3.5t v trailer....

[Muddywellies]

I absolutely can't decide what to do.
Was out competing and training regularly. That's pretty much stopped for now - not sure how much we'll do in the future. Just about to sell my lorry as it's getting on a bit now and the yearly mot is a faff.
Sensibly, I should get a trailer. But I really really don't like them. Just too many accidents (close friends have had some horrible accidents).
Financially it makes sense to get a trailer. But I'm simply not happy towing. Yes I know ziliions of people tow quite happy and safely, but I just have such a mental block with it.
But the cost of a 3.5t horsebox - ouch! It's a lot if money to have sat there gathering dust most of the time, just to occasionally make me feel a bit better when we do take the horse out. Also, I won't tow on my own so will be limited to when husband can do it. I guess the van will give me slightly more independence? What are peoples tboughts/experiences?

 

[Ranyhyn]

Get a small box. I dont think I could think of anything worse than towing if I didnt like it or was nervous of it.

 

[milliepops]

if you're not happy towing then you probably won't go anywhere.
I'm a bit the same, I really don't like the idea of putting horses on trailers these days though I used to (never had the choice, had to take lifts where I could get them!) and I know plenty of people with trailers they use all the time.
I loved my 3.5t for ease and convenience but they generally don't like sitting around unused any more than big lorries do. have you got somewhere you can hire one from locally? might work out more cost effective (though extra faff)

 

[atropa]

I started with a 3.5tonne box then went to a trailer and at first I really actually liked towing - felt more comfortable cornering with a trailer. Recently though I seem to have lost my confidence a bit and now spend all my time worrying during towing. If I had to choose I'd go for 3.5T BUT I would be using it weekly. As it is I can't afford one so I'm stuck towing for now :\

 

[ROG]

If its a confidence issue for towing then I can help for FREE with any expenses covered if in Leics

 

[Muddywellies]

OK not what I was expecting. I thought everyone would be telling me to man up and get a trailer. The points raised are valid, and indeed, if we did the 'sensible' thing and got a trailer, it would not motivate me to get out and about at all and I would end up doing less. I've got a couple of viewings of vans lined up so I'll go ahead with those.

 

[Muddywellies]

If its a confidence issue for towing then I can help for FREE with any expenses covered if in Leics

Goodness what a kind offer. Thank you. However, I'm about 150 miles away.

 

[Ranyhyn]

We're a pragmatic bunch. No sense to do something you dont want to do just because its cheaper. After all we have horses, if we had any sense we wouldnt bother

 

[Muddywellies]

We're a pragmatic bunch. No sense to do something you dont want to do just because its cheaper. After all we have horses, if we had any sense we wouldnt bother

Love it

 

[Spottyappy]

I hate, loathe, detest Towing too. Had a 7.5t lorry, which was lovely, but not being utilised fully and costing an arm and a leg In maintaining, because it just sat About.
So, got a 3.5t, and now I’m happy, so is my bank account. I can go out alone, or take our 2 smaller ones with 2 people, as my payload is 1200kg.

 

[oldie48]

Hated towing but did it, loved my 7.5s but hated the cost of the running and the plating, love my 3.5 and now wouldn't have anything else. Depending on the size of your horse, there are well constructed safe van conversions out there and I had one for 7 years. My current box is a roomy coach built one, so easy to drive and copes a lot better than a big lorry if left standing although I am out and about in mine several times a week. My only regret is that I didn't up my budget and get one which was newer and with fewer miles on the clock. so my advice is buy the best you can afford.

 

[Floofball]

Well this is a timely thread for me! Just been putting feelers out to sell my lovely 4.5T as not getting the intended use out of it. I pondered the same question and have decided to get a 3.5T as I really don’t want to go back to towing, never realised how much I didn’t like it till I got my wagon ?
Unfortunately the figures don’t seem to be stacking up at the moment, everyone with underused wagons seem to be trying to sell now and prices appear to have fallen for HGV but 3.5s seem to be holding their price! Typical ?
Now contemplating how best to get use out of it as a motor home and plan some staycations ?‍

 

[Michen]

I went from towing, to a box, back to towing. Thought I'd hate it. Actually not at all and in some ways I prefer it, nice smooth ride with an auto and horses have had no issues at all.

I don't think I'll ever bother going back to a box unless I ever buy another silly car, which now I have a muddy spaniel, is unlikely.

 

[Woody50]

I towed for 30yrs quite happily. Bought a horse that would only travel without the partition so i could only ever take one horse so i bought 7.5t. Had it for 12yrs and it was fantastic and really cheap to run. Sold it and upgraded for a newer one and hated it so sold it and ive gone back to a trailer. Hubby already had a towing vehicle so its not costing me anything. I would love a 3.5t but they are so expensive to buy it will have to wait

 

[Littlebear]

After many years i never really ever felt comfortable towing, i have a 3.5t that gathers dust mainly but its there if i want it.

I would say that if someone cropped up that wanted to share it with me and was a decent person i would jump at the chance so it may be worth asking the question locally as there are probably plenty of people like me that would like to split the costs etc and keep theirs running (i do realise this may have pitfalls, but if you found the right person this could work well).

 

[phizz4]

If you really don't like towing then don't. You may never feel comfortable, will arrive stressed, that will be picked up by the horse, you will then be stressing on the ride about the journey back.
Depending on how often you want to go out have a look for a local company that hires out 3.5 tonners. What you sell your lorry for will pay for several day hires. You can then get an idea of whether a 3.5 works for you, by which time the restrictions might (hopefully) have eased and you can get out more, when your own vehicle would then be cost effective.

 

[sportsmansB]

I have a 3.5t and would never go back. I was an anxious tower too
One thing I would say about the 3.5t is that they really, really hold their value.
I got mine 3 years ago, have looked after it well, put about 10k miles on it and I think I would pretty much get my money back. If I'd had savings those 3 years I would have got about £50 in interest!
So depending on finances, if you can afford it but might need to get out of it again at some stage, it is a reasonable investment.

 

[milliepops]

I have a 3.5t and would never go back. I was an anxious tower too
One thing I would say about the 3.5t is that they really, really hold their value.
I got mine 3 years ago, have looked after it well, put about 10k miles on it and I think I would pretty much get my money back. If I'd had savings those 3 years I would have got about £50 in interest!
So depending on finances, if you can afford it but might need to get out of it again at some stage, it is a reasonable investment.

agree with this.
I sold mine for what I paid for it, and mine was ancient.

 

[Northern Hare]

I've had both for different circumstances. From my experience of going down the 3.5t route, then they are wonderful BUT ONLY if you use it regularly - if not then you need to be taking it out for a drive at least weekly, otherwise you may find it lets you down, which gets expensive... and creates stress all of its own.

I'd personally say go for a trailer, but before you do, invest in some trailer towing training (eg. a couple of half day sessions), believe me it will make a massive difference to your confidence and enjoyment of towing.

Then you can park up your trailer and apart from an annual service, you can forget about it and it will be ready and waiting for when you need it. No annual MOT, expensive servicing or insurance. Also, I've just sold my IWT 505 trailer - 11 years old, still in fantastic condition and I sold it for just a couple of hundred pounds less than I bought it new so they also hold their value really well! ?

 

[Annagain]

Have you ever towed, OP? Are you sure you'd hate it? I think if I knew a lorry wasn't really going to get enough use, I'd at least give towing a go or maybe even try some lessons before deciding, you might be pleasantly surprised. It really isn't bad, just take your time, give everything extra space and you'll be fine.

 

[Michen]

That said 3.5 tonnes generally hold value too. I actually sold mine 4 years later for £1000 more than I paid for it (sorry ESW!). But I took a risk when buying as it didn’t have an MOT.

 

[ihatework]

I find it difficult to comment because I’m a confident tower. I have no issue with trailering horses and find all mine load and travel happily. So for me, I only need adhoc transport, the rest of the time it’s sitting around, it makes far more sense to have a trailer, especially if it’s a case of that v a cheapo/manky 3.5T.

That said, if I became cash rich, I wouldn’t say no to a swanky 3.5T!! It would be far more convenient to have some storage and not have to hitch up.

Depending on how often you see yourself going out, it might make sense to hire. I think I worked it out that if you are going out once a month or less it makes sense financially to hire. I’ve got a local company that has lovely Bloomfields boxes. The only thing that doesn’t help with is emergency transport, then it’s a case of calling in favours.