3.5 Tonne Boxes - recommendations

lisan

lisan

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Fylde Coast, Lancs
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Really want a Boss one, but out of my price range, so have been looking at the Wilcox Dart Xtra, anyone have any experience of these?

Looking for something with 1.2 + payload from 16 - 20k preferably around the NorthWest.
 
Try Marlborough although to be honest your horses will be far safer in a 7.5 ton as they have a proper chassis and are higher off the ground.
 
When I was looking, I really liked the look of the Courcheval boxes but they were over my budget when you factored in VAT. The very wide back door and 'breakable' breast bar look fantastic. In the end I went for second hand to get a better box (an Equimark, which I am very happy with, and couldn't possibly afford one new).

http://www.courchevelhorseboxes.com/legacy.html
 
When I spoke to Courcheval they were really helpful. They are completely the wrong area for you but for such an important purchase it's worth the miles to look at one, I guess.
 
lisan said:
How many would be dependent on weight and payload, hence looking for a decent payload
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Unless they are both very light then it will be one at a time because they payloads suggested hardly ever take into account the reality of all the other stuff such as driver fuel etc which eats into it

I doubt if one member of this site can state they got two average weight horses/ponies into a 3.5 without it being overloaded

I would plan for one only and use that as the basis for your business model

One only also opens up the market so you can choose almost any 3.5
 
ROG said:
I doubt if one member of this site can state they got two average weight horses/ponies into a 3.5 without it being overloaded
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I can with certainty. But then our box is made from ali and home built.
Payload available on weighbridge (full tank) is just over 1.2t (1210kg)
Horses weigh 421 and 518kg this is checked on scales, not estimate.
Wife and daughter 112kg
Tack 40kg
Total = 1091kg
That leaves 119kg spare for rugs haynets etc.
Sorted!
 
PaddyMonty said:
I can with certainty. But then our box is made from ali and home built.
Payload available on weighbridge (full tank) is just over 1.2t (1210kg)
Horses weigh 421 and 518kg this is checked on scales, not estimate.
Wife and daughter 112kg
Tack 40kg
Total = 1091kg
That leaves 119kg spare for rugs haynets etc.
Sorted!
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I stand corrected LOL
 
ROG said:
I stand corrected LOL
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Sorry, I couldn't resist the challange but I will admit that the construction of ours is pretty unique and getting a commercially availble box to the same speck would be very difficult as a lot of the materials and construction techniques are for speed of build, not weight saving.
 
PaddyMonty said:
Sorry, I couldn't resist the challange but I will admit that the construction of ours is pretty unique and getting a commercially availble box to the same speck would be very difficult as a lot of the materials and construction techniques are for speed of build, not weight saving.
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I've found a guy in Durham who will build for weight saving not speed, with honeycomb panels and Ali, this is why I am taking my time to find the right one that is lightweight, but also safe and reliable.

Do you have any pics and tips from yours PaddyMonty?

Thanks
 
lisan said:
Do you have any pics and tips from yours PaddyMonty?
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I made a full height partition so no chance of horse getting stuck over breastbar.
Picture041.jpg


Tack lockers are built in to breastbox
DSC05540.jpg


Ramp is wider than standard extending further back along the box so horses dont have to bend too much when getting them out
Picture001-1.jpg


Grooms door is 2 inches wider than standard to make getting saddles in easier.
Picture044.jpg


Has wing doors to prevent horse escaping when ramp down. These were made from lamiates of thin ply and carbon fibre to keep light yet strong.
Picture039.jpg

For reference the horse in the last pic is 15.1hh
 
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