3.5t Lorry Advice Please

[AngelaWB]

I'm still on the 'do I or don't I' phase of buying either a new Bateson Ascot or a small van type box, though I know nothing of the latter.

Are these van types big enough to carry a 16hh, 650kg chunky Oldenburg x Freisian/Irish Cob? They look kind of small, but she did arrive in one (I thought she was flat packed!) when I bought her when she was 4, but now at 11 year old she's quite a stocky lass.

Which brands are the safest for reinforced bulk heads etc? Does a 3.5t need plating?

I'd be looking to journeys of no more than 35 miles away at the most, it's only to go hacking near where I live and in different areas.

The only reason I'm thinking of a little van/lorry is because I have to reverse my trailer approx 100 yards down a narrow road through a slalom of cars every time I go out in it, so as you can probably gather, although I can now reverse quite well, I didn't use my old trailer too often! I then tried to drive the trailer through, unhitch and swing it around manually to push it into my yard, ended up with 6 months of leg pain from pulling a tendon / ligament in my leg! So as I have now passed my mid 50's I want life to be a bit easier!

Thanks in advance.

 

[Xmasha]

Id say she would be fine in the ones that have a had a full conversion, but not the ones that still look like vans. IMO they are only suitable for the smaller 15.2 and unders

3.5t only need MOTs and not plaiting

 

[AngelaWB]

Thanks Asha, that's useful.

 

[milliepops]

Yeah I'd agree you are looking at a coachbuilt shape one rather than a conversion for a horse that size really. You will need to just take care to find one with enough payload. there are public weighbridges you can find via google if a seller doesn't have an up to date certificate for the payload. well worth doing if there is any doubt, i used to pay under a tenner at the local quarry.

 

[AngelaWB]

Thanks Milliepops, yes I'd be looking for a fair payload to be honest, I would hate to be near to the limit going anywhere!

 

[milliepops]

if your licence permits, a 3.9 or 4.5t small lorry would drive the same as a 3.5t, and allow a lot more breathing room. but you would need to go through plating for that instead of just MOT.

 

[AngelaWB]

Thanks, I've held a license for over 30 years, so guessing it does, but will need to check.

 

[ROMANY 1959]

Why not hire one for a weekend, see if you like it.

 

[AngelaWB]

I was actually thinking I might do that, maybe do a few days when I'm on leave. Thanks Romany

 

[Squeak]

You should be able to get a coachbuilt one with around a 1 tonne payload which should be plenty for your boy and they're usually quite spacious for the horses.

 

[AngelaWB]

Thanks Squeak

 

[sportsmansB]

I find a coachbuilt 3.5t much roomier than a trailer to be honest. I have a fairly hefty 16.3 and he has absolutely loads of space.
Payload is the main thing but as long as you are only carrying one, and have 900kg+, you will be absolutely fine

Maintenance wise I have had mine for 4 years and I would say spent £500 in total (tyres, battery, windscreen). Its a citroen.
Tax I pay monthy its about £15 a month, and insurance is £200 a year or thereabouts

Best thing I ever did I found trailer driving / hitching / parking all quire stressful!

 

[AngelaWB]

Thanks SportsmansB. That's really interesting. I've had one mishap with my first trailer and it really frightened me, I caught a dry stone wall as I turned out of a track as I was in a bit of a panic thinking I couldn't get out. The wheel of the trailer went over one of the stones and tipped the trailer slightly, I was in a right state, the horse just kept on munching! I had to go back there next day with an empty trailer and do it again otherwise I'd have totally lost my confidence. Then reversing the damn thing down the road is a nightmare, I know the neighbours will move the cars if I ask, but I hate the inconvenience, also hate the fact they come out to watch me reverse!!

Gosh your tax is cheaper than my 4x4, I pay around £28 a month for that and insurance is higher too! I think I need to look more seriously at this.

Thanks.

 

[sport horse]

If you buy a 3.5 tonne make sure that it is a stallion box (ie does not have breast bars but a solid partition in front of the horse). there have been numerous accidents with bars.

 

[L&M]

I am lucky enough to have had experiences of all 3 - I adored my van conversion but only ever travelled 15hh's and under in it on a regular basis. I did give lifts to a couple of people with bigger horses, a 15.2hh and a 15.3hh, but personally wouldn't want to do it all the time (the van took the weight well but just felt bigger horses were a little cramped).

I currently have a coachbuilt which I equally like - it has all the advantages of the van ie low running costs, easy to manoeveure and park etc, but is so much more roomy. It feels like a stable on wheels in comparison to the van. I also look a little more 'obvious' on the roads as a horsebox, and feel other drivers give me a little more respect.

We had a trailer for many years prior to the van/coachbuilt - the advantages were towing with a 4x4 and not worrying about getting stuck in wet fields, and cheaper to run and maintain. But found the hitching up and reversing issues outweighed the economy, and so nice to be able to keep everything in the lorry until the next time, rather than having to unload all the horsey crap out of the 4x4 everytime we needed it for work etc.

So, for me anyhow, a van or coachbuilt over a trailer, but assuming I wasn't travelling an elephant!!!

 

[AngelaWB]

Thanks Sport horse - sound advice

Thanks L&M more food for thought. I tend to be more on roads/lanes, but you just never know!

 

[Tiddlypom]

I think with you having to reverse a trailer down your road to park it up, that a small box would be much easier.

Do hire before you buy, and I second looking for a stallion box. At any rate, nothing with a fixed breast bar - and that rules out a lot, unless you can get it modified.

 

[L&M]

I think with you having to reverse a trailer down your road to park it up, that a small box would be much easier.

Do hire before you buy, and I second looking for a stallion box. At any rate, nothing with a fixed breast bar - and that rules out a lot, unless you can get it modified.

Totally agree - ours has a removeable breast bar and an extra wide jockey door which could be used as an emergency horse exit.....

 

[PeterNatt]

Get one that has had a container built on a Renault Master Chassis Pan Cab. (Just supplied as a chassis without a container on it). The Renault Master has a low centre of gravity and the container can then be a fairly high one which will be able to accommodate your horse. The best built ones are Bloomfield, Boss, Marlborough and Oakley.

 

[Squeak]

Get one that has had a container built on a Renault Master Chassis Pan Cab. (Just supplied as a chassis without a container on it). The Renault Master has a low centre of gravity and the container can then be a fairly high one which will be able to accommodate your horse. The best built ones are Bloomfield, Boss, Marlborough and Oakley.

Am I right in thinking that the Vauxhall Movano and Citroen Relay are the same chassis as the Renault Master? So you could get any of those three but usually avoid the Mercedes and VW because they're different and have a higher centre of gravity.

I think the Fiat's are meant to be very good as well.

 

[AngelaWB]

Thank you all.

Thank you too for the suggestions of makers, that's very useful

I will look in to the chassis similarities of the Vauxhall/Citroen to the Renault too, thank you.

 

[Annagain]

Am I right in thinking that the Vauxhall Movano and Citroen Relay are the same chassis as the Renault Master? So you could get any of those three but usually avoid the Mercedes and VW because they're different and have a higher centre of gravity.

I think the Fiat's are meant to be very good as well.

Yes, the Fiat Ducato is basically the same van too.

The more I read from you AngelaWB, the more I'm convinced a 3.5T is the way for you to go. As you won't do huge mileage, you could look at one that has previously belonged to a transporter company. They tend to be quite no frills so have a decent payload but are well built as transporters need them to stand up to heavy usage and have been well maintained. Maybe contact some local ones to see if they have an older van they're selling off?

 

[AngelaWB]

That's an excellent idea Annagain, thank you. I'll enquire with a few and see what they do with their older vehicles.