Horse Float Rental: Understanding the Crucial Selection Factors

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The Big Build: How to Use Heavy Construction Equipment

My name is Jerry, and I run a small construction company in Perth. My team normally completes relatively small jobs such as plastering walls, repairing electrical systems and constructing patios. However, one day a big client got in touch to say they wanted me to help them construct a large apartment building. I have never taken on such a big job before, but I thought it was a good chance to grow my business and gain some new skills. A friend who has completed large scale jobs before advised me on how I should hire the people and heavy construction equipment needed for the job. I learnt a lot from him, and my company has since completed several more big construction jobs. I have decided to start this blog to advise others how to hire and maintain heavy equipment.

Horse Float Rental: Understanding the Crucial Selection Factors

25 January 2017
 Categories: , Blog

If you are planning on travelling with your horse, you will need to acquire a float for the journey. In general, you can choose to purchase or rent the equipment from a specialist dealer. The latter option is more ideal and economical if you do not plan to tow your horse frequently. There are numerous types of horse floats to consider before choosing one for rental. However, the selection process can be challenging if you have never purchased or hired this type of trailer. Therefore, consider these critical factors to ensure that you have acquired the best horse for your transportation project.

Weight and Towing Capacity

The most obvious consideration for a rental horse float is the weight capacity. Basically, you should ensure that the maximum load rating of the trailer is compatible with the weight of your horse or horses. You cannot exceed this limitation because the structure of the float will experience extensive strain and possibly fail. The towing capacity of your vehicle is also an important factor during selection. You should make certain that your truck can safely handle the combined weight of the horse, the float and other included loads. Otherwise, you will need to acquire a rental truck to haul the trailer. These two practical elements will help you narrow down your options significantly.

Angle or Straight Load

There are two primary loading styles used in the construction of horse floats: straight and angle. The right choice for you will primarily depend on practicality and personal preferences. The straight design is the configuration in which the horse is led into the trailer from the back, and they are transported facing forward. The angle load floats have stalls which are angled in a left to right design. This configuration is favoured because it allows more horses to be transported in a smaller space, compared to the straight design. Unfortunately, if the stalls are too small or the angle is too sharp, the horse might become strained during the journey. Therefore, choose spacious and comfortable floats for a more ideal journey.

Independent Brakes

You should think about the availability of independent brakes on the horse float when choosing an ideal trailer for rental. This type of braking system will allow the float to stop safely if the rig is unhitched on the road. Moreover, the extra set of brakes improves the stopping distance, making emergency stops less hazardous. Additionally, you should ensure that there is a separate parking brake to further enhance general safety.