7.5t Horsebox . Euro 6

[Xmasha]

Curious on everyone’s thoughts on this .

I’m considering going back to a 7.5t , but after a chat with a Horsebox manufacturer I’m not so sure .
So , as we all know there’s now various clean air zones . Not so much of a worry to me ( initially) as I wouldn’t be driving to London etc . But the chap I spoke to came up with a valid point in that in the next 5 years there will be many more zones , so buying a 7.5t box that’s not euro 6 will be very costly in that no one will want them ?
At the minute I can only find boxes that are euro 6 for £90k . That just sounds ridiculous amount to spend on a hobby .

So the question is would you buy a 7.5t that wasn’t euro 6 and accept that it might be hard to sell on in a few years

 

[Abacus]

His point is valid but I am not sure it will seriously affect the horseboxes in use as most travel to and from rural areas without going into cities. Unless they have much larger clean air zones in rural areas as well, it may not be a problem in the next (say) 10 years. That said I would probably buy an older cheaper box and accept that in that time it might have lost value. Have you considered a mid size lorry between 4 and 6 tonnes, it might be easier to find one of those that is compliant, for less than half that price? If you only have to travel one or two it might be more long lasting or sell on better.

 

[Xmasha]

I’ve haven’t looked at 4-6t properly if I’m honest . We have a Peugeot boxer chassis that could be uprated that I could convert . But it just doesn’t feel wide enough for the Irish draughts . Will keep my eye out for the iveco types

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

If you live in a proposed ULEZ zone (eg if you live within the M60 motorway area of Manchester) where every time it moves you'll need to pay a fee, then it's a tougher decision and I'd be considering the cheaper end of the market recognising demand may drop in under 5 years.

But if you are rural and may only drive into a zone requiring a toll, a few times a year, then its probably less of a concern.

Just out of interest, have you looked for any EURO6 compliant 3.5t lorries? I can't imagine they're cheap either.

 

[Xmasha]

If you live in a proposed ULEZ zone (eg if you live within the M60 motorway area of Manchester) where every time it moves you'll need to pay a fee, then it's a tougher decision and I'd be considering the cheaper end of the market recognising demand may drop in under 5 years.

But if you are rural and may only drive into a zone requiring a toll, a few times a year, then its probably less of a concern.

Just out of interest, have you looked for any EURO6 compliant 3.5t lorries? I can't imagine they're cheap either.

We have a euro 6 3.5t chassis that’s done its job for the business . So I could buy that out and get that converted .
I was just a bit concerned that anyone buying a 7.5t for say £50k ish could come unstuck if they try and sell it on in a few years

 

[humblepie]

Presumably in the future the current euro 6 lorries will finish being truck trucks and become available for conversion or swopping an existing body over but it is a good point.

 

[RachelFerd]

I had a euro 6 lorry built for me to my spec with full living by Tristar that came in under £60k

Bought it specifically because horses are kept within what would have been Manchester's clean air zone... but that work is now indefinitely paused. So a bit of a funny thing being geared up for a clean air zone that doesn't exist. But I have had to drive through Bath and Bristol before and useful to know that I am not impacted by their zones.

 

[Xmasha]

I had a euro 6 lorry built for me to my spec with full living by Tristar that came in under £60k

Bought it specifically because horses are kept within what would have been Manchester's clean air zone... but that work is now indefinitely paused. So a bit of a funny thing being geared up for a clean air zone that doesn't exist. But I have had to drive through Bath and Bristol before and useful to know that I am not impacted by their zones.

So you don’t think that the zone in Manchester will be reinstated ?

 

[RachelFerd]

So you don’t think that the zone in Manchester will be reinstated ?

not in the form it was originally proposed!

this is the latest proposed by Andy Burnham - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...at-would-charge-drivers-in-greater-manchester

 

[Xmasha]

not in the form it was originally proposed!

this is the latest proposed by Andy Burnham - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...at-would-charge-drivers-in-greater-manchester

Thanks for that . That’s really interesting. Quite a few cities have gone down the clean air route then . Be interesting see how Andy Burnham gets on with his plans .