"Rice" trailers.. made in UK.. any thoughts? Anyone have one?

[ASBJumper]

Lookiung at purchasing a used Rice trailer... after doing some research, it seems they're only manufactured in the UK. They're quite unique looking and have a front-unload feature most of the time, which I actually quite like.

Anyone know anything about these trailers?

[monstrpony]

Haven't seen one in decades, but judging from the people I knew back when who had them, they were pretty nice. They looked like a fore-runner to the Brenderup in terms of design (light-weight, balanced, but sturdy). But, again, I haven't seen one in close to 20 years.

[Salty]

I used to have one & loved it. The ponies loved it, too. It was kind of small, but pulled really nicely & I really liked the front-unload feature. I believe they're more common in Canada than in the US.

[ASBJumper]

thanks guys, that helps a lot!!

anyone else?

[jengersnap]

I got one! Well, I've got most of one...the guts dissapeared long ago but I still haul locally with it. Stable, sturdy, lightweight but strong, pulls easily. The aluminum skin is very rust resistant. They have "surge brakes" or at least mine does, much like the brenderups I think. I've seen two more in action up at Woodbine racetrack too, looking pretty much like mine but with the inside stuff intact. I've a partition I hope to get someone to weld into it, should I decide to keep it rather then go for the gooseneck I want. I might keep it anyway even after that as it's such a nice little thing to haul and we do have cows. They can travel in that instead ;) One took out a side cushion pannel with it's horns already :(

http://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p262/jengersnaps/Rice/

[4cornersfarm]

I have one! It's a 1984 Farmers Hunt model, weighs a mere 1,640 pounds empty. It has a tiny little escape door in the front, no front unload. It will need a new floor at some point, there is some rot in one corner, we've put down a layer of heavy duty pressure treated plywood, cut to fit the whole floor, and it is doing fine for now. Frame is good, skin is aluminum and fiberglass. I love it. I should take a picture of it. :D

[goeslikestink]

whats it say on the front -- as they come in different sizes to match the size of the horses
make sure you have the one for the correct size neddy 7ft roof height is for the bigger neds they weight approx 750k smaller ones only take up to 15.2hhs
lool here www.ricetrailers.co.uk you see different models rice beauforts are fot the larger horses and you can see they are wider and have an extra lenght to them
the europa takes 2 up to 162 hhs they are good trailers but if older you might want to chnage the tyres to transit ones or simular 165x13 as some are still on 155x13 165x13 is much better as wider tyre i always cahange the tyres to sightly wider ones on an europa trialer as i have bigger horses check the underneath for breaking system works ok and the snatch cable plus jockey wheel lights and fittings and fixtures always check the floor as its a double wooden floor so make sure you look underneath for any rot same witht he ramps
i have had 3 rice trailers and they are a good make but like anything else you have to look for rust and rot
parts are easy enough to get for them

[CB/TB]

A friend and I looked at an older one last summer in the wilds of Maine, of all places. It was pretty unique. It was a smaller one, though and she has a Belgian- a bit too large to fit, I'm sure.

[pintopiaffe]

ack! Where in ME????

I'd sell my left arm for one.

Or, at least, a kidney maybe... :lol:

Now that I have a beast of a farm truck, I guess it doesn't matter so much, but MAN, a friend had a front ramp 2 horse that was IDEAL for her Jeep Grand Cherokee... I was sooooooo covetous.

I don't know why we can't have the lighter weight, ergonmic trailers like in Europe. We have to have gas guzzling tanks to haul them here. Bleh.

[Equilibrium]

We had 2 a while back before getting an Ifor. I liked the quality of the Rice as it was big and sturdy inside, but in comparisons to the Ifor, everything is so darn heavy to move, ie partitions, ramps. Now ours were a little older so maybe the modern ones are not so heavy.

My biggest concern with any trailer is the latches on back doors. Not so much with my horses but having helped load some really nasty "backer upper rather quickly broodmares", easy latches can save your life! The Ifor Williams is the best in this department as once the ramp goes up, it's a very simple "click" into place. The Rice was a drop in the pin type of deal which can go horribly wrong if your in a tricky spot.

I think just about all good trailers over here have that front loading ramp and it really is nice. That's how we teach horses to load - by walking through a few times to see that nothing is very scary at all.

I do think the trailers over here are top notch both with regards to safety and lightnes. On the back of an SUV or truck it's very safe and great on gas. But I guess one of the problems with them being light is that you see too many Volkswagon Golf's pulling the darn things! And really it's not the pulling that's the issue, it's the stopping safely! Also the trailers over here are very easy on and off too.

Terri

[CB/TB]

Pintopiaffe, it was in Dexter, right off of 46 ( s from Eddington) before rte 1. The people were leaving the state. Check Uncle Henry's . I'm sure that's gone, but we were up last week and lots of good horsey stuff-and horses advertised. where in ME are you?

[gtiorobertsf]

I have been looking for one as well.
This one i found needs more work than i can handle.
heres the link.
www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=6586582

[draftdriver]

I had one. It was old when I bought it 25 years ago. It was so old that it was all tongue and groove wood on a steel frame. Surge brakes, spring-assist ramp. Very sturdy. I sold it to my across-the-road neighbours for their minis when I got my draft horses, as the trailer wasn't big enough for them. They're still using it, after re-doing the floor.

[Thomas_1]

Lookiung at purchasing a used Rice trailer... after doing some research, it seems they're only manufactured in the UK. They're quite unique looking and have a front-unload feature most of the time, which I actually quite like.

Anyone know anything about these trailers? It's actually Richardson Rice (if you want to google it) and they're pretty common over here and still made. They're pretty good though quite heavy. But with your great gas guzzling vehicles over there that's unlikely to be a difficulty at all. For sure they last forever. I've an old one that must be 40 years old now and it's still serviceable and usable.

Better quality and with the same rear load and front unload arrangement though is Ifor WIlliams

p.s. Here's the link to the web site for Rice Trailers:
http://www.trailers-uk.com/NetBuildPro/process/5/AboutUs.html?PHPSESSID=84698bd759bbcbc733ac5b2be53 f9d55

And Ifor Williams so you can see the little trailers we buzz about with ;)

http://www.iwt.co.uk/products/horse.htm

[4cornersfarm]

While we're on the subject, anybody have a wiring diagram for the Rice trailers, circa 1980s? Mine is wrong, I had to put a new plug on and had to rip the old one off, so had nothing to go by. Used a horse trailer wiring diagram off the internet, and now when I plug it in, the running lights are on all the time. Everything else is right, have turn signals and brakes, but can't leave it plugged in. :lol:

[ASBJumper]

Thanks so much for the positive encouragement, guys!
I am picking up the trailer tomorrow!! WOOHOO! I am excited! :D

[gallopinghipchic]

Rice trailers are now almost extinct in the UK, way too heavy and expensive. They used to be the most popular trailer in the UK until the Ifor Williams took over the market. Almost every trailer you see at hunts and shows is an Ifor Williams (a Welsh company) - same design features as the Rice, but made with light weight modern materials. Cheaper purchase price and easier to pull.
I lived there for a year in 2006/07 and fox hunted once a week with a large hunt in Nottinghamshire. The parking areas were full of Ifor Williams trailers, the best advertising!Haven't see any in Canada, perhaps someone needs to look into this??
That front side off load ramp is a nice feature and I'm surprised it hasn't been incorporated into the North American straight haul trailers.

[kookicat]

Rice trailers are now almost extinct in the UK, way too heavy and expensive. They used to be the most popular trailer in the UK until the Ifor Williams took over the market. Almost every trailer you see at hunts and shows is an Ifor Williams (a Welsh company) - same design features as the Rice, but made with light weight modern materials. Cheaper purchase price and easier to pull.
I lived there for a year in 2006/07 and fox hunted once a week with a large hunt in Nottinghamshire. The parking areas were full of Ifor Williams trailers, the best advertising!Haven't see any in Canada, perhaps someone needs to look into this??
That front side off load ramp is a nice feature and I'm surprised it hasn't been incorporated into the North American straight haul trailers.

Not sure where you're getting your info from :confused:- there are lots of Rice trainers where I am. I have a nice big three horse one, which I love.