3.5tonne Ford transit lorry, Bedford lorry Opinions please

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chocolate86

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Im looking at getting a lorry to go to local shows but I don't have loads to spend being a student. Ive been looking around and there are a fair few ford transits at cheap prices.
I know a fair bit about weight loads as I have been doing my homework I'm looking for one that could take one horse up to 16hh. I came very close to buying a ford transit the other day but ive been told to be really careful as they have steep ramps, a heavy unlaiden weight and are unstable with a horse inside. I just wonder if they are all like this, if anyone has one or has borrowed one and could tell me different?

Ive also been told to stay away from Bedford lorries as they are death traps on wheels (on offense to anyone on here who might have one as I really havent had experience with them).

The people who have been giving me advice all have shiny new lorries. I certainly can't stretch to that kind of money and I wonder if they are just a bit snobby! The only lorry I have driven is a new conversion Vauxhall van which cost over £12,000 and I have nowhere near that!!! (It was a very nice drive though) Power steering would be a luxury if I can afford it (I've driven a van and a car with no power steering and know that its hard but hey more worth while than going to the gym!
 
I've got a bedford TK, 26 years old and cost £2500. Just got it plated, nothing really wrong the odd switch and bulb, cost me £300 to get it through compared to my sisters fairly new Ivco which cost her more like £3000 to get it through last year.

My lorry is great, doesn't go very fast, but last forever.

Ford transits are fine. We had one for a 15hh horse, but they should easily take 16hh.

I've never had a new posh lorry. People do like to just look at old lorries and call them death traps when they are absolutly fine, just because they look used.
 
I had a Ford Transit for two years, it did roll, but my horses always travelled happily in it. The ramp wasn't that steep but it wouldn't take much more than 15.2. You need to check the height inside.

They are cheap to repair and the parts are available.

All the people that looked down on me for having a 29 year old Transit now look down on me for having a 30 year old Leyland. Ignore them, as long as it's starting, running and getting your horse from A to B safely and legally that is far better than having asmart shiny lorry that is unreliable.
 
Ive got a LDV, it isnt particularly smart or flash but is really reliable, and my horse travels beautifully in it. They do roll, but drive carefully and its not a prob!! I really enjoy driving mine, it does 60mph down the motoway easily, and carries my 16.2hh well (just!)
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We have bedford TL and before that we had another bedford TL that was written off in an accident. They might be old and tatty but they get from A to B. What was the reason given for them being deathtraps on wheels? Surely it's the design of the box, condition of the floor etc that makes them safe or unsafe, not the make of the lorry.
 
I've got a Bedford CF 3.5 tonne which has done us proud its 29yrs old. We also have a 7.5 tonne Bedford TK which my dad has been doing up. This is 24 yrs old and runs reallly well. I've heard out mechanic complain about new horse boxes as the engines are much more difficult to repair and often need to go back to a specialist centre.

The good thing about Bedfords is its easy to find spare parts - if you know where to look. Also the engines and mechanics are easy to get to and repair. They have just taken a load of green goddesses out of service so there are even more spares around.
 
I heard from a friend that the engines in them are constantly blowing up and i reckoned she was making them out to be awful because she has a new shiny lorry and just wants to warrant spending all that money.
Someone else said that transits are shaky in the container and have really steep ramps.
Hence i decided to get on the forum and see if anyone could give me opinions, having owned one. Also did anyone take a mechanic, instructor (with lorry knowledge) or someone who knew a fair bit when buying ( have floor tested?etc) or did u get it home and find out at next plating if anything needed work? Basically how did u go about buying an older lorry?
 
I had a Transit (with a reinforced wooden ramp as far as I remember).
Good points:
It was easy to drive, despite lack of power steering
It could easily be handled on your own
It was incredibly cheap to run - no more than a large car
It started on the button every time, even after not running for months at a time

Bad points:
It was decidedly under-powered and would struggle with two horses on board
It was far too tall for its base and would sometimes sway in winds, unladen
My horse grew to absolutely hate it, and eventually just stopped loading. He is 15.3hh, and in hindsight, too big for it.


I think they're great vehicles but wouldn't put anything bigger than a pony in it.
 
I don't like the Ford Transits I do think they roll & I know my horse would not travel well in one the small VWs are nice though, i think the 45 & 50? I have a 32 year old Bedford TK as others have said they are well worth considering if you can drive them on you licence?
 
Did alot of reading and got some advise from a friend before looking at them. Have to say mine isnt a "typical" transit conversioon as has a side ramp/tack lockers etc and the ramp isnt too steep. Would NEVER go with a Ifor container ontop of a transit as they are really high up and the ramps are steep,a nd the container narrow. I dont think they are suitable for anything over 15.2hhish....
 
I used to own a Bedford Cf, brilliant little lorry.
I now own a Bedford TL, ( although due to LEZ ) having to sell.
Brill lorries both very reliable and safe.
You have to be careful with the transits as they do tend to sway and watch out for the ones with rust as they don't alf rot !!!!!
 
I think id use a lorry 1/2 a month and only locally so to drive around in a reasonable size 4x4 (ie pajero/shogun) would probably cost me more in fuel than taxing, putting fuel in and moting a lorry. I currently have a very reliable ford focus (touch wood it stays that way) which doesn't drink petrol as my volvo estate did. plus i'd have to take trailer test being 21 : (
 
I had an Ifor Williams container on a Transit and like many people have said, it was too high up on the chassis and therefore the ramps were very steep and it felt like you could roll it if you went round a corner too fast!

Then I had a Transit conversion - home made. It was herringbone and stalled for one big pony and one Shetland which was all I needed at the time.

Really it wasn't tall enough or wide enough for much more but if you got one with a better sized container on it, it might do the job.

Friends still have Bedfords. one a TK and one a CF. They're very reliable, and don't seem to be rust buckets like Fords do.

I've had 4 Ford's - 2 cars, 2 vans and they rusted away before my eyes : (
 
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I think id use a lorry 1/2 a month and only locally so to drive around in a reasonable size 4x4 (ie pajero/shogun) would probably cost me more in fuel than taxing, putting fuel in and moting a lorry. I currently have a very reliable ford focus (touch wood it stays that way) which doesn't drink petrol as my volvo estate did. plus i'd have to take trailer test being 21 : (

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You NEED to take a test to be able to drive a 7.5
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As you can't legally drive one on your current licence.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
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:
My appologies if you've allready done it.
 
I used to have a Bedford CF called Bradley, while I was at uni and it was fab. It was coachbuilt and I only ever put Murphy on it as it was a little under powered for two and I didn't want to be over my payload. But that was fine for me. We went everywhere in it and it only let me down once when the head gasket blew but it was fine after it was fixed and NFU did a brilliant job recovering us. I sold it sadly so I could travel to Australia as part of my degree. It cost 1400 never spent more than 600 in MOT's and basic repairs in the 5 years I owned it and I sold it for 1000. Not bad for a '79 CF.
I have driven Transits since and they are not as nice, the roll is a bit scary and if the horse is a bit far back on the chassis you really know about it! At work we have Theaults and a brand new Oakley two box that I am itching to drive. Shame I can't afford one. For me a trailer is no option as I haven't got my trailer test and there is no way I could afford a 4x4. To run my lorry and car was cheaper than to have one of those and that was 4 years ago so I definately couldn't now.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I think id use a lorry 1/2 a month and only locally so to drive around in a reasonable size 4x4 (ie pajero/shogun) would probably cost me more in fuel than taxing, putting fuel in and moting a lorry. I currently have a very reliable ford focus (touch wood it stays that way) which doesn't drink petrol as my volvo estate did. plus i'd have to take trailer test being 21 : (

[/ QUOTE ]

You NEED to take a test to be able to drive a 7.5
confused.gif
As you can't legally drive one on your current licence.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
blush.gif
blush.gif
:
My appologies if you've allready done it.

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she mentioned a 3.5 tonne (not a 7.5 tonne)- you only need a normal car license to drive the 3.5t
 
And so she did!
*hurriedly retreats towards back of stable*
My apologies, all the talk of Bedford TK's confused me into thinking bigger lorries.
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blush.gif
*drops head in shame*

In that case I would recommend a 3.5, 4x4's are getting more and more expensive to run, and as long as it's in reasonable condition there's no reason why just because it's an older lorry it can't run for more years with the right maintenance.
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[ QUOTE ]
And so she did!
*hurriedly retreats towards back of stable*
My apologies, all the talk of Bedford TK's confused me into thinking bigger lorries.
blush.gif
blush.gif
*drops head in shame*

In that case I would recommend a 3.5, 4x4's are getting more and more expensive to run, and as long as it's in reasonable condition there's no reason why just because it's an older lorry it can't run for more years with the right maintenance.
grin.gif


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Ditto: im looking for exactly the same type lorry you are, i just cant afford a 4x4 and a trailer
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