How many of you have trailers?

Firewell

Firewell

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and how do you find them? Do you find them easy to hitch up and take out on your own? Do you find them safe?

I'm pulling my hair out as I really want my own transport now. I share a lorry with a lovely lady and i'm lucky I have transport but its not the same as having your own, its never there when I need it and I have to plan shows months in advance.

The problem is my mum HATES trailers and she has sort of put me off them... She says they are so dangerous, she tells me stories of friends who have had trailers flip over on the motorway and stories where the trailer has come unhitched and slid down a hill and into a ditch and the horse had to be cut out. Another story where a horse was thrown out of a trailer, awful stories that put me off.

The thing is unless I had 10k to buy a decent little 3.5t (I have a crappy post 97 licence), the lorrys I could buy are all soooooooo old, having had an old lorry in the past which was always breaking its not nice to be stuck on the M4 for 12 hours waiting to be towed :(.

My OH has a tidy automatic Jeep Cherokee which has a tow bar and according to the maual can tow up to 3.5T. He has said he would be happy to let me use it for towing, he has even said he would get me trailer! for 3k I could get a really nice trailer couldnt I?!

I keep putting it off as I have to take the test and it took me 5 goes to pass my driving test so im worried about taking the test. We do have a good deal with the lorry I use but it all came to light not long ago when my mums horse got colic and needed emergency surgery, we almost couldnt get to the lorry in time and what if the lorries owner had been unreachable!

What do you think??

Should I carry on with the deal I have at the moment and accept the fact that i'm lucky if i'm able to get out once a month or maybe twice a month, miss some of the things I'd love to do (like boxing my horse for lessons/hacks!) and take the risk that in an emergency I may not be able to get my horse to the hospital. BUT have a nice lorry to use, pay £40 each time plus fuel to use it and I don't have to pay for maintenance or anything. However also I may be moving away soon and may not be able to carry on the deal anyway.

OR

Should I bite the bullet and take my trailer test and buy a tidy, well looked after trailer and hitch it up to a 4x4 that we keep well maintained and be able to shoot off every week to lesons/hacks/evening clear-rounds/weekend comps or when ever I feel like it to do anything I want with my horse?

OR

Wait untill Ive popped out a couple of sprogs and charm my OH in to buying me a posh push present in the way of a new 3.5t ;) :)

Also if you have a trailer, which one to you have, why do you like it, have you ever had any scary towing situations and also how much does it cost you to maintain a trailer (hope you don't mind me asking that)?

Thanks!
 
I have an IforWilliams trailer (510 I think?) and find it very easy and economical. I share a 4x4 with my Mum as we both have small cars and we share the cost of the car and trailer. I have had no probs hitching up, infact I rarely unhitch as the car is only used for towing, but when I do hitch up, generally speaking it's a 2 person job as one needs to watch while the other drives.

I wouldn't trailer is very high winds due to the possibility of being overturned, but I think it is no different to a lorry being overturned in high winds.

I too would love a nice 3.5 tonne lorry but like you, will have to push the sprogs out and beg before I get one!!
 
We have an IFW - its three years old. We got it checked / serviced last year but cant remember what it cost and purely because it had sat for a while. I very rarely travel motorways on my own but OH and I have together and never had any problems. On my own with the gelding can be a bit tricky as he likes someone to stand with him whilst ramp put up and on a couple of occasions has come shooting out whilst I try and get to the back. Now just ask nice show people to quickly give me a hand :) The ramp is nice and light - the trailer is nice and light and airy and I love it. I want the tack pack now :) I am still quite rubbish at reversing despite numerous lessons off OH so if on my own just make sure I have plenty room to turn around :)
 
It sounds like the deal you have on the lorry is super but obvioulsy the trade off is, as you say, the lack of flexbility. I wolud keep going with the lorry, do your trailer test over the winter (it took me 4 months, 2 attempts to get mine last year so I would always say get cracking in case the wait lists for tests are as bad as where I am). You niormally learn with a little trailer but I also borrowed my friends IW 510 and towed it emoty a few times (with her in passenger seat and L plates) to get used to sheer size of it!

BY then you will confident and you can look for a trailer in the spring when weather good and start the year with your own transport etc and get cracking!

Lorries are fab but trailers are super conveninent and easy to hitch alone and lets face it a good trailer is a lot cheaper to run than a knackered old lorry!

I too am now warbling and saying nothing you've not already said! Go for it! The jeep will tow great (my friend used to tow my 17hh TB and her 16.1hh WB in a 510 up some serious hills).

To have your independance esp for emergencies really is worth it xx
 
Not only do I have a trailer... I have a single trailer! :eek: ;) However, it is a nice, modern IW401 and only 30cm narrower than a 505, so not the narrow "cupboard on wheels" folk imagine them to be. 1.5 times the space for Hopalong compared to half a double and the same width as the car so easy to know if car fits through a gap, then trailer will etc! ;) Also nice and light to manouvere when hitching up and I hitch/unhitch all the time on my own.

I also do majority of towing on my own and never had any scary moments or horrible experiences. I think (as you should with driving any vehicle) as long as you take care to pay attention to what's going on ahead and drive smoothly, you should have no problems and you are as likely to have an accident with a lorry as a trailer. You can't help bad luck but you can eliminate bad driving, so as long as you are doing your best to drive according to the conditions and keep both tow car and trailer well serviced you will be fine.

Plus doing the trailer test and training will help make you a safer, more aware towing driver and give you more confidence. :)

I do love having the freedom to go/do what I like, when I like, it's the best thing about having your own transport. :)
 
We have a trailer - a wessex olympian. Bloomin brilliant trailer - tows like a dream (and OH is VERY fussy about that!) and our sensitive mare loads straight away every time with it.

Before getting this we hired a 510 a couple of times and you def knew it was there ifswim, and our funny mare wouldn't load. It look a long while to get her to load on it, and even when she loaded she just stood there shaking. Not a happy bunny.

Both of them load and travel really happily in the wessex and it tows very nicely whether loaded or not. We travel locally on small roads and happily take it on the motorway too. I would really recommend one, we are in IW country and just no-one has anything else so it was rather a leap of faith to consider another brand! The quality and trim level for the price is brilliant and it has great suspension too and is very balanced, even when there is nothing in it. I would really recommend going to see one and seeing what you think, we are mega impressed!
 
Have IW 506 and no problems, have trailer will travel, almost to towing really does not bother me tow with x trail what I have found newer trailers better than old un reliable lorries with poor ventilation for horses where trailers have much better air throughput, also have camera in trailer so I can see what they are doing and they never look upset.
 
I have a IFW 510 and incidentally tow with with a jeep Grand Cherokee. With my old horse, I used it twice a week, pretty much all year. I found it easy to hitch up and go. I personally don't tow if the weather is very bad and I am cautious on motorways. But my towing is quite local - for a lesson and to get to better hacking. Since my old horse died, my trailer has sadly sat on the drive un-used for over a year. My new horse is a bit of a psycho, who is not easy to hack, never mind take in a trailer, WHICH is another good thing about trailers, they don't eat or drink anything if you find you need to park them up for a while. Obviously you need to check the tyres because it is not good for them to "park", but at least you don't have the expenses of a lorry to contend with.
 
I have a 510 and it is fab- tows well, horses travel well and we have never had any sort of issue and have towed literally 1000's of miles up and down the motorway with about 4 different horses.

However.. I am currently switching up to a horsebox but ONLY because my 5yro is 17.3hh and physically doesn't fit in a trailer :(
 
I've always had a trailer - an Ifor Williams 510. I currently tow with a Jeep Grand Cherokee and its fab.

I've been towing for years, around very narrow Devon lanes and up the motorway and the only problem I ever had was last month when the trailer started to sway, but that turned out that I had a flat tyre on both the car and trailer!

You're going to get scare stories about trailers but you also hear about a hell of a lot of lorries that overturn.

I find them very easy to hitch up and maneourve. Its also nice to get to a show on a muddy day and not have to either be towed in or out, like lorries. I service mine once a year and other than the odd tyre or maybe light bulb, they are very cheap to keep.

At the end of the day its down to cost and personal preference but don't be put off by the scare stories.
 
I have a 510 and it is very easy to deal with. I can get it on easily on and off and never had any problems towing. I would love a lorry but for what I do the trailer is fine and no additional running costs. We keep ours in a barn and it takes some pulling in and out but I can do this all by myself.

I only passed my trailer test in Feb and it has given me complete freedom. I do double the amount and do not have to rely on my poor long suffering OH.
 
I have an ancient Bahill pony trailer which was reconditioned by a friend last year (new floor, brakes, lights electrics & ramps), I have taken the partition out and cross tie my 2 in it and neither of them travel badly in it.
 
We have a 510, and its lovely. I was not a big fan of driving trailers since I spun one on a motorway 15yrs ago (not a horse trailer but a lightweight crappy thing - that was half of the problem!) I wanted a box, but OH persuaded me that it would cost a fortune, even with him maintaining it (he is a mechanic). However I have got my nerve back with the 510. Just take everything slowly. You should get something very decent for £3k.

If you have to pass your trailer test, shouldn't that placate your mum - she would have to accept that you can drive one safely.. I bet you would love having the autonomy too in your own transport!
 
FigJam said:
I also do majority of towing on my own and never had any scary moments or horrible experiences. I think (as you should with driving any vehicle) as long as you take care to pay attention to what's going on ahead and drive smoothly, you should have no problems and you are as likely to have an accident with a lorry as a trailer. You can't help bad luck but you can eliminate bad driving, so as long as you are doing your best to drive according to the conditions and keep both tow car and trailer well serviced you will be fine.

Plus doing the trailer test and training will help make you a safer, more aware towing driver and give you more confidence. :)

I do love having the freedom to go/do what I like, when I like, it's the best thing about having your own transport. :)
Click to expand...

This!!!

I have a Bateson Ascot trailer and tow it using my Dad's Disco, a great comination! :D I sold my old VW LT35 in Feb last year and got the trailer. I don't really find it any different to going out and about in my little van, I hitch up myself (it's not hard when you've got the hang of it!) and 99% of the time travel on my own.
I towed to comps/lessons on L plates for 6 months and then took my test and passed first time! (and it took me 4 attempts to pass my driving test! :o).

My advice is, if you do decide to go down the trailer route to get out and practice as much as you can before taking your test, especially reversing! I then had a morning of intensive lessons before taking my test in the afternoon.
 
There are pros and cons to every situation.

If you are itching to be out and about, then I think your best bet is to buy a trailer as you already have a towing vehicle, though I can't tell you how safe it is to tow with as I haven't had experience with that vehicle.

An older lorry will probably cost you more to maintain, if you are not using your trailer it is costing you nothing. Good trailer's really hold their value.

I have travelled miles and miles in mine, and must admit to being a bit smug when I am overtaking lorries :rolleyes: and have never had any scary moments, however I tow with a huge top of the range 4x4. I have an Ifor Williams 510, and would say you would be better off buying a Classic rather than the new design, my husband who is an engineer doesn't rate them.

All that being said - we are presently building a lorry, so that I can take the family, that is the big downside of a trailer.
 
I have an ifor 510 and a 2l discovery. The ifor tows so nicely and I have taken it from Ascot to West Wilts - 2.5 hours and it was fine. I have the matching tack pack too. I rally like it and I have never had problems. One thing though is I am contemplating buying a lorry because I've started staying away so I have to sleep in a tent or stay in a b&b. It would be nice to camp in the lorry.

I weighed up the options - just remember using a trailer means you only have one vehicle to tax and MOT every year/maintain etc. I service mine every year and its about £150.. maintaining it is super cheap.

Also if you are worried about taking the test then the only piece of advice I can pass on is really consider where you will be taking the test. If you have lessons and use the instructors vehicle you will have a tiny box trailer which is easy to maneuver. Its pretty straight forward however, I took one test through with the drive part of it going through the centre of Reading during morning peak hour, round the one way system and then through two junctions of the M4, one of which was just cones and I had no idea what was going on. I failed for the most daft reason but all the same I failed. The second test I took at Guildford centre and I went on a lovely leisurely drive around the countryside.. completely different and I passed.. wouldn't have thought about it before but now I mention this to anyone I know taking the test - perhaps some remote welsh village.. haha!
 
Well, I'd love a trailer - but Kal wouldn't. He hates them, takes ages to load and travels really stressed out. He's fine in a box. I think he just finds trailers too claustrophobic and a tad unstable (although I have to admit I haven't tried him on a side-loading trailer). If I were looking for transport for him, I'd either be renting something for the day or (when we finally win the lottery) I'd be buying a small horsebox (prob an Equitrek).

P
 
I've towed trailers for years and years and years and years (33 to be exact) and probably traveled in excess of 150k miles doing so. Last 40k were with a jeep cherokee which is probably the best towing car around (JMHO) :D
In all that time I have never flipped a trailer or had one unhitch itself etc etc etc.
Towing a trailer safely is a simple matter or reading head the road/tracffic conditions, staying well within the limits of the tow vehicle and most importantly but too often overlooked is making sure the trailer brakes and hitch are very well maintained.

All that said we swapped to a 7.5t lorry but have now downsized to a 3.5t which is frankly brilliant :D
 
If I were you, I would buy a and still travel with your friend when you can and you will also have the option of going without the friend when you choose. A trailer will cost next to nothing to keep compared to a lorry and you already have a tow vehicle. I have two Sinclair trailers (one is waiting to have the floor replaced, though!) and a tow vehicle but still travel with a friend now and again 'cause sometime it's nice to go together.


I'm sure there are as many accidents involving lorries as there are trailers, so I wouldn't worry too much.
 
I have an equitrek space treka and tow it with a nissan navara pick up :eek:
I must admit, its a bit big together I used to tow with a grand cherokee which was brill as it was a 4litre and i never felt like i was towing anything
 
I too had been fed many scare stories about having a trailer, but I bought one anyway and I can honestly say that I enjoy it now. To start with I found the hitching, towing and loading more stressful than the competition, but now I hitch up (on my own usually) and tootle off to a show/lesson/clinic without giving it a 2nd thought. I've had the odd scary moment usually on the A45 or A14 when someone decides to overtake at the last minute on the approach to a roundabout and then pulls in in front of me when I've left enough space for me to stop behind the original car in front, but not for this extra numpty as well, so I have to (relatively) stand on the brakes which I don't like having to do with a trailer.

I've towed in snow (necessity, not choice and with empty trailer - no horse in it), winds, rain, on motorways and country roads. I find it fine and as long as you are sensible, drive at a sensible speed and use your indicators and mirrors conscientiously (sp?!) then you've got every chance of avoiding something nasty happening. Ultimately accidents do happen and the chances are increased in a trailer, but you can only do so much. After all we ride horses XC, and I'd argue more are injured doing XC than injured in trailer accidents. I'd like to see the stats on that actually, would be interesting, and probably prove me wrong :rolleyes:.

Having said all the above, I am now saving for a lorry. My OH doesn't like me towing and he can't tow (pesky new licence) and so he wants me to have a 3.5t. I want a 7.5t so we can't agree on the type of lorry, but the chances are that I will get one of some description in years to come!!

At the moment I tow with a 55 plate Kia Sorento XS (permanent 4-wheel drive) and I have a Cheval Liberte 2003XL Luxe trailer, with the partition out and full width breast and breech bars. Horse travels like a dream, even for 3.5 hr journey back on the motorway when I picked him up. Arrived snoozing having munched his way through a full haynet! My trailer is serviced annually (except this year, aherm) and it costs about £150 I think. My trailer insurance works out to about £10 a month I think but can't promise that.

I think in your situation, I wouldn't hesitate to get a trailer. The biggest commitment is getting the 4x4, and you already have that, so get a nice trailer and get out there!! Getting out and about is such a great way to build upon your relationship with your horse.
 
I am very lucky to have both, a couple of years ago when my lorry was off the road my friend was selling a IW510, i got it for a very good price and i have just kept it. As someone else says it costs next to nothing unlike my lorry. I have use of a 4x4 but not all the time, so use the trailer for lessons, near by stuff and when i am on my own. I find it much easier to deal with on my own, cant get lorry ramp up by myself!! I use my lorry for eventing and longer journeys especially if its windy. My lorry has been in garage a couple of times this year to and i have been able to carry on competing and lessons as i have back up transport. As marmalade76 says try and do both. Lorry has the plus point is everything stays in it. :)
 
I have towed an IW trailer for 12 years. Done lots of miles both with my OH and on my own. Find them great to tow, hitch up etc.

DO go out one day, find an industrial estate etc and practice reversing in both a straight line and round corners, you will appreciate the skill at some stage!

I have had an accident. On a dual carriage way driver fell asleep and crashed into back right hand side of trailer. Trailer was a right off (Axel damaged) and wheel mangled but stayed upright (Apparently would not have done if I had panic and hit the brakes) and horse was fine. Their car was written off. It had me appreciate how good and strong the IW trailers are.
 
I only started towing last year. I was petrified of towing, didnt think that I would be able to go forwards let alone backwards. I am very lucky to have a pre 1997 licence. I tow a cheval libertie 2000 trailer. I have to say I now really enjoy towing. I have mastered the art of going backwards, hitching and unhitching is easy and I do this by my self. Charlie loads and happily travels in this. He travels with a full lentgh breast and breach bar. He has plenty of headroom and plenty of room overall. I would reccomend towing. It is not as scary as it is made out to be.
 
I have a Bateson. I have no problems hitching up etc by myself.

Pay out the extra £100 and put an anti snake bar on it too. Makes them SSOOOO much more stable. The difference in the drive is very noticeable.
 
I have a IW505 - it's about 8 years old I think but I have never had an issue with it. I get it serviced annually to keep it from developing any issues.

I don't mind towing. I would however love a wee 3.5 tonne lorry so that I could get rid of my gas guzzling 4x4 but it's not going to happen any time soon!
 
I was in a similar situation as you and bit the bullet. I had to buy the 4x4 aswell as the trailer and take the test so all seemed a bit daunting, but was persuaded to do it by the ex OH (one of the good things he did!).

I now have a Mitsubishi Trojan (same as Warrior, they just changed the name for 1 year!) which tows 2 decent sized horses up any hill I have asked it so far really easily and a Wessex trailer which I love. I am just about to get it serviced as I have had it for a year now and I bought it a set of tyres last year just to be safe. So really cheap to run. I wanted to buy it to see how much I would really use it and I use it probably once a week in Summer and will have to wait and see this Winter...

There is nothing like just hitching up and going over to meet friends for a hack/clinic or just deciding to go to a show in the morning when you know the weather is nice! I hitch up on my own and once you have had a bit of a practise it is easy, and I often go on my own and just love the freedom it offers.

I also drove it and two horses down to the New Forest on the motorways with no issue at all, like everyone says, as long as you drive sensibly then it should be fine (goes for driving a lorry too though).

I had three lessons and then took my test, so think if you get a good instructor you should be fine. I am better at driving my trailer (reversing into narrow spaces etc) driving it for years and i think that that is to do with having the lessons and the tips they give you.

Waffle over... my advice get one as it has really meant me getting out and about more than I thought!
 
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