Pictures Hello folks - Proud new owner of a classic Rice Trailer

[creamtea]

Just saying hi to all those Rice trailer owners on the forum. Been hard at it restoring this old beauty for the last 4 months. Hopefully I can share my experiences in the restoration of this type of trailer and learn a thing or two on the way from like minded individuals. Just had her weighed today at a weighty 760KG with its double ply flooring !!

 

[nagblagger]

Mine is similar, old and faithful, new floor and ramp done, but mine is very shabby outside so no-one (hopefully) will steal it.
I love the nearside (kerbside) offload. Not many modern trailers have that.

 

[Hobo2]

Mine is similar, old and faithful, new floor and ramp done, but mine is very shabby outside so no-one (hopefully) will steal it.
I love the nearside (kerbside) offload. Not many modern trailers have that.

Having had two Richardson trailers over 30 years I love kerbside offload. I had to wait 10 months but I got a new Ivor Williams trailer last year with the much loved kerbside off load . I didn't think my brain could cope with changing so I waited and so pleased I did.

 

[marmalade76]

It's the reason the original Ifor was called the Hunter, so you could park on the side of the road and still unload.

We have two Sinclairs, my husband has a treble for delivering hay (will hold 50 bales) and I have the one I went to pony club in 30 years ago, curbside unload.

 

[Birker2020]

Trailer back from re-spray at last!

Really chuffed, went to collect my re-sprayed trailer last night from the mechanic whose had it since mid-Sept. To be fair I’ve not needed it in that time having lost my previous horse and then my current horse being unrideable. As the bloke (friend) was doing it for me as a favour in between...

forums.horseandhound.co.uk

Think this is a Bayhill trailer but I love it, you can see the before and after photos.

I uses to think it was a Richardson but I don't know.

It's an Avon ride suspension and was serviced every year by Dad. It's been painted inside and out about 5 times, we bought it new in 1996 and on the weighbridge it came in at 630kg unladen.

We got the floor strengthened then refitted it with buffalo board, with tongue and grooved hardwood slats and rubber matting on top and new plywood inside.

 

[Birker2020]

Buffalo board is really good for the flooring, lighter than planks but much stronger.

Have fun and show us the before and after photos OP!

 

[Bob notacob]

Very nice.

 

[Tiddlypom]

That’s the spit of my Rice Europa which I bought new in circa 1990. They fiddled with the spec of the Europa a bit, but that is what mine looked like. Same colour, too.

Mine had a double floor, which was an extra. The wood used by Rice for flooring was keriung. There was an option to have a galvanised chassis, too.

760kg for a Europa with a double floor is about right, that is lightweight for a Rice trailer .

They tow beautifully.

Enjoy your trailer.

 

[creamtea]

Ah thanks Tiddlypom, for letting me know that it resembles your Europa from the 1990s. I was guessing it might be an 1980s model. The plate on the frame is so faded but it does give the Gross weight at 2600 KG so I assumed it was a Beaufort Double at least as the Europa was 2300 KG I think.

I bought this trailer from an equestrian for £800 back in September 2024 and since then have been making it road useable, primarily for carrying stuff. I stripped out the flooring, ground of all the rust and then MIG welded another length of 5mm angle iron inside the outer chassis rails as it was showing signs of corrosion that I wasn't happy about, simply just leaving it to nature. I then put in a few more pieces of angle iron at the ends and center to hold the ply floor in place and added a few useful ties downs. The strucutural ply floor was then coated with a combined chopped strand mat and woven glass fibre layer top and bottom with polyester resin to give it serious strength. I cut a little strip around the outside of the alumunium panelling and riveted kinked strips of panel steel so the rain doesn't drip and pool inside the chassis frame (such a bad design to have the panel go inside the steel frame, Doh !).

The brake system was then overhauled with new cables, compensator and shoes. Plus the damper was replaced along with the hitch, not to mentioned the wheels stripped of all rust and new tyres fitted. Then finally all the electrics were re-done and there's plenty more to be done, it's been a real slog to get to this point before I start to get anymore creative ! but for now at least it's road worthy

 

[marmalade76]

If the ramps are smooth/flat, it's a Europa if they're ridged like the sides, it'll be a Beaufort.

I can't understand why a galvanised chassis would be an option rather than standard, my Sinclair is galvanised (as are Ifors) and despite being over 30 years old, the frame is in fab nick.