Advice Needed: Whether to buy a Lorry or trailer?

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boriscb74

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I'm looking at transporting 17hh on his own; going to fun events etc. Journeys will mostly be short 30 mins - 2 hours (maybe!). I don't need living. He is a good traveller and has been in trailers and lorries. I not interested in whether or not I could use a 4x4 for other uses etc; or payload, I'd get that sorted; or comparing cost of plating etc. I've read all the old posts. Budget will obviously be a factor but before I get to that stage I want to know what would be easier. I have the old style licence and don't need to take a towing test. I am a terrible driver and if I did get a trailer would go on a course. I've done a short taster course already and found it difficult to get the knack of reversing. Advice please on how (transport) beginners have managed and what they'd choose if they had to do it again as opposed to some of you old pros out there that could drive anything. Advice greatly appreciated.
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I'd always opt for a lorry over a trailer. Hate trailers and know too many people who have had accidents (my sister included) where the trailer has flipped over.

I have driven a 7.5T wagon since I was about 18 (just before they changed the licensing laws) and I feel safe in it and feel my horses travel better. I had a pony who could not travel in a trailer (he fell over) so we had to get a lorry for him, he had no trouble then.

So, my vote's the lorry!
 
im not confident driver by any means but having driven both now, a lorry everytime which is what i have now!!horses travel much better in it-much more convenient and so much easier to reverse!!
 
I can't drive a 7.5t lorry on my license and have taken my trailer test. I hate reading things like above where people say they know people who have flipped trailers as I have no choice but to have a trailer cost wise and am too scared to actually go out in it at the moment due to reading these things!! So go for a lorry if you can afford to, I know I'd like to but for 4-5 outings a year it's not worth it for me, I just have to try to be brave enough to take the trailer out and there are a lot of people who take horses out in trailers and don't flip them!
 
Thanks for that. Must say the idea of driving a lorry is a bit intimidating, love those van or coach conversions you can get but they are expensive. Mind you the idea of reversing a trailer to park or get out the way of a lorry is also a bit intimidating.
 
When we got our first lorry I thought I was going to fall through the windscreen! Lol. However, you get used to driving it - I do remember my first drive in our second lorry (wasn't old enough in our first one) - it took a little time to get used to the width but other than that it's a doddle.

Guess the most important bit is realising your stopping distances and getting used to brakes that may be sharp certainly at low speeds. Still, at the end of the day it's not much different than driving a new car and i certainly feel happier reversing a lorry than I would a trailer - you use your mirrors and the back end goes the way you're steering it! Lol
 
The majority of time trailer won't flip - the one my sister was in they were on the M1 and the trailer got caught in the lorry ruts that you find on the inside lane on motorways - cue trailer snaking. They drive out of it the first time then it happened again. This time they lost control and the trailer went over and took the car (discovery) with it! Car flipped as well.

Thankfully, everyone - including the two horses in the trailer somehow managed to escape unscathed so at least that shows one thing for the trailer being sturdy! It's just stories like this put me off.

However, it IS rare and in general a trailer, pulled by a suitable vehicle should be fine. Some horses though do seem to experience problems travelling in them.

Don't let the stories put you off. It's a personal choice, I don't like them and am fortunate I passed my test before they changed the rules so can drive up to a 7.5T.
 
I have just checked with my OH (I have no idea as don't do either
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) and he is positive that a lorry is easiest as it is one fixed unit. Apparently this makes going both forwards and backwards much simpler as you don't have to worry about snaking, jack knifing on the tow hitch, or getting an articulated vehicle through narrow gateways etc

As an aside, which I realise you didn't ask for, you can pick up bigger lorries for much better value than the smaller ones, as anything over 3.5t can't be driven by "Cat B only" license holders, but the HGV threshold is 7.5t so there are alot of lorries out there (between the two) which have a massively reduced buyer market
 
Thanks for that. I'd heard larger than a 3.5t were cheaper as less popular at the moment for obvious reasons. Going up in size thou for one horse just seems to be increasing the size of the lorry that I'd be driving thou and I'd worry about that. The bigger the lorry, the more it seems to be equiped with extras - living etc that I don't need or want as I'd rather have a compact vehicle. A larger vehicle would give me the option of taking someone with me if I wanted to but most people I know seem to have their own transport.
 
Ive driven both and loved my little trailer and would have one now apart from the fact my horse wont travel in one. You do get used to reversing and I would go anywhere towing it. I got my 7.5t wagon nearly 2 yrs ago and it scared the hell out of me, saying that I am now confident and the thought of my quirky horse being 'detached' from me in a trailer isnt nice. If I had a good traveller then it wouldnt bother me.
I kept taking the wagon out empty to get used to it as the brakes are something else and mine is quite newish for a horsebox. You get used to the length and width too, the only downside is the cost. Fine if you use it a lot but a waste if its once a month or so.
I have heard the 3.5t are lovely to drive but you can feel everything as in the horse moving arround. I suppose you get used to it.

Something to mention, I have Cat C on my licence so presumed I could drive a 7.5t but took an ambulance driving test the other week and the Instructor told me that legally this only means I can drive up to 5.5t???? Any one know anything about this?
 
i'm not sure you would get a 17hh in a 3.5 ton as normally van conversions
i have a one horse trailer and landy - and i dont have any issues - just practice with reversing - plus i always try to park where i can drive out instead of reversing out!!!!
 
There always seems to be a lot of negative attitudes towards trailers. I have always had a trailer and as long as you have the appropriate vehicle to tow and the correct size of trailer for your horse, along with regular servicing, it is not a problem.

You can now do a course to teach you how to tow and all the safety implications that go with it. I've towed since I was in my 20's I'm now 40+
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and have always enjoyed it, you can have a taster course to see if its for you, using companies own vehicles.

The other up side is.....you'll never have an excuse of not getting to the yard or work due to the snow....cos you should have a good 4x4 to get you there
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I bought a brand new Deauville trailer 2 months ago. A vrey helpful and knowledgeable friend has given me half a dozen lessons with it - just local stuff and primarily concentrating on reversing. Once you understand the principles of reversing a trailer it's ok. Long story but I had to drive 160 miles last Monday, to collect 2 ponies. I'd never driven on motorways or with live horses in the back before. Round trip was 320 miles with an empty trailer outward and 2 ponies on board coming back. No problems whatsoever. Hardly knew the trailer was there. Mostly motorway and I easily did the max speed fo rthe whole journey. Friends on my yard have said if you find reversing hard, there's always someone who will do it for you or you could unhitch and turn the trailer on its own. I think it's just a matter of getting the right trailer and the right vehicle to tow it. The Deauville is very light and my car weighs 2.2 tons and has power to spare. Works a treat.
 
I absolutely love my Renault Master! I changed from a Disco and trailer to this, and it's made my life so much easier. I can drive up to 7.5t on my licence, but I only want something tiny due to the places I go (parking/turning is very tight) and I couldn't find anything >3.5t compact enough.

Horse is 16.1 and 600kg. You'd need a coachbuilt Master for a bigger ned though, and they can be quite pricey
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Lorry anytime for all the reasons already posted. When I got my 7.5 tonner (I've had 3 now and all have been shorter bodies, I find these easier) I spent quite a while just driving it (even to my Gran's for tea) and reversing around an empty car park. And the living is a godsend on cold rainy days - mine is very basic day living but ace.

I would never have a trailer as I just love my lorry too much. It takes 2 which is enough and feels very solid and secure.
 
I would say that if you are a 'terrible driver' then it is probably best for you and your horse if you get a small lorry. That way you will be driving something that does not feel much bigger/different from a car. It should mean that your horse gets the safest and most comfortable journey possible.
 
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