How to buy a good used trailer

Caol Ila

Caol Ila

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The towing thing has moved on. We decided, in the short term, the most sensible thing to do was get a tow bar for the Outlander and an Ifor 505 or 506 (or similar sized beastie) and crack on with the loading practice. The Outlander isn't the perfect vehicle, but it will do for getting the horse on the trailer and for making short journeys. We'll get a truck in the next six months to a year, but this isn't something we can do right this second.

Anyway, I see a few used Ifors about but what's the best way to find a good one? What should you look out for?

Budget is circa 4k.
 
I had a 505 which was a great trailer. You'll find a VIN plate on the A-frame which you can check the details, age etc with IWT. They also will have details for the Datatag if it's been registered as stolen etc.

Other things, check that the aluminium floor under the rubber matting is clean and in good order especially around the edges where you can sometimes see signs of corrosion if urine has seeped down.

Also check each of the panels from the outside carefully, especially along the lower edges to look for signs of damp in the wood fibre panels. It's easier to see any blown/spongy areas by looking at the panels from an angle in good light.

Check the tyres - and any signs of cracking on the tyres. I replaced all the tyres on my trailer before selling it as there was cracking of the tyres.

Things like servicing history are good, and you could ask a trailer / agricultural mechanic to take a look at the trailer before purchase.

They're a really good investment, my 505 was in great condition and I sold it for more or less the same money almost ten years after buying it new. 😊
 
Stirling Trailers at the auction mart outside Stirling. I’ve bought all my trailers there whilst in Scotland and it’s practically a straight road from them to where you are 🙂
 
Yes, check date of manufacture, some very old but smartened up trailers are advertised at eyewatering prices.
Check the bottoms of the coloured panels for rot/softening.
I *think* it was circa 2007 when they started fitting aluminium floors which is preferable to wood.
Definitely road test test it, my old one had started making a lot of clattering noise though it still towed well, it needed brakes and bearings done (which cost a few hundred)

I sold my 2007 HB505 3 years ago for £2750
 
I recently bought a second hand trailer and second the recommendation for Stirling Trailers. I called to ask about prices and managed to get an HB511 before it even went on their website. They did a lot of work on it (lights, brakes, tyres etc), and it came with 6 month warranty. Very reassuring and it was even ready for me to pick up earlier than expected.

It was only £500 more than one of the same age I looked at being sold privately which would have cost much more than that to get properly roadworthy.

Whichever route you go down, definitely check tyres (anything older than I think 5 years should be replaced, numbers on the tyre wall show the date of manufacture). Ask how often it’s been used; anything that’s sat in a field for years isn’t a great option, as things like tyres and brakes suffer. Trailers need to be used regularly to stay in good health. See if it has a service history, ask about any repairs it’s needed, and check tyres, seal around panels, floors for rot.

Good luck with your search, and enjoy having the freedom of the road!
 
We bought a refurbished one with new sides & ramp with original alluminium floor. Its the bottom of the sides that will show rotten by being able to push in from the outside ie just behind wheel arches - thats where they go rotten from the urine & weather soaking in. I would always get an inspection which costs about £200 to get all boxes ticked. I went to see one which looked immaculate, paid for inspection & 5 minutes in mechanic rang to say all sides rotten. There's so much you cant see you need to know what youre looking for as with most things.
 
We went through a dealer. They’re down south so probably not useful to recommend them, but it did mean that we had several choices and knew that they’d all been properly serviced and maintained.
 
I also went through a dealer. It was only a few hundred pounds more expensive than buying privately and it felt much safer - all the paperwork was in order and they'd refurbished the trailer prior to sale. They even delivered it to me.
 
Agree that paying for a knowledge person to do a thorough inspection is a solid investment! I had someone check a couple and both were barge poles situations when to me they looked and sounded ok. In the end I bought brand new as I couldn't easily find a quality version of what I wanted secondhand and was too impatient to wait around hoping for it to materialise
 
Cautiously is my advice. I echo everything previous posters have said. IW trailers are often targeted by thieves so definitely check that it's listed not stolen on by contacting IW and Datatag. Also, as well as the floor check all the panels for signs of softness particularly at the bottom as they do rot. They can be replaced but it adds to your costs.

My friends bought a IW trailer some years ago. They called IW after a few months to change the registration and quoted the number on the A frame. which IW asked them to check. A few days later the police turned up at their door and repossessed said trailer. It turned out the number on the plate on the A frame was for a flat bed trailer, the correct number was found on the chassis underneath and it was identified as stolen. They lost their money as the person they had bought from claimed they had no knowledge of that and no means to pay them back.

Another client recently saw a IW advertised on FB Market Place as a very good price (too good to be true) They paid a deposit on it and the seller said he could deliver as he was coming down to this area on business. Then followed multiple excuses - vehicle problems, changed scheduled etc so he offered to arrange a haulier. The day before delivery was due the haulier supposedly left Shetland en route to the mainland to collect the trailer and the seller claimed after that he couldn't make contact. Next the seller was in Dubai getting married and once supposedly back wouldn't give an address for them to collect the trailer. They requested their deposit back and have been told it will be given once he's recovered from his wedding expenses!! They have now bought a new one from Stirling Trailer Centre.
 
Good years for 505 510 are 2007 and 2008 after that they were discontinued

506 and 511 mark 1 are crap according to dealers, they were 2008 to 2014 or 15 when mark 2 came out which are better made

Availability of spare parts is a consideration

The 506 is quite a high internal height
 
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