What Trailers would you recommend?

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McFluff

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I have a 14hh cob and, now that we have some basics established, I am keen to take her out and about. I am looking to buy a trailer. I have a licence with full B+E and a LandRover Defender 90, so from what I can work out from reading the very useful towing thread, I can pretty much buy any horse trailer and legally tow it. I used to tow a lot when younger, haven't for a few years, so will get refresher lessons before towing with my princess inside! My plan is to look now, then get out and about to some nice hacking, then some low level competitions next year. My cob has been on a trailer (I'm also going to assume she's been on a lorry, as she was imported from Ireland last year), and is reasonably good at new experiences, so I think with care, she will adapt to any trailer.

So, what trailer to get - and where is best to look? Things have changed a lot since I was younger. I have a budget of up to £5K (ish, could go up a bit for a perfect trailer), and happy new or second hand as long as safe and sound. Would prefer a double, as that gives more flexibility.

I do have the option of refurbishing my parents (old) Ifor Williams, but not sure if this is a good approach. Any idea of refurbishment costs (it has been unused for a few years, storing furniture, so needs full overhaul). I don't do DIY of any sort, so would need to find and pay someone to do it, and I wonder if this will end up being more expensive than buying a more modern version? Experiences and advice much appreciated.

As there isn't an easy way to see any in the flesh (except the Ifor's which seem popular), I've looked on websites at:
Ifor Williams 506
Equitrek Trailtrekka
Bateson Ascot
Cheval Liberte - seem to have several doubles
Fautras Oblic+2 (would have to be second hand)

All seem to have good features, but it is difficult to know how well built they are, how nicely they tow, how safe they are and how easy they are to use. So any experiences, thoughts or opinions would be much appreciated.

thanks
 
I've got a Bateson Deauville (same as Ascot, just a slightly different nose) with boston doors that you're welcome to come and have a look at if you're local.

For the money you've got to spend I'd look at Bockmann or Fautras. Love the build quality on them but I couldn't afford one with my budget.
 
Ifor's are so popular because they are really the best, IMO. I refurbed my 21 year old 505 at a cost of about £1,000 last year, including an aluminium plank floor and full electrics rewire, brake overhaul and rubber seals replacement, but I am in Ireland so perhaps cheaper than in UK?
 
Last year I researched quite a few trailers and in the end I went for Ifor Williams. I went for the larger option the HB511 as my mare is 16.1 hh and it wasn't that much more money in comparison to the 506 and she has so much space and it's light and airy (much more than she had in our lorry). It's lightweight and easier to handle if you're out by yourself. I would prefer a lorry as my reversing skills are not fantastic - but if you're after a trailer, I would thoroughly recommend this one.
 
Great info, and more food for thought, thank you all. I'm in the lothians, so not really local for anything!
I would love a lorry but can't really justify another vehicle and hubby won't part with his Landy so may as well put it to good use! I've also discovered that I have expensive tastes in lorries... :-)
 
I have a Bateson Ascot with barn doors that I love (also very handy for getting pallets of things loaded in to). I have previously had a Deauville which was also good. In my experience the ride that a Bateson gives is far superior to that of Ifor Williams.
 
I bought an Equi Trek Show Treka for your budget, obviously second hand but it's in immaculate condition.

It's like a lorry as it has a tack locker and living with seats that turn into bunk beds, hob, sink, table and seating etc so don't feel I'm missing out at all.
 
There's no doubt that ifor williams are the most popular and most likely to guarantee you a good resale value. They're built tough and to last.

However, I was advised that it's also the only horse trailer on the market without 'avonride' suspension which apparently provides a much smoother ride for the horse. The absence of avonride is fine in agricultural setting if you're towing a couple of cows or a handful of sheep but not so good for horses. This is what a trailer specialist (selling a range of trailers including ifor williams) told me.

No idea if this is true. Had an ifor williams for 20 years and it never skipped a beat. Traded it in for quite a lot of money considering its age (although in very good condition) for a Bateson which seems to tow well and horses travel better in it. However this could be due to the fact it's bigger than the ifor williams.
 
i have had an ifor and now have a bateson deauville. the bateson is superior build quality in comparison to the new ifors and is nicer to tow, it has its own suspension system. The barn doors work really well and although there is a little ramp you can slide out i never use it and horses just step in and out. Batesons are coming out now with different colour stripes etc - the old yellow versions are horrible imo but mine has black writing and a black stripe which i think looks smart.
 
Thank you so much, really interesting. I've just read the whole combo thread on ROG sig. Interesting. Good to see the 90 comes out well as a tow vehicle (we've had her a while, so are used to her noise and thirst!).

I have some more daft questions. I had thought that I'd use the partition as it lets me take others sometimes and I get the impression that she would get too used to travelling without to then change. But if I use the partition would I then be unable to tack up inside the trailer?

I had wondered about how easily horses cope with the barn door arrangement - but that looks like they adjust well (less sure about the human who may forget that there's no ramp!).

I'm likely to be on my own so manoeuvrability when unhitched is important.

The show trekka had appealed (somewhere dry to change) but seems to be a few concerns about build quality - that said we have a defender, so maybe it's relative :-)

Cortez - were the panels on your trailer in good condition? I think my parents one may need some panels replaced - not sure that is possible. The old 505 seem to get good reviews, so is worth investigating a refurb.

Sorry, so many questions. I do like doing my research - and people on the yard either have lorries or a single trailer (limited by tow vehicle), or don't travel, so nobody to ask!
 
Sprig said:
I have a Bateson Ascot with barn doors that I love (also very handy for getting pallets of things loaded in to). I have previously had a Deauville which was also good. In my experience the ride that a Bateson gives is far superior to that of Ifor Williams.
Click to expand...

what are barn doors?
 
After having a Bateson that was old, incredibly rattlely and beginning to rot, I decided to go for a new trailer as they weren't much more than second hand ones. I paid £4400 for a new IW506. My horse, who I've have for 7 years and has always been an awful loader, now loads easily, and travels happily. I'm also happy to know that I could sell it today if I wanted and not lose much money.
 
Enfys said:
what are barn doors?
Click to expand...

literally that, 2 doors side by side that open out like normal doors. there is a small ramp that you can use to slide out but I never bother. My shetlands all hop up and down the small step as do my bigger ponies. I find the barn doors handy if travelling/loading youngstock as they can act a bit like the sides you get on the ramps of livestock trailers and you can back right up to a gate/stable if needs be.The batesons do come with a normal ramp as an option though.
 
Fautras! Not so many of them around second hand but worth hunting for. They are, in my opinion, the most robust trailer you can buy.

If I didn't have my Fautras I'd go for a Bateson.
 
I used to have a Bateson Ascot, only sold it as my towing car died and I decided to get a 3.5t van.
Couldn't fault it, gave a great ride, easy to tow and the lockable tack locker was so useful. If I ever get a trailer again, I'd get one of those.
 
I had Bateson Deaville I bought from new. All my horses have loaded and travelled well even a very difficult loader was happy going in and happy travelling as suspension gives brilliant ride. Stays cool at shows even on hottest days as white, brilliant to tow and hitch up with mirror and very light if you have to move manually. Only sold after 5 years as upgraded to a lorry, sold to first person who viewed, would have kept but hubby not keen after paying for lorry!!' Have towed friends ivor 505 and much pref towing Bateson.
 
I had an Equi-trek Spacetrekka M for my 16.3 TB and loved it. It was built in 2005 and I have to say the build quality was great and I had no problems with it. I had it serviced regularly and having had it for 2 years and wanting to go out a bit further afield I traded it in this year for an Equi-trek Showtrekka L. I got a great trade in price (£3500 for a 10 year old trailer) so something like that would be in your budget. I love the Showtrekka and have already stayed away in it. The bunk beds are great and the kitchen area gives loads of options, from boiling a kettle for a coffee to cooking a basic meal. My favourite part is the tack locker though-sad but true, but having spent years having the back seats of my Land Rover taken up with tack and equipment it really is a blessing. I go pretty much everywhere on my own, including stay away shows, and I find my Equi-trek easy to reverse and manoeuvre but then I have had a lot of practice!!

My horse had a horrible accident in an Ifor Williams (the breast bar dropped down while he was in transit, and having experimented although they have improved the design it is still possible to roll it in such a way that the pin pops out) and personally I would touch another one with a barge pole although a lot of people get on really well with them. It's a credit to Equi-trek that he now loads himself and travels like a dream, you never see him move on CCTV even on the roughest of roads. They are pricy, but they hold their value and I don't think I'd have anything else now.
 
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I love my Bateson Ascot. It's very easy to tow and manage on my own. It light and airy and I've never had a horse not walk in without the ramp. I love the lockable tack locker and little shelf above it. The barn doors are great too. It doesn't rattle and gives a smooth ride. They seem to hold their value well too, as theres not too many second hand ones around for sale.
 
I found an ancient ifor 505 for £950 in a field... It was made in 1989!! One of the very first.

It is having a new ifor Williams aluminium plank floor fitted, by ifor Williams main dealer, for £648 all in including stripping the old one out, and had an electrics and full set of wheel bearings, all four, and jockey wheel and a full service for £550 from a game and tame local trailer mechanic.

It is now sparkly and sanded ready for painting, and honestly could be made last year. You can, should you desire, replace everything on them from the wheel nut covers, to the partitions and the panels. Whether it's worth it is different, but IW clearly has faith in the longevity of its products. The floor for mine is still available, in stock, in the factory. It's not even a special order and my trailer is 26 years old!!!!

My brother currently has a Nugent, which are fairly new but they are amazing. I've not seen such a seemingly well constructed and thought out trailer in many years. A new one would be in your budget.
 
You could get a brand new 511 for that money. I wouldn't get a 506 they are poky once you've had a 511 - none of mine are bigger than 15.1 but I don't regret buying a 511 as there's lots of room for "stuff" and the tack pack.

They aren't perfect, the paint is very soft but overall they win on holding their value.
 
Fautras!

Just upgraded from an ifor 505 to a Fautras Promax 2. Looked at ifor 511s but I didn't think they were very 'solid', seemed rather rattly in comparison to the older 505. Love the Fautras, bought it second hand for under 4k, travels really well. Has the barn doors so a step up rather than a ramp but none of the horses have had an issue with this. They all travel well in it too.
 
I bought an old style IW 505r 4 years ago for £840. It is now 25 and this year I replaced the floor and bottom half of the panels. I did the work myself,with help from my dad and it cost around £400. It really is solid and should last me a few more years yet.
 
For managing towing capacity, ride and ease of use plus the super resale value you can't beat an Ifor. However as capacity isn't an issue for you, you have the pick of the lesser known and sometimes higher quality brands. I love my 2012 506 though.
 
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