10wardd
Well-Known Member
Pros and Cons of each? Which do you believe is 'best' for the horse and gives the most comfortable ride? Which is safest? Just general views please 
7.5 Tonne Lorry vs. Horse Trailer
- Thread starter 10wardd
- Start date
suestowford
Well-Known Member
I've used both. I like a lorry for comfort, I can travel mine loose in a lorry and he likes it better that way. But keeping a lorry is expensive and I hated taking it to be MOTd.
I like trailers too, they are probably better if you don't do very much travelling or go long distances.
I like trailers too, they are probably better if you don't do very much travelling or go long distances.
sychnant
Well-Known Member
7.5 ton felt too big for the small roads round here. Horses travelled fine in it.
Was always worried about the trailer hitch breaking. Just never felt as safe. Also, people tailgated it much more than the lorry. Horses travelled fine in it.
Now have a 5 ton lorry. Best of both worlds! For me anyway. Horses not travelled in it yet though...!
Was always worried about the trailer hitch breaking. Just never felt as safe. Also, people tailgated it much more than the lorry. Horses travelled fine in it.
Now have a 5 ton lorry. Best of both worlds! For me anyway. Horses not travelled in it yet though...!
ljohnsonsj
Well-Known Member
Much prefer a 7.5t. Ideal for stay aways, easier for long days at the show, horses travel well. The con is obviously they are more expensive to maintain and keep.
I loved the easiness of a trailer when we had ponies but never liked travelling horses in them.
I loved the easiness of a trailer when we had ponies but never liked travelling horses in them.
cundlegreen
Well-Known Member
Put it this way.... A vehicle runs into the back of a trailer, horse injured. Same to a lorry, horse above point of impact (unless its another big lorry). Plus the fact that if you break down in a lorry, horse can just use it as a stable until towed in. You can guess which I prefer!!
ROG
Well-Known Member
If you have both B+E and LGV C1 licences then you need to ask yourself how often you need to move the horse - or horses?
You dont really want to have a vehicle sitting for ages doing nothing but a trailer is ok as it costs little to do that
If a trailer is chosen then you have the question of what else with the towing vehicle be used for and how economical does it need to be?
Hmmmm ....... how about a Winnebago camper towing a horse trailer ..... LOL
You dont really want to have a vehicle sitting for ages doing nothing but a trailer is ok as it costs little to do that
If a trailer is chosen then you have the question of what else with the towing vehicle be used for and how economical does it need to be?
Hmmmm ....... how about a Winnebago camper towing a horse trailer ..... LOL
Annagain
Well-Known Member
I've been toying with the idea of a 5/6T lorry as I'm starting to go a bit further afield and feel a lory would give them a better ide over a longer distance.
I have an old style licence but don't want anything too big as I don't do masses of staying away and I'd just prefer something a bit smaller as a lot of places I go to are down little lanes. At the moment I'm thinking I'll probably stick with the trailer as I don't think I would use a lorry enough to justifiy it at the moment (I go out in the trailer about once, maybe twice a week) and as the boys are both 19, I'm likely to be doing less over the next few years.
Someone I trust on these matters told me not to consider a lorry unless you use it at least twice a week as otherwise the sitting will do it more harm than good and you won't get the value out of tax, plating and insurance.
I have an old style licence but don't want anything too big as I don't do masses of staying away and I'd just prefer something a bit smaller as a lot of places I go to are down little lanes. At the moment I'm thinking I'll probably stick with the trailer as I don't think I would use a lorry enough to justifiy it at the moment (I go out in the trailer about once, maybe twice a week) and as the boys are both 19, I'm likely to be doing less over the next few years.
Someone I trust on these matters told me not to consider a lorry unless you use it at least twice a week as otherwise the sitting will do it more harm than good and you won't get the value out of tax, plating and insurance.
horsefeed
Well-Known Member
Depends on what you want to carry too.....
I frequently need to carry 2 15.2hh + horses to legally tow I would have needed a 4x4 with a higher tow capacity which puts you in £400 a year tax bracket + extra full of driving a 4x4 round.
7.5T lorry cost me £2000 4 years ago (aged ford cargo) carries 3 horses or 4 ponies.
Tax £14 a month
MOT/Plating £150 a year
Insurance £136 a year
Breakdown £90 a year
My OH is mechanic so servicing and repairs aren't a consideration for me.
Also girls on my yard often want to go same shows as me so charge them between £5 and £10 a local show depending on mileage and £40 when going to likes of Cricklands.
Absolutely love my lorry, honestly best horsey thing ever brought, OH drives it as I don't have license but planning to do it this year or next, I am yet to find a horse that doesn't load and travel well in it.
I frequently need to carry 2 15.2hh + horses to legally tow I would have needed a 4x4 with a higher tow capacity which puts you in £400 a year tax bracket + extra full of driving a 4x4 round.
7.5T lorry cost me £2000 4 years ago (aged ford cargo) carries 3 horses or 4 ponies.
Tax £14 a month
MOT/Plating £150 a year
Insurance £136 a year
Breakdown £90 a year
My OH is mechanic so servicing and repairs aren't a consideration for me.
Also girls on my yard often want to go same shows as me so charge them between £5 and £10 a local show depending on mileage and £40 when going to likes of Cricklands.
Absolutely love my lorry, honestly best horsey thing ever brought, OH drives it as I don't have license but planning to do it this year or next, I am yet to find a horse that doesn't load and travel well in it.
turnbuckle
Well-Known Member
Lorry every time from the horses point of view - I think the economics depend on whether you already run a tow car.
In that case a trailer will work out way cheaper. If you run an economical little thing everyday, lorry wins easily on costs in my view.
In that case a trailer will work out way cheaper. If you run an economical little thing everyday, lorry wins easily on costs in my view.
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
If you plan on doing much motorway driving, then a lorry is much the safest bet. I'm an experienced, confident trailer tower, and my current outfit of Ifor 510 and LWB Shogun is rock solid, but even so I never go over 50 mph. This isn't fast enough to be safe on a 70mph road, as you want to be going at least as fast as the HGVs, but that extra 6mph is just too much stability wise (because of crosswinds, tyre grooves in the road surface etc).
Trailers are fine for local journeys, IMHO.
Trailers are fine for local journeys, IMHO.
conniegirl
Well-Known Member
I use my lorry twice a month and it has never had a problem because of it. Tax and, insurance on my lorry are far less than for a4x4 and with the mileage I do back and forwards to work it is far more cost effective to run a small car and 7.5 ton lorry than to run a 4x4. I would never ever tow a trailer with a car even if it is legal it is just not safe!
Lorries are a lot safer alround, they make shows a lot more pleasant, just having somewhere to change or sit down out of the wind! You don't have to pack or unpack them every time you go to a show and in my experiance horses travel better in them.
Lorries are a lot safer alround, they make shows a lot more pleasant, just having somewhere to change or sit down out of the wind! You don't have to pack or unpack them every time you go to a show and in my experiance horses travel better in them.
OWLIE185
Well-Known Member
A good 7.5 ton lorry is nice and solid. You don't have to have a large one you can get quite nice short ones with a 12 foot container which is enough for 3 horses on the diagonal yet can be parked in a car parking space.