Trailer Recommendations?

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Penniless

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Due to financial reasons and the fact that we've retired from showing, I think the time may have come to sadly advertise our Renault Master 2 horsebox and buy a trailer. So, need recommendations for a reliable, safe, well built trailer - capable of taking mare and foal. I only need it for emergency use - i.e. rushing to Rossdales Hospital a few miles up the road - so hopefully maybe never have to use it, but don't want to be without transport after all the emergencies we had last year. I'll hire a two horse box when mares have to go to stud or the sales, but generally any recommendations for a good trailer (front unload) we'd love to hear. Also, if you know of any we should steer well clear of, can you let us know that as well. (PM if you prefer). Don't want or need living in the trailer - horse section more important. Will be buying a new one. No advice needed on what sort of car to tow it with, as I already tow daily a mobile catering trailer. Thanks in advance.
 
I have a bateson trailer and couldn't recommend them highly enough. Much better than the Ifor Williams in my opinion. I have no experience personally, but from what I've read on here avoid Equi-Trek like the plague!
 
I can recommend Bateson trailers too - absolutely love mine. Used to have an Ifor 505 which got stolen so went for something a bit different this time. Quality is much better than the Ifor and the independent suspension makes for a much smoother ride for the horses.
 
can't beat an ifor!
they are lightweight, very easy to tow, look so smart
such modern technology, i always feel completely content that my horse is safe when using the ifor hb511
 
showjumperxo said:
can't beat an ifor!
they are lightweight, very easy to tow, look so smart
such modern technology,
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Yes you can beat an Ifor....go for a Bateson Deauville. Well engineered, great to tow, inviting light & airy & no rattles & they hold their value. If you ever need parts or advice their sewrvice is second to none. :)
 
Divasmum said:
I've got a Cheval Liberte and love it.
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ditto this, my horse is claustrophobic and is a nightmare to load, i have a cheval liberte 2003 which came last week it took us 10 mins to load him (usually hours!) and took him round the block and he come out like he had never been away.

it is very light and airy in there, and lightweight to tow, it has it is the same height as a 511 without the weight, they have van door opening at both the front and back incase you want to use it for picking up large things. in conclusion :-P i am one happy trailer owner.
 
bateson, wessex or ifor williams are all great trailers - just make sure with ifors that the new ones don't have a mould problem. my ifor will be sold soon, they hold their value so well I will get near enough what i paid for it.
 
Bateson! - we have an ascot which is fab to tow with either one or two loaded. Have all the removable partions so would easily do for your mare and foal as well as for your mares together - takes up to two 17.2s!
 
Thanks all. I think I will do a bit more research before deciding. If I get a chance next time I'm catering at a horse show (2 weeks time), I'll ask the owners of trailers parked there if I can have a nose around.

Didn't go to Equine Event last year but does anyone know how many trailer manufacturers were there? I know there used to be a fair few, but I'm sure there were only a couple there last time I visited the event. Thought this might be the ideal opportunity to see a couple of different makes alongside each other to compare them.

Not in any immediate hurry to sell our lorry, but would like to sell before insurance is due again and immediately after next MOT (October I think).
 
I would also recommend a Bateson. They are a quieter better ride than an IW. Have a look at them, they have lots of well thought out design features (ie, rubber mats individual on each side, so you can pull them up easily, tack lockers, ramp on curb side, fittings not built into trailer so easily replaced)
 
Another vote for Cheval Liberte, we've just picked up our new one this weekend, we bought a Gold Classic and are very impressed with it. I used to have a 510 Classic and I thought that was good, but think the CL is better. It has better suspension (Pullman rather than IW leaf springs) and gives a smoother ride, it is lighter than an IW at 840 kgs and they now have done away with the back top doors and have replaced them with a roll down canopy which is made of non rustle material with tiny holes punches through it, so the air can circulate through it but the rain doesn't, thus ensuring good ventilation. They also have as standard head dividers, windows in both the ramp and the other side which open and have safety grilles and the back ramp can also be opened like a door so your horse can step into the box rather than walking up the ramp if they like. All these things you would have to pay for as extras on an Ifor.

We did have a look at the full range, and saw what they call the Mare and Foal trailer which is the 1000 Serie which comes in 2 widths, Compact - 1.23 metres and Max = 1.55m. They do now do this trailer with a middle partition if you want it.

Definitely good on price too, we paid £3,185 plus VAT for a brand new CL trailer the same size as an IW 511.
 
Avoid the new Ifor Williams like the plague. I bought a new one and have had nothing but trouble with it! This is actually the second one now as got so fed up with the new one going mouldy (3 times even after being treated), the grooms door sticking, the lights not working, the interior light falling off the wall and hanging by the wires, top doors coming undone when travelling, the lock on the hitch jamming that I was ensured it was just a "bad trailer" and bought a second (at my expense!!!! - fool I know!). Low and behold exactly the same problems with the second one!! If you park with one wheel on the verge, one on the road (as we do quite often out hunting) the grooms door wont open as the side flexes, there seems to be no support around the sides and roof. Williams said that they test all their trailers fully laidened around a race track and have had no problems. Its one thing loading them with 2 tonne of concrete blocks (for example) than 2 tonne of horse that moves, leans on the sides and has a higher centre of gravity. In my opinion they have put too much effort into making it lightweight and looking fancy and not enough effort into practicalities and horse safety. A friend of mine was loading a horse into his and the ramp fell off!!!!

Anyway, after all that I am now going to be selling it and never buying another williams again. the customer service was abosultely appauling. Have been recommended Wessex (have one of their cattle trailers which is brilliant) so will be buying one of their horsesboxes too.
 
I just sold my Ifor 505 on ebay and got £350.00 more than I paid for it 5 years ago.

I now have a HB511 (I have bigger horses) and travelled 2 hours with a mare and 8 week old foal to Arena UK (BEF Futurity). I always worry taking them out first time as if they don't travel well then they may not load to get home, glad to say foal was happy to walk back in with no encouragement. It tows beautifully and Mare+Foal were totally chilled!

I highly recommend Ifor for service and reliability too.
 
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