Anyone have a side loading lorry?

[Woody50]

What are the advantages/disadvantages of a side loading lorry? Thinking of upgrading my 7.5t rear loading daf and would like a 6t or 6.5t.
I notice most of them are side loading and wondered if thats a good thing or not

 

[HeyMich]

I have a side loading trailer and it's great. No need for a separate rear and front ramp! My horses travel facing backwards and they both load and travel well.

I don't know about lorries though, sorry!

 

[be positive]

They tend to be built for 2 horses similar to the 3.5 ton boxes but up to the weight of carrying 2 legally, travelling forward is most common often with a big locker where the rear ramp would have been, they will usually give more space than being herringbone with a rear ramp, as for pros and cons it depends on what you want as to whether a side ramp is a pro or a con.
I have used a couple and horses traveled well but they traveled well in other boxes also, you will need to consider the weight if you have big horses as you are losing 1-1.5 ton overall which is a serious difference once you add up everything you want to take and the quality of the build, probably the most important criteria.

 

[Woody50]

They tend to be built for 2 horses similar to the 3.5 ton boxes but up to the weight of carrying 2 legally, travelling forward is most common often with a big locker where the rear ramp would have been, they will usually give more space than being herringbone with a rear ramp, as for pros and cons it depends on what you want as to whether a side ramp is a pro or a con.
I have used a couple and horses traveled well but they traveled well in other boxes also, you will need to consider the weight if you have big horses as you are losing 1-1.5 ton overall which is a serious difference once you add up everything you want to take and the quality of the build, probably the most important criteria.

Thanks, i am generally only taking one 16hh cob type but would like the option to take a friend occasionally, hence why i cant have a 3.5t

 

[NLPM]

I really liked my side loading lorry. Thankfully never had an emergency, but I liked that I could have unloaded to the side of the road with lorry blocking road from horse (ramp was on left; would never consider one on the right). Someone also put the fear of God into me once by saying you were far more likely to have a car go into the back of you than the side, thus destroying your horse's exit... Again probably very unlikely, but it made me think twice about having only a rear ramp (I did have rear emergency exit anyway just in case, but it was only 3.5T). I never had an issue with people parking too close at shows, either - always had enough room to load/unload. All very dramatic-sounding, I know, but once someone has put a problem in my head I like to avoid it even if the chances of it are very unlikely

 

[Leandy]

I have used both and prefer a rear loading, herringbone set up every time. The pros being (1) it is easier to park in a narrower space without some numpty getting too close to the side ramp, (2) it is easier to load a difficult horse into a rear loader because you have more space to "hoof them in" as it were as you don't have a tricky manouvre to turn them sideways and not come straight out again in the small area of a rear facing setup and (3) I really don't like breast bars, especially the fixed ones in many rear facing lorries, it is too easy for horses to get hooked over them and then all hell breaks loose......

 

[Nicnac]

I don't like them as they take up so much room when parking is tight!

 

[Myloubylou]

I have a 5.2ton side loader. Don’t have issues with loading having to turn to face forward. I leave ramp down at venues unless rainy so people leave room. There’s a small amount of living, technically could sleep in Luton but I’d feel bit claustrophobic!

 

[be positive]

I think they find turning to load forward with the handler on the usual, near, side far easier than going into a rear facing box trying to avoid getting tangled up with the leader which confuses so many to start with . They take up no more room than the numerous 3.5 tons do.

 

[sport horse]

Lorries can turn over and with a side ramp exit could be blocked. They rarely stand on their back end as it were!!

 

[Goldenstar]

My 6.5 ton is side unload the horses have loads of room the only issue is the parking which can be a pain .
It has a bigger payload than the 7.5 it replaced .