Montanan considering switching to a light European trailer to be pulled by a 6 cyl Toyota 4Runner--advice, please!

[pique]

Hello! I live in the Northern Rockies in the USA and haul my horses in some pretty rugged conditions. (Washboard dirt roads, steep roads, lots of elevation change, long miles down bad unpaved rocky roads, narrow roads through the forest). Most of Montana trail riding requires this kind of travel (of course the payoff is some amazing scenery and wonderful trails).

In America, the only European designed and engineered horse trailers that are available, to my knowledge, are the Brenderup (crossed off the list because parts are no longer available here), the Boeckmann (most expensive), the Sirius, the Fautra, and the Equi-Trek (I am put off by reports of poor build quality).

As you can tell by my description of road conditions here, I am most concerned about how these would hold up on our backcountry and wilderness roads. Does anyone here haul their horses in such conditions, and if so, what trailer and towing vehicle do you use?

I am looking into this because we just acquired a Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road. It has a 6 cyl engine and the towing capacity is 5,000 lbs. It comes with a factory towing package. I am sorely tempted to sell my 2004 3/4 ton truck (which costs way too much to maintain), and my 2 horse slant load steel trailer (made in Idaho), and use the proceeds to buy a trailer that is engineered for towing with an SUV.

My concern is that because these European trailers are lighter, they might not be tough enough to handle off-pavement, mountain road conditions. My experience in Europe is that nearly everything there is paved--even a lot of the trails!

Can anyone here advise on which--if any--of the above makes and models of trailer would be suited to the kind of travel I do? The 4Runner meets specs for towing them, and is designed for the kind of roads we drive. But what about going over mountain passes?

Personal experience with more adventurous driving would be most welcome. Thanks!

Oh, and my load is as follows: 2,000 lbs for horses, another 300 lbs for tack, hay, water, and misc gear in the trailer. Maybe another 500 lbs of people, dogs, food, and camping gear in the towing vehicle.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Really difficult to comment as most of us would never come across terrain such as you describe. Hope you find something - you certainly sound to have some good adventures!

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

That’s some serious weight to haul in a trailer/SUV combo..over rough terrain. I use a Ford Ranger Wildtrak and Ifor Williams old style trailer but then I’m not on “off road” conditions very often.

 

[maisie06]

Probably the only Euopean style trailer that would hold up to the conditions you describe would be an older Ifor Williams, the Equitreks are "pretty" trailers and IMHO not tough enough for that terrain, most farmers in the UK will use Ifor livestock trailers as they stand up to cattle without breaking!

if I was in the US I'd have an F150 or Dodge Ram for hauling horses, and personally I think your horse trailers/floats are far superior to what's available in the UK.

 

[Widgeon]

Probably the only Euopean style trailer that would hold up to the conditions you describe would be an older Ifor Williams

Haha, yes I was thinking the same!

 

[pique]

Thank you so much for the input. I am a bubble-wrap kind of horseman so I would never haul an American trailer with anything less powerful than a 3/4 ton truck. I had hoped that the innovative engineering I have heard about for the Boeckmann, Sirius, and Fautra trailers would make hauling with an SUV a reasonable choice. 90 percent of the time I am just hauling one 1100 lb horse or the horse and her 400 lb mini companion, but I don't want to sell my truck if it means giving up the ability to haul two full-sized horses.

Are these three brands I just mentioned not much in use in the UK? Anyone here have experience with them?

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

I've had a Boeckman & it was extremely well built, solid & great to tow & I know of a Fautras as a friend has one, also fantastic. But as others have said, over here its either tarmac, the odd bumpy lane or fields, nothing near the terrain you're used to, so not sure whether they'd stand up to it. The Boeckman you can spec with uprated suspension which I had - that maybe looking into.

 

[phizz4]

Hello! I live in the Northern Rockies in the USA and haul my horses in some pretty rugged conditions. (Washboard dirt roads, steep roads, lots of elevation change, long miles down bad unpaved rocky roads, narrow roads through the forest). Most of Montana trail riding requires this kind of travel (of course the payoff is some amazing scenery and wonderful trails).

In America, the only European designed and engineered horse trailers that are available, to my knowledge, are the Brenderup (crossed off the list because parts are no longer available here), the Boeckmann (most expensive), the Sirius, the Fautra, and the Equi-Trek (I am put off by reports of poor build quality).

As you can tell by my description of road conditions here, I am most concerned about how these would hold up on our backcountry and wilderness roads. Does anyone here haul their horses in such conditions, and if so, what trailer and towing vehicle do you use?

I am looking into this because we just acquired a Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road. It has a 6 cyl engine and the towing capacity is 5,000 lbs. It comes with a factory towing package. I am sorely tempted to sell my 2004 3/4 ton truck (which costs way too much to maintain), and my 2 horse slant load steel trailer (made in Idaho), and use the proceeds to buy a trailer that is engineered for towing with an SUV.

My concern is that because these European trailers are lighter, they might not be tough enough to handle off-pavement, mountain road conditions. My experience in Europe is that nearly everything there is paved--even a lot of the trails!

Can anyone here advise on which--if any--of the above makes and models of trailer would be suited to the kind of travel I do? The 4Runner meets specs for towing them, and is designed for the kind of roads we drive. But what about going over mountain passes?

Personal experience with more adventurous driving would be most welcome. Thanks!

Oh, and my load is as follows: 2,000 lbs for horses, another 300 lbs for tack, hay, water, and misc gear in the trailer. Maybe another 500 lbs of people, dogs, food, and camping gear in the towing vehicle.

Don't dismiss the Boeckmann. Yes, they are expensive, but they are expensive for a reason. They are very well built, quiet to travel in and, perhaps more importantly from your point of view, they have proper suspension systems with shock absorbers. Have a look at their web site for more details. They also hold their value extremely well. Every Ifor Williams that I have towed has been a rattle box. I've spent ages adding padding, rubber sleeves etc but, even on our (relatively) smooth roads, they still rattle a lot.

 

[meesha]

Definitely not an equitrek, they r lovely but lower to the ground and not as sturdy as older ifor Williams for example (I've had one and gone back to an ifor). If everyone around you is using a certain combination I would think there is probably a good reason ... Prob more basic and solid the trailer the better and a real need for a 4x4 with proper low range ! Sounds like u have amazing hacking though

 

[pique]

If everyone around you is using a certain combination I would think there is probably a good reason ... Prob more basic and solid the trailer the better and a real need for a 4x4 with proper low range ! Sounds like u have amazing hacking though

Well, what is available here to buy is what people typically use. And what people typically use is what is available to buy. If I were to get a Boeckmann, or a Sirius, or a Fautra, I would have to order it from long distance, as the closest dealers are thousands of miles away. Even the nicest, best engineered American trailers--the Hawk, the EquiSpirit--are hard to find here. This is ranch country and trail riders and cowboys are typically hauling with stock trailers. Most of them are old rattletraps! So the good reason is that this is what we have and it is what people are used to.

Does not mean that a European trailer that is well built wouldn't do beautifully. My truck is getting old, needs expensive work done every year now, and replacing it with a new one will cost me $70k USD. If the 4Runner could work, would save me a lot of money in the long run. Despite my truck being old, I can still get more than I paid for it 7 years ago--they hold their value. If I sell it and my current trailer I will have cash in hand for a new European trailer.

Is that a good idea? That's what I'm trying to figure out. If I use what other people do as my guide, it doesn't get me very far in answering my question. Other people are not hauling European trailers on these roads because we don't have European trailers here!

 

[anguscat]

No comments re your question. Just to say feeling envious of your Montana life right now and remembering wonderful Charlie Russell paintings.
I spent 6 months working on a Montana ranch back in the late 70s ‘when I were a lass’. My first driving test there in a Ford T-Bird
Send my love to Big Sky

 

[pique]

No comments re your question. Just to say feeling envious of your Montana life right now and remembering wonderful Charlie Russell paintings.
I spent 6 months working on a Montana ranch back in the late 70s ‘when I were a lass’. My first driving test there in a Ford T-Bird
Send my love to Big Sky

It's changed here so much. But what place hasn't? Keep those memories safe.

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

Well, what is available here to buy is what people typically use. And what people typically use is what is available to buy. If I were to get a Boeckmann, or a Sirius, or a Fautra, I would have to order it from long distance, as the closest dealers are thousands of miles away. Even the nicest, best engineered American trailers--the Hawk, the EquiSpirit--are hard to find here. This is ranch country and trail riders and cowboys are typically hauling with stock trailers. Most of them are old rattletraps! So the good reason is that this is what we have and it is what people are used to.

Does not mean that a European trailer that is well built wouldn't do beautifully. My truck is getting old, needs expensive work done every year now, and replacing it with a new one will cost me $70k USD. If the 4Runner could work, would save me a lot of money in the long run. Despite my truck being old, I can still get more than I paid for it 7 years ago--they hold their value. If I sell it and my current trailer I will have cash in hand for a new European trailer.

Is that a good idea? That's what I'm trying to figure out. If I use what other people do as my guide, it doesn't get me very far in answering my question. Other people are not hauling European trailers on these roads because we don't have European trailers here!

Completely understand what you're saying. In which case, if I had to recommend in my opinion from experience, I'd say a Boeckmann could well stand up to the job. It towed beautifully & had fantastic independent suspension like a car so it was very smooth plus depending on the model, you can have a whole proper tackroom on the front. Definitely worth a good look at. Good luck in your search, another one envious of your trails here!

 

[brighteyes]

I upgraded for better suspension and lower ride from an old IW to Cheval Liberté. Tows and rides beautifully compared to the old IW but not the Towed up Welsh Mountains Behind a Landrover kind of build for sure!