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Holly
Gold Member
England
529 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Dec 2008 : 2:45:28 PM
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Does any one have any feed back on these trailers? They appear to be the lightest trailers on the market and can be towed by a large car so i am very interested.
Does any one know where I can get a second hand one from in the future
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thanks
Holly xx
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Dot
Gold Member
England
669 Posts |
Posted - 10 Dec 2008 : 4:25:34 PM
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I have a Bateson ascot which is the biggest model they did at the time with the tack locker. It is now 8 years old am I am contemplating having a few bolts that hold the grooms door lock on replaced as they have gone rusty on the outside. Purely cosmetic. Otherwise it has not cost me more then its yearly service since buying.
It has lived out all this time and been from one end of the country to another as well as side to side. Batesons rarely come up for sale second hand. |
Dot
www.threelowsfarm.com
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Edited by - Dot on 10 Dec 2008 4:26:13 PM |
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algeredge
New Member
England
1 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 07:35:33 AM
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We aso have a Bateson trailer. It is the deaville one. It is about 8 years old now and we have been really happy with it.... until last weekend. I was travelling my horse to my dressage lesson when I heard my horse bang around in the back. When I stopped he had put his foot through the floor in the back corner! Huge trauma!!! He has severed his extensor tendon and will be out of action for the next 12 months at least. He had to have emergency operation and will need lots of rehab to get him walking again. I have spoken to Bateson who have been totally unhelpful and refused to come out and look at it. I have been told that they have adapted their design from this model now to make the floor frame wider as they were finding that moisture was getting in at the sides and making the floor soggy and therefore weak at the edges. This is not supposed to happen as it is a rot proof, non-corrosive floor i.e the reason we bought it brand new.
Please please be cautious if you are buying one second hand as this may be a design fault.
Has anyone else had problems like this? Any advice would be appreciated on the way forwards now. We are devastated about my beloved horse.
Bev |
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Nedds71
Gold Member
Wales
679 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 07:45:17 AM
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| I have a Bateson Ascot - Fantastic trailers! Service and check over regularly like any trailer, they are excellent, plenty of room, tow well and the horses love it! |
BJ
www.bmjarabians.co.uk
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angelarab
Platinum Member
Wales
2876 Posts |
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jillandlomond
Platinum Member
Scotland
3586 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 10:07:58 AM
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Hi and welcome to Alines Algeredge
That really is a nasty injury your poor horse has sustained! Poor boy......hope he makes a full recovery!
Sorry don't have any experience of Bateson trailers. I've only ever had Ifor Williams, and can highly recommend them |
    
Borders, Scotland |
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Gemma
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1802 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 12:48:20 PM
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Bev - I'm so sorry to hear about your horse's injury. I hope he recovers fully.
I also have an Ascot, and like the others on here, absolutely love it. I agree that they don't come up very often 2nd hand which is why I snapped it up when it was for sale. I've dragged all over the country, and have had no problems with it. I've had it serviced annually, had to change an indicator bulb, and that's it. No other problems at all. It also lives out 24/7, though behind a barn so out of the worst of the prevailing weather, and apart from the decals looking a tad faded, it's fine. |
 
Photo 2: West End Photography |
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flaxen
Bronze Member
56 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 1:28:57 PM
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| I dont know where you are based but I went to 'The Stable Door' Saddlery on the weekend with my friend. It is based in Burghfield nr Reading. I was scanning the notice board and I'm sure there was an advert on there for a bateson trailer. Here is the number of the saddlery and if you ring them I'm sure that they will get the number off the advert for you.0118 983 1838 |
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ella
Gold Member
United Kingdom
786 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 5:33:11 PM
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Bev that's an important warning thanks, so sorry about your poor horse. Who would've ever thought that could happen with the plastic,
rot-proof floors that the recent models have?
I used a new Bateson Ascot for a couple of years but swapped 2 years ago to a Bockmann. Previously I had 3 Ifor's. My horses travelled the least well in the Bateson, dunno why.
Your car needs to weigh at least 75% of the trailer + load weight so you'll need a hefty model if you ever want to tow 2 horses.
I think the lightest horse trailer is the Cheval Liberty if you want to use a car. |
   
"If an 'alternative treatment' has reliable effect it becomes classified simply as MEDICINE" D.B. |
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loosefur
Gold Member
584 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 9:15:33 PM
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| Please please think very carefully before you tow with a car, even a large one. It's the kerbweight that is crucial so just because a car is large doesn't necessarily mean it's particularly heavy. For example I have a Hyundai Santa Fe. It's a large 4x4, though more of a road going 4x4 than a proper work beast but you would still think heavy enough to tow a trailer and two horses. Wrong. It's kerbweight isn't huge and at most I worked out I could tow a Bateson and one horse. So if you think a big 4x4 like mine is only just up to the job of a light trailer and one horse then there are very very few cars on the market heavy enough. I know you see people towing trailers with Mondeos and the like but it sends shivers down my spine. Having been in a trailer accident caused by towing a trailer with a car not heavy enough to cope I would urge you to take the utmost care. Trailers are dangerous enough already IMO without increasing the danger by towing over or even close to the limit. It's just not worth the risk. |
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Dot
Gold Member
England
669 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2009 : 10:22:33 AM
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sorry to hear about your horse?
Before you have a go at me I am not apportioning blame or having a go but I fully understand Bateson's point of view. This was an 8 year old trailer not a brand new one, so way out side of any manufactures waranty. If this had been a car and you had put your foot through the floor would you go complaining back to the manufacturer. I could understand you going back to the last MOT center that passed the car and complaining,assuming it was not MOT'd more then 6 months ago. It is not a design flaw, possibly a weakness, but all designs have weaknesses and nothing last forever not even the world.
But I have to ask did you ever check the floor at any point in your ownership of this trailer and or lift the mats?
When ever I pressure wash my trailer I lift the mats so the floor underneath gets a chance to dry out and check the integrity particularly the edges with a hoofpick/screw driver.
Call me paranoid but I accept nothing lasts forever and requires looking after.
Dot |
Dot
www.threelowsfarm.com
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Holly
Gold Member
England
529 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2009 : 11:01:26 AM
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Thanks for everyones advice.
Im not looking to buy right now as im in the middle of buyinh my first house and couldnt afford a trailer or new car at present.
Ive done lots of research on the different weights of various trailers and towing vehicles and was suprised at how some 4x4's that are massive and look heavy are unsuitable for towing but also i have found some estate cars that do meet the requirments.
The only reason that I would choose an estate over a 4x4 is because i would only be towing locally about 12 times a year and other than towing i would have no use for a 4x4. My other reason is the exspense of a 4x4 compared to an estate regarding fuel, tax and insurance. and my 3rd reason is that me and my boyfriend will be buying our first car together and just having the one car from now on as the house we are buying is close to work so we can both walk and the car is to be our family car.
I would only ever be towing one horse as thats what my licence allows and it would always be my own arab whos weight is about 420kg.
I will carry on researching until i can afford to buy a trailer.
I also agree that any trailer could potentially break if it is not regularly serviced and cleaned/checked or if it is old and it is very unlucky if it happens to you and your horse.
Thanks again
Holly x. |
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