another what do you think please-Equimark 3.5ton boxes

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Prince33Sp4rkle

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http://www.equimarkhorseboxes.co.uk/

not all his stock is on website.

im looking at the 3.5 tons ones-like the fact they have the sideways opening to door/top half of ramp so nothing to hit head on en route in to lorry!

also like the external lockers.

thoughts please :)

(for those not following the saga this will def only ever carry one horse so no concerns re payload i dont think)
 
these are the two pics he has emailed of the interior, i like the partitions, room to spread legs for balance.
breastbar *looks* removable but I will double check this with him.
multi4-4.jpg

Cruise1-1.jpg
 
Can you ask for the internal dimensions of the horse area? It looks a bit small in the photo. If you want I can measure the same in my 5.2t to give you something to compare to (I've had two 17.3hh horses in there no problems so it's pretty generous).
 
Have you thought about hiring a 3.5T (or a couple, one coachbuilt and one of the other type) and seeing how your horse travels in it? It's only about £99 for a day, and that's peanuts compared to what you'll be spending on a box.
 
iv trying him in a 5ton on sun, which is higher than a 3.5ton but rear facing, so will give me a good indication of how he will like it. i dont think the 3.5 ton being lower will be an issue, as they are so stable (the decent ones anyway), so as long as the horse area isnt too small, if he is ok in the rear facing 5ton i think he will be ok in a 3.5ton too-does that make sense.
 
That horse area does look quite short... and for me that partition would be way too small and flimsy. Mine has a full length partition that goes to the floor and is thick and sturdy.
 
partition would be fine for mine. the ones in my big lorry are only half partitions and i prefer ones with a rubber/plastic bottom half so they can spread their legs. he is an excellent traveller and not hard on the lorry at all-he doesnt kick or bang around.same goes for sis's horse, both are quiet as a mouse as long as they have a haynet and as only one will be on it at one time the partition will never be between squabbling horses :)

it seems he does some on a medium wheel base and some on a long so will double check dimensions.
 
Have a look at Galopeur horseboxes (sp), they have a lovely safety designed interior, as soon as right numbers come up on my lotto ticket, I'm having one ;)
Disclaimer: I have no connection with the company whatsoever.
 
i personally quite like they lorrys, ive had my 17.1 Irish Draught in one of them for going to a show, as our trailer was out of action and he coped really well for a horse that doesnt like travelling in a lorry, was very surprised, and he had a decent bit of room in it as well, he's the sort of horse that needs quite a bit of room in all directions to be able to balance, mum said that it drove really nicely, did consider selling trailer and buying one but taz is still growing so will only get much bigger and out grow one :(
 
one thing to check is where the wheel arch of the back wheel is in relation to the horse area. my friend has a marlborough (sp?) and the wheel arch is right at the front of the horse area- i.e. where front legs go- and her horse has clearly been catching her legs as all the rubber covering has come off....
otherwise i love 3.5t boxes...wish i could afford one
 
I think the Marlborough Cobs are designed with the wheel arch inside (like your friends) but the Marlborough Hunters don't.

I recommend the Marlborough 3.5t fully. The top door is one that goes up rather than sideways but honestly it is so high your horse would have a job reaching it but can understand concerns if you have a fussy loader.
 
Hi, I sell this type of lorry, and hire them out. They are great but get a Long Wheel Base one. The picture you have posted is a Medium wheelbase van with the angled side ramp. These are really not big enough for anything over 16hands. There just isn't enough room from bum to chest. Also shop around, the range in prices can be huge.
 
Don't think I've read the previous threads so sorry if I'm repeating stuff. I have one of these:
http://www.truleisure.com/coach-built-horseboxes.php
And it's great! I love the fact that the ramp is so wide (mine's a LWB) - I'm not so keen on the angled ramp on the one you're looking at.

I also find that when I get my horse out of mine, I tie him right where the tack locker is on yours, so that would be more awkward. I also prefer the top-hinged ramp door on mine as it goes right up high so horse would have to rear high to smack his head on it, and it doesn't interfere with the opening of the passenger door.

Things that aren't so great about mine:
1) Breast bar isn't collapsible
2) I don't like the full depth partition
3) The tack locker in mine is a bit of a squeeze for a wide fitting saddle.
 
I've just noticed the first one is a crew cab so that's why the body is shorter. Do you want a crew cab?

I've tried tacking up in mine but find it really awkward as you're doing it from the wrong side so all the bridle buckles etc are on the wrong side and I'm just not used to positioning the saddle etc from that side!
 
in my big lorry i open the partition across as far as it will go and un tie horse, i can then get round both sides of him, or on nice days, open partitions totally and leave him tied up-he is a good lad and stands like a gem. so in the little one i will open partition right across and leave him probably tied him on the tie ring nearest ramp, so he's diagonally across the horse area,and he'll be fine standing like that, he really is too idle to try and get down the ramp, plus mum stands and keeps and eye on him but he always stands like a rock :)

crew cab-explain please?
 
In this pic you posted:
Cruise1-1.jpg

You can see the cab is a 5 seater - it has a benchseat behind the two front seats hence why the horse area is so short it encroaches on the rear wheels.

Even if I open the partition on mine to tack up (mine's a good lad like that too), it's not easy to get to the other side of them and I've ended up ducking under his belly - not very BHS!!
 
I think this is where the size of the internal dimensions comes into play. I can tack up one horse in my lorry with A LOT of ease and safety from both sides. I can even tack up two horses as long as they are sensible and won't decide to squash me!
 
Yes but there's downsides to having a longer stall length too. My current horsebox has a 7' stall length, but the one I had before was 7'6". My lad is a 16.1 Welsh Cob who takes 6'9 rugs. I feel this stall length suits him perfectly. In my old lorry if I had to brake, particularly going downhill, he had the extra 6" behind him to come crashing backwards into the bulkhead.
 
thanks, i like this one too.

thanks ref crew cab info, def dont need that amount of extra seating, really liking the grey/red one though, looking like a good option-LWB, day living, normal seating.
 
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