Bernadette Marantelli and Veronica Hunt Miruby Park – Clarkefield VIC
In late 2015 we commissioned a 17-foot horse float from ‘L&B Floats’. To say the least, the service from Litz and his wife Bernadine was absolutely amazing. No question was too difficult and no solution too hard; our every whim was accommodated for. This was critically important to us as we had been knocking around in the family’s 30-year-old straight single loader for approximately 8 years travelling to a wide variety of equine events and competitions. Camping over was not a joy in the old float. Despite the fact that it had loyally served us for so many years we did, a long time before it was retired, outgrew it. So what should be purchase to replace it? L&B Floats came to our rescue and provided us with all the options, choices and answers.
Today we travel in spectacular comfort. You might see us on the road in our extremely unique, one of kind, purple 17-foot home away from home and horse transporter.
Litz and Bernadine created for us a beautiful upfront living quarters where we now enjoy the luxuries of a bar fridge, TV, microwave, kitchen sink with water, abundant storage and the piece of resistance the adjustable kitchen table and padded seats which convert to the bottom of two bunk beds. The 12v and 240v electric facilities and on-board storage battery gives us the ability to run all of our electrical items and have lights on and smart phones and tablets charging away. We now enjoy running our little heater in winter and fan in summer via our generator which plugs into our system when we can’t get immediate access to mains power supplies. The system also accommodates solar panels as well to maintain charge in the on-board storage battery. The Anderson Plug between the car and the float allows for the refrigerator to be running during transit without exhausting the on-board storage battery and actually charges it up as we happily drive along.
Bit of a delight is the on-board camera system which allows us to clearly see how comfortably our beloved horses are travelling during transit from within our vehicle. We find this particularly reassuring on long trips, hilly and windy roads, in poor weather conditions and then also and probably most importantly when travelling on open highways with trucks passing and forbid when we have to go through the City or on City bound roads and get caught in traffic jams which can be highly anxiety provoking. On-board cameras? Definitely a must.
Our horses enjoy large adjustable side loading bays where they can stand and move and adjust themselves without knocking legs or getting fussed over inadequate room. Our horses always politely loaded but now they self-load keen to get on as soon as they see they are having a trip on the float and this is absolutely no exaggeration. We are confident that the ‘rock and roll’ suspension and side loading features and the overall stability of the float and the range of air ventilation units throughout the float (in human living quarters and in the rear horse floating compartment) has significantly contributed to the calmness in which our horses both approach and enjoy their floating experience.
Our extra-large tack box which sits to the rear of the horses’ transport bays is easily moved around on the hinge system allowing for easy access to three saddles and all of our gear and grooming supplies. The large tack box compliments the additional tack/storage box which is found at the front of the float as is the case with most modern floats. Plenty of consideration has been given in our float to the storage needs of the horses and their humans. Overhead storage cages, to the rear of the horses during transport, gives us even further storage and is where we keep all of our saddle blankets, day rugs, transport cottons and emergency spare wet sheets and donnas. Rarely now can we say that we have left something behind at home and often are in a position to help out others who are running around in a panic at an event trying to find a piece of mislaid equipment.
The adjustable horse transport bays are easily removed and the rear of the float can be converted into another large sleeping space where we fit in a queen size portable bed on a frame. The bed when not being used is stored in the corner cupboard to the front of the horse transport bays a very clever recent addition to the ‘L&B Floats’ by Litz. Thanks also to the handiwork and genius of Bernadine we have beautiful removable purple curtains which cover the windows and ensure that we have an undisturbed sleep from intruding light.
On road the float tows like an absolute dream and far exceeds the old little straight two loader that we did many a mile with. The stability on the road and the electric breaking system is second to none.
So if you are considering buying or commissioning the build of a new float to specifically meet your needs it is our strong view that you just can’t go past an ‘L&B Floats’. We looked at many and we questioned many builders of floats and it was ‘L&B Floats’ that passed the test and we are a pretty tough audience to please and with our new ‘L&B Float’ we couldn’t be happier or more thrilled.
Our experience of ‘after sales’ service? Absolutely amazing. Litz and Bernadine are so proud of their work and set such high quality standards that if you pop a call and they are available to receive your float and help with a repair or improvement they do this without question. They never give you the feeling like you are an imposition, even when the repair is your fault which is often so in our case! Litz services all of his floats with a pride and diligence to detail which is reminiscent of a service of yesteryear; you know you are always driving a top quality product when you are on the road carrying your most treasured possessions; your family and your horses.
We highly recommend ‘L&B Floats’.
Bernie & Litz of L&B Floats are just amazing. It is so hard to separate the good, bad & ugly when buying a horse float. There are so many manufacturers, all making the same claims. Trust played such a big part of my decision. Litz & Bernie were enormously helpful throughout the process, and the end result is a truly beautiful float. I can’t actually believe it’s mine to be honest.