Horse float service, at your property.

Horse floats are trailers with stakes.

A horse float is a trailer underneath, with a horse on top. The mechanical service is the same as any trailer: brakes, bearings, lights, suspension. The difference is in the float-specific elements and in why this maintenance matters.

A trailer breakdown is inconvenient. A horse float breakdown with horses inside is genuinely dangerous: for the horses, for you, and for any other road users involved. Float maintenance is not optional. It is something that has to be done well and on schedule.

Why Sydney horse owners book mobile service.

Towing an unladen float to a workshop is just as bad as towing a horse: it is the same trailer with the same risk of breakdown. The mobile model removes that risk entirely. We come to your property, your agistment, or your equestrian centre. The float gets serviced where it lives, and you do not put it on the road until the work is done and verified.

What we service.

The trailer underneath

• Brakes (mechanical, electric, or electric-over-hydraulic, depending on age)
• Wheel bearings and seals
• Suspension (leaf springs, shackles, U-bolts, bushes)
• Lights and 7-pin or 12-pin trailer plug
• Coupling, jockey wheel, safety chains
• Tyres, rims, wheel nuts
• Chassis and corrosion check

The float-specific elements

• Ramp. Hinges, gas struts, rubber matting on the ramp surface, ramp catches and locks. A failing ramp strut is an injury waiting to happen.
• Dividers and partitions. Hinges, padding, latching mechanisms, swing-clearance. Padded dividers tear over time and the padding compacts.
• Kick boards. The padded walls inside the float. Damage and softening is common. Replacement is straightforward when needed.
• Breast bars and butt bars. Catches, pins, secure attachment, padding.
• Rubber matting on the floor. Lifts, wears through, allows water and urine to reach the timber subfloor.
• Subfloor. If matting has failed, the timber underneath can rot. Subfloor inspection is something we do whenever matting is being replaced.
• Roof vents and ventilation. Often fixed open or fixed closed because the mechanism has failed. Easy fix, big comfort and welfare improvement.
• Internal lighting. Most floats have one or two internal lights. Bulbs fail, wiring corrodes.
• External tie rings. For tying up at events. Loose attachment points are common.
• Spare wheel mount and storage. A loose spare on a float is a hazard.

Pricing.

Pre-trip checks for horse floats.

Beyond the annual service, there are five things worth checking before any significant trip with horses on board:

1. Tyre pressures. Float tyres get neglected because the float sits between uses. Check before every trip.
2. Wheel nut torque. Especially if anyone has changed a wheel recently.
3. Ramp lock and partition locks. These need to hold under significant load. A partition swinging during transit is a serious problem.
4. Lights all functional. Including the indicator and stop light, which other drivers rely on to know what you are doing.
5. Floor condition. Lift the rubber matting and check for soft spots in the subfloor. A horse going through a rotten floor is a catastrophic event.

How often should a horse float be serviced?

• Annual service: minimum, every 12 months, regardless of use
• Pre-event check: any trip beyond local, especially competition transport
• Post-incident: any incident, however minor (a horse scrambling, a float hit by another vehicle, hitting something during travel)
• Pre-purchase: any used float being considered

FAQ.

Do you service floats with horses on board?

Not deliberately. The horses should be out of the float for any service work. Most owners service the float in between trips with the horses elsewhere.

Can you service older floats with timber-frame construction?

Yes. Older timber-frame floats need particular attention to the subfloor and the structural integrity of the frame. We can do the work but if the timber is significantly degraded we will be honest about whether the float is past sensible repair.

Will the service include a roadworthy?

The service is comprehensive but we do not issue eSafety Check reports (the regulatory pink slip required for rego renewal). That requires an AIS-authorised inspection station. We can do the mechanical inspection and fix anything that would fail; then you take the float to an AIS station for the actual rego inspection. See our pre-rego inspection page for the detail.

Can you repair float damage from a collision?

Minor mechanical damage (lights, mudguards, panels), yes. Structural chassis damage usually requires specialist trailer repair facilities. We can inspect and recommend.

Do you service angle-load floats and straight-load floats differently?

The mechanical service is the same. The float-specific work differs because the dividers and breast bars are configured differently. Both common designs are familiar.

Can you fit cameras or extras to my float?

Internal cameras for horse monitoring, yes (12V supply, mounting, cable routing). Reverse cameras for the tow vehicle, yes. Custom internal lighting, yes. Get in touch with what you want and we will quote.

Book a horse float service →