3.5 ton vans conversions

[van man]

i am setting up my own business converting 3.5ton renault masters into horse boxes, please could you all tell me what problems (other than overloading) you have had with this type of conversion and what you would like to see different from what is currently available

 

[QUICKFIRE]

The bulkhead behind the driver to be strong enough to stop 2 horses sitting on your head in case of an emergency stop!

 

[Arkmiido]

I've bought a coachbuilt Iveco now, but when I was looking at these, I preferred the "Barn-door" style opening at the top of the ramp as opposed to flip up garage-door stylie - because it felt a bit claustraphobic and low to walk into. Quick release breast bars as opposed to a wall that the horse is stuck over if they rear ;-)
Ramp 'wings' or gates that stop the 2nd horse exiting before the ramp goes up. Low mileage on the conversion!!
Windows are a bonus.

 

[Aoibhin]

not being able to see what the little darlings are up too in the back when all hell breaks loose (twit SWA tried to roll!!)

 

[Holly Hocks]

The bulkhead behind the driver to be strong enough to stop 2 horses sitting on your head in case of an emergency stop!

DEFINITELY!!! I bought one which wasn't strong enough and when my horse leaned on it, it felt like he was going to sit in the front with me. I had mine strengthened at a steel fabricators with bars behind me and it's great now.

Please make sure the vans you buy have genuine mileage on by checking the previous MOTs at www.mot.gov.uk as my first one was clocked by several thousand miles and blew up on the way back to the dealer.

The step into mine from the ramp has a gap. I dont like it as my mare sometimes decides to step in that bit and I am paranoid about her getting her foot stuck.

Make sure the breast bar is high enough so that the horse can't get over, if you're not going to fit collapsible breast bars.

Don't put barn doors at the top as when they are open, you can't open the passenger door of the van without closing it first. Mine doesn't have these, but I have known people have problems with them.
If you want to PM me, I can probably give you a few more pointers and if you want to send me your e-mail address by PM I can send you some photos of the work I had done to the bulkhead which is effective, but only cost me £100 to do.

 

[xena_wales]

I prefer the canopy to the barn doors personally! Except you can get drenched when closing it if it's been raining! But I tend to leave the passenger door open when I'm messing around with the horses as I'm fetching stuff out of the cab, and the barn door would stop me doing that.

Would also like some sort of collapsible breastbar system, and I also like the partition tracking to run the entire width of the box so I can move the partitions round as much as I want, or use two partitions to carry one horse slightly more centrally.

 

[perfect11s]

i am setting up my own business converting 3.5ton renault masters into horse boxes, please could you all tell me what problems (other than overloading) you have had with this type of conversion and what you would like to see different from what is currently available

not a good move as there are loads of people converting these silly little vans yes the kids can drive them on a car licence but they arnt very practical as they only carry one horse and are as expensive as a proper lorry .. I would build on the 5 to 6.5 ton ivecos two horses with side ramp living at the front with a luton bed over the cab and the cabback cut out so you can walk thru and so the drivers seat turns round like in a motor home .... there is a good market for bigger than 3.5 gross but smaller than the 7.5 tonners and very very few about ....

 

[Vicki1986]

theres definately a market for 3.5ton's but theres lots of builders around that do them.
i looked at lots and decided to get a chaigley weekender in the end as i usually only travel 1 small pony or horse anyway.
its my dream wagon, has lots of storage, open over the cab so i can sleep up there if needed, and seperate small living at the back. the only thing i would like is more windows in the horse area because the horses do get quite hot.
I have a horse cam which i love, i thought i'd need a reversing cam but i dont think there that neccessary.
i know you said aside from the weight but if you could manufacture something with 1.5 tone payload you'd make a mint, i have 1ton on mine and its ok for what i need but you'd never get 2 on, let alone 1 big one unless you travel light.
i think it may have been the theaults i looked at possibly that had a fold down camp style bed in the cab, the seats sort of folded down, I like that idea.