Towing help needed

B

bumblelion

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 March 2008
Messages
1,962
Visit site
Hi, I'm thinking of purchasing an ifor 2 berth trailer and have a 16.3 TB. I'v looked into my car spec and it said on Parkers my braked towing weight is 1500kg and unbraked towing weight is 750kg. Do you think my car will tow my horse? I'd say he's approx 550kgs. I have absolutely no idea about trailers so any advice on the best ones would be great!! I like the HB511 as its a bit roomier so any views on it would be great, many thanks
 
Very few cars (unless they are seriously long, heavy and have a powerfull engine) are suitable for towing a laden horse trailer safely. Even a number of 4 wheel drive vehicles are not suitable.

Unsuitable cars towing a horse trailer can prove to be a real danger to the occupants, what they are towing and other road users.
 
See a few people I know have said my car's capable but I want to know for sure as I'm such a worrier and it's a big responsibility and if it's not capable bloody dangerous!! I'v got a new vectra estate 1.9i cdti sri.
 
I'm afraid you will be over weight. The HB511 has an unladen weight of 1000kg, your horse weighs in at 550kg & that alone takes you over the 1500kg limit. Then there is water, hay & all the other bits & pieces you tend to load in your trailer as well. Sorry
frown.gif


The below link gives you all the specs:
http://www.iwt.co.uk/brochures/nhb.pdf

The Bateson Deauville is a really good trailer, well made & tows well & it is 140kg lighter than the Ifor 511. It is designed to take up to 17h horses. You would still be near your limit, but would possibly be within your restrictions.
smile.gif

http://www.batesontrailers.com/trailer-detail.asp?ID=26&cat=6
 
No chance. You'll be neither safe nor legal. My ifor 505 is 1170kg, so that with your 550kg horse is already 1720kg (almost quarter ton over) and that is without filling your car with people, stuff, water tack etc. If you are considering the 510 or the 511, it will be even heavier, but you will probably need that for a 16.3hh.

Any decent trailer which will take your horse will be in that weight range, so I think you will need to consider a change of vehicle.

Your Rav 4's, Honda HRV's etc are too light, they are all plated for 1500kg. As a guideline, my 2.5td SWB Shogun is plated to tow 2800kg. Your big defenders and the like are plated to tow up to 3000kg. You will need something that can tow at least 2000kg, and thats only if you only ever plan on taking 1 hoss.

F x
 
So the unbraked means unladen! Get it thanks. I did have a feeling it wouldn't have enough power to. Maybe it's a good enough excuse to get my always dreamt of nissan navara!! Will have to break the news to my OH!!
 
Unbraked means trailers that don't have brakes... ie the little box type trailers that sit behind most cars.
Horse trailers have brakes, as the car slows down and the trailer pushes into it, it applies the brakes. If I could get my brain to work properly this afternoon I could have used the technical terms, however it is firmly asleep!
Your towing vehicle needs to be able to tow the MAM of the trailer, not just what is being towed to comply with the law.

ETA - I think the MAM for my Ifor 510 is roughly 2650kgs.
 
yep, the unbraked trailer is usually a wee single axle box towed behind anything and usually fully or furniture or garden waste.

anything bigger, like a horsebox has brakes of it's own (applied with the damper), hence why they can be heavier, becuase they have some stopping power of their own. The 1500kg that your car can tow includes both the trailer and it's load, plus you need to consider anything over the curb weight of your car, i.e, people and stuff in there too. that's why an ifor plus horse would put you over 1500kg.

Nissan Navara is a lovely choice!!

F x
 
Thanks a lot for your help everyone, it's all very technical and not as easy as I thought! Had a chat with my OH and he's reluctant for me to change cars to a 4+4 but understands that I may have to. He suggested a one berth trailer. Anyone got any opinions on them? This way I'd prob be able to keep my car. Although I don't think my boy would appreciate this as he's always been in lorries (budget doesn't stretch!) and he lkes loadsa room. Thanks a lot
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top