3.5t horseboxes - practical questions

maletto

maletto

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I'm hiring a 3.5t van conversion horsebox on Saturday to take my 15.2 and a little 14.0 pony show jumping.

Having never driven one before, are they any different to drive than a large/heavy car? I mean obviously I need to drive slowly & leave loads of room for braking etc but any other considerations I need to be aware of?

In terms of loading them, presumably I would put the 15.2 in first (heavier) in the same way as you'd have the heavier horse on the right in a trailer? Only thing is that the pony's class isn't until much later than mine, so the pony will have to hang around for a bit - do I bring them both out & then put the pony back in on the right?

I know the box is air conditioned but can you open just the top half of the door so that you can leave the ponies in whilst you go and sort out your entries? Or is there another way to leave the ponies in there but get some fresh air circling (don't really want to open the back/jockey door having heard loads of horror stories!)

Any helpful tips gratefully received!
 
They do vary in design. However I would imagine that like a car the air con only works when the engine is running. In general terms however you do need the heavier one away from teh camber on the road the same as a trailer. You also need to check the payload of the van as if it is not very high then the horses, diesal, tack, people, water etc might result in it being overloaded.
 
ditto above.
mine drives like a car but obviously alot longer and taller! watch out for hanging branches!
i wouldnt leave the pony tied up outside the box on its own personally. they are safer inside if they are unattended.
 
hmmm that's what I thought. Thanks both.

I've got the girl whose pony I'm taking's mum following along behind so I might put the girl and all the tack etc in her car so that it's literally me and the two horses in the van.

Not taking water, will take a bucket & fill up from a tap there as 15.2 doesn't drink away from home.

I would never leave a pony tied up outside unattended either amandaco2, just wondered if they would be comfortable inside with all the doors and stuff shut. suppose I will just have to see it for myself!

quite excited i must admit. just hope I don't fall in love with it and want one of my own. do not have £10k to burn!!
 
Payloads are not that much on 3.5 ton I know mine is 1050kg and certainly wouldnt take 2 unless they were both smallish ponies, I would of thought your horses would weigh roughly between them 800-900 ton. Please be careful. I find the 3.5 ton van very misleading when they advertise them as taking 2 horses.
 
We have got a 7.5T lorry and a 3.5T box and we have to drive round the corners slower when we are in the 3.5T. They seem to balance better in the big lorry probably because they are sideways-on in the lorry and rear-facing in the little box!
 
Maletto said:
hmmm that's what I thought. Thanks both.

I've got the girl whose pony I'm taking's mum following along behind so I might put the girl and all the tack etc in her car so that it's literally me and the two horses in the van.

Not taking water, will take a bucket & fill up from a tap there as 15.2 doesn't drink away from home.

I would never leave a pony tied up outside unattended either amandaco2, just wondered if they would be comfortable inside with all the doors and stuff shut. suppose I will just have to see it for myself!

quite excited i must admit. just hope I don't fall in love with it and want one of my own. do not have £10k to burn!!
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always take water!!! if you breakdown it might be a long wait or hot.. IMHO it should be law to carry water when hauling livestock...
 
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