4x4 and trailer vs horsebox

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Echo24

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I know this has been done to death but reason I'm deliberating this is because I have a company car (which sadly cannot tow) and although I was considering saving up for a horsebox, I'm wondering if it would be cheaper to get a second hand 4x4 and trailer over a horsebox. I would only ever use the 4x4 at weekends to do shows, never any other time simply as I have my work car. I only have a B licence but am considering taking my towing licence, although the expense makes me wonder if it would be better to go with a 3.5t horsebox! Also YO has very kindly said I can borrow her trailer to use so it would be a case of getting a decent 4x4.

Opinions please? :p
 
As you have a company car and a B licence then if only travelling one horse I reckon you would be better with a 3.5 box
 
I would simply do the maths.

Cost of 3.5t and cost of running (fuel, tax service etc)
Cost of 4x4 and cost of running (fuel, tax, service etc) plus trailer maintenance.

There should be your answer.

I love my trailer and 4x4 but I have the car as my everyday car so you are not benefiting from the usual trade off of only running one vehicle but IME 3.5t are quite pricey to purchase.
 
Well I have my own small cheap & cheerful car for every day needs & also have a 3.5 horse box. No car tax to pay but yes Horsebox tax + insurance / MOT / upkeep x2. However I go everywhere & do everything on my own (my hobby & non horsey family). My box is my luxury, my horse travels well in it & is happy to go in & out as many times as I want. We both feel very safe in it. It's quite old, low mileage & I don't go any great distances but it is so much easier to manoeuvre than car + trailer. Been there, done that, little Horsebox every time - so long as you can afford it.
 
Thanks for your replies. 3.5t are so expensive but even working out the maths for a 4x4 and trailer and the cost of doing my towing test, I think it might be better to pay for the 3.5t. Plus I don't think I will be as confident towing as I would be with a 3.5t. Time to start saving!
 
I've been mulling this same dilemma recently and have decided that my eventual aim is 3.5t as I feel they give the horse a better ride, are easier to drive (I also would need to take a towing test) and are more practical if you want to stay away for example. My pondering if purely hypothetical right now as I've still got a few years worth of car loan to pay off before I can start looking (hoping that if I go for cheap and cheerful as I'm really not fussed about any mod cons then I can have that loan paid off by the time I need a new car...)
 
Taking the towing test is not always necessary for towing one horse - see post number 2000 of the HHO TOWING CLINIC - link below in signature
 
In November 14 I had decided. 3.5 tonne is was & went shopping. Then reality hit, ones I could afford sold before the weekend when I could view (very few) & the ones in budget where rusted, needing work, had plenty of cover ups old MoT not matching up to the story etc.
found it really difficult so I used £1000 of my savings took my trailer test & traded in my cheap polo for a 4x4. Must say I love the 4x4 & I'm current trailer shopping.
my friend has a company car & bought a huge truck just for towing & it works well for her. She can tow more than I as its a bigger engine but I couldn't afford that for day to day running. X
 
We have a truck so used to hire trailers to tow, then beginning of the year we bought a little 3.5t and life is so much easier, i can drive it so can go out on my own and don't have to pester my parents to drive everywhere, driving it is a doddle and the horses all travel well in it - yes it was expensive to buy but 3.5t's hold their value really well even with slightly higher mileage, its cheaper on diesel than the truck and the tax is about the same, the insurance was slightly more when i was put on (21, 4 years driving exp) but WAAAYY cheaper than for me to drive the truck, and i didn't have to take a test. I'm planing on doing my HGV and who knows, we may get a bigger lorry but the little one is brilliant for the moment!
 
I've had a trailer, 2 x 7.5 lorries and now own a very well built 3.5 which I paid £12K for nearly 7 years ago. I hated towing, loved my 7.5s but they were so expensive to run and the plating always set me back around the £1K. I absolutely love my 3.5, I travel one full up 16.2 in it, he travels well, driving is easy as is parking etc. I think I could sell it for around £7-8K now if I wanted to, so it's holding it's value really well and it is so cheap to run. No contest!
 
I think if i was in your situation i would go for the horsebox option.
If you are going to have to buy a 4x4 you might as well spend your money on a horsebox
You are going to have to tax,insure and M.O.T the 4x4 so no savings there
One consideration where are you going to park
 
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