Equi-trek trailer yes or no??

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Notamule

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Hi all,
I saw a Star Treka trailer at the Norfolk show and thought it looked fabulous, but having read various reports about poor build quality, wheels flying off and broken axles, compounded by poor customer service from Equi trek.....I'm thinking twice before buying one!

Some of the posts were older and may have been talking about an older design of trailer or perhaps the two axle version, so I'd just like to hear from anyone who has a new one - how are you getting on with it?

If the lady who submitted a report to VOSA is reading this, do you know the outcome as yet?

If anyone from Equi trek is reading......I haven't read anything on the web from the company, about how or whether these issues have been dealt with??

I currently have a Bateson Ascot, which is a great trailer and would only consider changing it for something with living.

Thanks!
 
I had a Show Treka M for 4years, never had any problems with it and used most weekends.
Bought the trailer brand new but not direct from Equi Trek, so can't comment on Equi Treks response to problems.
Sold it two months ago for a 3.5t lorry though.
Hope this helps a little! :)
 
I bought a new Space Treka trailer this year, and it's brilliant.

I love it, and there is no way I would buy a traditional type of trailer as I wouldn't be able to load my horse in on my own in one of those. A single person can easily handle the equitrek. The design is brilliant. The horse travels well in these too. My horse had only ever travelled in lorries before I bought him, but he travels superbly well in this.

I've not had any trouble with mine, so I can't comment on customer service as I've had no need to complain. I think the people who had trouble had the older models?
 
I bought a 10 month old space trekka a couple of months ago and I love it.

My cob travels really well in it and this design means I can go out alone. It tows really well. I much prefer it to the 510.

I love the way you can tack up etc inside.

Can't comment on customer service either as I bought it privately.
 
Hi I have seen some horrendous accidents concerning trailers so I would rather go no where than put my horses in a trailer. They are a defo no no for me.
 
Ive considered one for my trailer phobic horse as I really dont warrant a wagon but Im also wary of the build quality. The concept is brilliant but I just wish another company would make one. I worry about the stabilty more than anything as I have heard of them going over, they seem to sit on top of the wheels and not between like the traditional trailer, What I got told wasnt rumour, this was from someone who was there not long after it happenend.
 
I was drooling over the Equi Treks with living at the Norfolk Show too!! However, I am loathe to part with my lovely, solid Ifor which I have never had any problems with in about 13/14 years of towing (other than a broken leaf spring which didn't stop me from slowly getting home). SO I was wondering about keeping the 510 and getting a 4x4 camper van with living to tow with!! OH assures me they exist..
Jeni Ball, were the accidents caused by driver error? I ask as I recently saw someone towing a horse at close on 70mph on the motorway, crazy dudes- I never go above 50mph absolute max on a dual carriageway.
 
It's so frustrating!! My husband loved the Star Treka too and he doesn't even ride! It's a great idea - potentially a perfect compromise between running an expensive lorry and and the limitations of a trailer.

Ho hum, will have to wait until either Equi-trek get their act together, or someone else starts making a well designed trailer with living.

Anyone listening from Bateson??!
 
Notamule said:
Anyone listening from Bateson??!
Click to expand...

I've got a Bateson Ascot and wouldn't swop it for anything! Got the boston doors rather than a ramp and am yet to find a horse that won't go straight it (incl one that wouldn't go in a lorry for love nor money)

But I don't go away to competitions, maybe if I did I may feel differently.
 
There must be some reason why the others dont want to make an Equitrek type trailer, maybe its copyright or maybe they know something about the concept that we dont???
 
Dogstar said:
I was drooling over the Equi Treks with living at the Norfolk Show too!! However, I am loathe to part with my lovely, solid Ifor which I have never had any problems with in about 13/14 years of towing (other than a broken leaf spring which didn't stop me from slowly getting home). SO I was wondering about keeping the 510 and getting a 4x4 camper van with living to tow with!! OH assures me they exist..
Jeni Ball, were the accidents caused by driver error? I ask as I recently saw someone towing a horse at close on 70mph on the motorway, crazy dudes- I never go above 50mph absolute max on a dual carriageway.
Click to expand...
Camper is a great way to go but needs to be quite a big weight one.. not one built out of a low payload van!!! , a 350 transit or 313 sprinter would be good,re these trailer accidents, driver error, unsuitible tow vehicle, low tyre pressure/blowouts, faulty/ poor brakes or mecanics,tow bar wrong hight exessive speed or combination of the above .....
 
Louby said:
There must be some reason why the others dont want to make an Equitrek type trailer, maybe its copyright or maybe they know something about the concept that we dont???
Click to expand...
I would think its a fairly small market 1 they are expensive if you have the living quarters you arn't far off the price of a reasonable s/h lorry!!! and
2 you need a big tow vehicle.... for carrying two horses and minute living???? I think
if someone made a UK version of the american gooseneck trailers then it would be worth getting rid of a lorry as they are safer to tow and have more living space avalible ..
 
Louby said:
There must be some reason why the others dont want to make an Equitrek type trailer, maybe its copyright or maybe they know something about the concept that we dont???
Click to expand...

I think Equi-trek hold a patent on the side loading ramp design, which may be something to do with it. Nothing to stop another manufacturer from making a slightly longer trailer with a small living area at the front.

I have a Bateson Ascot with barn doors and my boy walks straight in the back without using the ramp - so much quicker!
 
I have had my Show Treka for 2 years now and never had a problem with it. I have travelled both long and short distances, road and field. I have even kerbed it (oops! - it was very late at night and dark country lane!) and no problems with stability.

I have never used Equitrek for servicing as I bought it through a dealer.

My horses travel very well in it. I am a small lady and find it wonderful to manoeuvre and handle. Ramps are a dream. Yes you do need a bigger car to tow them, I have a Shogun, but TBH unless I was towing a pony trailer I wouldn't consider towing with anything smaller than some form of long wheel base car anyway.

Personally I think it is one of the best investments I have ever made.
 
To be fair to Equi-Trek, when I bought my Space Treka, I did ask about the build quality and the bad reputation that people talk about on sites like this, and I was told that there were a very small number of incidents involving the earliest models which were caused by either driver error, or the tow vehicle being too light.

The build quality has improved in those areas on the current Models, but it is still important to only tow it with the correct vehicle. The Dealer aksed us what our vehicle was before we bought it, and they were happy. (LWB Mitshubishi Shogun 3.2 engine)

When you are on the motorway in the equitrek, if a lorry passes you at speed, you feel no drag, compared to an Ifor which will get dragged and you will feel the car wobble slightly, so I would say the equitrek is sturdier and safer.

Also, if you stand inside when the equitrek is being towed, it is a smoother ride compared to an Ifor (I know it's illegal to ride in the back, but I was doing some tests to see if it would be good enough for my horse!). I have eliminated all the rattles in mine, but putting a bit of foam tape on the inside safety gates and the central partition, so my horse travels in a nice quiet environment too.

They are heavier than the Ifor, which means you can tow an Ifor with smaller vehicles, but if you've got a big enough 4x4 then I would go for the Equitrek, definitely.
 
I am onto my 2nd equi-trek, (I sold a lorry to buy an equi-trek) have just recently bought a new show treka and i wouldn't change it I tow with a long wheel base shogun and I can hardly tell I am towing, the motorway is no problem even on a busy windy day. My friend has just bought a cheval liberte which has a space at the front to fit units in, only problem is the horse has to unload backwards not a problem for her but might be for others so other trailer companies seem to be catching on
 
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