3.5 van - could you remove the fixed wooden breast bar ...

[deoni12]

..and just put a removable breast bar across like on a trailer? It's an old van so don't need anything fancy, would that work? Would help with weight also, I might be being stupid though and it won't be possible at all!!

The van at the min:
So I mean taking the white wooden bit out and just fitting a removable single bar? That way in an emergency they could get out the back or if they jumped over.

 

[L&M]

An old livery of mine had a similiar van conversion, but with just a breast bar such as you would have in a trailer, and was removeable.

Not sure how you would remove the existing breast bar though.....!

 

[deoni12]

An old livery of mine had a similiar van conversion, but with just a breast bar such as you would have in a trailer, and was removeable.

Not sure how you would remove the existing breast bar though.....!

Hey, thank you It's bolted in so I'm guessing I can take it to a mechanic and they can fit some clip bits for the new one too? I just thought it seems like a better, safer idea but couldn't think of a reason why not to do it. Will get looking for a long breast bar!!

 

[kevd]

It looks fine to remove. Being a van the breast bar isn't structural.

 

[webble]

I would be interested to see it once done and hear how you get on travelling with it please?

 

[montanna]

Would be possible, but I would be taking it to a proper coachbuilder and not just a mechanic.

 

[deoni12]

I would be interested to see it once done and hear how you get on travelling with it please?

Hi I will do if I get it done. At some point taking it for the floor checked etc so will probably see about it then!

 

[cptrayes]

I'm sorry but I think your van is already dangerous and putting in a breast bar could make it even more so. If your horse came over the top or under the bar, those back doors could spring open and the horse would be out onto the road.

Don't think it couldn't happen, because it did to the 3.5 rental van at a local livery centre. Luckily their own horse was in it at the time, and it only had a groom's door. But even so, whilst driving along, their horse got itself part way out of the grooms door. If the doors had been like yours, it would have pushed them open, fallen out, and almost certainly died.

Please get a heavy duty, full width bar closure fitted to your doors.