3.5 ton conversions again: favourite make?

spookypony

spookypony

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I'm looking for people's opinions on which make(s) and model(s) of van make the best horsebox conversions, in terms of driving, mechanical reliability, etc. Renault? Ford? Mercedes? Something completely different? Just exploring options!
 
I have a Vauxhall Movano. It is easy to drive, very economical to run and the parts are easy to come by as the Renault Master is the same as the Movano - they just have different radiator grills with different logos on! I haven't had my box long but it has started everytime even in the freezing cold weather!
 
I have an LDV Convoy with a Ford Transit engine. Its a lovely little runner and completely reliable, has never broken down.

Its for sale at a give away price if anyone is interested...
 
I like the Renault Master / Vauxhall Movanos. I think the Citroen Relay and Nissan Interstar might be the same vans too under the badge? As far as I'm aware, these are the only front wheel drive vans out there, which means they don't have a propshaft going under the vehicle, so the horses can travel between the axles rather than on top, which gives a more stable ride in a 3.5t box.

Edit: The Citroen Relay looks to be a different type of van actually, but the Nissan Interstar looks the same as the Movano/Master.
 
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The renault master , vauxhall movano, work best as they are front wheel drive there isnt a big axle under the back so the load floor can be kept low there is a new model master and movano just out so it will be interesting to see who's first to build a horse box on one...
 
Just make sure you have enough payload (available weight). If you have a proper conversion with re-inforced bulk head then you will only have about 850 kilo available weight, if you have a 600kilo horse then its all on one side and being a small vehicle you could easily find that if you had to break hard it would pull badly to one side, (dont forget to add your weight and anyone else that is going with you, tack and water plus a full tank of fuel), make sure you have twin wheels on the rear axle, if you have a blow out then you have less chance of tipping over if its a rear wheel drive.... personally I feel that anything over 14.2hh should be in a larger vehicle as too much weight on one side will effect everything from steering to breaking and cornering.
If a seller says 'will carry two 16.2hh', walk away, it will be massively overweight and prob not built properly.
Good luck with your search
 
Chamfrom said:
make sure you have twin wheels on the rear axle, if you have a blow out then you have less chance of tipping over if its a rear wheel drive.... personally I feel that anything over 14.2hh should be in a larger vehicle as too much weight on one side will effect everything from steering to breaking and cornering.
Click to expand...

They don't make Masters and Movanos with twin wheels though???

I agree that it might not be great having all the weight on one side, but the weight of the ramp counters the horse weight to a certain extent. What I'd like in my next Master though, is a full width partition track so that I can use two lightweight partitions to keep the horse more centred as I think it would be safer in the event of an accident too.
 
You can get some of them uprated to 3.9 tonnes but then you can't drive them on a car licence. Anybody with an old style licence would be ok though.
 
Chamfrom said:
Just make sure you have enough payload (available weight). If you have a proper conversion with re-inforced bulk head then you will only have about 850 kilo available weight, if you have a 600kilo horse then its all on one side and being a small vehicle you could easily find that if you had to break hard it would pull badly to one side, (dont forget to add your weight and anyone else that is going with you, tack and water plus a full tank of fuel), make sure you have twin wheels on the rear axle, if you have a blow out then you have less chance of tipping over if its a rear wheel drive.... personally I feel that anything over 14.2hh should be in a larger vehicle as too much weight on one side will effect everything from steering to breaking and cornering.
If a seller says 'will carry two 16.2hh', walk away, it will be massively overweight and prob not built properly.
Good luck with your search
Click to expand...
There are some tidy and well built ones with a 1200 kg payload, so one big one or two ponys, just make sure you see a weigh bridge ticket.. you dont need twin rear wheels as long as the tyres have a high enough
load rating which they will if the correct ones are fitted to a renault master etc...
 
When I was getting my conversion done I chose a vauxhall movano cause I had a dislike of renault, as it turned out the company who was doing my conversion contacted me to say they were not willing to convert the movano they had in stock for me cause of something being wrong with it (cant remember what) and the only vehicles they had in were renault masters so agreed on one they had it stock.

Have had it 3 years now and love it really easy and comfortable to drive. Have driven it from Guernsey to the UK for last 3 years (Lincs, Peterborough and Gwent) with no problems (touch wood it stays that way) but have also only had mini shetlands in it so no problem with payload.

My only downer is I wish I had known I was going to purchase a big big horse cause would have chosen a different conversion, my 17hh is a little big for the one I have.
 
you dont need twin rear wheels as long as the tyres have a high enough
load rating which they will if the correct ones are fitted to a renault master etc...[/QUOTE]

mmm, I wouldnt want to risk it with my horse on board, I can see your point, but seen too many vans have blow outs that are up to weight, its the rear axle that has the lions share of the load with a lot of the vans and it only takes one to go and your down the embankment.

Each to their own but I would always go for twin wheels on the rear, much safer, you do get some 3.5s that have them...... honest!
 
xena_wales said:
They don't make Masters and Movanos with twin wheels though???

I agree that it might not be great having all the weight on one side, but the weight of the ramp counters the horse weight to a certain extent. What I'd like in my next Master though, is a full width partition track so that I can use two lightweight partitions to keep the horse more centred as I think it would be safer in the event of an accident too.
Click to expand...

weight of the ramp on modern conversions is very light - i dont think it balances as much as you think.

i have a chaigley on a renault - love it wouldnt swap it for the world !
 
There are only really two models of front wheel drive 3.5 tonne wagons to choose from. There is the Renault Master which is identical to the Vauxhall Movano which is identical to the Nissan Interstar. The only difference is the badge on the front.

Then there is the Citroen Relay which is identical to the Peugeot Boxer and the Fiat Ducato.

The Citroen/Peugeot/Fiat tend to have more luxuries for the same money such as electric windows and air conditioning. I don't know about relative reliability.

I've got a Renault Master that I had converted to my own specifications and I love it. Its easy to drive, reliable, economical (30mpg with a horse on board!) and my horses (both of them but not in it at the same time) travel really well in it.
 
Chamfrom said:
Just make sure you have enough payload (available weight). If you have a proper conversion with re-inforced bulk head then you will only have about 850 kilo available weight.
Click to expand...


My Renault Master conversion has a reinforced bulkhead (would NEVER buy one of these boxes without the reinforcement!) and I have a genuine payload of 1250kg. I absolutely love it, actually prefer driving it to my car!
 
perfect11s said:
you dont need twin rear wheels as long as the tyres have a high enough
load rating which they will if the correct ones are fitted to a renault master etc...
Click to expand...

mmm, I wouldnt want to risk it with my horse on board, I can see your point, but seen too many vans have blow outs that are up to weight, its the rear axle that has the lions share of the load with a lot of the vans and it only takes one to go and your down the embankment.

Each to their own but I would always go for twin wheels on the rear, much safer, you do get some 3.5s that have them...... honest![/QUOTE]
Just going to get my shovel to clear up the bovine scatter :D
 
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