Equitrek trailers - The good and the bad?

[McFluff]

if anyone follows Equine Rescue Services on f/book, there’s an Equitrek trailer related post shared on there that should be good for thought for anyone considering buying a second hand one!

Gosh, how terrifying for those involved, so glad horse was ok.
I had mine checked every year and as soon as there was any sign of issues (there was slight softening in the panel above the wheel arch) I got the side replaced. Trailer guy said ALL trailers need carefully checked. He replaced loads of ifor side panels too (the ifor panels are easier to do apparently).
in the Equitrek (certainly the one I had), the issue is that the edge of the panels hadn’t been sealed. I got the replacement fully sealed. It was probably better after the fix than when it was new!

 

[Orangehorse]

Ifor Williams have a trailer with living, obviously similar to the Equitrek.

 

[Sossigpoker]

if anyone follows Equine Rescue Services on f/book, there’s an Equitrek trailer related post shared on there that should be good for thought for anyone considering buying a second hand one!

To be fair, and as much as I look down on EquiWrecks, this can happen with any trailer that isn't serviced and maintained.
When looking to buy a used Ifor Williams, I saw a couple that were shocking, panels so soft they were movable by hand! Those will be rotten and a horse will easily go through them. Don't forget that 505s are now coming to 20 years old so it's unlikely you'd find one that doesn't need panels/ramps replaced at that age.

 

[onemoretime]

if anyone follows Equine Rescue Services on f/book, there’s an Equitrek trailer related post shared on there that should be good for thought for anyone considering buying a second hand one!

Yes, I saw that!!

 

[Carlosmum]

I bought an old style equitrek and had to rebuild the ramp within a few months when pony put his foot through. sold it soon after for a Richardson. A friend bought a new Equitrek lorry, her horse put his foot through the side where the floor joined the wall. fortunately he recovered from his injury

 

[Tiddlypom]

The equiwreck video on the Equine Rescue Services page. It is (or rather was ) a Show Trekka. An ifor wouldn't completely fall apart like that.

Incredibly the horse was ok.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02H8SquF2d18471YwUzsvKpLPPWsEw5R93v39T2J5qgmhhYLWiE7KBK4VkXSDHaWGFl&id=100001307256267

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I loved mine (which is now HufflyPuffly’s)!

I was warned to check panels and ramp and I had them re-checked every year. Mine had a full service history. Horses travelled fab in it and the living was cleverly designed so Katie and I could both sleep in bunk beds or I could convert to a double. I’d buy again for sure. I had ifor Williams before that but I wanted living and the Show Trekka just suited me better. I had a great towing vehicle too which probably helped but it always just felt like a really solid safe combo.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Yep any secondhand, older trailer has the chance of panels rotting. Equitrek panels are larger and were poorly sealed (no idea about newer ones), so it’s something to keep an eye on but so you should with any trailer.

I’ve seen scary stuff from ifors too that haven’t been maintained. Topaz put a hole in the ramp of my previous trailer where there was a tiny soft spot that she of course had to jump on luckily no damage done just sped up the needed expense of replacing the ramp!

 

[phizz4]

Unless the manufacturer uses high tech materials like carbon fibre composites, if you are going to make a trailer that is the size of Equitrek's with living areas they HAVE to use lightweight materials, or it would be too heavy to tow. To further save weight they reduce the internal bracing and strengthening, both of which are recipes for failure sooner rather than later.

 

[Melody Grey]

Unless the manufacturer uses high tech materials like carbon fibre composites, if you are going to make a trailer that is the size of Equitrek's with living areas they HAVE to use lightweight materials, or it would be too heavy to tow. To further save weight they reduce the internal bracing and strengthening, both of which are recipes for failure sooner rather than later.

Agreed -if reducing the quality of material and stability to keep the weight down to this extent is necessary, surely the concept of a trailer that big is unviable?