2 wheel vs 4 wheel vehicles

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Zingy

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Nov 18, 2001
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I've always thought that 2 wheeled vehicles are safer in that they're far less likely to tip over etc and are therefore more suitable for less experienced drivers.

But, contacting various vehicle manufacturers, the majority of them come out with a very similar tale - well made 4 wheeled vehicles are very stable, have very small turning circles and are made so that they are very unlikely to tip over. Also as the wheels take the full weight of the vehicle, the horse only has to take the weight of the shafts, so horses generally prefer them. Though a perfectly balanced 2 wheeler should give the same effect, then any hills etc put some kind of weight on the horse and the smaller the pony, the more pronounced that effect will be (and the harder to balance in the first place). Also can't have a brake on a 2 wheeler, so hilly work is better with a 4.

I've only driven a 2 wheeled vehicle on a couple of occasions as my usual lesson horse is in a 4, so I can't make much of a judgement based on experience.

Most of the places saying this sell mainly 4 wheeled vehicles. So are they selling them because the above is true, or do they claim the above in order to sell what they make? The one person I've spoken to who sells a lot of 2 wheeled vehicles claims 2 wheels are better! Working on the basis of never trusting someone who is trying to sell you something, does anyone have an unbiased opinion? :D
 
Personally.. I feel a well balanced 2 wheel cart is more safe.
If it is properly balanced there will be little to no weight on the Gig saddle (horses back).

I find people can jack knife a 4 wheel cart much easier than a two wheel one. Even the better made Marathon ones.

But both have their limits on some kind of terrian.

Depending on the size of your horse.. most horses can learn to hold the cart back going down hills. In fact they should learn how to do it for safetys sake.

Even my mini can hold back our cart on some pretty steep areas on our trails.

I have seen disk brakes on two wheel carts..but there is a knack and timing know how to use them.

2 wheel carts tend to be lighter and easier to pull.
Nicely made ones.. very stable
Less likely to tip

Lets us know what you decide.:D
 
Thanks Sharin :) I've got a 2 wheeler at the moment (unused to date as pony it was intended for is a very debatable driving prospect!). It's about 90kg (pony it was for is around 220kg and 10.3), whereas the smallest 4 wheelers are a bit more than that. Though the argument was that didn't really matter as there's no balancing required (not sure how that translates into pulling uphill!)

Gut feeling is to either stick with this or sell it and get a lighter 2 wheeler, though I think I'd struggle to get something significantly lighter with a winding axle (which I believe makes life a lot easier?). I wouldn't go for 4 wheels out of choice, just wanted to check I wouldn't be being completely unfair :rolleyes:
 
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Obviously they wan to sell you a 4 wheeler, they are more expensive!

They sell more 4 wheelers because you need one to compete. If you want a 2 wheeler there are other firms who specialise in tem. (take it you have been speaking to Bennington/Bellcrown etc.)

If you are a novice driver or have a novice horse go for a 2 wheeler and get the balance set up properly.

A novice horse can get very upset if a 4 wheeler jacknifes.
 
I'd prefer a well made 4 wheeler. They are a lot less bouncy than the two wheelers!! But as has been said could frighten a novice horse if Jacknifes. I have a 2 wheel Bellcrown which I am happy with, but am looking for one with phneumatic tyres, preferably 4 wheeled. My friend has one and it is like driving in a car!
 
i have never had a four wheeler so cant comment from experience of driving them . Have seen some tip over in driving trials and its very difficult to back up straight in them.

Ive always had two wheelers and current one has a backstep ( and brakes) so I can be a little more versatile ... have seen several in driving trials so you can compete in them just dont know to whay level for sure ( thoguth I saw a pic of one at the nationals but dont quote me LOL .. Im just at club level
 
Some 2 wheelers can ride every bit as posh as a 4 wheeler.
My Country Road Cart does.. feels like riding in a RR (those veryy spendy cars). Very, very smooth and comfy, just the way I like it.:D
 
I think hat at the moment you can do HDT under FEI rules with a 2wheeler in the pre novice class. But that is going to be stopped soon. Brace yourselvs for a flood of 2 wheelers with backsteps coming up for sale!
 
I have both 2 and 4 wheelers I absolutly love them both, I find the two wheeler a lot more fun, yet the four wheeler is great too.

We broke Bramble in a two wheeler and are happier because of it as she knows how to stop a cart with her big bottom, instead of taking it all in the brakes (neither of my vehicles have brakes)

A friend had a horse that was a bit iffy in the cart and he jacknifed the cart a lot and it wasn't pretty thankfully he's now out of the habit, but a two wheeler did seem safer to break in :)
 
Alfies-slave said:
I think hat at the moment you can do HDT under FEI rules with a 2wheeler in the pre novice class. But that is going to be stopped soon. Brace yourselvs for a flood of 2 wheelers with backsteps coming up for sale!
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:) Might not be too long before I invest in a phnematic 2 wheeler in that case!! I doubt I'll ever do driving trials.
 
For training the youngsters I use 2 wheeleers, they are easier to work with, for the person on the ground when putting to for the first time.

I have 2 wheelers and 4 wheelers. The advatnage of the 4 wheelers is you can take more folk out for a drive, it doesn't matter if you have a wrigging child in the back as it does not transfer to te horse through the shafts.

I always start off teaching someone in a two wheeler, as they need to be conversant with the art of balancing the cart and setting up the vehicle correctly, once they have this then I might use a 4 wheeler for them to lern to handle.

The manufactureres might have a great design than makes their 4 wheelers stable and unlikely to tip, but they will tip far easier than a 2 wheeler if a baby brained pony has a hissy fit in one!

Personally I HATE pneumatic tyres, purely from a convenience point of view, there is nothing more annoying than a slow puncture, and having to do tyre pressures all the time! ;) you don't get punctures on a solid tyre! Small ponies will find some fat small pnuematics hart to pull, I would only entertain light motorbike sized tyres/wheels for small guys like Shetlands.

So, to sum up, modern light 4 wheelers are great, I love 'em, not to teach beginner horses or drivers in though, modern well made 2 wheelers are great for training and general messing about.
 
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Two wheels anytime!You can go more places:)
 
2 wheels it is then :D Which is what I originally thought, but you do start to doubt yourself when a few supposed experts tell you you're wrong :rolleyes:
 
Probably great for biger cobs, but I do know folk with Shetlands who find the drag from the 4 fat wheels too much.
 
I have one!

They are brilliant for breaking in because they are very stable and ther is very little weight on the pony, even when going down hill. They just need the shafts setting at the right level and you are away. They don't do 'em in Shetland size though.

I am a fan of the funbug, but general opinion is that you either love them or hate them.

If you don't like the price tag, Hillam do a version that is vastly cheaper. You can buy them via Stephen Pond.... http://www.take-the-reins.co.uk/vehicles.asp
 
Alfies-slave said:
They don't do 'em in Shetland size though.
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The smallest they say is from 9hh, so should fit a big shetland. Thanks for the link, nice to know there's a cheaper alternative and I do like the look of them. But given Wally's comment on the drag, I think I'll stick with something more conventional. They may say they fit from 9hh, but it sounds like they're not actually suited to it :rolleyes:
 
We had a phone call from someone last week with one of those kind of vehicles and the Shetland was having bother with the drag.
 
Wally said:
We had a phone call from someone last week with one of those kind of vehicles and the Shetland was having bother with the drag.
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And it's not something that you'd spot by going for a test drive as they do test drives with a cob, not a small pony.

It may be suitable for some types of driving, but I'm after something versatile, so definitely not a good option.
 
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