single horse trailers

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Blythwind

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Do you have one? Do you like it?

I'm thinking of buying one. Horse has more space than in half of a double trailer, which is important for her. It's also the correct weight for my licence and car (I think and an having that confirmed).

However I know some people don't like them. Why is that?
 
Farma on here has one and gets on well with it. I think that people perceive them as being unstable because they have a narrower base than a double, but she says hers is still the width of her car and feels plenty stable. I'd want to test drive one before purchase if I were going for one, to see how different they feel from doubles (if indeed they do). Lighter trailer means less fuel consumption, which is a plus, though if they are too light (like mine when it's empty) they can feel as if they bounce. I doubt a single with a horse in it would do this, though. (My muddy XC boots live on the non-horse side, so I do use both sides!)
 
I have an Ifor Williams 401, had it 3yrs or so & love it. Easy to tow (as already mentioned, same width as most tow vehicles so follows same line with less risk of kerb clipping plus can see down the sides behind you), easy to manoeuvre by hand when hitching or parking up.

Horse has plenty room (like you say, it's about 3/4 of a double), travels well & likes the fact no one else can steal her haynet. ;)

If you read the stats, the overall width is only about 30cm less than a 505, certainly doesn't feel unstable & (touch wood) never had a bad drive with it, even in pretty blowy weather.

I previously towed it with a 130bhp 2L turbo diesel Mondeo to get around B+E test (downplated trailer MAM to 1450kg) & set up was fab. Now done test & have Fourtrak but miss the extra bhp that powerful Mondeo had! ;)
 
i have an ifor 401 (classic) - love it - but am getting a little automatic horsebox so selling mine soon along with my freelander

It is stable, easy to tow,you know if car gets thru space trailer will fit as same width as freelander, horse has plenty of room i have absolutely loved mine - i originally had a 505 and much prefer the 401 as easier to tow, easier to hitch as if i am not lined up I just pull the trailer to the towball! really good if you have one horse to travel
 
Sorry to hijack, but just to clarify, would a single horse trailer potentially relieve the need for a person who passed their driving test after 1997 to take a trailer test?
 
Black rock if you see FigJams post above, it actually can, if all the max weights/train weight etc are met.

The benefit FigJam didn't point out is that you can tack up inside etc if the weather is rubbish. I can't do that in my double (505) cos the central beam is in the way.
 
I would have one of these, If I ever had my own horse that is. I only have a Suziki GV and would feel over burdened pulling a double but a little single i think I would feel absolutely fine with.

I like the pegasus ones and the batesons but if i was splurging I would like the new single Ifor Williams in black to go with my car.

Saving up currently for my dream horse and a trailer cant wait.
 
HotToTrot said:
Farma on here has one and gets on well with it. I think that people perceive them as being unstable because they have a narrower base than a double, but she says hers is still the width of her car and feels plenty stable. I'd want to test drive one before purchase if I were going for one, to see how different they feel from doubles (if indeed they do). Lighter trailer means less fuel consumption, which is a plus, though if they are too light (like mine when it's empty) they can feel as if they bounce. I doubt a single with a horse in it would do this, though. (My muddy XC boots live on the non-horse side, so I do use both sides!)
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Yes I do! I have an ifor 403 I really like it as far as trailers go its great, very economical for me as I can tow on a car so don't need a second vehicle to tow with.
When I drove it without a horse it did feel a tad bouncy but with a horse is perfectly stable and I don't notice any difference towing this to my previous ifor 510 I would say that your horse needs to be a pretty good loader as its a relatively small space to walk into but loads of room for 1 large horse once they're on board. If you need storage on board you can always get a tack pack as well.
 
blackrocksolitaire said:
Sorry to hijack, but just to clarify, would a single horse trailer potentially relieve the need for a person who passed their driving test after 1997 to take a trailer test?
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As I posted above, I previously had a safe and legal towing combination with only a B entitlement. My set up was as below;

Car: Ford Mondeo, 2.0L tdci 130bhp (plenty "grunt" and torque), kerb weight 1505kg, max. laden weight 2035kg.
Trailer: IW HB401 (single), kerb weight 770kg, max laden weight 1450kg. (this was downrated by an Ifor Williams dealer by getting in touch with them and arranging for them to swap the plates over.) So my trailer has a capacity of 680kg, more than enough for my 15.1 mare and as it's only a single, there's only room for a haynet in with her! No carrying extras in the spare partition etc.

So this means that the trailer's MAM (1450kg) is less than the car's kerb weight (1505kg) and the total MAM is 2035kg (car) + 1450kg (trailer) = 3485kg which is less than 3500kg and therefore all legal.

It is a tricky balancing act getting both of those parts of the equation to work out but it CAN be done. Worth getting advice from an experienced trailer driver before hitting the road though. There is a sticky thread at the top of this forum you can ask questions on for help also. :)

And as now_loves_mares has pointed out, enough space to tack up inside if weather iffy- I've even studded and booted up inside it although would only advise doing this if you have a pretty sensible type! :o ;)
 
blackrocksolitaire said:
Sorry to hijack, but just to clarify, would a single horse trailer potentially relieve the need for a person who passed their driving test after 1997 to take a trailer test?

Ok, ignore that, found my own answer and 99% sure it is no!
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Yes it would so I do not know where you go NO from??

Check out the HHO TOWING CLINIC link below
 
I've just sold my 401... I feel so sad and lost without it already!! I had to sell it as I wasn't using it much, got the use of another trailer and towing vehicle so whats the point? Needed the cash sadly.

They are very good trailers and I recommend them 100%.
 
I tow on a b licence with a BMW 320d a cheval liberte xxl (mare and foal trailer) and love my trailer! It's fab, fits my 17hh in and has loads more room than traveling partitioned in a double- can tack up etc in there easily,
 
Thanks for all the replies. Unfortunately for me, the trailer I was after is an old bayhill and I therefore can't get it downplated (as they are no longer trading). I would therefore technically be over the 3500kg when you take into account the max potential weight of the trailer even though its actual weight would be fine. It's all so confusing!
 
Rather than a single, why not just take the centre out of a 505? I've done it as mine travels better on his own with space. He also is lousy at tieing up at events so tacking up inside is great.
 
Blythwind said:
Thanks for all the replies. Unfortunately for me, the trailer I was after is an old bayhill and I therefore can't get it downplated (as they are no longer trading). I would therefore technically be over the 3500kg when you take into account the max potential weight of the trailer even though its actual weight would be fine. It's all so confusing!
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If no plate on a trailer then the tyre load ratings will be used and they are always higher than any plated MAM
 
I have a rather old single horse trailer, have found it brilliant, horse travels in it really well, can tow it with the car, dont have to give anyone a lift, suits us just fine for what we want. Havent a clue how old it is but it must be getting on as sides are wooden, its been done up over the years and have to say apart from replacing few floor boards last year and putting matting on the ramp it hasnt cost us anything, and probably safer than alot of trailers we seen out. Its much wider than the newer single trailers, man we bought it off used to travel his 17.2hh in it safely. I wasnt too happy when hubby said he had bought a single trailer but wouldnt swpa it now!!!

We find it very funny when everyone in there huge lorries and those with big 4x4s look downs on on us when we turn up at shows, they not so smug when my daughter beats them though!!!n u
 
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I know this is an old thread now, but I wanted to say thanks to everyone who has replied. On Saturday, I bought an Ifor Williams 401!!! YAY!! We will be towing it with our Vauxhall Vectra, and its all within the correct weights/limits for the car and for my licence.

It is staying with my parents until I have had a couple of lessons on hitching/unhitching, driving/reversing etc, and then I am going to hit the road (empty) in August with a view to getting out and about with horse once Ive had lots of practice and am feeling confident. I am not in a rush but am very excited to be getting out and about!

I am in Nottingham and horse is in Loughborough, so can anyone recommend a good place for driving lessons near those areas. I have one place in mind already, as recommended by ROG.

Thanks
 
Blythwind said:
I know this is an old thread now, but I wanted to say thanks to everyone who has replied. On Saturday, I bought an Ifor Williams 401!!! YAY!! We will be towing it with our Vauxhall Vectra, and its all within the correct weights/limits for the car and for my licence.

It is staying with my parents until I have had a couple of lessons on hitching/unhitching, driving/reversing etc, and then I am going to hit the road (empty) in August with a view to getting out and about with horse once Ive had lots of practice and am feeling confident. I am not in a rush but am very excited to be getting out and about!

I am in Nottingham and horse is in Loughborough, so can anyone recommend a good place for driving lessons near those areas. I have one place in mind already, as recommended by ROG.

Thanks
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If you will be towing a legal set up for your licence and I am 20 mins drive south of Loughborough then I can help you for FREE on reversing, hitching and road driving

PM me if you think that is a go
 
I have an Ifor 403! Absolutely love it - all the horses I've put in it love it too (more space and easier for them to balance). Definitely do it! It's the way forwards :)
 
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