Alternative to Ifor Williams horse trailers - anyone done the research?

[TheInfusionist]

I need to buy a new to me (second-hand) trailer but having owned a wooden floored Ifor Williams that rotted in the past, I am very careful what I travel horses in. But also don't want to spend the next ten years paying for it!

I'm looking at the different options, and having only ever had IW trailers in the past I defaulted to looking at those (most likely the HB506 model - but this still has plywood sides although an aluminium floor), but Bockmanns, Equitrek etc are coming up on my searches and maybe have better value for higher spec?

Just wondering if anyone has done this research already that might help me out, or have any useful intel on the alternatives to IW. Or indeed a really good quality, well-maintained, indoor-stored, good value one they're selling 😂

It's making me chuckle that I thought to post this on Mumsnet not a horse forum...here's hoping there's all the expertise I need lurking here somewhere on a Saturday night!

Have you looked at Cheval Liberte?

I've heard good things and they look well made.

I’d avoid equitrek. They are known as equiwreck for a reason.
I like IW, not pretty but imo some of the best and they hold their value should you need to sell

I pay little attention to it but we have a ifw 511 and DW tells me it is great. She has been looking at some of the equitreks but they seem pricey, to me, but do seem to include a changing/living space the the ifw doesn't have.

Bateson Deauville are looking good so far after my quick research. However, I'm not sure they hold their value so well, although I can't imagine wanting to sell.

I have a Wessex. The clubman is 506 size and the olympian is 511 size. Mine is a clubman the very old design (plywood sides) but the new ones have aluminium sides (they look a bit loke the old rice ones). Look for a 2nd hand one with an aluminium floor. They also unload on left which is very handy if you have to stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway. I’d steer clear of anything that has a ‘rot proof’ plastic or composite floor as they are difficult to check and faults/issues are easy to miss. I’ve seen a few accidents with these on motorways (in my job).I’d also steer clear of equitrek, especially the box shaped trailers. The centre of gravity is questionable as the wheels are under the body, not outside the body, and they rot really badly. When you go and see it check everything including the underside!

or maybe a second hand Indespension, if you can find one, they were very good quality. Wessex and Indespension no longer make horse trailers but Wessex still maintains them (head office in Dorset).

This is interesting, thank you. On that basis, the Batesons wouldn't be good. Have v good user feedback on H&H forum etc though.

On one occasion in the past I was driving behind a cheval box being towed. The horse kicked off and was brutally kicking the back loading door with its feet. Kicked the locking/closing mechanism clean off the door and I managed to get the driver pulled in. He had to wrap a lorry strap whole way around the trailer to keep loading door closed in the broken side. Put me off looking at that make of box ever since. Only have experience of IW boxes and they have all been good experiences. Second hand they still hold their money. Good luck finding something to suit.

The possibilities for accidents don't bear thinking about! I drive one of the safest cars on the road, get the best car seats for the kids, then put beloved huge animals into a flimsy box. What's the Volvo equivalent of a horse trailer?

I bought a 2018 Bateson Deauville about 6 months ago and it's great. It has a composite floor but you can remove the rubber mats to check it, also checked at service. It's not too heavy but feels very solid, tows really well and light/spacious. I like the back ramp/door design - the top part flips down and secures onto the back of the ramp rather than 2 top doors folding back to trailer sides.

I still think the iw are one of the best. The later ones have aluminium floors and some really good features. We bought a second hand 2018 model earlier this year and I love it.

To be honest probably IW. I have been around farm yards for years and cattle are more brutal than horses and I have yet to see a trashed IW box. If I could, I would buy one of those. I also have a nugent cattle trailer and it is very sturdy. I went to see a lot of cattle trailers when I was trailer shopping and I liked it the most.

I am just having my ifor serviced. It is 16 years old, ( bought from new)and I reckon including this service ( needs new brake shoes) it is still super economical to service and repair . It has an Aluminium floor and I clean it after every use, but it has been fab for me. I use it 3-4x week most of the year and have been all over in it, camped in it etc.

There are loads of good quality boxes around that aren't IW. I believe some of the best are Bockmann and Fautras (although I've never owned one). I've owned a cheval liberte which was a great box (it was a 2003xl model, large, solid and very light, I'd have another if I could and regret selling it). I've also owned a Wessex which was great. Other contenders for me if I was looking would be Batesons. I think as long as what you buy has got a well cared for floor, good panels and has been serviced well then you probably won't go wrong.

I had a Bateson Ascot for years, was bloody lovely. They are available with aluminum floors too. The bonus was how light it was, far more car options.

But then mine wouldn’t travel in IW - too rattly for the princess pony. She’s a fussy beggar.

I have a Bücker, which is an offshoot of Bockmann and in my opinion it blows the competition out of the water. They're not common though. If I hadn't found it I would have gone with an IW.

I have an equitrek. It's a large one with unfitted living to keep the weight down. It has an alloy floor but ramps can be a problem. It has had 2 ramps in 2 years. I only have one horse who travels really well in it, but I am considering swapping it for the new IW single horse which I saw at HOYs as I could then tow with a smaller car.

Stay away from cheval liberte! Flimsy, won’t hold value. IW 506 and 511 not my first choice. If money were no object the new HBX is awesome. An older 510 with aluminum floor is pretty much the ‘Volvo’ of the horse trailer world!! Ours is over 20 years old, well maintained but is put through hell with youngstock, husband using it as a builders trailer. Does miles and miles of road and is as solid as anything.

We love our Bateson Ascot too, I have an older one and bring it back to Bateson for large repairs. I love the storeage in the trailer for spare headcollars etc, don't actually use it for tack other than spare reins etc

Bateson

Mine is ancient now but brilliant lighter and quieter than an ifor.

My friend sold hers to get an equitrek and regrets it as the build quality isn't as good.

Bateson can have either composite or alloy floors. The matting can be lifted for checking too. I lift my matting whenever the trailer is parked and it worries me that many trailers you can't do this.

My dad has an Equitrek and its brilliant. He only travels one horse in it though and tows with a RR. Horse likes travelling backwards and the side ramp makes it very easy to load. Handy little tack/dressing room at the front too.

I'm in the US so a little different but I like my Bockmann Portax K. I might have been the idiot who left a hand brake on while towing once, so that was a bloody expensive repair, but other than that, the trailer is lovely.
Horses load without a problem, travel well and the trailer is easy to tow. I would absolutely get one again.