advice needed on 3.5 ton horsebox

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Rachaelf

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interested in a LDV 3.5 ton 1993 reg horsebox 90,000 miles, side ramp, PAS, with some paperwork, diesel. Needs some work doing on it nothing major and could do with a service, what kind of price do people think is reasonable and are Leyland daf's any good?

Been looking at transits previously. Owner wants about £5000 or just under, seems a bit much to me for something that old? thoughts please, thanks
 
Seems a bit steep to me, LDV's are gutless at the best of times and I wouldn't really want one to transport horses, they are on a very narrow axle and that will affect ride stability and obviously the horses travelling experience. They are also really noisy to drive. I would continue to look at Transits if that is what you are after.
 
Hi there, I've got one that sounds very similar and I'm selling it soon, was going to ask less than 5k for it though. The LDV will run forever, but it will take forever to get somewhere :-) Actually it's not that bad, it's quite happy at 55mph. Mine is nice to drive and bar some really annoying minor faults that we've sorted it's been ultra reliable and hasn't cost very much in general maintenance. If I had the choice I'd go for one of these over a transit anyday.
 
Yep that's expensive for a 1993. Is it a coachbuilt body or something? LDV tend to be cheaper as the old ones are a bit boxy and ugly compared to Trannys but they do the job just as well IMO.

My advice if you are on a budget would be to get hold of an Ifor Williams container on a 3.5 ton chassis. I just sold mine but originally bought it on a Transit for £3.5K which ran great for 6 years. I then swapped the container onto a newer Merc Sprinter when I had more cash.

At least this way you are buying a purpose built horse box which will probably out live the chassis but you have the option to swap it later. Be very, very wary of conversion jobs especially in this price bracket.
 
hi, thanks everyone so far, very speedy replies!

Owner of box has said minimum she will sell it for is £4700 but i've offered her £4500 as needs service and slight problem with gear box being really slack which mechanic has checked for me and will cost around £100 or bit more. She said that's too little and isn't willing to sell it for that much, which is why I wanted other people's opinions. She has bought another box though so needs to get rid of that one so hoping may change her mind but she said other people are interested, but then they always say that!
 
I have a LDV and love it. It isnt gutless, and quite happily motors along at 60 on the motorway. My 16.2hh travels very well in it, as do any other horses that have been in it. It is easy to drive, and got it fully MOT'd and serviced for £400 including some bodywork repairs. I have covered alot of miles in it, and travelled about the country and never had a prob, its a bit slow up hills, but is alot better than the VWLT35's power wise. My mechanic says they are the easiest to maintain out of all the 3.5ton chassis, he said the only one that beats it is the mercedes, but they are more £££! Mine is a 1998 conversion, and cost me just under 7k.
 
Oh yeah agree
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Just saying not all LDV's are gutless, but agree is prob down to the new shape/modifications made between 1993 and 1998!!
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In the past I've had good success with people who won't shift the odd few quid by turning up "for another look" and then discussing price with a wad of fifties in my hand. it's amazing how people don't want you to walk away from their vehicle (or horse!) when you have real money in front of them.

edited to add

If you are negotiable on price make sure you have the figure you want to pay in the wad, any extra for price adjustment lives elsewhere, don't give them any idea that you have any more money
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Fingers x she comes back and accepts your offer, would you she meet you half way and accept £4,600?

The nagging must have worked last night for the mechanic to go check out the gearbox for you!!

Hope it works out, you've been looking for long enough!
 
Im not a fan of 3.5 tonne boxes.So many people have them and think they can fling in two horses and they are well over weight. My friend bought one - an LDV with a back ramp that had been converted to look like a 'proper' lorry.He wanted to sell it and was advised to get it weighed so he had a weight certificate - it was 3.6 (!!) EMPTY !
He had been mostly travelling one 15.3 mw horse in it but had on occasion taken two small horses in it.Soo over weight im surprised he didtnt kill himself and the horses.
We have a 7.5 tonne lorry that is over weight if fully laden with 2 horses and full tank of water and fuel etc and there is nothing out of the ordinary inside the living to make it so heavy.
Id ask for any lorry to be taken to a weighbridge (with you present) to check its unladen weight - if you dont you could be buying a very expensive caravan
 
I totally agree with you Wigglypigs, watch the weight on a 3.5T but not all are overweight. Our 3.5t builds come in with approx 1200kg payload which if you are carefull, will take 2 horses, tack and two people. Due to demand, we build more 3.5T vehicles than any other vehicle.
 
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