More newbie trailer questions...

sidesaddlegirl

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Rang Rice up and emailed them photos of my trailer and without the serial number (which is long gone on my trailer), they couldn't give me exact details but they think that my trailer was probably made about 1970 and that it is the Farmer's Hunt trailer. The FH trailer has a MAM (I think it's called) of 2540kg and depending on which model you got (there was the normal FH model and then the Mark 3 model which may be my one), the unladen weight ranges between 739kg and 792kgs.

The internal height of the normal FH was 7' but mine is 7'3" (from the original wood floor to the ceiling or 7'2" which thick rubber mats in) so mine may be the Mark 3 model since it's bigger.

So if I get this right, since my horse is 450kgs and the trailer (to err on the side of caution) is 792kgs, then the total weight will be 1242kgs. Our car can tow 1300kg (max towing weight braked) so does that mean if in an emergency, our car could tow the trailer and my horse?

Now, before anyone jumps down my throat, I am NOT suggesting our Picasso will be towing but as we often hack to local shows, if would be nice if anything happened (like Hattie hurt something at the show or stepped on a nail on the way, I injured myself and couldn't hack back, etc, etc), to have a lift back home. Obviously dump the water and excess hay to lighten the load.

My friend has access to a land rover so she would be taking me to far shows so that isn't an issue.

Also, with this age of trailer and considering the little amount I paid for it, is it worth insuring? It will have a wheel clamp and is kept on a gated yard which is locked where the YO and his family/dogs live on site. I worked out that I would be paying more insurance than what the trailer is worth just after a few years. Petplan has so many exclusions too. My horse is a good traveller too so it's not as if she will be kicking big holes in it. No one else will be travelling with me.
 
Rang Rice up and emailed them photos of my trailer and without the serial number (which is long gone on my trailer), they couldn't give me exact details but they think that my trailer was probably made about 1970 and that it is the Farmer's Hunt trailer
Good try at finding out - not easy with very old trailers - nice of Rice to try and help :)

The FH trailer has a MAM (I think it's called) of 2540kg and depending on which model you got (there was the normal FH model and then the Mark 3 model which may be my one), the unladen weight ranges between 739kg and 792kgs.

So if I get this right, since my horse is 450kgs and the trailer (to err on the side of caution) is 792kgs, then the total weight will be 1242kgs. Our car can tow 1300kg (max towing weight braked) so does that mean if in an emergency, our car could tow the trailer and my horse?
YES on a B+E licence or under B+E learner rules
The fines etc are too much to chance on a B licence and it will invalidate any insurance



Also, with this age of trailer and considering the little amount I paid for it, is it worth insuring? It will have a wheel clamp and is kept on a gated yard which is locked where the YO and his family/dogs live on site. I worked out that I would be paying more insurance than what the trailer is worth just after a few years. Petplan has so many exclusions too. My horse is a good traveller too so it's not as if she will be kicking big holes in it. No one else will be travelling with me.
If having it insured only covers the loss of the trailer and is not required for third party injury etc then I would not bother
 
You need to check your car policy to ensure that you are covered to tow. If you are then there is no need to insure against theft.
 
I will ask my OH as he would be the one towing if he had to get Hattie in an emergency if the car insurance covers it (he got his license pre 1997). It may well do as we tow our boat. I don't think Petplan covers 3rd party, there are so many exclusions on their policy but I will check with my BHS gold insurance to see if that covers it or shop around if it doesn't.
 
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