single horse trailers carry 'up to 16.2hh'

Its limit appears to be 1500kg. So in theory should be able to pull the 401 with a 500kg horse on board, but really I would want a bit more leeway for pulling and stopping power, so would look for something with 2000kg limit.
 
Farma said:
I totally disagree with this, i used to have a large 510 and i find the single much easier to tow with much less movement on motorways etc. The horse also have more room inside a single trailer than a single stall in a double.
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This is true, whatever the ‘class size’ of horse trailer, the animal has more stall room in the single, than in a double or treble with the partitions in place.
Height advice is basic guidance at best - the build, proportions of horses to be travelled are far more significant. What length rug does it wear, heart room, head carriage etc.
A 17.2 hunter is a totally different prospect to a same height Percheron!
Personally, prefer a double with partitions out, crossties and a breast bar for a single horse.
 
widget said:
I think the old style singles were too narrow but the new ones are huge, give the horse plenty of space and a steady journey. Much easier to tow as only width of car and horse is travelled with weight centrally. I've got a 403 and I think it's fab I only have a 14hh pony but he looks tiny in it!!
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With you on that point, a single just follows your vehicle - don’t need to budget for extra width through narrow gaps!
 
*Spider* said:
No offence, but I HATE those horrible single horse trailers. They look as if they're about to tip over. They're too small inside in my opinion too. I'm sure a double isn't that much heavier and I *think* you'd have more issue selling it in the future as they're rather undesirable.
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Nonsense! My friend had one and we travelled ours all over the country in them. They're designed for a mare and foal. Very comfortable for the horses. She only sold it as one of mine grew rather alot and he didn't fit in it. It was sold to the first person who saw it, a trader who said they were so sought after and popular and he already had buyers lined up. Maybe only offer advice if you have used one yourself.
 
Personally I’m not convinced I’d want to put a 16.2hh in a single trailer, although, that said the dimensions are broader than the equivalent of a partitioned area in a double. I see singles more useful for shuttling a pony with lower center of gravity.

For the sake of a couple of hundred kilos weight I think I would rather the stability of a double with the partition out.
 
Your problem is likely to be that actually finding a single trailer - or even a "mare & foal" one, is like finding hens teeth; especially if you are looking for used. I've only seen one for sale just the once if I recall correctly. I don't know for certain, but would guess that buying one new isn't going to be that much cheaper than a double? If not more........ as not everyone wants one.

I've always heard that single trailers can be unstable, but having never towed one cannot verify this, but if you think about the dynamics, then I can easily believe this is so.

I can also appreciate that horses can find a trailer claustrophobic to actually walk into; but once they're inside, they might actually be more comfy travelling in a narrow space with a partition up; this was evidenced by my 13.2 when we hired a 3.5 lorry to take her to a pleasure ride once. On the camera, it could clearly be seen that she was moving around quite a bit in transit, and when she came out she was obviously not settled. This particular lorry had quite a large space for her, more so than she'd normally have in the trailer, and it had obviously not been a comfortable experience for her.
 
*Spider* said:
No offence, but I HATE those horrible single horse trailers. They look as if they're about to tip over. They're too small inside in my opinion too. I'm sure a double isn't that much heavier and I *think* you'd have more issue selling it in the future as they're rather undesirable.
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Disagree. I’ve had two Ifor 401’s single. They are so rare that they sell very easily. The single is 1.3m and double is 1.6m but shared for two horses with a partition. They are actually more inviting for a horse to enter.
 
I know this is an old thread but in response to @Laurat79 - both our diesels have a tow capacity of 1800kg and I wouldn't want to go much lower than that to tow my 401 and 15hh cob. I also don't think I would want to tow my setup in a petrol as they haven't got the guts that diesels do, so I'd agree with @angel7 that if you're going for a petrol, you should look for something with a capacity of more like 2000kg.

Regarding the old comments about stability and tipping etc, that's just not a problem. We don't really have true single trailers in this country - they are all mare and foal trailers, so 1.5 width. In Europe you do see genuine singles which I will admit look terrifying to me, particularly as European trailers are so much lighter weight anyway than the hefty Ifors! I've certainly never had an issue with the stability of mine, and I only tow with an estate car.

"Single trailers" (aka mare and foal) are nicer IMO to load into because they have no partition, so have more space for a single horse, and there's no need for the horse to turn on entry. Just drop the back and up they go.

@exracehorse is right that 401s and 403s are like hens' teeth. Mine (an old one that I bought refurbished from a dealer four years ago) would sell for more now than I paid for it. I won't ever* be selling it though.


*unless I win so much money on the Lottery that I can afford to buy and run a 4.5t box, which I'm fairly confident is never going to happen because I don't play the Lottery
 
Tiddlypom said:
The problem witn single trailers is the very narrow exit ramp compared to a double trailer. I always front unload.

I do like the extra stall width for the horse in a single.
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Yes that's true, if you've got something that tends to fling itself out I would imagine they could fall off. I always front unload and have never had a problem, but my older horse is slow and careful, and I'm teaching the baby to be the same.
 
Widgeon said:
I know this is an old thread but in response to @Laurat79 - both our diesels have a tow capacity of 1800kg and I wouldn't want to go much lower than that to tow my 401 and 15hh cob. I also don't think I would want to tow my setup in a petrol as they haven't got the guts that diesels do, so I'd agree with @angel7 that if you're going for a petrol, you should look for something with a capacity of more like 2000kg.

Regarding the old comments about stability and tipping etc, that's just not a problem. We don't really have true single trailers in this country - they are all mare and foal trailers, so 1.5 width. In Europe you do see genuine singles which I will admit look terrifying to me, particularly as European trailers are so much lighter weight anyway than the hefty Ifors! I've certainly never had an issue with the stability of mine, and I only tow with an estate car.

"Single trailers" (aka mare and foal) are nicer IMO to load into because they have no partition, so have more space for a single horse, and there's no need for the horse to turn on entry. Just drop the back and up they go.

@exracehorse is right that 401s and 403s are like hens' teeth. Mine (an old one that I bought refurbished from a dealer four years ago) would sell for more now than I paid for it. I won't ever* be selling it though.


*unless I win so much money on the Lottery that I can afford to buy and run a 4.5t box, which I'm fairly confident is never going to happen because I don't play the Lottery
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Thank you for your in-depth reply, I had the option to buy a 1995 401, which I’ve done now, diesel was not an option for me, thanks to our kind mayor 🙄.
 
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