3.5T Opinions, and Boss?

~ Clear Light ~

~ Clear Light ~

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22 February 2012
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Clear Light Equestrian, Kent
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Right I've done a ton (or perhaps 3.5 ton!) of research on horseboxes. Marlborough is still in the running as my favourite. I've discounted loads based on their flimsy build. One or two smaller companies have stood out as being good but as their name is not that well known I'd rather not take the risk if I decided to sell.

One brand I've not seen but sounds a bit too good is Boss. Does anyone have any experiences? I've read that the build quality is pretty decent. In terms of design and image it is the complete opposite to Marlborough, traditional versus modern!

If anyone has any experiences with either please let me know :)
 
Sorry don't know anything about Boss, but they do look impressive. I'm also impressed by Kevin Parker horseboxes based up in Lancashire, have you considered them?
 
Someone I know has a boss 3.5 ton. Very practical design re storage and lockers etc, however after little use the mats have holes in. I suspect trying to keep the weight down they use lighter products, thus sacrificing durability.
The paye load is still only 1.2 ton
 
I narroewd my search to Marlborough & Racemaster - both v good builds.
Went to Racemaster & talked at lengh, was able to see a box in build & they are v sturdy & workmanlike - exactly what I need.
Also was able to speak to previous clients & chat to them about pro's & cons etc & made my mind up on this :)

Have gone with Racemaster & should have it early next week.
 
Trottingon I've heard of them but shame the website doesn't have prices. They look pretty well built, I may contact them, thanks.

Christine48 thanks, that is interesting to know. What size horse does she have? Besides the mats has everything else been ok? I contacted Boss and although they have SE agents, they are 2 hours from me, but I'm tempted to go for a look.

FrodoBeutlin these boxes look really smart. I've heard the build quality isn't the best though and the payload isn't that great. He really does sound very much the car sales man on the phone too :p I hope things have improved since then as his boxes do look yummy :D

The Fuzzy Furry, I'd forgotten about Racemaster actually. They sound pretty reasonable, plus build on your own chassis which is what I am tempted to do now. Ok next stop, speak to Racemaster :)
 
~ Clear Light ~ said:
The Fuzzy Furry, I'd forgotten about Racemaster actually. They sound pretty reasonable, plus build on your own chassis which is what I am tempted to do now. Ok next stop, speak to Racemaster :)
Click to expand...

They can also source you the chassis if you wish & have done so for mine at my request.
I'm having a few extras - tack locker, loading gates (as I will travel a mini on occasions) and a tow bar so I can drag the caravan along if needs be, etc.
I like the build with traditional steel front rather than a LW glasonite/fibreglass type, as mine is for everyday use & will be bopped etc by trees and the like & would rather a few scratches than possible cracks in it ;)

They are solid & safe IMHO & come with weight cert to show you the unladen weight - all come out approx 1200 :)

Good luck where ever you go to :)
 
They usually carry 2 ponies or 1 horse. Besides the mats ( which Boss have agreed to replace when convenient) they love it- said its the best thing they've bought. They do have a HGV lorry too. They had the bit in front of the horses filled in which gave extra storage and there's no risk of the horses coming over the breat bar.
 
I have a Marlborough Hunter and I am very pleased with it. When I looked into buying a box it was Marlborough or Racemaster I wouldn't have bought anything else.
 
Assume you've checked out Equistar which is very near you? Friend at old yard has one of theirs, it's gorgeous and she is delighted with it as well as after sales service. I believe she was very involved in the build too.
 
TFF that's good advice about the steel front. Also good it comes with a weight certificate, I don't think many others do.

Newlands are Foxy Twin and Chaigley Duo pretty much the same thing? I've looked at Chaigleys.

Christine48 that's a good idea about the breast bar part. They do seem like really well thought out boxes and if the aftersales if good too...

Pairciban yes I keep coming back to Marlborough! Can't beat them it seems. I looked at a 4 year old Cob the other day and it just looked so sturdy, but I just wasn't quick enough and someone's taken it :(

Nicnac yes I know Karen from EquiStar well and I've seen her lovely boxes. They are definitely on my shortlist too. Arrgh there are just so many options!

Miss_C I have not researched them but I will now. Wow I will be an expert after all this :p
 
I've got a Racemaster built on 05 just over 2 years ago and it's a great little box. Horses love it, it feels solid if they do give you a boot from behind but goes like the clappers and it still gets admiring comments with little tlc. I've had no reason to go back to them since I picked it up, just found a local guy to service and MOT. Good value compared to Marlborough when I was looking.
 
I've had marlborough cob for 4yrs & v happy with it. Horse area still in as gd condition as when I got it (new & built 4 me).
I went 4 it as felt horse area more solid that all the others I'd looked at & back door is big enuf 2 get horse out of should the worst happen & they get over the breast bar.
Only thing I don't like (& its a teeny niggle!) is when horse eats hay it drops & gets everywhere-takes me a while with dustpan & brush to clear it up from pimpled rubber matting in the 'living' but then I am a bit OCD bout lorry cleanness! Also found rubber matting in horse area was bit slippy but I put down shavings all over not just for poos & that sorted that!
IMO its better spending a bit more money on the marlboroughs than getting cheaper boxes that r not as solid for horses
 
I've been running a Boss for 19 months now and have done around 14000 miles thus far and I love it. Weighbridge payload for my spec is just under 1.2t and because I have small horses I have not had any problems travelling two when I want to. I had a Marlborough previously which was nice but nowhere near as convenient and smart as what I currently have, and the payload was less.

My version has a 5 seat cab with converted sleeping area in the cab, 3 lockers (rear lockers built so the area below the horse partition bar is filled) and day living at the rear. I've slept away around 60 nights thus far and it's working really well - a real relief to have good day living and high spec horse area (camera, travel lights, padded partitions, etc).
After 2 years I may want to get the floor matting looked at and consider a touch-up on the paintwork, but otherwise all is working as per when I bought it; I wanted a small addition added after purchase and they drove down by arrangement to fit it.
 
anj789 sounds like a great little lorry. I haven't yet checked out prices, will call them tomorrow.

Chocy I'm also paranoid about the size of the groom's door. I can't understand why some companies DON'T make it big enough to get a horse through? Some are barely big enough to fit a saddle through!! I do like Cobs, nice size too.

Hen thank you, that is really helpful. I actually spoke to these new South East Boss agents today and everything sounded really good. I was surprised they mainly use 08 and 09 chassis', with up to 40,000 miles :eek: Blimey, everything seems to be 60-100K for a new build, and every other company I've spoken to has complained how hard it is to find a decent chassis. Hmm, Boss have got it sussed! He said how many companies are squeezing every last penny out of sales, but they prefer to go with a newer chassis, although depending on your budget they can of course use an older one.

Boss have only been around for 3 years and marketing for 1. The guy runs a hire company and has had loads of horses in his 3 Boss boxes. He said the design of the floor has been improved since the first models and now they show no wear at all even after heavy hire usage. A basic box (with the low milage) starts at £20k plus VAT. They also give a full 12 month/6000 mile warranty on the chassis which is better than Marlborough's 6 months.

Very tempted to go and see them now! Especially as you can hire them, and if you buy they will refund you the hire money which sounds good to me!

Anyway hope this information helps people :)
 
Hi Clear Light, my friend has a Chaigley Weekender and it is very very similar to our Foxy- possibly made in the same factory? I know my friend had a few problems with Chaigley getting things sorted and a few things were not right. We sat down with the man at Foxy Twin and he had the details of a few chassis so we had a good choice and went for an 07 with about 30000 miles I think? He went through everything with us and gave us options to help keep weight down without compromising the safety so just a small thing we have a carpeted ramp instead of rubber. He was also going to put us in touch with someone who lives near us so we could view theirs. Did drive past a Boss at the weekend and it looked very smart!
 
Hen 3yrs warranty, nice!

Newlands, thank you. Funny you should say about Chaigley... I also heard that despite them offering a 12 month warranty they basically avoid picking up the phone. I recently went to see one (built in Jan '12) and the outside of the box was kind of warping already and looking really weird :eek: But I've only heard positive about Foxy Twin, that's why I couldn't understand how the two were connected but now I know, thanks :)
 
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