Equitrek/Ifor Williams Trailer Questions...

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MegaBeast

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I'm looking for another trailer, first preference is for an IW 511 but am also tempted to blow the budget and consider an EquiTrek (because of the added storage space). Any thoughts on which is better?

Do EquiTreks have any kind of inbuilt "security" like the Ifor Williams DataTag and if not how do you prove ownership?

I know that there are a lot of suspect IWs being sold which aren't genuine, have spotted a few in just the last week! Is there a similar problem with EquiTrek or is being rarer an advantage?

How true are the rumours about horses jumping over the breast bar and is it a more frequent occurence than in an IW trailer. Can't see why it would happen more frequently but the thought of it is worrying. Is the breast bar removable should the worst happen?

What about servicing? I've got a local IW dealership nearby and know there are quite a lot around, but am not aware of an Equitrek equivalent.

Thank you for any information.
 
When I was looking to purchase trailer nearly 2 years ago I originally wanted an Equitrek. After speaking to a few people who owned Equitreks they all advised me against purchasing an Equitrek due to build quality problems they had experienced. I took their advice and bought a Ifor Williams 511, a decision I have never regretted.

The Equitreks these people owned would now be 5+ years old. It may be that the build quality of new (or newer) models has improved.

There have been alot of posts on here re: Equitrek trailers if you do a search.

I haven't had any problems with my 2008 Ifor Williams 511. I have travelled quite a few different horses on it and all have travelled well and loaded happily.
 
I have an equitrek and love it, I have had no problems. I also have a few friends with them, and likewise they have no problems.

Regarding horses coming over the breastbar, I believe that mainly happens when people leave the back door open and horses see an escape route. If people use common sense and leave the door shut then they'll have no problems :)

Not sure about the security as I've never had an IW, but I have a service book with the chassis number on. I emailed equitrek to ask if I needed to register myself as the owner, they said no.

I wouldn't be able to go back to a 'normal' trailer after having an equitrek!
 
I have both , the IW is a 510 and has been a great trailer good to tow its done a lot of work and had a lot of stick apart from the standard IW sticking breaks its been fab.
I have an equitrek it's a carriage treka a three axled one it's build quality is much lighter than the IW and I would not ever think it would last like the IW if we used it like we do the IW.
 
A couple of years ago when I got an Equitrek from Bearts (excellent service) they modified the breast bar so it was removable and quick release, as the IW. Not sure if that is standard now, or if other dealers offer that, but worth doing.
 
I have owned my triple axle equitrek for 5 years now having previously owned an IW. They are both great trailers but I couldn't go back to just the IW now as I am so used to all the space and storage in the equitrek. It is much easier to compete from as if you are only competing one horse you can tack up etc all under cover. Your car can be completely free from all the horsey stuff and if you are looking at one with the living like mine it is a really nice little refuge to make up a cup of tea etc. all the horses I have taken have travelled extremely well in it. They enjoy the wide and low loading ramp and it is very light and airy inside. I have never had a problem with anything from an 11.2 pony to a 17 h horse ever contemplating jumping the breast bar but common sense would say if your horse was eyeing up an escape route and had little self preservation it might think the back door was a way out. The build quality of my older type trailer is excellent. EAsy to wash out and keep clean. You need to a proper 4x4 to tow as they are quite heavy and combined length is considerable ( if you want the living as well). The triple axle gives a really steady ride and they are not difficult to manoeuvre but are much longer than the IW. Hope this helps.
 
I have had my Equitrek for 8 years and love it. Re the jumoin over breast bars - I had 2 do it in an Ifor and a third even left thru the jockey door!! =-O so its not an exclusive problem. Never had one even think about it in the ET.
 
I have the equitrek space trekka and love it - bought it second hand for £3650 a couple of years ago. I have had no real issues with it (bit of decal has come off on outside and I have resealed top of tack locker in horse section but thats due to me leaving window open and hay in there and it going manky), I agree that the build quality can be dubious on them but it is cosmetic - my friend paid £10k for hers brand new and had tons of issues so just check over the trailer carefully as I believe they are built by the indiviudal dealers not equitrek direct.

I have a tack locker which is great and is in front of the breast bar (which isnt removeable) so there isnt really room for horse to get over bar (but I do leave door shut at all times unless actually going in to avoid temptation)

Mine travels loads better than in ifor williams. I have water/buckets/grooming kit etc in tack locker. In front section I keep tack, numnahs, jackets, hat, rugs etc etc - I even keep a bit of food and drink in there so all i have to do is load up and go - keeps car so lovely and clean.

If you are going for one second hand - check quality carefully and also go for one with extra windows - I put in a rear door window and roof vent as they do get warm in summer.
 
I have a Trail Treka and love it! The design is incredibly user friendly and easy to use alone. No living but fab big tack locker and lorry style partitions. Same weight as Ifor so cheaper to tow and collapsible breast bar. Horses load and travel great. Not many around 2nd hand but wasn't overly dear new either.
 
I was at a competition a couple of weeks ago and helped release a pony that had been left in an ifor and got itself stuck over the front breast bars, so it can happen in any trailer.

Luckily someone nearby had a tool to release the bars from the outside and the pony came out and was fine.

Am now paranoid as I have an older equitrek without emergency release breast bars, so if mine ever decided to get themselves over the bar it would be a vet + fire brigade job I imagine, god forbid! I plan to keep the back door shut at all times so they don't get any ideas!
 
Have had an EquiTrek (one of the originals ie I bought it 9 years ago. Personally I never had a problem, I sold it because my horse was unhappy travelling backwards. The only problem I found with it was that the Tow Bar was very low to the ground several times I was "grounded", I think they were built for "posh, flat show fields, not local shows on farmers field!!!!!
 
weirdly my friend had some "grounding" problem with her Equitrek - hers was the Show Treka L and mine (which I have had no probelms with) is the Space Treka M
 
I had a an equitrek and adored it even though the wheel fell off on coming home from Wales! Turns out it was one of the ones with the dodgy axel. I replaced it and sold it on and it's currently hanging out in its new home with a friend.
 
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