Click on a title to reveal the questions
General
How can I stop the brakes coming on when I am trying to reverse my Ifor Williams trailer?
The most common solution for this problem is to carry out the brake adjustment procedure as outlined in the IWT User’s Handbook. This is something we recommend is done every 2 months/1000 miles in order to keep your trailer braking system in optimal working condition. If trying to reverse up steep inclines or very uneven ground, a manual reverse kit that overrides the trailer’s auto-reverse may be available from your IWT distributor (dependant on the age of the trailer).
Horse
Why do you offer the front offload ramp on the left and right of the horsebox?
Traditionally, the front offloading ramp was positioned on the right side of the horsebox but now customers have the option as to which side they wish for the front offloading ramp positioned. Grooms doors are fitted to the opposite side chosen for the ramp.
Some may prefer the front offload ramp to be on the left so that horses can offload into the verge when out hunting. Others may prefer the grooms door to be on the verge side so that horses can be checked during a journey without having to stand in the road.
If carrying only one horse in a trailer, then the horse should be travelling in the nearside stall. If you are carrying two horses, then the largest horse should be carried in the nearside stall, so if travelling a particularly large horse, then some individuals prefer to opt for an offside /left side ramp to allow more room for when leading the horse from the nearside stall and out onto the loading ramp.
What flooring is best for a horsebox?
Always check what the standard floor is when purchasing a used horse trailer. Wooden floors are susceptible to wearing and rot over time even when coated.
Newer trailers come standard with aluminium flooring but if a trailer was not originally fitted with an aluminium floor, then make sure the replacement flooring is a genuine Ifor Williams aluminium planking floor as appose to an aluminium chequer plate floor.
Ideally, thick rubber matting placed on top of the floor should be removable to enable the owner to clean the trailer thoroughly.
When viewing a trailer, remember to lift the rubber matting and check the condition of the floor. Rotten, moist or damaged plywood floors can be unsafe and can give way. More modern trailers have aluminium planking, but this too must be checked on a regular basis to ensure that your horse is always carried in optimum safety. Any trailer floor should be checked every two months. If there are signs of damage to the aluminium floors, get them replaced or checked by ourselves, or if your floor is wooden then apply pressure to the floor to see how firm the wood is. If there is any softness or moisture then the floor should be checked by us, or your local trailer distributor and changed if required.
I would like to be able to carry one horse in a double horse trailer and need to allow the horse the entire width of the trailer, how do I do this?
To be able to do so, you simply need to remove the centre partition and centre post, and replace the current breast/breaching bars for their full-width versions.
Full width bars are available from our spares department. Email: spares@universal-trailers.co.uk Tel: 01403 782862
Towing & Towing Laws
I passed my driving test after January 1st 1997; can I still tow a trailer?
If you passed your driving test after the 1st of January 1997, you will not have category B+E on your licence. The B+E category enables you tow any trailer up to 3500kg, and without the B+E category you will be restricted in the types of trailers you are legal to tow.
Below is an image of the rear of a driving licence demonstrating that the driver does have category B+E and is therefore able to tow any trailer up to 3500kg.
There is also a downloadable leaflet which will give you guidance on what trailers you can tow, depending on your towing vehicle.
If you do not have category B+E on your licence then you can take a B+E towing test. As of December 2009, tests cost £110 but like your driving test, prior tuition is recommended.
If you require the trailer training in preparation for a test then please give us a call on 01403 782862 or alternatively, you can email our instructor Chris, chris@universal-trailers.co.uk
My vehicle has a maximum towing weight of 2000kg and my trailer has a maximum gross weight of 3500kg. Can I still tow this trailer?
Yes! As long as the unladen weight of the trailer you are towing combined with the trailer load does not exceed 2000kg, then you can tow this trailer with your vehicle.
There is no legal requirement to downrate the plate on your trailer.
Trailer Maintenance
How often should I have my Ifor Williams trailer serviced? We recommended that a service of some kind is carried out once every 12 months.
The National Trailer and Towing Association (NTTA) recommend you have your trailer serviced every 6000 miles or every 6 months, whichever is shorter. A trailer that isn’t used as often can alternate between a full and a basic service every 6-12 months.
If an Ifor Williams trailer is properly serviced and maintained, it will provide many years of reliable
Full Service:
Unbraked Trailer – £65.00 + VAT + Parts
Single Axle Trailer – £95.00 + VAT + Parts
Twin Axle Trailer – £130.00 + Vat + Parts
Tri Axle Trailer – £175.00 + Vat + Parts
All brakes, lights, bearings, cables, couplings, tyres, hubs, side panels, sides and seals are thoroughly checked, hubs are removed and brake shoes are cleaned.
Basic Service:
Single Axle Trailer – £70.00 + Vat + Parts
Twin Axle Trailer – £100.00 + Vat + Parts
Tri Axle Trailer – £130.00 + Vat + Parts
Includes all the same checks as a full service however hubs are not removed and brake shoes are not cleaned.
For more information or to book a service please call or email us.
Universal Trailers have over 30 years of experience in trailers and are NTTA approved, and we have very experience and qualified staff to deal with all of your trailer servicing and repair needs.
Buying a used trailer privately
You firstly need to ensure that the seller is the legal owner.
Make sure the seller can issue you with an original receipt or check to see if it is registered with the trailer manufacturer. Check for general signs of wear and tear – is it in keeping with the age of the trailer? Is the seller willing for you to collect from their home? If you are in any doubt, stay well clear.
Make sure the trailer has a serial plate and make a note of the serial number and contact Ifor Williams customer care department to confirm that the seller is the registered keeper before you purchase. Ifor Williams Trailers provides this trailer check service free of charge and can also confirm if the trailer has ever been reported stolen to them at any point. Ifor Williams Customer Care: 01490 412626
If customers are more cautious when buying second hand trailers, stolen trailers will become much more difficult to sell on.
When looking at horse trailers ensure to bang the side panels and ramps, especially on the bottom corners, behind the mudguards and where the breast and breach bar fixing are to ensure the sides aren’t showing any signs of going soft and rotting. Make sure you lift the rubber matting to check the condition of the floor.
If it is a wooden floor, then make sure you check thoroughly that there are no signs of any signs of softness or rot. If the trailer is fitting with an aluminium floor, then make sure it is the genuine ifor Williams planking floor.
Trailer Security
If your trailer has been stolen then you need to report it to the police as soon as possible. You then need to inform Ifor Williams, either directly or via your Ifor Williams distributor to ensure it gets registered on the IWT and TER database. You will need the following details to hand when you call… the crime reference number, trailer model and serial number, date of when the trailer was stolen and the police department it was reported to. Doing so can assist in identifying owners of recovered stolen trailers.
TER – THE NATIONAL PLANT AND EQUIPMENT REGISTER
If you purchased your Ifor Williams trailer from new or used from us, then it would have automatically been registered with TER (The National Plant and Equipment Register) and Ifor Williams. The TER aim is to tackle theft and fraud in the UK and Europe on trailers, plant and machinery. Once your trailer has been registered, both technical and marking details can be made available to international police forces through TER.
Ifor Williams Trailers – Security
Each Ifor Williams trailer is fitted with a unique ID plate which has a serial number etched on it as well as a laser cut number situated on the drawbar which is virtually impossible to alter without noticeably affecting the appearance of the numbers and galvanized finish.
Datatag is Europe’s leading electronic tagging system and all new Ifor Williams Horse trailers, are fitted with Datatag transponder’s (tags) which are miniature transmitters which ensures extra security and peace of mind. These transponder/tags are hidden deep within the trailer during manufacture, and transmit a unique code that can only be read with special scanners. These scanners are issued to Police and HM Customs free of charge. On recovery of a stolen trailer the identity of the trailer can be verified by using these guns and the rightful owner can then be contacted.
We advise that you always keep a record of your trailer details so that if it is stolen, you will have the details to hand.
