3.5t van type horseboxes

[TheCurlyPony]

Hi

Can anyone settle an argument for me, do the above type boxes have to legally have a reinforced bulkhead. Any sane person wouldn't drive one without one of course, but just wondered. Also can you tell justby looking ?

Thanks

 

[Holly Hocks]

I don't think there's any legality. i bought one which was just reinforced with wood and rubber on the bottom half.....needless to say I have had it reinforced with steel bars at a steel fabricators for £80. Better safe than sorry....

 

[TheCurlyPony]

HH, thanks was it easy to get reinforced?

 

[Holly Hocks]

HH, thanks was it easy to get reinforced?

Yes really easy - if you imagine the original bulkhead is just a thin sheet of steel, well mine was originally covered with ply and rubber for the bottom two thires - exactly where my horse would NOT have come through!! My horses butts are higher up and they were at the level which didn't appear to be reinforced - right behind my neck and head. So I took it to a steel fabricators where one of the workers there had a wife with horses, so he understood what I wanted. I just had steel vertical bars where the area was which was not reinforced and a sort of frame down the side -- hard to explain really....but the steel fabricators, if they're reputable and they have a look will know what you want and how to go about getting it done. It has reduced my payload a bit, but I only carry one horse at a time anyway, so it wasn't an issue for me. They did a fab job, and why it wasn't done like this at the time I bought it converted, I have no idea....

 

[almorton]

not at the moment but legislation coming in soonish requires all new ones to be built to min defra standards

 

[TheCurlyPony]

not at the moment but legislation coming in soonish requires all new ones to be built to min defra standards

Thanks, can you tell me where I find what there min standards are?

Ive looked at the defra sight and cant find a thing

Thanks