3.5 van diy conversion or Renault dodge

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Lucycn

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So I’m on the lookout for a cheap box. Ive never had a lorry before so really need some help! I don’t have a towing vehicle (I have a company car and they don’t seem to have land rovers as an option!) and I’m a bit nervous of towing so don’t want a trailer. I will be travelling on my own and carrying 1 x 16.2 plus water, tack etc... I’ve seen an elderly Renault dodge 5.6 tonne - any feedback on these- I’ve never driven anything bigger than a van- do these feel massive or if I’m going big do I go for a 7.5? Is there much difference in driving? How much roughly is insurance, fuel etc? As an option husband has suggested buying a van and converting it- is this an option or should it be left to the coach builders? I know weight wise I’d only be able to carry 1, but is a home done conversion safe and would I be able to sell it later? Thanks in advance!
 
Always use a coach builder, there have been far too many accidents, often fatal involving horses travelling in card board boxes.

Insurance is around £500 per year, plus breakdown recovery another £150 ish. Anyone can learn to drive a box safely, just get the right help and ensure you have the right licence if you are young.
 
If I were you I would try to hire a conversion and a coachbuilt so that you can get an idea of how they drive, degree of rattles, which one the horse travels best in. There's no point in spending your hard earned money and then finding that the vehicle doesn't work for you.
 
Lucycn
It is certainly possible to build a 3.5t lorry. I know this for a fact because I did it.
However, you really do need to understand what is required before undertaking such a project.
Just for the record, ours is now 5 years old and not a single screw has come loose and yes it is strong enough to handle anything a horse throws at it.
 
Insurance on my 3.5 was £340, on my 7.5 £250. Recovery from Autohome is £70.

If you're looking for a cheap 7.5, mine has to go, it's in the way. I'm selling it with a warranty and it's in tip top condition mechanically. PM me if interested.
 
ycbm said:
Insurance on my 3.5 was £340, on my 7.5 £250. Recovery from Autohome is £70 .
Click to expand...
Erm, you may need to read this from the current edition of H&H re Autohome recovery.

DztCc4o.jpg


Back to the OP, there are some shockingly bad 'professional' conversions out there and some really good diy ones, and vice versa. If going diy, you do really need to know what you're doing, though, like PM did :).
 
Tiddlypom said:
Erm, you may need to read this from the current edition of H&H re Autohome recovery.
Click to expand...

Thank goodness I only need it for the vehicle recovery! That's a bit shocking for people thinking they were covered. I thought the wording of the first policy I ever had, where the horses were not recovered, was still the case until I saw Anthony Evans website last month, so I'll probably stick with it as I have plenty of friends who would pick up the horse for me at the distances I travel these days.
 
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