 Double Horse Float Big Ranger AU $4,950.00 Remaining: 13h 40m |
 Horse Float AU $3,000.00 Remaining: 16h |
 Horse Float Extended AU $4,500.00 Remaining: 16h 38m |
 Horse Float AU $6,500.00 (2 Bids) Remaining: 2d 36m |
 Horse Float New Steel Floor 2 Horse Float AU $1,000.00 Remaining: 2d 16h 29m |
 Double Horse Float AU $1,500.00 Remaining: 2d 17h 33m |
A horse float is very much like any other domestic trailer. The draw bar of the float forms part of the chassis, which will be made out of steel. A chassis must be strong enough to support one or more horses. It must also support its own weight (a typical dual axle float will weigh between 750kg and 1100kg). All-up a loaded two-horse float is likely to be close to two tonnes.
The chassis must provide good support for the floor, which itself must be strong to support the weight of the horses. The chassis must also provide a good anchor point for a strong back door.
Fibreglass is typically used on the roof and is usually moulded to give a nice, aerodynamic front. It is also light, strong, and quite easy to repair.
Most floats have plywood on either the floor or the rear door (where it should also be thick enough to withstand kicks), and probably on the sides of the interior, where you can get away with thinner plywood. Some floats will have floorboards instead of plywood. These should be at least 50mm thick and well supported by the chassis.
Check the rubber flooring is waterproof. Many modern floats have rubber or ruthane floors which seal the floor surface. This is great for the horse owner who can hose out the float once the horses are back home.
The biggest danger area is rust. Rust can make a float unsafe and expensive to repair. Surface rust means very little. It can be seen and therefore dealt with quite easily. The serious rust will develop where water gets into nooks and crannies and cannot easily escape or evaporate away. This will very quickly start eating at the chassis and cause serious damage. You need to get under the float and check for rust. Take a screwdriver with you and probe areas of surface rust to make sure that they are just that - on the surface!
Check around the welds on the chassis to make sure that rust has not weakened any crucial points. Also look for any evidence of dampness or staining. This is a sign that water has regularly got inside and could be causing rust.
Tyres need at least 2mm of tread depth to pass registration. Check each tyre for wear. If they're wearing on either the inside or outside, there is an alignment problem. If the tyres are wearing in the middle, this is normally a sign of over inflation. Excessive wear on both outer edges normally means the tyres have been under-inflated. Both these problems are easily fixed but bear in mind that a tyre which is wearing unevenly will continue to do so, even after the pressure has been corrected.
Check there are no gaps at the top of the treadplate. Many floats, particularly round-nosed models, have aluminium sheeting mounted around the front to absorb stone impacts. Make sure the top edge of this aluminium is well sealed with a silicon-based sealant. Water seeping through will quickly rust the steel sheeting behind it.
Before going anywhere, stand back and survey the "package". The float should be sitting nice and level, and not exerting too much downward pressure on the tow bar. If the back of your vehicle sinks dramatically with the float attached, there is something seriously wrong with the dynamics of the float.
Some four wheel drive vehicles have raised suspension. This is quite a common on Toyota Landcruisers. Raised four wheel drives often tilt the float back on the rear wheels and this also ruins the towing dynamics.To avoid this problem make sure that the trailer is level when connected to your car.
Make sure your tow bar is rated to take the weight of the float. There should be a sticker on the tow bar with its weight and towing capacity. Your vehicle needs to be able to tow the trailer empty and with a full load.
