it for much more than bought it for but it was a good one, the build quality wasn't great but no problems with it. Mine had a tack locker in front of horse so would have been very hard for him to jump over bar.
 
My friend has one and its truly awful, bad design plastic and cheap lots of bolts and handles broken or snapped off. Ventilation is awful just 2 very tiny windows which only open around 2 inches so its an absolute sweat box and can't be used on hot days!! There planning on selling it.
 
I haven't owned one but a friend did. Following an accident in an Ifor, the ET was the only trailer my big guy would travel in.

I wouldn't think the jockey door more of an issue than any other jockey door. Especially having almost been squished by a 16.somethingHH 3yo colt leaving an ifor via the jockey door & coming straight for the mare I was holding.
 
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