thanks gizmo i might go and have a look at a taylors and suss them out

I tow once a fortnight a 15.2 Tb and a 16.2hh Tb so will weight won't be an issue??? my car only tows 2 1/2 tonne

Taylors aren't that much heavier - most standard style double Taylors floats are under 1 tonne, & most horses that size are 500-600kg, so if your car can tow 2500kg you should be ok. My Taylors were only around 850kg.

Go to a garden center or public weigh bridge if you're worried. They can weigh your empty float/float with horses for you.

some taylors are lighter than the metal ones too. my sisters old taylors was lighter than my metal one now (which is staceys old float ) depends on wood used, etc i think, and construction of metal one, etc. my sisters taylors was very solid, but was very light. it was also a lot noiser and my metal one now is a lot nicer to tow. my friends old taylors was also lighter than a lot of metal ones. i will say though stormy was too long for the taylors, he used to stick his nose out the front window as well the cheeky monkey. but he hit his head walking up the ramp once (this float was responsible for my sisters horses float issues too, as he though only 15.2, hit his head walking up the ramp. but we did get his confidence back up in the taylors. he just prefers metal ones now with more head room, and stormy is fine in metal ones too. he is just a long horse, so was a bit cramped in the taylors.without a divider he was more comfortable as could stand on an angle, and fit. i think they are much better painted white on the inside. just makes a naturally caustrophobic animal more comfortable i agree with the windows, smaller are better.
but all in all, taylors are great, value for money floats but i love your old float stacey its so sturdy and built so well! will be modified soon so i can open and close it without assistance! just by pushing a button i just dont like it when i open the barn doors and a hunstman falls out O.O LOL

haha chevvy I love that float to

i guess i'll keep my options open and have a look at both

Each to their own! It all depends on what suits you and your needs! I have had Taylors and a Statesman metal and the Statesman towes better. I also love that it has a tack box (absolutely not a necessity for many, and doesn't make it any better for the horse, but I LOVE it!), that it is fully enclosed (my float lives outside) and that it has good ventilation (it had whirly vents and I put pop up vents in too) - so these things were important to me when ordering my new float.

In my new float I paid extra for things that some people may think is a rip off.... a fully enclosed rug rack, with a gas strut door (funky as!) and a water tank with pump and spray hose (I don't have an arena, and float out a lot so this is very handy). I gasped at the price once I'd added on all my extras but I work hard for my money, have it saved up and bugger it, I have never bought anything new like this before in my life.

I also paid extra for windows in the side access doors and 3/4 windows around the side of the float (either side of the main front window - between that and the access doors) because when I have floated Ellie in my friend Olympic, which has a camera fitted and windows in the access doors, Ellie has spent the whole ride with her neck bend, looking out the side windows - so I know she likes them (and I don't think she's planning to escape through them! lol)

My Statesman will be on the market soon, but I don't think it's exactly what you want.

My first float was a Taylors, second float metal & now i have another Taylors although this one has been completely rebuilt & has marine ply walls now which is probably a bit lighter than the original wood.
Personally i think if you're just towing to the local pony club once a month, you don't really need a fancy float with all the bells and whistles. I only float my pony half a dozen times a year, to the beach and the forest. I know my float's in very good, safe condition for my horses and that's all that matters to me. Would be different if i was competing every weekend, all over the state with 2 600+ kg warmbloods. Then i'd probably want the extended height, extended length, tack box, rug rack, etc, etc, etc.
With the extras i had put on my car (HD tow bar & gas) & float (new tyres, paint, axle, springs, bearings & master cylinder), i spent roughly the same amount of money on each all up, $6000. Would seem silly spending more on a float that i use 6 times a year than a car that i use 365 days a year, lol!
As long as the float is safe for your horses & in your budget, doesn't matter if it wood or metal really. I'd rather have a good, safe old Taylors than a metal float that you're going to worry about it falling to pieces while your driving down the road with your horses it in.
Also, an advantage of the small windows is that you can open them a little to let some air flow. Well, at least you could on all the floats i've owned.

i am the new owner of an olympic float, pick it up friday night hopefully, just have to get elec brakes fitted to my car then there'll be no stopping us...yipee oh there's one problem....my knee...haha but once that's all good we are back in action

Awsome good on ya! Nothing like having your own float...I waited ages to get my float and then get it rebuilt after selling my first, only to end up now not haveing anywhere to go or horse to take:( but no way I will part with it... Love my own float!!!

Congrats Stacey! Has it been explained that you don't actually get elec brakes on your car, you need to have an elec brake controller unit fitted to it? Or you can have some types fitted to the float itself so any car can tow it. And if you tow it before you have a controller fitted you will have no functioning brakes on the float.

I have a Tekonsha brake controller, I think it's a Primus model. I got it new & cheap on Ebay & my Dad fitted it. Tekonsha are very good, they have simple models up to very intelligent models for serious 4wd track towing, that can adjust the amount of braking themselves. Mine self-adjusts a little but I didn't think I'd need a really clever one for the type of towing I do!

yeah thanks WW i've booked my car in Monday morn and the guy who i've bought the float of has kindly offered to tow the float to where i'm getting my brakes done at...ok it's just downt he rd but how ice was that Think it's costing me $270 fully fitted so i thought that wasn't to bad, hubby could do it but he just doesn't have the time and me being me wants to use it ASAP...haha...just not happy i can't take my boy anywhere yet

soooo excited