Prattley or Rappa

[sherg]

I've been looking lately at buying a mobile yard a 10 foot model with 40 5 foot hurdles there's not a massive amount of difference in price between the two of them, which does everyone recommend I've heard good and only tiny bits of bad about both, I've borrowed a prattley a few times and have got on well with it have many of you here used both?

 

[Downton_shep]

Prattley will make up for price difference with some small extras if you ask nicely. Personally i would buy prattley but there's not much difference between them. Either way you won't regret buying a decent mobile yard.

 

[Six Dogs]

Had a Prattley now got a Rappa as you say good and bad in both.We are close to Rappa great service so that swayed it.The gripe about a Rappa is the winch takes about 50 times more turns to wind up albeit easier to turn just now too low geared.Also find Rappa slightly lower ground clearance,however does have beefier wheels.The Prattley is generally poorer build quality but all in all not much in it

 

[Downton_shep]

Had a Prattley now got a Rappa as you say good and bad in both.We are close to Rappa great service so that swayed it.The gripe about a Rappa is the winch takes about 50 times more turns to wind up albeit easier to turn just now too low geared.Also find Rappa slightly lower ground clearance,however does have beefier wheels.The Prattley is generally poorer build quality but all in all not much in it

I agree with the winch. Very easy but very slow.

 

[sherg]

Had a Prattley now got a Rappa as you say good and bad in both.We are close to Rappa great service so that swayed it.The gripe about a Rappa is the winch takes about 50 times more turns to wind up albeit easier to turn just now too low geared.Also find Rappa slightly lower ground clearance,however does have beefier wheels.The Prattley is generally poorer build quality but all in all not much in it

Surprised you said the build quality is worse on a prattley I've seen them stand a fair bit of abuse

 

[chris elk]

Vote for Rappa here, great bit of kit, agree with the handle though, and the need to weld a bit thicker plate on the skid it sits on so you can get the wheels off easier on rough ground it's not the best. Overall very happy with it and makes the job so much easier!!! Also your buying British of a good company that's got to count for a bit!

 

[Six Dogs]

We had several welds break on the Prattley,the weight of the Rappa is heavier because it has used stronger heavier gauge alloy

 

[scrubbuster]

Scotpen?

 

[sherg]

Scotpen?

Hadn't really considered a scotpen I don't know anyone locally that's got one, aren't the hurdles supposed to be a higher than the rappa and prattleys which makes jumping in and out of the pen harder

 

[scrubbuster]

I had one on demo and yes maybe a wee bit high if you are shorter in the leg. That said the very first Highland Mule that got shed off into a pen went straight over without touching!

 

[Romney SE]

Rappa..... Buy British.

 

[neilo]

Vote for Rappa here, great bit of kit, agree with the handle though, and the need to weld a bit thicker plate on the skid it sits on so you can get the wheels off easier on rough ground it's not the best. Overall very happy with it and makes the job so much easier!!! Also your buying British of a good company that's got to count for a bit!

That was the first job I had to do on my old Prattley too, so unless they've changed them.....

Changed from a 'well used' Prattley to a Rappa, and I think they draw through it a lot better having the gates on the front. The build is stronger, but that makes it all a bit heavier. As for the winch, it might take more winding but it's in a lot easier place to do that winding IMO. With the Prattley, I found it easier to stand on the mud guard (also stronger on Rappa) to turn the winch, whereas with the Rappa I stand on level ground.

All in all, not a lot in it I'd guess. So why not choose the UK made one with better backup?

 

[Tim W]

They are all good----the Scotpen is my favourite as it is much stronger + it is British built

But when I get a bit older and frailer I may go for a lighter version ?

 

[Tim W]

One thing would say is plan the whole set up before you buy----integral scales are a great plus ---auto EID readers? Just things to consider before you splash out

 

[scrubbuster]

That was the main downside I felt with the Scotpen, was the weight of the hurdles but maybe they are a lot stronger? Not tried a Rappa. The other thing was I thought it was a bit noisy as it is sheet metal instead of ply

 

[sherg]

Think I need to have a good look at the rappa you might be getting a phone call @neilo

 

[Yale]

Who has the best back up in the UK?

The company who built up Prattleys reputation in the UK..........Rappa.

Are Ritchey/Prattley going to give the level of service which Rappa are renowned for?

 

[Andy26]

Are these road legal?

I've seen Rappa ones that have no road lights as standard and have a cheap looking 50mm ball hitch, rather than a decent bradley type. Is this because they are sold for 'off-road' use, but obviously they will be used on the road, that's the whole point isn't it?

 

[Spartacus]

Re Scotpen, arent they the solid panels? If they are I've been told to avoid if you are in a windy spot as you might end up downwind in a slightly less windy spot when you are moving them!

 

[Tim W]

Re Scotpen, arent they the solid panels? If they are I've been told to avoid if you are in a windy spot as you might end up downwind in a slightly less windy spot when you are moving them!

Top half is solid, bottom half is made of 3 bars ----but yes I have occasionally had them caught by the wind and blown over
But they are MUCH stronger than the other alloy makes, which is important if you want to gather 400 ewes that haven't been penned for 6 months

To my mind they are all pretty good , it's just picking the one you like and going with it---maybe the best decider is the service issue---who is closer etc
Scotpen are based the other end of the country to me but they have a fabricator in Tiverton, Devon and so any alterations/additions/extras I have wanted have been easy to come by
Rappa are only a few miles from me and I would certainly look at them in future for that reason alone