Ifor Williams 505 vs 510

[Love]

First time trailer buyer here with my b+e test booked for within the next few months!

I have been looking at the Ifors and can’t decide between the 505 or the 510. I found an older thread on here from 2013 asking the same question but all I could gather from that is the 510s are a bigger box.

I am drawn towards this as although my lad is only 15hh I think he would prefer the extra room inside and it would also be an advantage if I ever got something bigger than him.

I would be towing with a VW Amarok so the extra weight of the 510 wouldn’t be an issue. Are there any other major advantages or disadvantages of one over the other? Ease of driving/reversing/ramp weights/cost to insure etc?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[Tiddlypom]

The front ramp is wider and better angled in the 510, which is very handy if you routinely use front unload (I do).

The extra length of the 510 does make it a longer beast to tow out on the road, and to enter/exit tight entrances, but overall the 510 wins it for me. We’ve had ours for 14 years .

 

[Love]

Thank you tiddlypom! Exactly the sort of things I was after.

I have also read that when buying Ifors new, you can choose which side the front ramp is (oh how I wish I was buying new ?) - have I got this right? If so, Is there a “better” side for the ramp to be, so I can look out for this on adverts? Ie roadside versus verge side

 

[SpotsandBays]

We have a 510, (probably a good job too now my little one isn’t as little anymore!) and like it because if you want to take a friend anywhere you’re not restricted on who you can take regarding heights if that makes sense. (Also if you get another one who’s abit bigger). I’d go and have a look at them so you can get an understanding of the sizes. Good luck with your test! I’m planning on getting mine booked in over the next few months. Feel bad dragging my dad about to stuff, (he’s now nicknamed top groom)

 

[Foxychops]

I have recently bought a 505 classic to replace my old 505. I bought it from a main dealer. I asked about the 510 and apart from it being an extra grand he said the extra minimal room would not benefit me as I only travel one 16.2 without partitions. The classic has a few of the extras that a 510 has.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Re whether the ramp is on the left or the right is probably a matter of personal preference. Mine is on the conventional-for-Ifors right hand side. I like this, as if you park on a verge you can park the vehicle as hard over to the left as you can, so that it doesn’t obstruct the road if left for hours. The flip side of that is that you have to unload into the road, and risk traffic coming past while you juggle the horse and the ramp.

 

[Foxychops]

Re whether the ramp is on the left or the right is probably a matter of personal preference. Mine is on the conventional-for-Ifors right hand side. I like this, as if you park on a verge you can park the vehicle as hard over to the left as you can, so that it doesn’t obstruct the road if left for hours. The flip side of that is that you have to unload into the road, and risk traffic coming past while you juggle the horse and the ramp.

Mine is on the right but I don't use it as horse panics coming out forwards so we always back out!

 

[Love]

Thank you all so much! Have made notes of all your points

 

[Love]

If anyone would mind looking over an advert for me to see if anything glaringly obviously stands out please could you let me know ? and I will send the link

 

[Cortez]

I've had both a 510 and a 505. For a small, single horse it makes no sense to be hauling around what is essentially empty space and extra weight/height/length that you don't need. If you plan to get a bigger horse, then it'd be a bonus I suppose, but I regularly haul two 16.2's in my 505 with no problem. I had a 510 when my horses ranged from 17.1 - 18hh, but the 17.1 guy also traveled fine in the 505. The front ramp orientation is personal preference.

 

[Love]

I've had both a 510 and a 505. For a small, single horse it makes no sense to be hauling around what is essentially empty space and extra weight/height/length that you don't need. If you plan to get a bigger horse, then it'd be a bonus I suppose, but I regularly haul two 16.2's in my 505 with no problem. I had a 510 when my horses ranged from 17.1 - 18hh, but the 17.1 guy also traveled fine in the 505. The front ramp orientation is personal preference.

Thanks for this! Going to have a look around both models and see which we prefer the look of

 

[taraj]

Had both, now have the 506 which has the same headroom as the 510/511 and enough room for the odd time I have 2 up (15hh and 16.1).
I found the 510 alot bigger to tow, and wider down the country lanes, seemed a waste when I had the one horse in it. Good towing vehicles drink enough fuel as it is, having a slightly lighter trailer must make some difference!
Ramp on drivers side, in case of breakdown and having to pull over tight to a hedge/wall ECT can still get horse out.

 

[Sprat]

I have the 505, and travel my 16.1hh mare in it fine. I do have partition removed though as she's not happy travelling with one. She has a decent amount of room in there, and we cope fine in it. I think if I wanted to travel 2 I would need to look at a 510.

 

[palo1]

I have an ancient (though in very good order) 505 which happily takes 1 whopper (16.3) and one medium size horse (15.3). I love it. I love my friend's 510 which IS roomier (wider, longer) so 'feels' nicer in some ways and I like the front ramp/better room for front unloading but as none of our horses have any problem at all with our 505 I am very reluctant to move up to a bigger box. The 505 is neat, easy to tow, takes 2 x 16.2 horses and is absolutely perfectly adequate. The 510 is not so handy for parking, narrow spaces etc. I guess it is down to what is important to you but even though I like the idea of the 510 I am not compelled to swap my 505 for one; there just isn't quite enough benefit to me.

 

[Green Bean]

I bought a 505 on the recommendation that it was fine for horses up to 16.2. Unfortunately, it doesn't cover for those horses that naturally have a high head carriage. My mare was seriously unhappy in it as she was cramped. I have the 511 now and really like it. Although I now have a 16hh horse, she is anxious and I think the extra space helps so it isn't so claustrophobic. If you have the choice, I would go bigger so you have more options, you never know what the future holds and it is a pain to have to sell and buy another just because you now have a wider/taller horse.

 

[Love]

Many thanks for all your advice! We actually went to view a lovely 510 this evening purely with a view to just seeing one in the flesh.... and ended up putting a deposit down (which was not the plan)! I’m over the moon ?