I have just bought a towing vehicle, and now on the lookout for a trailer!

[DedalusDigglesPocketWatch]

So exciting! I now have a Discovery and going to be looking for a trailer!!!

Had to share it here as no one seems to get why I am so excited :o

[Mirage]

I'm excited for you.I did it in reverse and brought the trailer and am about to buy a towing vehicle.I'm looking forward to getting out and about [once I've practised reversing ect].

What sort of trailer are you after? Apparently this is the best time of year to get a bargain.

[CMOTDibbler]

Oooh, congrats ! I love my Disco
Whatever trailer you buy, spend £70 or so on getting an engineer to examine it for you before you buy. I got very stung buying a trailer where the floor was solid, but the chassis was knackered

[MitchierInge]

Don't slam it into a giant snowball at high speed, it won't win!

(:( RIP my Discovery 2)

yes, what sort of trailer?

[DedalusDigglesPocketWatch]

Well, erm thinking of an equi-trek :o

There are some older ones around now for under 4 grand, and having had travelling problems with my mare, we know she and gelding travel fine in one. Plus DH is quite taken with them , so who am I too disagree :o Will get my dad or someone to have a look at whatever trailer we buy, hoping to get one from a dealer.

I do have to take a trailer test sometime too, although DH can tow.

Mitchy are you back on fb yet?

[DedalusDigglesPocketWatch]

Mitchy, you mean that there is something that kill a Disco? I don't believe you!

[MitchierInge]

No, I think about sneaking back on fb though - the horses are but I don't monitor their activities very closely! x 10000 equitrek

Yes, I must still have the photographs somewhere, it was HUGE and destroyed the bumper, two wings, all the lights, the bonnet. I was planning to push the snowball round the field.

It was the Mr Mitchy of the times pride and joy, and by coincidence he damaged his very shiny posh new one on my garden wall on Saturday. Wall one, Disco nil

[MitchierInge]

(I thought it would be like my invincible defender)

[Ponyofdoom]

Hmm there have been Bad Things said about the Equitrek; you might want to have a browse on Horse and Hound Forum... Shame, as I would really like one (for the living area). However, I have decided to stay with my trusty Ifor Williams 510 which I have worked hard for many, many years with few problems. Personally, I would get an expert to check it first as I am paranoid about floors and safety. My friend's horse went through her lorry floor (but was OK). Mitchier, I tried to roll a giant snowball in the road with my Fourtrak, but it was a draw!

[DedalusDigglesPocketWatch]

My grandparents got a second hand equi-trek in the summer, it is fab. I really like that they have more room and are rear facing.

We had a problem with the mare going down in the trailer, she needs more room than a traditional size if possible really.

There is a trailer called a fautras? That has the horses herring bone, but cost a bit too much.

[Ponyofdoom]

Have heard of Fautras; also there is a new one called the Titan/Titian?

[Olderyetwilder]

I want a trailer. I also need something bigger than our Zafira to tow with. Horses have eaten all our money though.

[DedalusDigglesPocketWatch]

This is pretty much all our savings gone, but worth it I think (until the dishwasher breaks or something :o )

[Eve]

Be careful with rear facing trailers, our animal fire & rescue warn against them.

Google Hampshire animal rescue.

...also... I've heard equi-trek are very difficult to insure due to theft attractiveness.

Consider security as well, trailer theft is at an all time high, i know of 3 people locally who have had locked trailers stolen. Someone last night had partitions taken when they couldn't manage to get trailer...£600 to replace partitions.

[annieapple7]

I share your excitment Dedalus! I bought a second hand Ifor Williams 505 1994 for 1800 last summer. It was my first trailer after a break of about 10 years and I was beside myself with glee. If I had a Discovery as well there would be no telling what I would do. I borrow my father in law's Ford Ranger pick up to tow which is marvellous. We went to Badminton and Cirencester among other places to do fun rides last year which was amazing (first time my horse had been outside Wales!) and I am poised to join a riding club. Having your own transport means the horse world is your oyster.
I am also unnaturally excited by transporting horses though - I just love travelling them, never mind the destination. When I go to big shows as a spectator I drool over the shiny new lorries.

[DedalusDigglesPocketWatch]

Thanks for advice.

Insurance is going to cost us about 100 a year for a trailer and the trailer itself is going to be kept next to yard owner's house, as well as having various locks.

Annie, we are planning on doing some endurance(!) in march, which is something I have never done before, and also join the riding club.

Eve, if we could get away with a normal (cheaper) trailer then we would, but it is mostly due to mare travelling so much better rear facing.

[bumbleymummy]

I'm so jealous! I don't have either a towing vehicle or a trailer but I did get my trailer test last year and I have some very nice friends who cart me around with them :) The equitreks look lovely.

[DedalusDigglesPocketWatch]

Ooh, could you tell me a bit more about the trailer test please? Did you do a course?

[CMOTDibbler]

My dH did his trailer test last year - he did an intensive course and then passed with flying colours. He was perturbed to be doing a full driving test with a box trailer attached, but found his trainer really excellent

[bumbleymummy]

I started out doing 2 hour lessons every week or so but then I booked the test and crammed 3 lessons into a week and it was much better. Passed first time after five 2 hour lessons. I did do lots of reverse practising in my friend's trailer in between lessons though :)

[DedalusDigglesPocketWatch]

How much were the course/lessons? I am planning on doing lots of towing with L plates (empty trailer) just to get comfortable with it, then booking a lesson and seeing how I get on.

[CMOTDibbler]

I think it came to £900 in all - the test alone was £150 iirc

[Mirage]

I bought a 1990 Ifor 505 last month for £840.It is in very good condition,but just needs the paintwork tidying up.I've got a wheel clamp and a hitch lock on it,plus a guard dog loose in the yard with it,just in case.I'm old enough not to need a trailer test,so when I get my new car,will spend a few days reversing around cones in the field.New car is an automatic,and I haven't ever driven one here,so that'll take getting used to as well.

[bumbleymummy]

Do you have someone with a license to tow who can drive around with you Dedalus? My 2 hour lessons were £70 each and I had 5. I think the first one was £50 as an introductory offer. The test itself was around £50/60 I think and then I had to hire the instructor's jeep and box which was £100 for the test and that included a revision hour just before the test.

[DedalusDigglesPocketWatch]

I had replied to this earlier, wonder where my post went?

My DH can tow, so hopefully will get lots of practice.

I have looked up the test and it is 115 pounds midweek, so it would work out cheaper to have a crack at the test after having a good lot of practice, and even if I fail twice would still be considerably cheaper than booking a course! :o

[bumbleymummy]

I think it's definitely worth having a couple of lessons so they can familiarise you with the test route and the manoeuvres etc but you could still save a lot by just going out with your DH as much as you can :)