Rice Trailers....

[luckilotti]

Hi,
i have recently purchased an older Rice trailer and would love to hear from other owners/former owners! I havent a clue which model mine is, google keeps taking me to sites that say different to each other! It is front and rear unload, internal height is 7ft2, it has the heavy duty off road type tyres on which i believe came as standard on one model but these of course wont be the originals and may have been put on as the old owner wanted them on.
It has quite a large window at the front - it doesnt have the vents sections on the side of the roof part which most seem to... it has one above the front window however.
i believe you can tell the model/approx age from the number of panels at the side - mine is 3 panels and the panel joins also go onto the roof section (some when googling have 3 panels but 2 on the roof - mine has 3 on roof!)
It is wooden sides (heavy!)
it has a maintence plate on the inside above the window that looks orginal but so far i havent found any other plates.

Any ideas?

Also, is anyone has a heavy one like mine, do you know the approx weight and what do you tow it with? (i have a disco but have read some horror stories where VOSA have given huge fines to disco owners saying due to the high GVW they can only tow approx 750/800kg legally....)

Finally..... i am thinking of poss taking out the tonge and groove sides which look like pretty thick wood, and having them replaced with metal sheeting to make it lighter - has anyone done this themselves or know anyone who has?

Thanks.

 

[Beausmate]

I've got one, it's my second. Mines a Beaufort lightweight, the weight shown on it is 914kg, but it's less than that since I made a new partition for it-the originals are HEAVY! It's pre 1989 as it's not auto-reverse and has Landrover wheels with crossply tyres. My previous Beaufort weighed in at around 1200kg with Landrover wheels, original partition and a triple floor. Auto-reverse hitch fitted to that one. Solid wood ramps on the first one, ali and wood on the current one. I love them, would definitely get another.

They'd have to be bloody heavy for a Disco to only be up to an 800kg load! Discos (certainly newer ones) are, I believe rated for 3500kg.

eta, I used to tow the heavy one with a Range Rover. Far too much for a car (tried it with my Volvo 740).

 

[luckilotti]

Thanks for the reply.

Re the weight thing, it seems some VOSA officers think its 3500 total so 2750 i think GVW for the disco and that only leaves 750 for the trailer. App some people have had fines, points etc as the VOSA officer was certain that was the rule - silly as it would mean a tiny smart car could tow a massive trailer etc if it was that simple.

I havent undone the back ramp myself yet but i did the front one the other day and ended up cutting my finger somehow as i wasnt prepared for such a weight! (am used to ramps with spring!) i will have to have a look at how heavy the partition is.

tha lady i bought it from have just got an ifor and said how she drove it for the 1st time this week and it moved all over the place, whereas the Rice trailer certainly is solid!

just off to google auto reverse hitches lol.

 

[ROG]

I challenge anyone to prove that VOSA has successfully prosecuted any driver for not exceeding the plated weights of a vehicle or trailer

There are many who spout these stories over the internet but do not provide proof of what they state which is not surprising because it is all made up

For a driver to be charged with such an offence the law which has been broken must be stated

Do not beleive gossip and myth

 

[Cop-Pop]

I have a Rice trailer made in 1979 It's huge, solid and has never gone wrong on me apart from general wear and tear. I love it and will miss it when it goes but got nowhere to keep it My horse dented an Ifor quite badly but no matter how much she kicks the Rice there's no damage

 

[Beausmate]

I was under the impression that 3500kg was the max permissable trailer (braked) weight for the Disco, not the max weight of the whole lot.

 

[ROG]

I was under the impression that 3500kg was the max permissable trailer (braked) weight for the Disco, not the max weight of the whole lot.

You will find that 3500 is the maximum actual weight that the manufacturer has recommended that it tows - that is not a legal maximum

3500 also happens to the max an over-run brake trailer can be

 

[Shysmum]

We have a very old Rice trailer, (reconditioned) and I love it ! I like the fact that it is so sturdy and rock solid, and also that the pony is happy going in and out (it's a rear loader only).

We have had to change from a Freelander to a Disco to tow it though

 

[pip6]

I've got a rice junior foxhunter, weighs 510kg! You should have a plate. Mine is 25 years young, love it. Take partition out, perfect for an arab, loads of space for her & can be legally towed by large car.

 

[SuperH]

We had an early 1970's Rice for years. My mum had it nearly new and only changed it in 2000. It was very heavy but I loved the solid partition when travelling two. We towed it with a Defender and then a Disco and never had any problems.