3.5ton lorry or equitrek trailer - HELP !

[StaceyTanglewood]

ok guys i need your help !!

So im trying to decide between getting another lorry and a 4x4 and trailer !!

I have 16k to play with by the way

So do i get a brand new equitrek and a 4x4 - but both me and groom cannot drive a trailer and would need to do our test

Or get another lorry which is so much easier but has no living - and if i do this some recommendations ??

 

[Worried1]

One of our clients has just bought a brand new equitrek lorry on a peugout body.

She paid a little bit more that £16k but you could economise by having an older chasis.

You can have small living added and they are then built to your specification.

That way you can have the best of both worlds!

 

[aaudley01]

I would personally go for the lorry as you can drive them on a car license and you dont have to worry about taking your trailer test or having to reverse the trailer into difficult spaces! Just have to make sure the weight allowance is enough to take your horses and equipment etc.

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

[ QUOTE ]
One of our clients has just bought a brand new equitrek lorry on a peugout body.

She paid a little bit more that £16k but you could economise by having an older chasis.

You can have small living added and they are then built to your specification.

That way you can have the best of both worlds!

[/ QUOTE ]

where where pm me xxxx

everywhere ive looked they are 23k !!

 

[Ranyhyn]

I prefer lorries, in every way. No risk of jack-knifing primarily, which is my biggest fear with a trailer. You can get some divine ones, esp the high spec vwlt's which are my faveas they have lots of headroom for big horses!

Also my boy was brought to me in a Marlborough - dont know how much they are but it was sublime!!

 

[aaudley01]

I would also be interested to hear about the equitrek lorry on older chassis'. any links?

 

[CBAnglo]

Depending on which trailer you bought, but if you want one with a living then you wouldnt have much left over for a decent 4x4 - you need a hefty one to pull an equitrek, especially if you are going long distances or up and down lots of hills. My car can tow 3.5T and I still really felt the weight of a showtrekka with 2x 15.2hh in it and not much else.

I would look into a small lorry - am sure you can get a decent one for the same price. Do you need a 3.5T or is your licence pre-1997? I think I saw a couple of 3.5T on horsemart, otherwise perhaps as others have suggested find one on an older chasis.

 

[Worried1]

Empty your PMs just replied but it says your full!

x

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

[ QUOTE ]
Depending on which trailer you bought, but if you want one with a living then you wouldnt have much left over for a decent 4x4 - you need a hefty one to pull an equitrek, especially if you are going long distances or up and down lots of hills. My car can tow 3.5T and I still really felt the weight of a showtrekka with 2x 15.2hh in it and not much else.

I would look into a small lorry - am sure you can get a decent one for the same price. Do you need a 3.5T or is your licence pre-1997? I think I saw a couple of 3.5T on horsemart, otherwise perhaps as others have suggested find one on an older chasis.

[/ QUOTE ]

yes cant drive a 7.5ton and am also just inside the low emmision zone !!!!!!!

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

[ QUOTE ]
Empty your PMs just replied but it says your full!

x

[/ QUOTE ]

done (oh dont i feel popular) x

 

[Vicki1986]

i know you've had probs with your lorry but they wont all be like that. our older yard lorry runs out nearly every weekend and touch wood is pretty much always ok as far as i know.

i would say a lorry, taking your trailer test is a faff - and i personally dont like the idea of towing, i've done it around our works yard and turning round etc is such a pain.

travelling long journeys i'd rather be in a lorry. dont know why just would.

 

[luckilotti]

3.5 tonne lorry all the way.
i think longer term running cost also, will be less than a 4x4 as i assume you would also use that as your main car?

For both you will have tax, mot etc. but you wont have the expense of trailer test for both of you, and you may also actually find that the insurance for the box wil lbe cheaper than a 4x4 and trailer.

 

[ladyt25]

If you have one horse or two small horses then I will vote for 3.5T but, if you have two horses (ie 16hh plus) or intend on travelling two horses then you will not have enough payload on a 3.5T once you factor in yourself, groom, tack, water etc.

I think a 3.5T you can get cheaper than buying a 4x4 (and you'd need a decent one to pull an equitrek) and on the whole taxing and insuring a 3.5T will be a fair bit cheaper than the same on a good 4x4.

Another option would be taking your LGV tests and buying a slightly bigger lorry! You can get a fairly decent 4.5T to 7.5T for your budget certainly and you'd have more room for horses, tack etc. Reduce your budget by a couple of Ks, both get your LGV licence (or HGV is even more worthwhile) and then go shopping!!! Simples.

 

[wimble]

I recently got a 3.5 ton-er around that price (after haggling!) and generally very pleased with it, I got it from Foxy Twin nr Tunbridge Wells (google it). Box made by Chaigley, they franchise. (If you're up north there's another firm in Lancs not Chaigley but whose spec looked pretty similar, they advertise on horsedeals.) Small niggles with box but overall its good though storage is limited. Biggest issue though is what LadyT said, you can only have one horse or two ponies, otherwise you'll go over teh weight. If that's not a problem then I'd go for the 3.5 ton every time. I sail up hills in 4th gear with a horse on, which is bliss!

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

[ QUOTE ]
If you have one horse or two small horses then I will vote for 3.5T but, if you have two horses (ie 16hh plus) or intend on travelling two horses then you will not have enough payload on a 3.5T once you factor in yourself, groom, tack, water etc.

I think a 3.5T you can get cheaper than buying a 4x4 (and you'd need a decent one to pull an equitrek) and on the whole taxing and insuring a 3.5T will be a fair bit cheaper than the same on a good 4x4.

Another option would be taking your LGV tests and buying a slightly bigger lorry! You can get a fairly decent 4.5T to 7.5T for your budget certainly and you'd have more room for horses, tack etc. Reduce your budget by a couple of Ks, both get your LGV licence (or HGV is even more worthwhile) and then go shopping!!! Simples.

[/ QUOTE ]

one problem im in the LOW EMISSION ZONE ALSO !!!!

 

[CBAnglo]

Agree with Wimble about weight - I had assumed you only had the one horse to travel but yes, if you are thinking 2 big horses then you will struggle weightwise with the little lorry.

I believe the trailer test isnt difficult if you have enough practice. I didnt have to do it, just hired a trailer and towed with an experienced friend (Nats_UK!). the towing part was easy, as was hitching and unhitching but the reversing was a nightmare in the equitrek - had no problems in an IW at all, didnt feel it unladden and no different with one 550kg horse on board. so if you are going to do the test, then practice on something smaller and lighter like an IW then try out the equitrek.

 

[ttt]

www.charltonhorseboxes.co.uk
I didn't pay anywhere near £23K for mine.

 

[ladyt25]

Pah emissions, who's daft idea was that anyway!! b*ggers my whole 'bigger lorry' idea then doesn't it!