Hello,
From time to time I’ll read mention of someone owning a Faustras or Ifor Williams here in the US. I’m in the market to buy an Ifor HBX, but I haven’t been able to find a NA distributor. Does anyone know of one? Faustras is my second choice, and I’m not interested in the similar EquiTrek. Thank you!
What in the horse world are you talking about?
English and French horse trailer brands
It’s a European brand of horse trailer.
I personally would wait until the ifor williams has been out for a year or so to avoid teething problems. I have a cheval librte touring trailer and it is pretty well identical . The fautras are far heavier trailers. I’m in the UK
There was, briefly, an Ifor Williams dealer in Texas. I don’t think many were sold, and they’re no longer in business as far as I’m aware.
Fautras used to be sold out of NC but again, sales did not justify the import costs.
For euro trailers in NA, your choices are Bockmann and Equitrek unless you arrange a private import from a dealer in another country.
Ifor Williams is a Welsh brand 
Been in business for 60 years, largest horse trailer manufacturer in the UK, still growing, sells in 26 countries but not, apparently, in either USA or Canada.
With the tariffs combined with the geographical issues of such a physically large country this isn’t too surprising. The pricing became unsustainable. I don’t think the US Bockmann sealer has brought in any trailers this year due to the tariffs on aluminum. Those have also driven regular trailers up 10-15% at almost all manufacturers.
I wrote to Ifor Williams, and their response is the following:
Unfortunately, due to standards and approval requirements for trailers being so different in the UK, we cannot distribute to the USA.
We do not offer electrical braking systems on our trailers, therefore if you purchased a trailer in the UK, it would not be permitted in America.
They are not exactly correct about that…iinertial/surge brakes are permitted in the US. That’s what’s on Böckmann, Brenderup, etc., as well as many/most boat trailers and UHaul trailers. There may be other requirements that prevent direct importation, however.
They are not exactly wrong either. Federally, surge brakes have been legal for at least 10 years. Trailer rental places had been campaigning for it forever. Many states though still have state law specifying that trailers must have air or electric brakes, or specifying that the brakes must be able to be activated by the driver.
They may be acting on old advice, or they may just not want to get involved with individual state requirements.
Brenderup and Equi-Trek sold in CA have/had inertia brakes though, so OP can you tell them your state allows it?
I have the St Georges Imara Euro trailer. It has inertia brakes - I’m in the Great Lakes area. When I went to the DMV to get the plates, pay the sales tax, etc. no one ever asked to inspect the trailer, let alone ask what type (or if it even had any) brakes were on it!
I just saw a post on a 2016 chronicle thread from someone in NC/SC who is selling Fraustras trailers. She said her name was Gena and to check her out European Equestrian Trailers on FB…
She was the one who bumped the 2016 thread in 2018 so I imagine she is still distributing!
Traveled Lane in MD carried Fautras for awhile as well as Böckmann which they still carry. Maple Lane in Ontario is the North American distributor for Böckmann and they focus on them exclusively. St Georges is a sister brand to Fautras, AFAIK.
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