Ifor Williams Single 401/403 trailers - advice?

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arabianlover

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Hi there I wondered if anyone could advise on the Ifor Wiiliams Aingle horse trailers as I am looking to buy one secondhand. I wondered if there is much difference between the 401 and 403 apart from just age and a few updates, and mainly if anyone that has owned one has ever had any issues with them, whilst driving or mechanically.

Any advice much appreciated!
 
Is this for B licence towing ?

Not much difference in them from what I could tell and the drivers that I taught to tow them were very happy with them

Do not listen to stability rumours as they are myths
 
I have a 403 and love it. It tows like a dream because, being a single trailer, it sits centrally behind the car and is very balanced (Never heard about any rumours about stability?!). My boy loves it. He's a chunky highland and seems to like the slightly wider stall width. Also, it's wide enough - just about - to tack up in if it's raining. As it's lighter than a double trailer, I can hitch it up and even manoeuvre it myself. I have it serviced annually and have never had any sort of operational problem with it at all. All in all, I'm very pleased with my little 403 ... the perfect thing for a "one horse" owner.

ETA ... actually, I did have a small issue with it once. The catch on the grooms door needed a bit of lubrication. Once when I was in the trailer getting something (I use it as a rug dump when i'm not towing!!) the door blew shut and I was locked inside. Had to phone someone on the yard to let me out!! Very embarrassing .... but a bit a WD40 soon sorted it out.
 
Hi yes for B licence towing, and because I have a freelander. I will get the trailer downplated, and I have a lightweight horse (Arab). From what I've read they seem to have very positive reviews and I've seen a few around that look great although they tend to be the newer 403s. Is the 401 and 403 the same width? Tried to confirm this online but haven't been able to as yet.
 
arabianlover said:
Hi yes for B licence towing, and because I have a freelander. I will get the trailer downplated, and I have a lightweight horse (Arab). From what I've read they seem to have very positive reviews and I've seen a few around that look great although they tend to be the newer 403s. Is the 401 and 403 the same width? Tried to confirm this online but haven't been able to as yet.
Click to expand...

What is the GVW of your freelander ?
 
Greylegs said:
ETA ... actually, I did have a small issue with it once. The catch on the grooms door needed a bit of lubrication. Once when I was in the trailer getting something (I use it as a rug dump when i'm not towing!!) the door blew shut and I was locked inside. Had to phone someone on the yard to let me out!! Very embarrassing .... but a bit a WD40 soon sorted it out.
Click to expand...
Now you know how the horse feels and it has not got a mobile !!!
 
Can I hijack the thread to ask a dim question - I am thinking of getting a 401/403. My licence is pre 1997 so I don't think I need a trailer test for any standard trailer but what is down plating for a b licence ? I have a 2011 Kia Sorrento - I think that would tow at 403 with a 400 kg pony wouldn't it ?
 
JLD said:
Can I hijack the thread to ask a dim question - I am thinking of getting a 401/403. My licence is pre 1997 so I don't think I need a trailer test for any standard trailer but what is down plating for a b licence ? I have a 2011 Kia Sorrento - I think that would tow at 403 with a 400 kg pony wouldn't it ?
Click to expand...

pre 97 you don't need a test, but a few lessons is recommended if you have never towed a horse box before. Your vehicle/box/horse combo is fine.
 
Hi Rog

Can I just double check the details if poss please - My car is a freelander 1, so kerb weight 1555kg, towing capacity 2000kg and GVW 2050kg.

I have just bought an IW401 which weighs 770kg. My horse weighs a maximum of 425-450kg.

I thought it was 1555 + 770 = 2325, leaving 1175 to play with, so as the horse weighs up to 450, then add a bit more say up to 600kg and so downplate the trailer to about 1350kg, this would leave about 595kg spare for passengers and tack......

However I saw on one of your other posts that you say it is the GVW and the plated MAM of the trailer, if so that gives me less to play with so 2050 + eg 1350 would only leave 100kg spare, which wouldn't be enough if I need to keep spare weight back for passengers and tack..... Or does the fact that on this calculation we are using the GVW mean that INCLUDES all the passenger weight and therefore the calculation on 2050 + 1350 is fine and within legal boundaries?

I just want to be 100% sure, many thanks!
 
arabianlover said:
Hi Rog

Can I just double check the details if poss please - My car is a freelander 1, so kerb weight 1555kg, towing capacity 2000kg and GVW 2050kg.

I have just bought an IW401 which weighs 770kg. My horse weighs a maximum of 425-450kg.

I thought it was 1555 + 770 = 2325, leaving 1175 to play with, so as the horse weighs up to 450, then add a bit more say up to 600kg and so downplate the trailer to about 1350kg, this would leave about 595kg spare for passengers and tack......

However I saw on one of your other posts that you say it is the GVW and the plated MAM of the trailer, if so that gives me less to play with so 2050 + eg 1350 would only leave 100kg spare, which wouldn't be enough if I need to keep spare weight back for passengers and tack..... Or does the fact that on this calculation we are using the GVW mean that INCLUDES all the passenger weight and therefore the calculation on 2050 + 1350 is fine and within legal boundaries?

I just want to be 100% sure, many thanks!
Click to expand...

Following with interest but now totally confused. I tow my 403 plus 600kg highland with a short wheelbase Shogun (total weight about 1350kg). Will await clarification with interest as thinking of trading the Shogun in as it's getting a bit elderly. (I passed my test pre-1997!).
 
As I understand it, the loaded trailer (e.g 770+450) must weigh less than the empty car (1555kg) for safety reasons. So you are fine there sa 1220 is less than 1555.

In addition, the loaded car and loaded trailer must weigh less than 3500 for your licence. The loaded car at 2050 includes for passengers etc, so 2050+770+450 is fine.
 
arabianlover said:
Hi Rog

Can I just double check the details if poss please - My car is a freelander 1, so kerb weight 1555kg, towing capacity 2000kg and GVW 2050kg.

I have just bought an IW401 which weighs 770kg. My horse weighs a maximum of 425-450kg.

I thought it was 1555 + 770 = 2325, leaving 1175 to play with, so as the horse weighs up to 450, then add a bit more say up to 600kg and so downplate the trailer to about 1350kg, this would leave about 595kg spare for passengers and tack......

However I saw on one of your other posts that you say it is the GVW and the plated MAM of the trailer, if so that gives me less to play with so 2050 + eg 1350 would only leave 100kg spare, which wouldn't be enough if I need to keep spare weight back for passengers and tack..... Or does the fact that on this calculation we are using the GVW mean that INCLUDES all the passenger weight and therefore the calculation on 2050 + 1350 is fine and within legal boundaries?

I just want to be 100% sure, many thanks!
Click to expand...
You are getting mixed up with weights

The car and trailer are separate weight entities

The car is 1555 empty and 2050 GVW so 495 can be loaded into the car

The trailer is 770 empty and down plated to 1350 so 580 can be loaded into the trailer

Your trailer can be fully loaded to 1350 providing the car towing capacity allows it

GVW 2050 + MAM 1350 = 3400 so 100 under the max 3500 for B towing
You can have a trailer plated at 1450 with a 2050 GVW vehicle
 
Blythwind said:
As I understand it, the loaded trailer (e.g 770+450) must weigh less than the empty car (1555kg) for safety reasons. So you are fine there sa 1220 is less than 1555.
Click to expand...
No such rule, advice or law exists

It is better to have the towing vehicle heavier than the trailer at the time of towing it but many modern vehicles are designed to tow trailers of 3500 when they actually weigh about 2500
 
Greylegs said:
Following with interest but now totally confused. I tow my 403 plus 600kg highland with a short wheelbase Shogun (total weight about 1350kg). Will await clarification with interest as thinking of trading the Shogun in as it's getting a bit elderly. (I passed my test pre-1997!).
Click to expand...
You have B+E so its easier for you
Take the lower weight of either the trailer MAM or the vehicle towing capacity and that is the max actual weight you can tow
 
I had a double IW trailer and bought a 403 in March, I am really pleased with it. I have a HW cob and can tack him up in it, and he travels the same as he did in the double. It is very easy to tow and not as wide as my 4x4.
 
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