Which trailer? help me decide

C

CBAnglo

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 February 2008
Messages
3,238
Visit site
I cannot decide on a trailer. I need one for 2x17.2hh and my car can pull up to 3.5T.

I had made up my mind to get a Fautras 2+ Oblic, but not sure I really like the herringbone arrangement now as the space seems kind of small when I compare all the internal measurements. Also, dont know a single person with one (everyone I know has an IW or a lorry).

Previously only ever used lorries, and both horses loaded themselves. Then tried to load one horse onto an IW510 - it took 2.5 hours and 5 people with 2 lunge lines and we all emerged with 3rd degree rope burns. Other horse loaded himself. Decided to get Equitrek.

Tried Equitrek Star Trekka - both horses loaded themselves, but I wasnt overly keen on build quality (it seemed a bit flimsy compared to a sturdy IW).

A couple of weeks ago tried same horse onto a IW510 again - I (alone) loaded him on the 3rd attempt, total time = 5 mins. I was absolutely shocked, had psyched myself up for a 3 hr battle. Other horse continued to load himself.

Tried good loader in a IW505 and an IW511 and prefer the IW511 as more room. Both were easy to tow (did 2x 140m round trip in both).

So the question now is, which trailer is best? I am sort of torn between an IW511 and an equitrek showtrekka, but will also consider Bateson or Richardson. Not sure about Wessex, have never towed one but they kind of look a bit "old fashioned". Gone off the idea of a Fautras now (unless someone convinces me otherwise), and cant think of anything else to consider?

So, if the requirement is merely large trailer needed for 2x17.2hh horses, which one is best?
 
I have had an Equitrek for last 4 years, and have no build quality probs. Before that I was an Ifor person through an through.

A friend recently got one of the new Ifors, and I am not impressed at all! Seems very flimsy.
 
Don't know size wise but I much prefer Bateson's to ifor williams for a few reasons, one being they are lighter coloured inside so a lot more welcoming for horses. Two being they have the front ramp on the left which is much safer should you ever have to unload the horses beside a busy road or motorway for some reason, ifors have it on the right so they would be unloading into the lane used by passing traffic. Thirdly you can get batesons with a built in tack bit at the front whereas for ifors, (unless they have changed), I'm sure you have to buy this seperately.

Another nice trailer my friend has is a pegasus, her's is ten years old now but still in good condition and again a nice light and welcoming trailer for horses and also with a front ramp on the left and a built in tack store.
 
Yes, I thought the same about the front ramp which is why I automatically discounted the IW (in addition to the loading problems), but with the new IW511 you can have this on the left hand side as well.

I will have a look at the Pegasus - have heard about them but not seen one in person - thanks for the suggestion.
 
I'm very Happy with my Ifor 510. got a virtually unused one second hand for a really good price. Much better build quality than the new models and so far no problems traveling / loading.
 
I didnt think the 511 was too bad although I would prefer the 510 model. I had heard that there were problems with the 511s when they first came out, but they had all been resolved.

I guess I am tempted by the resaleability of an IW - they seem to do quite well secondhand.
 
i have an equitrek. build quality is crap in my experience... and the after sales is even worse, again in my experience. my axle snapped when i was driving down the road and they were shouting at me saying i had been driving dangerously. when i eventually ellicited an accident report (6 months and threats to take them to court later) turned out it was a faulty axle. other problems have been my wiring is faulty on leisure battery, saddle racks have collapsed, chain that holds open partition snapped...the list could go on and on and on....wouldn't EVER have another one...
mad.gif
 
Yes, it was your post a while ago that put me off them. But then I started reconsidering them ... but then started reconsidering the IW.

I just cant make up my mind! Not sure if the Equitrek is really worth the money, or if I would be better off with an IW or Richardson that is easy to resell.

I dont really like the look of the Bateson - bit too much white for me although would consider it if it was genuinely better than comparable trailers.
 
Yes, I suppose if I found a good secondhand 510 I would just buy it. But also considering if I bought a new IW, it would have to be the 511.
 
I have a lorry and the use of a cheval liberte. I used to have an IW505 which got me everywhere i ever needed and never had a problem with it on my own. The cheval liberte is so flimsy, the top door at the front has warped and the ramp is heavy. It has a built in saddle bit at the front but is so useless there as it means a big horse cannot lower its head whilst travelling so has to go on the opposite side.

It is complete falicy to think having your ramp open to the left is better thn the right. It is illegal to unload your horses on the motorway etc without police present therefore there would be no traffic issues. The major issue is the fact that more often than not there is a ditch or bank on the left hand side of the road so either there is no way of getting the ramp down or no where for the horse to go once it is out (ie fences /walls in the way etc)

The only experience i have ever had of a bateson was oneat a previous livery yard which every horse hated as the floor seemed to move.

I have had no experience of the equi-treks so can't comment, but condiering the resale value of the IW trailers is superb I think that is what i would go for, but I guess it would be between them and the equitreks for you!!
 
The ditch/wall etc are all good points. also, if checking on a horse in transit, it is much easier to check them on the opposite side to traffic.

Not keen on a moving floor so will rule out the Bateson.

I hadnt considered a Cheval Liberte as they seem to be quite lightweight trailers and I travel two horses together I want something sturdy! My 4x4 can pull 3.5T so dont have to worry about weight.

I guess the Richardson is still on the list as well. They are more expensive than IW though - dont know if that is justified?
 
I have a Richardson and it's fab,. my big lad (17hh) travelled nicely on it, even though it's the smaller model. If I had two biggies I'd go for the proper size one.
It's nice as it has a nice amount of sturdyness to it and the frontramp is on the passanger side so never unloading into the road and gives the bigger horse the most room to turn.
Mines 13 years old now as still going strong, has had a new floor and bit of body work done but thats it.

Although if I had the money I'd love one of the american style trailers that include living, they seem very well built and would be great for stay away shows. Mind not even sure you can generally buy them over here.
 
forgot about the fact that being able to get in the grooms door without having to walk into the traffic is a major plus point in my book!

I looked at the richardsons before i got my IW about 8 years ago, they may have changed but i couldn't lift the ramp very easily on my own at all. Then again i may just be a weakling!!!
 
I have had loads of travelling problems recently with my horse and we have finished up with a Equitrek Space Trekka L takes 2 18hh. Our boys are 16h IDx and 15.1 cob. they have loads of room and are both happy to travel in it.

We love the space and should have bought one years ago.

As for the quality - the tie ring fell off the third time i used the trailer and my poor traveller looked terrified when i found it swinging from his headcollar. But he was brave and it hasn't put him off.

I have sent off my guarantee and I am on the alert for any other problems which may arise.
 
I have a Cheval Liberte and I love it. Mine is the more sturdy model - the 2003XL Luxe (similar to their current Gold range), and I think it's great. People say it's lightweight but it weighs the same as the comparable IW or Bateson (one or the other, I can't remember which)
confused.gif
. Ronnie has given it a thorough kicking when we've been stuck in traffic for ages, and although I can feel and hear the terrible sounds of destruction, when I look inside the trailer, not a mark to be seen! I was worried about it being flimsy as it just "feels" different, but having seen what mine has been put through, I have to concede that it's not flimsy!
blush.gif


I would always go for a Bateson or a CL (or a Fautras, which just seem to be a more expensive version of the CL - I was parked next to one a while ago and it was identical, save for the fact the metal work was on the outside, not the inside). They are sturdy, give the best ride to the horses, have good floors, and to me seem far superior to the IW. Having said that, I do like the look of the new IWs, and I think they seem more roomy than the old ones.
 
I had a pegasus and loved it.
Lots of room, towed nicely and never had any problems with it mechanically - i only sold it because i got a horse that would only travel in a lorry.

I sold it through H&H and it was 2 yrs old - got back £300 less than we paid for it new so was a result.
 
Hi B - havent heard from you in ages! Hope everything is going well with Ronnie?

I only had a very brief look at the specs for the CL and the one that was advertised being suitable for large horses seemed smaller than the comparable Bateson and IW.

I will have a look at one in the flesh - although have now been put off the Fautras for some reason. Dont know, maybe it was the shock that the Anglo would load onto the IW after all, that has me all confused now!
 
Hi - have had a look at the Pegasus and it looks like a Wessex? Or maybe I have just spent too long looking at trailers and they are all starting to look alike.

The only one I have categorically ruled out is the Bateson as definitely dont want moving floors. That just leaves everything else!
 
I have a 511.You can now have the front ramp on either side,the grooms door is now alot wider/taller than a 510,you can get a door mounted tack pack which can easily hold 2 18 inch saddles,sliding windows,cctv,reversing camera,a good choice of colours and all then insides now white and are very light and inviting for the horses.The breast/bum bar pins are now easy to take out from the outside should something decide to climb over and get stuck on the bars.I love my 511.It gives a quieter,smoother ride to the horses and is alot lighter than the 510's/505's.
 
Another vote for the Cheval Liberte - I too have a 2003XL, and I think it is both higher and wider than the Bateson Deauville. The biggest Ifor is a little wider, but lower in head height. I needed a huge trailer for my huge horse, and it also had to be lightweight and the CL met both requirements best. The IW are really heavy, and I don't know if this would necessarily make them sturdier - I think it is just towing 500 kilo extra of dead weight... in other countries there are hardly any trailers as heavy as the ifor ones, I was really surprised how much they weigh.
 
Hi

Yes, I have just had a quick look at the website - it does actually look pretty good, can you fit two horses comfortably in it? I would probably have to look at the 2004 or 4002 model (if I decide I want herringbone).
 
I have only travelled mine on her own in it but with the partition in, and she seems very comfortable - she is 17hh (but I haven't had her measured, but I think she is probably closer to 17.2) and a chunky ID x. If you are not concerned about weight though, the biggest Ifor is around 10cm or so wider, might make a difference if you are travelling two horses.

The CLs are really nice and have loads of padded bits for the horses, and they have a special suspension system so tow really smoothly.
 
Yes - will definitely need something with a bigger payload - my 4x4 can pull 3.5T so weight not an issue.

Might go look at the 2004 - it seems to be the bigger version of the 2003.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top