Older Rice Trailers

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Frumpoon

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Ok so I think I have found a good 2nd hand trailer that won't break the bank and will fit a 17.2hh comfortably.

It's a Rice, either the Beaufort 60 or the treble, either way it has really generous dimensions and looks v sturdy.

So I was wondering if anybody out there knew of any particular things that go wrong with this kind of trailer that I should look out for.

Does anybody know the rough cost of replacing the floor/ brakes etc?

This is my first trailer so I will be learning to tow with it as well.

Are there any specific techniques with towing heavier trailers?

I know about making corners proper right angles and the funny way you have to reverse the opposite way you want to go. I've had a little practice at this...with varying results!
 
I wouldn't recommend the triple purely because it takes alot of manouevering and is heavy to tow as well as alot longer than a standard trailer. To be honest you might be better off with a lorry as your horse is such a big lad/lass.
 
Make sure your towing vehicle is up to the job as the older trailers weigh lots more than the newer ones. Floors can be quite cheap to replace just need a good quality ship plyboard - go to a timber merchant to ask. We had an old Rice for a while and it did the job only down side was the roof light blew off somewhere on the M6 and it used to rain in, couldnt get a replacement as the trailer was too old for spare parts so our levely mechanic stuck a piece of perspex on it with sealant and no more nails!!! Oh and one other thing you can paint it whatever colour you like :o)

Good Luck
 
Rice Beaufourt won't take a 17:2hh ( unless modified )..............check your height measurements - I have just sold one because of this issue.

But costs as follows:

Floor £350
Paint £42
Brakes £120
Tyres £80 each if landrover ones
 
I have The older triple and love it. Yes it is heavier but I tow it with a Isuzu 3.1td which has absolutely no trouble at all! Horses travel really well in it. I have had no difficulty manoeuvring it... none so than any other trailer. I painted mine myself. I bought it with a recent floor but had it rewired, new brakes & new tyres. Would thoroughly recommend :)
The triple would easily take a 17.2. Our boy s 16.2 & has loads of room. The floor that was put in was 2" oak planks with ply over the top so really strong. I think the brakes cost me just over £200. a set of new tyres all round were 220 ish.
 
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Depends on how old it is

The very old ones (bigger wheels) used Land Rover axles and cost a fortune if anything goes wrong as you have to have spares made. The newer ones and that probably means 15 years or younger (only guessing) you can still get parts.

Ply on its own is no good for Rice floors, the supports are too far apart, they were designed for boards running front to back and then others going across. You can replace the cross boards with ply but not use it on its own.

My friend had the triple and I have seen them used for shire horses but with the partitions out and one horse travelling in the middle.

I have had a few Rice and the things I replaced were the tow hitch (they have a wear line) the damper or whatever its called that stops the trailer jerking backward and forwards on the brakes, brake pads and electrics. I always put a new floor in when I bought one. Check the ramps as they are a pig to repair but not expensive if you can do it yourself.

Cant say I spent more on them that I spend on servicing my Ifor once they were renovated.

New they were far better quality and more expensive than Ifor and some of the ones out their are 40 years old, they are built like tanks.

I personally didn't find them any harder to tow than my 510
 
Thanks very much everybody, that's brilliant advice!

I've got an Isuzu 3.1 diesel also so I think it should be ok for towing.

I did think about a lorry, but I can only drive an automatic and auto lorries are rare and expensive.

This trailer is a 7ft 6 height so the fit should be ok.

I just keep having nightmares that I'm beetling along and I do something wrong whilst towing - it's bonkers obviously but I thought I should ask those with more experience...

This trailer does have off road tyres but it doesn't look ancient exactly...I know Rice are still making Beauforts at the same spec and dimensions except they are nearly £8000.....
 
Frumpoon said:
Thanks very much everybody, that's brilliant advice!

I've got an Isuzu 3.1 diesel also so I think it should be ok for towing.

I did think about a lorry, but I can only drive an automatic and auto lorries are rare and expensive.

This trailer is a 7ft 6 height so the fit should be ok.

I just keep having nightmares that I'm beetling along and I do something wrong whilst towing - it's bonkers obviously but I thought I should ask those with more experience...

This trailer does have off road tyres but it doesn't look ancient exactly...I know Rice are still making Beauforts at the same spec and dimensions except they are nearly £8000.....
Click to expand...

Rice have a support tel no. for 'older' rice trailers, they even have a questionaire to ensure they advise you correctly on parts required ( you need the chassis no. )
 
Meandtheboys said:
Rice have a support tel no. for 'older' rice trailers, they even have a questionaire to ensure they advise you correctly on parts required ( you need the chassis no. )
Click to expand...

That's amazing advice, presumably I just pop along to th website and it all becomes clear?

Thank you so much!
 
I had the beaufort. There was a spell when they made the panels from marine ply and i bought one. We replaced pretty much every panel but at least my dad could do it himself!
 
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