7.5 lorry must haves

[Muddy unicorn]

What are your must haves for travelling and staying away easily and in comfort in a 7.5 lorry? It’s me, my daughter, 2 medium sized dogs and 1, occasionally 2, horses. My new-to-me lorry has got a lot of underfloor storage and a very well-designed tack locker. How much stuff (and what?) do you keep in there? There’s obviously going to be a very well-stocked snack cupboard

I definitely want to get a retractable dog gate for the living door - any recommendations?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

My friend attached a gazebo tent type thing to the side where the door is and she had an inflatable sofa and folding table and chairs in that bit if they were at a show for days.

It was great as there were often 3 of us so we had plenty of room and it was nice to sit in of an evening if it's warm.

We made sure we had wine and gin

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

I've had a few trailers & a couple of lorries over the years. We realised that it was very rare that we actually needed living so on the last lorry we decided to just have simple day living & really just used it for changing in although it had a gas cooker, fridge & running water, electric hook up & could sleep 2 above the cab. The lorry was a 7.5 ton MAN which had a 180HP engine with cruise control. It climbed hills like they weren't there. It had an aluminium body with aluminium partitions & as a result it had an ULW of 5.2 tons so we had 2.3 tons of payload. We regularly took our 2 horses to shows but to be honest, although we never carried 3 horses we actually had the payload to do so & be within the payload.. The horses always travelled well in it. This was a truly wonderful lorry, I had it for about 5 years & eventually sold it for a thousand pounds more than I paid for it & the buyer still got a great bargain.

 

[Barklands]

Prosecco!

 

[Muddy unicorn]

Thanks - I already have the lorry so it’s more about things to take rather than what it needs to be. Gazebo and chairs is a good idea so that’s going on the list

 

[humblepie]

Tool kit, warning triangle, screen to put over cab window on hot day. Adjustable spanner if need to swop gas bottles over if you have two. Fluorescent jacket. Baby wipes. Bailer twine. Kitchen roll.

I keep spare old waterproof rug, head collar, lunge rein and odd bits like buckets etc . I don’t leave any good stuff in it. Possibly different if it’s parked at your house.

As you can see I go for practical not glamour.

Enjoy.

 

[Northern Hare]

Plenty of payload to carry you and your horses and everything you need for you and them.

I know this sounds silly, but I knew someone who took delivery of a 7.5t horsebox and it was so over loaded with luxuries, and full living with all the bells and whistles, that there was only enough payload left for two small horses which wasn't much use to them.

 

[Muddy unicorn]

Well yes that’s also a given … it was one of my main criteria and it has a decent payload so no worries on that score

 

[EventingMum]

A lot depends on what you do some things are general and others are discipline specific. Horse and human first aid kit, spare leadropes, stirrup leathers, girth, headcollar etc, fly spray, stud kit, travelling grooming kit, plaiting kit, fire extinguisher and fire blanket, buckets, wash down equipment. Spare jods and show shirt, number bib, sticks /spurs, waterproofs as required. All jackets, body protectors, hats, boots, stocks and ties, bedding, towels only got taken out to be cleaned and then got put straight back in. We tended to keep virtually everything we needed for events in the lorry permanently and just added tack, feed, haylage and horses plus our own food and clothes before an trip away.

 

[Muddy unicorn]

Thank you - it’s eventing and the lorry’s outside my house. Spares of everything, first aid kit and safety stuff all going in

 

[ycbm]

Mounting block, poop scoop and trug to put it in, spare clothes in case of getting soaked (hopefully not in the water jump) wet wipes for last minute marks on clothes or horse, spare studs and spanner, stock/tie, boot polish, all permanently on board.

If you're a bottled beer drinker - bottle opener!

 

[VRIN]

Waterproofs. Screwdriver. Cork screw. Small amount of cash just in case.

 

[humblepie]

Mounting block, poop scoop and trug to put it in, spare clothes in case of getting soaked (hopefully not in the water jump) wet wipes for last minute marks on clothes or horse, spare studs and spanner, stock/tie, boot polish, all permanently on board.

If you're a bottled beer drinker - bottle opener!

Gosh yes forgot the bottle opening - had to put the bottle in the door very carefully and twist....

 

[honetpot]

Small gel dehumidifers. I use to keep them in the wardrobes and when stood in the main living area, to keep everything dry.
I kept older tack, waterproofs spare etc in the lorry and only packed the good stuff on the day. I know aleast two people who have had their lorries stolen at home and they strip out everything out, even if you get it back. Mine always had a car with no MOT parked in front of it on the drive.

 

[Green Bean]

If you are going to prepare meals in the box, I would suggest as simple as they come.
A small tarp tacked to the ground with tent pegs outside your door to your living, mat for wiping feet. Useful to have somewhere clean to take your boots off before trailing mud inside.
Outdoor chairs and a table, cooler with ice so you can keep your 'beverages' cool and not have to traipse in and out of your box.
Assuming your dogs will sit outside with you, I would recommend buying a dog lead anchor to which you can attach your dog lead and have somewhere comfortable, in the shade for them.
If your box doesn't have heating / cooling suggest taking a fan heater and a pedestal fan with you. Be careful on available 'ampeage' to make sure you don't trip the whole area!

 

[Patterdale]

I have:

- camping chairs
- blow up beds and pump
- outdoor rugs to put in the horse area to make it nice to stay in/set up nice undercover area
- £20 in cash
- colouring books and pens
- DVD player and DVDs
- phone charger

 

[Muddy unicorn]

Any recommendations for keeping ice boots frozen - there’s a fridge but it’s not huge and the ice box bit is only big enough for a few ice cubes. We usually take them in a cooler bag packed with ice packs for ODEs but that’s not going to work for 2*s

 

[ycbm]

Any recommendations for keeping ice boots frozen - there’s a fridge but it’s not huge and the ice box bit is only big enough for a few ice cubes. We usually take them in a cooler bag packed with ice packs for ODEs but that’s not going to work for 2*s

Have you got a cigarette lighter socket in the cab? There are cooler boxes available which run off them when the engine is running. Halfords have a little 8 litre one online. If you can at least keep the ice cold while you journey it should help.
.

 

[Squeak]

What are your must haves for travelling and staying away easily and in comfort in a 7.5 lorry? It’s me, my daughter, 2 medium sized dogs and 1, occasionally 2, horses. My new-to-me lorry has got a lot of underfloor storage and a very well-designed tack locker. How much stuff (and what?) do you keep in there? There’s obviously going to be a very well-stocked snack cupboard

I definitely want to get a retractable dog gate for the living door - any recommendations?

Don't keep food on the lorry except when you're on it as otherwise you can get mice/ rats in the lorry

I think most things have been covered - similar to others, I always kept everything I needed for shows on the lorry (body protector, jackets, studs etc.) Only extra things I'm not sure have been mentioned is a stamped, addressed envelope in case you want a dressage test sending to you and I always keep some cash on the lorry (only £20 or something) in case a food place only does cash or you get stuck without cards or something and need fuel etc.