Which trailer would you buy? Ifor, Equitrek, Bateson, Nugent..?

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hollyround

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So for my Christmas present I was told I could have a "newer" trailer.... I have sold my Ifor Williams HB510 and am now confused about what to replace it with... I have a budget of around £4000 and I need to tow my 16.3hh once a week ish. I have a B+E licence.
Suggestions please... Nothing seems to be out there at the moment unless I'm not looking in the right place? ( tried ebay, preloved, horse n hound, horse quest...) xxx
 
Equitrek build quality isn't great IMO - we went to their trade stand at Burghley and OH had a really good poke around the display models and said we'd never have one in a million years. £10k trailers with visible silicone sealant all over the shop isn't good and doesn't tend to represent a good overall build.

(OH is a rally car builder/mechanic/restoration welder/general fixer of things so has experience of safety-critical transport).

I'm currently after a Bateson (should be picking one up end of the week ^.^ ) as they're such lovely trailers - great suspension and nice and airy. Wouldn't have an Ifor, too rattly and the main dealer service is shockingly bad; a friend waited 12 weeks for a part to be replaced after being assured it wouldn't take over 2.

There's a few nice Batesons on eBay at the moment, all around the £2k-£3k mark.
 
Have owned bateson deauville and equitrek space trekka in the past and have borrowed IW 511 trailer from a friend once or twice. They all have their strengths and weaknesses

For build quality IW better than equitrek but IW annoyed me with certain things that you wish were there - no tie rings for haynets etc... plus they were always the trailer to get stolen. The Bateson I loved with intergral saddle racks, the long window and mirror at the front which made hitching dead easy, great to tow and suspension was better than the IW but I had to move to equi-trek as my one of lads outgrew the Deauville. Equitrek loved the space but build quality at that time was not so good but loved the separate front and huge horse area. Needed to put in extra roof ventilation in the equitrek when travelling two on a warm day.

However, a lot of what I would choose depends on your towing capacity and horse weight but if fine on both those and I would seriously look at the Bateson Deauville
 
Love my Bateson Ascot. Its so easy to tow and easy to do on my own. The tack locker in the front is really handy and the boston doors at the back are fab, I don't even need to pull the ramp out and my horse just steps into the trailer. Even a few fussy loaders at the yard just step into it without any hesitation. The side ramp is really light. Also I've noticed that they hold their value well.

Edit to say I found mine on Preloved.
 
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I looked at all of them recently . would have loved a bateson but they are internally smaller so nothing over 16.1 IMO. Nugent is really nice but to expensive for an Ifor copy but granted a lot better finish. I know people that have bought 511s that have gone back to 510s there must be a reason for that! the major gripe seems to be plastic fittings snapping etc. In the end I went for the equitrek as we transport mares and foals so the extra room is good also they are a far lot easier for getting babies loading due to the fact with the side ramp they look like a stable inside. Travelling wise nothing tows easier than the equitrek. Luckily from a maintenance point of view all ours is done on site but I can honestly say in 18 months nothing has been an issue. So for me its eqitrek all the way however I would never have entertained one until I tried it.
 
Popsdosh, depends on the model of Bateson you look at. Deauville will take up to 17hh.

My equiitrek in the four years that I had it of careful ownership and annual servicing by dealer, needed an axle replaced and also had issues with the side ramp spring but you cannot match it for the space inside. It is the other things that are annoying.
 
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Jnhuk said:
Popsdosh, depends on the model of Bateson you look at. Deauville will take up to 17hh.

My equiitrek in the four years that I had it of careful ownership and annual servicing by dealer, needed an axle replaced and also had issues with the side ramp spring but you cannot match it for the space inside. It is the other things that are annoying.
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Can't edit last post but here is a picture of my large ID in the Bateson who is over 17.1hh. However, as he matured and got broader, we took the partition out and used a full breast bar

http://s1060.photobucket.com/user/jnhuk/media/PICT0155_zps694b3640.jpg.html]
PICT0155_zps694b3640.jpg
 
Jnhuk said:
Popsdosh, depends on the model of Bateson you look at. Deauville will take up to 17hh.

My equiitrek in the four years that I had it of careful ownership and annual servicing by dealer, needed an axle replaced and also had issues with the side ramp spring but you cannot match it for the space inside. It is the other things that are annoying.
Click to expand...

Not sure I would like to shoe horn a 17hh into a deauville its internal dimensions are 3.19m long by 1.65m wide which is on a par with an ifor 506 3.16X1.67 the 511 for reference is 3.52 X1.79 . I dont think anyone would recomend a 506 for 17hh horses IMO.
I assume your axle was replaced by the manufacturer if not you should be able to reclaim the cost from them as a certain batch they had issues with were subject to a Vosa official recall
 
popsdosh said:
Not sure I would like to shoe horn a 17hh into a deauville its internal dimensions are 3.19m long by 1.65m wide which is on a par with an ifor 506 3.16X1.67 the 511 for reference is 3.52 X1.79 . I dont think anyone would recomend a 506 for 17hh horses IMO.
I assume your axle was replaced by the manufacturer if not you should be able to reclaim the cost from them as a certain batch they had issues with were subject to a Vosa official recall
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It was many years ago now and from my dodgy memory we had to pay the full cost. The recall came after we no longer had the trailer. My ID didn't go in a 505 or 506 but happily went in the deauville at the time but it is academic now as we have a horsebox.
 
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Equitrek all the way for me. Mine is 5 years old & have never had any problems with it. Horses have always travelled well, it tows like a dream & I have travelled 000's of miles all over the place with it by myself without incident. The suspension on Ifor Williams is awful & doesn't give the horses a nice ride as it is per axle rather than each wheel independently. I towed one once, it was terrible bouncing around despite careful driving, proper tow car etc, one to miss as far as I am concerned.
 
Bockmann if you can find one in your budget (it won't be easy) followed by Fautras.

If going for IW I would go for the 510 in preference to the 511.
 
I have a bateson ascot which is def taller than iw505. It has an internal tack locker and generally is a very well designed and thought out trailer even down to seperate rubber mats in each stall so lifting up and cleaning is a doddle. If you can get one with the Boston doors then even better!
 
Totally depends on your towing vehicle and need, size wise but we've gone from an admittedly old 505 to a Rice Beaufort towed by a Terrano.
I loved the lightness of the IW ramps and move ability etc but the Rice wins hands down for ride and space for the horses even though it's far heavier to handle and tow although don't notice much difference in towing costs; very light inside, my youngsters have always walked in the very first time without a problem. If I could afford a 510, one of the older ones which were more solid, then I'd change back to IW but the Rice is a brilliant trailer too, just too heavy for me to move around the yard by myself like I could with the IW.
 
Bateson Ascot for me - my 14.3 arab swims in it!

I'm not keen on the IW. If nothing else, the front ramp is on the wrong side! If you need to unload in an emergency on the side of the road, you're right out into the traffic.
 
I would only go for trailers with the Avonride suspension which is a torsion bar system which is far more comfortable than the Ifor williams leaf spring suspension. Many people are blinded by fancy gadgets, and overlook the important basics. Also people have preferences as to which side the front ramp is, and there is recent research ref ramps, and the real necessity for them. Some modern trailer are step up rather than having ramps. I dont know if they are better or not though ?
 
ArabianGem78 said:
Bateson Ascot for me - my 14.3 arab swims in it!

I'm not keen on the IW. If nothing else, the front ramp is on the wrong side! If you need to unload in an emergency on the side of the road, you're right out into the traffic.
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The reason it is on that side is due to fact most people when they get into trouble will pull over on side of road out of traffic and not leaving enough room to unload if needed. Also you can access the jockeys door without having to be in traffic.
Ifors will build it the other way round if you order it so.
 
Love my 511, had a 505 before and upgraded, carries 2 big horses with bags of room, not as rattly as the 505/510 as there are buffers put on the doors!!
 
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