Fifth wheel horse trailer

nokia said:
I love this...what are peoples views on these ? Anybody tried one ?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fifth-Wheel-H...ucks-/170616361139?pt=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment
Click to expand...
They are very common in america , but the yanks call them goosenecks ... not many lorrys over there and they have some with a spec that makes a oakley lorry look cheap!!! its the best way to tow a trailer as some of the weight is carryed over the back axle they are very stable and manouverble its amazing that they havent caught on over here yet but things may change as aparenty equitrek are desighning a range of them , now there are so many pick ups about they should sell like hot cakes if they get the price right, and because there is a huge space
in the front over the coupling they would be a viable alternative to a lorry with all that living space .... www.coolhorse.com if you want to look at the american versions:D
 
Interesting to hear that Equitrek are designing one. Sounds like a good idea. And true that there are lots in the USA. They don't have many lorries, maybe because lorries are very large, so most people use a trailer, and of course, pick ups are very, very common as family vehicles. Something to do with the tax rate.

The gooseneck trailer would seem to have the advantages of a lorry and a trailer.
 
martlin said:
It's a good idea, but this particular one has MAM of 4.3t, which is quite a bit above the maximum towing capacity of any pick up at 3.5t...
Click to expand...
Ah but the clever bit is the pick up is carrying some of the weight so the trailer can be a bit heavyier than a normal tow bar type so there is a about a ton on the pick up making it more stable, and then the rest is carryed by the trailer wheels , like how an articulated lorry works in miniture .... so totaly uk legal !!! the firm that makes the fitht wheel caravans does all the adaptions to the pick up like fitting air brakes and getting it passed by the misinsty for running at a bigger train weight they are based in north wales
 
perfect11s said:
Ah but the clever bit is the pick up is carrying some of the weight so the trailer can be a bit heavyier than a normal tow bar type so there is a about a ton on the pick up making it more stable, and then the rest is carryed by the trailer wheels , like how an articulated lorry works in miniture .... so totaly uk legal !!! the firm that makes the fitht wheel caravans does all the adaptions to the pick up like fitting air brakes and getting it passed by the misinsty for running at a bigger train weight they are based in north wales
Click to expand...
Very interesting indeed, do you need a special licence for that?
 
martlin said:
That's very good to know, thanks. Still, at £12K special price or £19K regular price... you are better off getting a lorry :)
Click to expand...
yes to a point thats how I see it, but if you need a pick up, one could be car, tow and work vehicle combined
and plenty of people are buying big horse trailers with living instead of a lorry..its the old horses for courses thing what works for one person isnt right for another Like my tiny diesel runabout and then a lorry because I do 400+ miles a week for work but for someone who only does 100 maybe just having a pick up would work out cheaper...
 
That looks fab, but I have heard before, that the reason they are uncommon over here is that you do in fact need a HGV licence to tow one. Shame, as they look much safer than our usual trailers.
 
haras said:
That looks fab, but I have heard before, that the reason they are uncommon over here is that you do in fact need a HGV licence to tow one. Shame, as they look much safer than our usual trailers.
Click to expand...
Wrong!!!!wrong!!!!wrong!!!!! sorry you don't because the tow vehicle is under 3.5 tons and the combined weight is under 8200kg.... I am 100% sure on this......
 
Last edited:
nokia said:
I love this...what are peoples views on these ? Anybody tried one ?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fifth-Wheel-H...ucks-/170616361139?pt=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment
Click to expand...

Hi just came across your forum on fifth wheel trailers I had one about 25 yrs ago a firm made 6 of them to uk spec. it held five racehorses that went to p to points, the horses stood across trailer it had a gooseneck ball hitch on pickup, I pulled it with a big pick up (usa IMport ) but you could use the pick ups we have over her now, it had electric brakes and it towed great and was much better than a ordanry trailer, you can drive them of a car lience for up to7.5 tons. I am trying to find someone who will build me a two horse verson. Bateson build a livestock version but its not tall enough for horses, and fifth wheel, only want to build big expense types. is there any body out there who wants to build a gooseneck 2 horse slant trailer, which is like a normal horse trailer but with the gooseneck front and hitch, instaed of the fith wheel. I only sold it because ex wife wrote of the pickup,(not towing) she went years later, should have kept trailer.
 
I used to live on a ranch in America. We used these types of trailers all the time :D. Used trucks with tow balls in the middle of the bed. We would move eight plus ponies/small horses. Very stable and I don't remember any issues with them :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top