4 wheel drive and trailer v 3.5 ton lorry

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mulberrymill

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I have always had 4 wheel drive and trailer, but never mastered the art of reversing the thing. It looks like I will be doing a fair amount of competing next year and am already worrying about towing on such a regular basis. Ive done it for years and it never used to worry me, but it is now. So would I be better getting a small lorry, cant handle a big one even if my husband would allow me to drive one. Who has made the switch and was it the right decision?

Also really like the idea of someone comfy to get changed, sit down and have a cuppa and get out of the rain, the old bones cant cope with discomfort so easily these days
 
Well I have to say i was always shocking at reversing car and trailer until I had a light bulb moment, if its going wrong stay calm pull forward and straighten up and then reverse steering opposite way to that tried in first place. bingo works a treat.
As for luxuries, I have a sink/cooker in trailer and regularly have bacon butties and brews at shows, carry a cople of chairs and sit in or out weather dependent.
Also have portaloo!
Horse hates being in trailer and always stands out with a net, carry a waterproof rug with neck to keep him nice and dry.
Have also also used a 3.5 ton Renault, dead easy to drive, easy to park and reverse, damn nuisance as horse ate hay into living bit so everything covered in hay and no protaloo!
Side tack locker very small and there would have been nowhere for my side saddle and the bit the horses were in and living were totally seperate, so no way of getting from one bit to other other than side ramp.
 
If you ever want to take more than one horse then the lorry is going to be no use to you whatsoever. If you're confident you don't want to share lifts/only have one horse then I'm sure it would be lovely having a little lorry.

Would you feel happier towing if you went and took a few lessons? I started off really resenting the idea I had to take them but actually found it really empowering. Made me so much more confident knowing I'd been 'signed off' as fit to tow when I passed my test. Funny how the brain works isn't it?

When I can afford it I'm going to upgrade to a massive big trailer with living. Can't wait :D
 
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Be very careful when you out looking for a 3.5 ton box. Some of them look lovely & they have some living, various cupboards, cooker, fridge & sink BUT all these extras eat heavily into the paylpoad. Some boxes you couldn't carry a small pony in legally so demand to see a weighbridge certificate so you know what the payload will be. If the seller says "It's something like 1000kg" or tries to fob you off with some story as to why they haven't got one then walk away. A weighbridge certificate is only around £10 but very important for the buyer to see.

Really good boxes boast around 1200 kg pay load but by the time you've factored in fuel weight, water weight, driver, passenger, tack & two horses you will probably be over. As has been said a 3.5 kg box is really for one horse or 2 small ponys. ;)
 
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We have looked very carefully into the lorry v trailer question - although we are looking at a 7.5 tonne not 3.5 because of the weight issues. Do bear in mind you have to tax, insure, MOT and plate it every year. We were looking at about £1,000 just to keep the lorry on the road - never mind deisel, gas etc. We would not be able to get rid of either car - mine because it is the main family car and my husband's becuase if you tried to make him choose between his beloved landrover and me I have a nasty feeling which it would be and I can't afford to loose my mucker-out, feed carring, man of all work driver!

It would be a lot cheaper to take some lessons in reversing!
 
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