The original owner of this lightly-used 2021 Portax K just brought it in for us to show as a private sale. It hasn't been worked hard (estimated 15-20 times on 20-mile trips), but it was there when needed and that's the beauty of having your own trailer. A trailer's no longer needed, so here's an opportunity for a new owner to enjoy this one (and hopefully use it a lot more!). It's easy to tow and with front and rear ramps (the rear is a 2-mode ramp/door), it's very versatile. Even though it hasn't accumulated a lot of miles, it's been through Pennsylvania state inspection each year and after it arrived at our dealership, we sent it through Maryland state inspection and four new Extra Load radial tires were mounted. And this one comes with some thoughtful accessories we'll cover later in the listing. It's ready to go!
The Portax K (aka "PK") is for horses to 18 hands and is designed to be pulled safely by many of today's smaller, more fuel-efficient SUVs, trucks and crossovers. In Europe, many people pull them with cars! In addition to the ease of towing, the Portax K offers the convenience of front-unloading (for horses and people!). It's loaded with safety and convenience features as well, which we'll cover shortly. If you like a quick read, we summarize key features in bullet points a little farther down the page, but we hope you find the more detailed text worth a read...
If you have a horse that doesn't like to back off the trailer, you'll appreciate the Portax K's standard front ramp. Even if your horses don't need the front ramp, horse handlers love it. It's more convenient than a step or running board. At the rear, the Portax has as standard a 2-mode Ramp/Door. Lower it as a ramp or swing it aside for step-up loading (or for loading pallets or round bales). The rear ramp/door is 5' tall for a more gentle incline than is the case with the 4' ramps common on so many trailers. With its front ramp and rear ramp/door, the Portax K offers a variety of ways to get your horses on and off the trailer. If you transport a variety of horses with differing personalities, the Portax K could be the trailer for you!
On front and rear ramps, lift assist is provided by a pair of gas springs. On many trailers, torsion springs provide diminishing assist as the ramp rises, but a gas spring provides useful assist through the full range of motion. If you've ever struggled with a ramp because the springs weren't up to the task, you'll appreciate Böckmann's gas spring assist.
Böckmann is considered by many to be Europe's premier horse trailer brand. Böckmann trailers have been in production for nearly 70 years and they're sold in over 30 countries. Their features have won numerous awards. Even though Böckmann's designs are advanced, they're well proven on roads all over the world. The aerodynamic shape and light tongue weight (thanks to a well-balanced design) are just two aspects that set Böckmann trailers apart from other brands.
Here are Böckmann's easy-to-meet vehicle requirements:
1. Must have at least 125 horsepower. Here in the States, most folks pull a Böckmann with a smaller SUV or truck with 6-cylinder or turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. These typically have well over 200 HP, so the horsepower requirement is easily met.
2. If truck or SUV (meaning a vehicle with a higher center of gravity than a car), must have a wheelbase of at least 100 inches. These days, even a compact sedan often has a wheelbase over 100 inches. We're not suggesting you tow with a compact sedan, but we use this example to emphasize that the vehicle doesn't have to be huge to meet the 100" wheelbase minimum. (Since we brought up the subject, compact sedans often meet or exceed Böckmann’s minimum horsepower requirement as well, but most are rated for little or no trailer hitch weight.)
3. Must be able to accommodate a loaded tongue weight of about 198 lbs. for Portax models. (For comparison, domestically-produced horse trailers typically carry at least 10% of their weight on the hitch, resulting in loaded tongue weights in the 600 to 800 lb. range. The Böckmann's lighter tongue weight puts much less load on the tow vehicle's rear suspension for a smoother ride. The tow vehicle also remains more level for more predictable handling.)
In addition to their ease of towing, Böckmann trailers are loaded with standard features, such as Multi Safe System (MSS) chest & butt bars. MSS bars slip into place quickly, minimizing your time in the kick zone, and they're quiet during travel. MSS stall bars can be adjusted in seconds, with 2 height adjustments on the chest bars and 3 positions on the butt bars. The butt bar mounts are angled so that as you lower the bar for a smaller horse, it also shortens the stall. No tools required; just move the bar to a higher or lower position. And to top it off, in the event of an emergency, each MSS bar may be released externally so you don't have to get in the trailer to release a panicking horse. Just use the handle of the standard-equipment lug wrench to unscrew the appropriate exterior tie loop and the wall mount comes down, freeing the horse. That's thoughtful design. And that's just the stall bars!
Another thoughtful touch is interior lights that illuminate blue or white. Flip the switch one way and let the horses travel in calming blue light. Need brighter light for working with the horses? Flip the switch the other way and the light's white! (We're showing pictures of a blue/white light in another model, but it's the same light as in the PK. There's a blue/white light in the tack compartment as well.)
The Portax K features walls of interlocking aluminum planks. The planks are stacked, like the logs in a log home. And please note that the wall planks are ANODIZED - for durability, ease of maintenance and long-lasting good looks. Anodizing is common in the boating industry, where components need to stand up to the harsh marine environment. It's just one more feature that sets Böckmann apart from the rest. Further, the planks have a double wall cross-section, which is quieter and has better thermal properties than a single-skin design, The body structure rides on a robust chassis of corrosion-protected galvanized steel. The roof and nose are of tough, durable fiberglass.
The Portax floor consists of interlocking aluminum planks (of a type different from the walls), with extra reinforcement in high load areas. A rubber mat is bonded to the floor and the edges are sealed. This prevents animal wastes from reaching the floor planks. That's great for the durability of the floor, but the aspect you'll be able to appreciate after every trip is that it makes floor cleaning a snap. No need to lift a mat. Just sweep or hose it out!
Most horse trailers built in North America have electric brakes, which require you to have a brake controller in the tow vehicle. And many brake controllers need to be adjusted as the load in the trailer changes. With the Portax's inertia-actuated mechanical brakes, life is much simpler. Portax brakes apply braking force automatically in proportion to the load in the trailer. You don't need to fiddle with a brake controller, because you don't need a brake controller!
Here's a simple description of how the mechanical brakes work: As you slow your tow vehicle, the trailer's coupler assembly compresses slightly, pulling a rod, which pulls a short cable to each brake drum. (The cables allow the wheels to move up and down without interfering with brake operation.) The empty trailer compresses the coupler assembly with a certain amount of force. Load one horse and there's now the weight of the trailer plus 1000ish lbs. of horse to compress the coupler assembly with more force, producing more braking force. Load a second horse and now it's the weight of the trailer plus 2000 lbs. or so compressing the coupler assembly to produce proportionately more braking force. While electric brakes are common here in the States, in most countries, mechanical trailer braking systems as on a Böckmann have been the predominant design for decades. They're simple, safe and reliable. No electronics to fail, no wires to break, no brake fluid to change, no brake lines to rust out.
Another cut-above feature you won't find on most trailers is the Portax's smooth-riding WCFPlus coil-spring suspension. That's right, coil spring suspension with shock absorbers, just as on automobiles. Radial tires (with spare) are also standard. Wheel bearings are sealed, so there's no need to clean bearings and pack them with fresh grease, eliminating a not-inexpensive maintenance procedure required by most trailer manufacturers.
Portax models feature a center-post stall divider that lets you swing the front and back halves out of the way to facilitate unloading via the front ramp, putting on shipping boots or working with the horses. The stall divider, post and chest & butt bars are easily removed without tools, .
The Portax K has a lockable tack compartment conveniently located in the nose. It's roomy, has wide contoured saddle racks and the saddle rack support extends to offer easy access to the saddles from outside the trailer. Also standard are bridle hooks, a storage net, folding step stool, a lug wrench and an anti-theft ball. (And if you're wondering what we mean by that last term... The Portax coupler has an integrated coupler lock. Pop the ball into the coupler, turn the key and a ne'er-do-well can't just hook up and drive off.) Böckmann trailers are well built and well equipped!
This Portax K has thoughtful owner-added accessories that include 2 pairs of horse ties, a Trailer Aid (for changing tires), a dished tongue wheel dock/chock, a bedding fork (you can catch a glimpse of the red fork tines in the near corner of the tack compartment) and a small container that contains some useful goodies.
The traditional panic-release horse ties can be seen hanging in the horse area pictures. In the miscellaneous-bits container (visible on the tack floor) is a pair of Turtle Snaps quick-release ties, some spray lube, the anti-theft ball and some grease to put on the hitch ball. This trailer has the optional coupler cover (that's the red thing on the tack floor and we're also showing in place in the last photo; it covers coupler and jack) and we're saving what may be the best owner-added for last - a pair of 6-gallon water containers with provision to carry them on the trailer. The owner had a pair of rings installed on each side so the water containers can be carried on the rear side steps. Clever use of space! (We set the blue water containers in place for the pictures, but each one is normally held in place by a pair of crossed straps which come with the trailer.)
If you prefer bullet points over paragraphs, here's a summary of key features on the Portax K:
-No Truck Required! Light tongue weight and low-drag aerodynamic shape
-Interior height of 7'6"+ accommodates large horses comfortably
-Front ramp with gas spring assist (it's a 1 or 2-finger lift for most people - super easy!)
-2-Mode rear Ramp/Door with gas spring assist - lower as a ramp or swing open for step-up loading or cargo. 5' tall for a comfortable incline when loading or unloading.
-Well-equipped lockable tack compartment easily accessed from outside the trailer.
-Walls of interlocking ANODIZED aluminum double-wall planks. (Planks are stacked as in a log house.) Durable fiberglass roof and nose.
-Rugged corrosion-protected galvanized steel chassis.
-Floor of interlocking aluminum planks, reinforced in high load areas.
-Floor mat is bonded to the floor & edges are sealed. Great for durability of the floor and NO NEED TO LIFT MATS. Just sweep or hose it out!
-Center-pivot stall divider for ease of access at front or rear
-Lockable full height groom door (across from the front ramp)
-Chest bars with 2 height adjustments and fast-action latches. Stall hardware is quiet during travel.
-Butt bars with 3 positions - as you lower the bar, it also shortens the stall - fast-action latches get you out of the kick zone quickly and the stall hardware is quiet during travel.
-Multi Safe System chest & butt bars - release a bar from outside the trailer in the event of an emergency!
-Roof vent/skylight for great natural light and ventilation
-Tinted front window plus a tinted slider window on each side
-Self-furling 3-position rear curtain (1. Closed / 2. Fully Open / 3. Closed with Mesh Vent open) Most run with it fully open. Much more air flow than windows in rear doors.
-Bright, quiet, well-ventilated interior
-Padded walls and stall divider
-Kick panels
-Integrated coupler lock for security (and there's even an indicator to let you know it's properly secured to hitch ball)
-The subject trailer has standard exterior tie loops plus the optional exterior tie bar
-Several owner-added accessories, including a couple of 6-gallon water containers with travel mounts. Accessory details in the text above.
-Color: Silver-Gray anodized aluminum walls with fiberglass roof & nose in Silver Metallic.
Used Böckmanns don't often come on the market and a Portax K is even more rare. As mentioned at the beginning, this one has passed Maryland state inspection and 4 brand new extra load radials were just mounted. so it's ready to go. There should still be plenty of good riding weather this season, so stop by and check out this lightly-used Portax K!
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