7.5 Tonn horse boxes, How much?

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stacey_lou

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I was looking to get a 3.5 but my dad said its pointless and that id be better of with a 7.5.
How much do these cost to run, can anyone give me a rough idea please, ie Tax, new tyres, mot, your insurance though I know it can differ from person to person

Thanks
 
the tax is cheaper than my car,£90 ish for 6 month,great on fuel,£235 for insurance,not sure about tyres havnt needed any yet !!!! on the downside its sat there not being used everyday only a couple of days a week,so does it work out cheap ?????
 
Tax is not horrendous (don't think much more if any more than a 3.5T). Insurance - well ours is around £300 a year i think so ins budget probably £300-£400 but thsi is based on any driver over 25 so don't know what difference it'd make if you are under 25.

Fuel is probably the main cost as well as the MOT etc but I don't think either are particularly bad to be honest. I would say the major differences between a 7.5T and a 3.5T is going to be the fuel.

Ideally if you want a 7.5T try get one with a tilt cab as well as this makes them easier to service. Although saying that we have a very good lorry mechanic and he doesn't seem to have any trouble with our non-tilt cab wagon.
 
Well thats good, atm am paying £100 everytime I want to hire a box out, And am hoping to get a special deal next season but once I start eventing its gonna be bloody expensive.
Thanks guys
 
I have just sold my 7.5t as I was fed up with the expense personnally. I use it 3-4 times a month, expensive to fill up with diesel, plating each year was expensive if something needed doing. I have just bought a 3.5t - cheaper to insure, run, easier to drive, I only ever travel 1 horse so ideal - and I can drive it.

Without being too personnal - are you old enough to drive a 7.5t, and if not are you prepared to take your test. Im not - and although I generally took mum with me to comps, it meant that if I wanted to go training and didnt have anyone to drive me, I couldnt go. Much nicer being independant with a 3.5t!
 
No am not old enought mum would drive it and then id take my test depending on the rules and regs.
I was thinking 3.5 to begin with but are they big enough to sleep in? And like you id only be travelling with 1 horse to
 
Not that often, probably about every 5 years? I find they are around £100 to £110 per tyre, but bear in mind there will be 6. The main thing to watch for is that if you do not use the box for a while, don't leave it standing in the same place or the rubber can perish & the you would need to replace or run the risk of blow out.
Recovery is a good idea to factor in. there are various ones avilabale & some tie in with insurance. I use OHTO which is just over £200 pa.
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i've had a 7.5 tonne for about 18 years (on my 3rd now, all were new body built for me on 3-4 yr old Ford Cargo/Iveco chassis-cab) and it has very rarely cost £1000 a year to run, usually a lot more than that in garage bills.
tyres - i've been v lucky, only had to replace a few in all that time, but i'm fussy and only ever put very good tyres on, no remoulds or anything.
tbh i'd prob go for the smaller lorry option too.
at the moment i am toying with the idea of swapping my lorry and nice little car for a big 4x4 and luxury big trailer (e.g. the French 3-horse one with the min-ramp, i'd only put 2 in but lots of storage that way), i'd save a LOT of money!
 
Ok thanks, well tbh If I had a box I know id be going out more often, poss every other weekend from March to October then October - November a few evening shows then only time i wont use it will be December - Jan when shell havbe time off. so Id get a fair amount of usage from it so would be visable to get one. though after what Gummy bear said am curious about 3.5 but I dont think theyre going to sutible for 1 or 2 night living.
 
Bought a shiny new tyre yesterday £135 from Mr Dunlop for my 7.5 tonne. It is a very smart tyre. Seriously, there is an in between option of a 5 or 6 tonne lorry, which will do much more mpg and be easier to drive. Depends what you are looking for - I have "camped" for one or two nights in my old 5 tonne in the past or B & B'd if somewhere close. However I now do loads more motorway work and long distances so find the bigger lorry better and we have a loo! Most important thing is to find a good mechanic who you can trust and you will charge you sensible amounts.
 
Well my brother and uncle are Hgv enginers and my dads a dab hand to so am lucky there.and my other brother is a submarine enginer so if he can fix that am sure shes fine with any lorry issues lol.
Well this year doesnt really matter as much really needed for begg 2011 when am looking to go to 2 or 3 events a month and then as the yar and out experiance gos on more often. which I know is a year away but I like to do my reaseach in advance to see what my options are and see whats visable. am just an organisation freek lol.
Plus if I can show my dad all this reaseach and how costs ect he may help me out.
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Myself and teenage daughter stay away in ours for 3 and 4 days at a time.
Double bed in the horse area, little stove in the grooms area.
 
I guess that could be done but the idea was that, I would sleep in the living area and for my horse I could pin back or take out the partions in the horse area (like in a 7.5 with 3 say stalls) and leave the ramp open with the doors shut and that will be her accomidation for the night.
I wouldnnt be able to sleep in a 3.5 and a 6tonn would be a nice size but as you need to have a Hgv3 to drive a 7.5 anyway I may aswell let mum or dad drive it untill i can take my hgv licence and get a 7.5
 
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