Trailers with living?

Azabache

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I currently have a IW505 which is super for towing my 15.2 Luso. We compete more or less every other weekend thru the summer, mainly at ODES.I am getting more and more tempted to get myself a little 4.5T lorry. My sensible head sadly though can't justify the running costs (and purchase price), just so that I can have somewhere to sit between classes and not have to unpack the car at the end of a long day. Heart on the other hand ... :) Anyway head is just about winning at the moment on this one and so I am now contemplating upgrading the Freelander to a Discovery and getting a trailer with living (seating/bunk, hob,storage,...). The Equi-trek show treka looks ideal but I'm a litte hesitant as I've not heard good things in the past though about Equi-trek build quality, is this still the case? And are there any other manufacturers who do decent trailers with living? Many thanks.
 
Its a dilemma many face and it is difficult,Just changing to a discovery will bring quite a hike in running cost in itself.
If it is your main car it looks an even worse option. If for example you do 10,000m a year you will add £600 to your fuel bill alone let alone your increased maintenance cost. If you get a 4.5T at least you could run an economical car instead of the freelander.
 
I have 3.5 tonne van conversion (pics in my album) it is soo economical and has enough room in rear to keep everything and have a sit down. I swapped my gass guzzling 4x4 for a peugeot 206 which is very fuel economical and also costs a lot less on maintenance etc.

Before this I had a space trekka which I kept everything in, it did have a small seat but not great to sit in as such small area.
 
I have a 5 year old equitrek show treka. I love it and wouldn't have it any other way, I've used it to stay away at shows and it was surprisingly comfy!

I've had no problems with the build quality, I had seen posts on here slating the equitreks. I'm not sure if it's older ones that are the problem, but I have 2 friends with similar age show trekas and none of us have had problems.

There's no way I'd go back to a 'normal' trailer now!
 
I have a 5 year old equitrek show treka. I love it and wouldn't have it any other way, I've used it to stay away at shows and it was surprisingly comfy!

I've had no problems with the build quality, I had seen posts on here slating the equitreks. I'm not sure if it's older ones that are the problem, but I have 2 friends with similar age show trekas and none of us have had problems.

There's no way I'd go back to a 'normal' trailer now!

I have an Equi Trek 5* about 12 yrs old & it's fantastic. Very sound & very very easy to tow (tri axled so very stable). We have owned this trailer for five years & other than normal maintenance during the annual servicing it's never given a moments trouble. The living has a fridge, sink, cooker, loads of storage + a toilet, as well as a very comfortable double bed, which folds away in to a bulkhead when not in use.
Secondhand Equi Treks are quite hard to find, which I think speaks for itself. I've also had great assistance from their service dept when I've wanted advice.
 
I too have an Equi Trek Show Trekka. Its 9 years old, had it from new and never had a problem with it. Its been up and down the country several times with me, fully loaded and I wouldn't swap it for the earth. I tow with a Isuzu Rodeo, and have a little eco-Seat for running around in.
 
I've also got an older 5 star, about 10/12 years old. Took me a while to find one. Like Zebedee, I love it, had it almost a year now, it's brilliant to tow, absolutely love the living and everything I have travelled in it has loaded instantly and travelled really well! I've stayed about half a dozen nights in there so far this summer and been very cosy, and the tack/grooms lockers and hose/water pump are a god send!

ETA wouldn't tow one with a freelancer tho! I've got a defender :)
 
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Many thanks for all your replies. It is good to hear of positive Equi-trek experiences. I will have a look at Titan too. I'm very lucky that I get a company car with my job. Have thought about going into a fiesta so that I can get a lorry but the numbers don't work in my circumstances and I really need a 4x4 due to the location of the yard. I currently have a 13MY 2.2 190ps auto Freelander and it's perfect for towing my boy. I wouldn't tow two horses with it though as towing limit is 2 tonne. Agree too, that I'd need to go up to a Disco if I were to get a trailer with living. Thanks again all. :)
 
I have a 7 year old equi trek show trekka L and I also wouldn't go back to a normal trailer now! Living is fab but also tack locker v handy and the horses have more room than a normal trailer, it also seems a bit more stable on the road.
One thing to consider though is are your horses ok travelling rear facing? My 4 year old had no problem with it but my 14 year old who had only ever travelled forward took several trips to get used to it :-)
 
Depends on how much living you need and what your budget is too. We have a Rice Badminton trailer which has day living at the front - seats, grill, sink and two saddle racks. Extra long trailer and you have loads of space for 2 big horses too.

Tows brilliantly - very stable - although I wouldn't want to tow it with 2 horses in with a Freelander!
 
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