mole
Well-Known Member
as the title really - what do peeps reccommend?
light (in weight) trailers - whats the best?
- Thread starter mole
- Start date
BeckyD
Well-Known Member
What do you class as "light"?
mole
Well-Known Member
well ive been told that ifor williams trailers are heavy before you add your horse and wanted to know what trailers people like towing and what trailers are lighter than ifor williams. i guess age will have a big factor in the weight?
Bosworth
Well-Known Member
I hate towing the lightweight trailers - they bounce and don't tend to give the horse a decent ride. You are better working out what you can legally tow, how much your horses weigh and then look to buy the most solid trailer that you can tow within your limits
BeckyD
Well-Known Member
Yes, modern trailers are lighter than the old ones due to the materials used in construction. Ifor's actually aren't that heavy. Cheval Liberte are pretty light, as are Bateson. I have a Cheval Liberte 2003XL which weighs 850kg, I think the middle Bateson weighs 860kg. Ifor 510 is about 1,050kg I think so it's heavier than those, but there are lots of heavier trailers than that.
Some people don't like light as they think light=flimsy - which it can do. Depends what you're after as you have to match your trailer to your towing vehicle, you don't want to be towing more weight than your towcar can handle. There was a post on here a couple of days ago about the "best" trailers - have a read of that. Also go on trailer websites and look at their specs.
Some people don't like light as they think light=flimsy - which it can do. Depends what you're after as you have to match your trailer to your towing vehicle, you don't want to be towing more weight than your towcar can handle. There was a post on here a couple of days ago about the "best" trailers - have a read of that. Also go on trailer websites and look at their specs.
BeckyD
Well-Known Member
My lightweight trailer actually tows very nicely and doesn't bounce or rattle. That might be something to do with the high-quality suspension. I think the Batesons tow nicely, from what I've heard, but I've heard bad things about Ifors as regards bounce and rattle.
Baileyhoss
Well-Known Member
I love my ifor williams for towing, it's stable and solid and doesn't seem to be affected by lorry draughts or gusts of wind. The newer models with the aluminium floor are lighter than the older versions, I have also travelled in a bateson, which seems to tow ok. they are smart looking trailers, and they are fibre glass so probably lighter than an IW.
Fi x
Fi x
RachelB
Well-Known Member
Not that this is probably much use, but I used to have an old Bahill lightweight (rear unload). It never bounced or was flimsy or unstable, we were astonished taking it home over bumpy rural roads when we bought it because it didn't rattle or bounce at all. The horses loved it.
I know a few people who love their Batesons.
I know a few people who love their Batesons.
Theresa_F
Well-Known Member
I adore my little Bateson Derby - excellent trailer, well made, gives a lovely ride and very stable when towing with my car.
Bateson Derby weighs 590 without partition - I travel my 15 hand cob in it without the partition and he travels very well. It is only rear unload, but for me that is not a problem and to be honest I normally prefer to reverse horses out rather than out the front.
With partition in, it weighs 675 and takes 2 x 14.2 - Chancer fitted in with the partition until last year - has now grown up and out.
Final great thing about it is that as it is so light, I can move it myself by hand into a very tight storage space where it is partially hidden - helps prevent theft.
Finally when I removed the partition, I ordered the full width rear bar and Bateson had it to me within a few days and were generally very helpful.
Bateson Derby weighs 590 without partition - I travel my 15 hand cob in it without the partition and he travels very well. It is only rear unload, but for me that is not a problem and to be honest I normally prefer to reverse horses out rather than out the front.
With partition in, it weighs 675 and takes 2 x 14.2 - Chancer fitted in with the partition until last year - has now grown up and out.
Final great thing about it is that as it is so light, I can move it myself by hand into a very tight storage space where it is partially hidden - helps prevent theft.
Finally when I removed the partition, I ordered the full width rear bar and Bateson had it to me within a few days and were generally very helpful.
brightmount
Well-Known Member
Our local trailer hire place has a fleet of Batesons and I rate them very highly; if I ever bought a trailer it would be a Bateson. Because they are white and light inside, horses are happier to load into them. They seem very well put together and easy to clean.
checkmate1
Well-Known Member
Ive got a cheval Liberte 2003 and I think its great, its very light-800kgs or something, so its almost as big as a ifor 510 and much lighter. Its fine to tow empry, a bit bouncy but fine and when the horse is there it tows like a dream! I bought it back from hampshire in awful windy weather and it towed very well. I think bateons are meant to be good aswell but haven't towed one of those before.
Toby_Zaphod
Well-Known Member
Batesons are light but tow incredibly well. I have a Deauville & consider it one of the best engineered trailers around. I've never had problems loading a horse, they're light & airy, saddle racks at the front & a rot proof floor....billiant design.
