3.5ton 2 horses horsebox help required please advice

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rockymountain

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I would like to purchase a 3.5 ton 2 horse box just with day living if possible. This is so an 18 year old can drive it.

The main horse is 16.2 so needs good headroom. He kicks the hell out of the trailer so needs to be a very solid box with very good bulkhead. Any recommendations or especially boxes to stear clear off. All advice will be gratefully received

Have had a look at the Alexander's but would like to receive personal recommendations regarding if the boxes are solidly built eg solid floors, sides ventilation windows etc etc etc.

Many many thanks
 
How big is the second horse? Believe me there are very few out there that will truly take two horses and be within the weight limit. Especially if you want day living. By the time you have tack, haynets etc in there you will be lucky to stay within the limit.
 
Boss horseboxes do a 3.5 super light that has payload of 1300.. I have one , it has day living/grooms area and side ramp, horses travel backwards,
 
It's a trade off. If you want one that's strong enough and has enough reinforcement to keep a violent kicker safe it will not have enough payload to carry another pony.
 
Fides said:
Really? Glad I'm not with them any more...
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Yes me too - never had to use the insurance, but did have to use the recovery company they provide - 4 hours sitting on the M6 at Shap waiting for them wasnt' a pleasant experience - and when they did turn up, they put the box on a front lift and drove in the THIRD lane of the motorway at 80mph.
 
From what I have seen of Alexanders boxes although they look fab, they are not as sturdy as other manufacturers.

Watch you payload even if both horses fit physically, you can bet that you will be overweight with two on board plus two humans and tack
 
Make sure you get a weighbridge ticket for it empty before buying as that figure taken from 3500 will give you a true payload

Then add up the weight of absolutely everything including fuel, people, horses, sandwiches, coffee etc that will be put into the vehicle

Now see if what you need to put in it is within the limits of the payload
 
I would be quite surprised if you can find a solid enough 3.5 ton with living and still have enough payload for 2 horses! As ROG says, you need to weigh everything, and I mean everything that will be on board including fuel, water containers. tack and people. If 1 of the horses is 16.2 you might get away with a shettie or Sec A but not much else! Physically, my Renault Master will take 2 x 16.2 horses comfortably. However, there would be no capacity for tack or even a driver when you add on the fuel weight!!
 
Jnhuk said:
From what I have seen of Alexanders boxes although they look fab, they are not as sturdy as other manufacturers.

Watch you payload even if both horses fit physically, you can bet that you will be overweight with two on board plus two humans and tack
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Can you recommend any of the other manufacturers. The box will mainly be used for one horse, the second horse is mine who is a 14.2 370k horse, she only travels about four times a year, are the 3.5 ton boxes mainly for ponies or one horse? I have also read that if anything happens to a side loading box and it lands on the side where the horses are loaded, the horses are trapped..... Are there any good ones that have side loading and also rear access for the horses, in case of this sort of thing. I will check out the insurance for her before I do anything, if she cannot drive it I might go for the 3.9 or 4.5 ton box as long as it's not too big, have to go down small cornish lanes and up very big hills.
 
You can have a 3-5 ton uprated to 3-9. Actually, quite a lot of Renault master chassis are originally 3-9. But downplated to allow younger drivers to drive them. Mine was downplated when built, if that is the term to use... They won't be much bigger than a 3-5 ton in size. This is mine...I carry two small horses to Polocrosse and tow a caravan too total weight of horses is under 1000kg
1a9ddf15e509769dd2647b60c0bd0161.jpg

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A side loader is just as vulnerable as a rear loader as the latter can be shunted from the rear, so unless you go for a front and rear unload trailer, you can still have potential issues.

As ROG says, you need to weigh all you want to put in a box :)
 
The ones I liked when I was looking a few years ago were Theault, Marlborough, Racemaster as their quality/build were much better but in the end went for a bigger box for payload reasons
 
Hi,

I just ordered a Bloomfield 3.5 tonne, I looked at the others but the Bloomfield looked stronger than the others. I have been promised a 1200 payload.

IME for a horse and pony on a 3.5 tonne that is also strong you will have to leave out the living/ kitchen. I have compromised and am having a seat and wardrobe, water tank and tack locker. I am also only planning on taking 1 horse.

The Bloomfield has a total walkthrough in case the side ramp is damaged, the rear door is as wide as most stable doors. I have gone for the Professional with no breast bar as my horse can also be a bit feisty when excited.

Maybe you could go for a 3.5 tonne with no living until your daughter is old enough to take a test and then upgrade your lorry to a 3.9 and fit the living? A compromise for now and an upgrade later?
 
Holly Hocks said:
Yes me too - never had to use the insurance, but did have to use the recovery company they provide - 4 hours sitting on the M6 at Shap waiting for them wasnt' a pleasant experience - and when they did turn up, they put the box on a front lift and drove in the THIRD lane of the motorway at 80mph.
Click to expand...

What???? With the HORSE on board?????
 
Holly Hocks said:
Yes me too - never had to use the insurance, but did have to use the recovery company they provide - 4 hours sitting on the M6 at Shap waiting for them wasnt' a pleasant experience - and when they did turn up, they put the box on a front lift and drove in the THIRD lane of the motorway at 80mph.
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Red-1 said:
What???? With the HORSE on board?????
Click to expand...

Holly Hocks said:
Yes. I complained bitterly but didn't get any satisfactory response. I'm now with Equine Rescue Services - costs more, but both times my box wouldn't start they've been with me in less than 20 minutes.
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I once had to have a call out for a horsebox through the insurance provided breakdown service (clutch cable broke), and it was a RAC van that came. He did not have a cable, and proposed the same. I was not sure that it was even legal to front end suspend tow a horsebox with a horse in it (ROG?), and point blank refused. My policy said a replacement horsebox, and that was what Charlie was going to have. Funnily enough the clutch cable was quickly found after some more phone calls, and we went home in our own box.

Front end suspended tow is certainly illegal in the third lane, and should be limited to 56 MPH anyway, so I think would be reporting the operator, at least to the insurance company if not the Police. They should be able to pull the tacograph, and that should show the 80mph. Apart from anything else, if a car had pulled out on you no way would the whole chebang be able to stop in a reasonable distance.

BTW I did report the RAC operator to my insurance policy provider and they were cross, as it is not their policy to travel horses like this. The insurance agent was surprised anyone would suggest it. Pity I could not get hold of them on a winter Sunday late afternoon, which is of course when most boxes break down!!!

I feel your pain.
 
Red-1 said:
I once had to have a call out for a horsebox through the insurance provided breakdown service (clutch cable broke), and it was a RAC van that came. He did not have a cable, and proposed the same. I was not sure that it was even legal to front end suspend tow a horsebox with a horse in it (ROG?), and point blank refused. My policy said a replacement horsebox, and that was what Charlie was going to have. Funnily enough the clutch cable was quickly found after some more phone calls, and we went home in our own box.

Front end suspended tow is certainly illegal in the third lane, and should be limited to 56 MPH anyway, so I think would be reporting the operator, at least to the insurance company if not the Police. They should be able to pull the tacograph, and that should show the 80mph. Apart from anything else, if a car had pulled out on you no way would the whole chebang be able to stop in a reasonable distance.

BTW I did report the RAC operator to my insurance policy provider and they were cross, as it is not their policy to travel horses like this. The insurance agent was surprised anyone would suggest it. Pity I could not get hold of them on a winter Sunday late afternoon, which is of course when most boxes break down!!!

I feel your pain.
Click to expand...

I asked whether it was legal and the recovery company said that as it was a rigid tow, it was. They also said that the towing vehicle could not possibly have been doing 80mph as it was fitted with a speed limiter. I assured them that it was as I was sitting next to the driver and we were overtaking every other vehicle on the motorway at this time and I could see the speedometer. I also reported them to VOSA - not sure what action they took.
When I took out the recovery with Equine Rescue Services, the first question I asked was whether they towed with horses on board and they told me that they never will and will always send a horsebox/trailer to collect the horse. So I do feel reassured that if I break down now, at least I have a decent recovery company to phone!
 
The bloomfields look beautiful boxes and very sturdy. I will find out how much the insurance is for her and go from there. We have had both horses for about 4 years and only taken them out together twice, just worried that if I wanted to take two it would be too much weight. But think a 7.5 would be too big. It would also be nice for her to be able to travel by herself instead of me having to go as well..... More reading I think.

Many thanks for your advice
 
A 5 tonne horsebox is a very large van and not a lorry so for those with a C1 licence they can be a happy medium for 2 horses and living
 
If you go to Boss website they have plenty of pictures od day living. Basically I have two person bench seat and a lift up sink with a single gas hob that uses the small gas bottles. I have a horse shower and one water container, tack locker that takes two saddles and bridles and a locker for buckets and muck rake . The driving cab can either have three seats right accross, or two seats with a bench seat behind that can double up as a single bunk, and I've uses a blow up mattress over the Luton area for two sleeper beds. They are in Flintshire . After sales is second. To none... Can't fault them.
 
I have also read that if anything happens to a side loading box and it lands on the side where the horses are loaded, the horses are trapped..... [/QUOTE]

The horses will be trapped which ever side a side loader falls onto. If it doesnt fall onto the side with the ramp on, then the ramp will become the roof which they wont be getting out of in a hurry! This spooks me too which is why when I was lorry hunting I wouldnt entertain the idea of a side loader.
 
I can travel two TB horses, both are about 950 kg together, and tack. And I tow a caravan..!!! I look bit like a travellers convoy .. No disrespect to travellers, but it drives so well
 
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