Equi Treks? What do people think?

5horses2dogsandacat

5horses2dogsandacat

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Im looking at getting one sometime and just wondered what people thought of them?

I had one back in 2005/6 which my mum used to drive, she hated it but a) she is a nervous driver with trailers b) I do think she used to try and go a little faster than 60mph (which is against the law anyway!!) and it used to snake.

From my point of view I thought it was good. Build quality to me as a 16 y/o seemed ok, for what I knew, only problem that did occur was when we put my mare in it she managed to put quite a big scratch in her nose on a little bit of unfinished metal, which we sorted and had no problems with it after that...

xx
 
I travelled my horse home from the vets in one the other day. It was his first time in one and although he is very good to load anyway, he walked straight on and settled as he normally does. He travelled well and didn't seem to mind facing the other direction to normal. The trailer itself belongs to my friend. She uses it to take her nervy traveller out on a regular basis and for her I think it works well because it is very secure and she can squeeze her horse in as snugly as possible. The only problem that I have known with then, which is what made her horse so nervy in the first place, is that if a horse rears it can get stuck on top of the in built tack box. I'm not sure if this comes in every trailer or whether it is an added extra but I have known this to happen to two horses now. My friend is looking into getting her tack box extended upwards so as he wouldn't be able to get his legs over the top of it again. The only thing that I didn't like about it personally was loading and unloading from the side. I'm used to an ifor williams and find it very easy to just walk my boy on and off again. I'm sure it's not really a problem, I just found it a bit fiddly because it's something I'm not used to! Apart from that I think they are extremely sturdy and secure and if you can afford one then...lucky you!
 
If you do some research on this and other forums you will find that many purchasers of new ones have been disspointed with the back up from them. There where issues with the axel and bearings which where denied by them for several years and only recently have they admitted there was a problem and recalled them.
 
Don't like them as seen too many horses being cut out of them when they managed to get their feet over the breast bar. Also what are you thinking of towing it with? If you have a LR Discovery/RR/ Landcruiser etc you should be ok to travel one horse in but anything smaller and you will be overweight. Would you not consider a 3.5 tonne horsebox instead?
 
Ive had my space treka for years and love it, have travelled everything from seasoned veterans to my other horse who was a terrible loader, he has never been a problem on the space treka. I think the horses like the space and direction of travel, never had a problem with anything getting over the breastbar
If i had to choose a trailer again i would still go for this
 
I love mine. I've had it 3 years, and use it nearly every week (sometimes twice a week) It's never given me a problem, and I find it very easy to load my horses on my own (which would be impossible for me to do in a rear loading trailer). Before I bought it my horses were not particularly good loaders, but they walk into this very happily now, so I think that proves the ride is pleasant for them.

I have heard the older models are a bit dodgy, but it seems to be that all the trailers with problems are more than 5 years old. I was told they sorted out and corrected all the issues they had with the earlier models before mine was built.

I drive my horses very carefully and sensibly - I think if your mother wants to drive at those speeds she shouldn't get any sort of trailer, but go for a fairly newly built lorry, with good suspension, airbrakes, etc, etc. xx
 
The only people I know that have one have all had problems with them. There are a few I know that have had back axels go on the motorway and they have all had build quality issues. Shame as they are a good idea but sadly I wouldnt get one (not that I could afford to).
 
Mine is nearly 3 years old, I have travelled thousands of miles with it mostly travelling alone. It has been absolutely fine, they recently did a recall with the ShowTrekka L for the axle, but mine is the M. Nothing has broken on it & I have used it 2/3 times a week. I can't imagine struggling with an ordinary trailer again, loading & unloading the car, not being able to tack up inside. If you can afford it I would get one.
 
They are very long. Which puts me off. Not the trailer part so much (although if you get a big one this is long too of course) but the distance from the front of the box part to the hitch is also long. Being a bit of a baby I like a smaller rig (SWB 4x4 and reasonably short trailer) as I find that easier to manoeuvre.
 
I've recently bought a 4yo Show treka L and love it. Very big horse fits in fine, travels a dream and he actually doesn't have to have a tail guard/bandage on. Love the way it tows, and the ramp is gas assisted so lovely and light, and I can get changed and have a cuppa in the dry, plus I have somewhere to put my mucky tack after hunting and a rug rack. Don't have to take the partition out if a horse needs more space as you can just slide it over. To be fair to Equi-trek they have recalled and replaced the axles on the ones that needed doing.
After using this it definitely makes the Ifor look very basic.
We've had lorries in the past and wouln't go back to one with all the bother of taxing, plating etc etc plus the constant repairs unless you have megabucks to throw away.

Negatives - can't think of any.
 
We sell big bales of hay and one person comes with their Equitrec trailer but can only fit in one bale. When they borrowed a rice trailer they got 2 bales in.
 
My friend has a show treks and must have done thousands and thousands of miles in it it's been a great trailer in very heavy use they have big horses.
last year I bought a carriage treka and I am surprised how lightly build it is verses my Ivor Williams having said that I bought it and at once the horse went off work and it's never moved since its getting seviced next week the hopefully we will get going.
 
MissMincePie&Brandy said:
I drive my horses very carefully and sensibly - I think if your mother wants to drive at those speeds she shouldn't get any sort of trailer, but go for a fairly newly built lorry, with good suspension, airbrakes, etc, etc. xx
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Very kindly worded!! Dont fret though I will be the only one driving now Im 24 qnd getting my trailer license this summer :) I dont want to make my mother out to be a bad driver though. I think it was just when we were going down dual carriage ways/motorways its easy to forget the speed, I found that when driving a 2.5t hire lorry.. they are so quick and not being used to it touched on the 75mph without realising it once! She is a considerate driver to the horses though, so I cant speak too badly of her.

Weight wise, will be pulling with a range rover or ford ranger - so well within limits.

It does seem people are having varied experiences of them. Was it the older models people were having troubles with do you think?

I saw a super cheap 5 star one on ebay, 5 years old, I did enquire but think its been snapped up as its now gone. I would prefer going for a newer model (in a perfect world where I have tons of money!!) as Im guessing like any new concept it takes time to smooth out errors.. However I do think its bad that people who do go to them with problems get treated so badly!!
 
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