Awful Dilemma - Engine V Haylage

[Singing Dawg]

Hi All, have read the forum for months but now have a big dilemma and wondered if anyone had any suggestions. the engine in my Pick up needs to be replaced at a cost of two thousand pounds. I do have this money but it was to pay for winters haylage for my three youngsters. now i dont know what to do, I cant look after them without a vehicle as my field is six miles from home, have to buy haylage in bulk as its the only way i can get it delivered.

In utter panic i have phoned the rspca, the only thing they came up with was a list of rescue places for my youngsters but no one can take them. I would prefer to give them away to good homes, where i knew they were happy and well looked after rather than do what someone suggested and send them to a horse auction where i am terrified they would be sold to the meat man.

Thought about trying to find a cheap car as a runaround but am so nervous i would end up with even more problems, need something safe as i ferry three kids around all the time too.

If anyone knows anybody or is themselves interested in having one of my boys i am seriously looking for good permanent homes for them, pm for details if you want.

Anyone know of an enging for a mitsi L200 2004 ? Its been a great workhorse, wonderful towing vehicle thats taken us the length and breadth of the country, literally!

Sorry if this is long and rambles, am still in shock at the sudden "death" of the pick-up and worried sick about my boys.

SD

 

[sychnant]

So sorry to hear of your dilemma, i agree, it's a horrible one

I can't be much help i'm afraid, other than to suggest you give an idea of where you are based, so that people know if it's possible for them to help at all.

I hope you mange to work things out somehow, i don't know what i would do if my car died on me...

 

[Montyforever]

Could you not find full grass livery somewhere? Pay for hayledge and pay someone to look after your horses while you sort out the car?

 

[CrazyMare]

I take it the £2k quote is from Mitsi? My OH's father is a mechanic and has recently fitted a reconditioned engine to a Freelander for alot less than that.

Try looking here

http://www.findanengine.co.uk/index.htm

And also try contacting these

http://www.google.co.uk/search?sour...lz=1T4GFRC_enGB308GB202&q=mitsubishi+breakers

We have always used breakers for car parts - there are lots of specialist breakers out there if you look - Merc Man, for Mercedes and Black Country Jaguar for Jag's spring to mind as two that I have used.

 

[0ldmare]

I take it the £2k quote is from Mitsi? My OH's father is a mechanic and has recently fitted a reconditioned engine to a Freelander for alot less than that.

Try looking here

http://www.findanengine.co.uk/index.htm

And also try contacting these

http://www.google.co.uk/search?sour...lz=1T4GFRC_enGB308GB202&q=mitsubishi+breakers

We have always used breakers for car parts - there are lots of specialist breakers out there if you look - Merc Man, for Mercedes and Black Country Jaguar for Jag's spring to mind as two that I have used.

I would definitely agree with this, shop around, get recon and definitely dont take the first quote from a Mitsi dealer.

Plan B, in conjunction with Plan A above, (and ONLY if you have the strength of mind to pay it off within the 13 months/can afford to pay pay it off within the 13 months) but Tesco have a cracking credit card offer at the mo. Its 13 months interest free credit. Pay for the engine on that, cut up the card, and then make sure you pay it off!

Wouldnt normally suggest a credit card, but in this case its a v good deal as long as you dont go into the 14th month!

 

[Tinypony]

SORN the Mitsubishi until the spring. Buy a cheap car (£500 or even less) to get you from A to B for the winter. If you get something like a Subaru Justy it's a tiny 4WD. Obviously not a towing vehicle, but you can manage without that for a few months. Get your haylage in because prices will probably rise after Xmas.
Surely this can't be a case of spend £2k on fixing a big expensive to run car and the horses have to go.

 

[Singing Dawg]

Thank you all for replies, feel a bit calmer having "talked" about it and had some ideas. i don't think i made a very good job of explaining why I need the pick up on the road so desperately though.

There is no water supply at the field so I have to cart water to them and they drink a lot as there's no grass left and they are having small bale haylage (the blue one) until i can get my winters supply of haylage delivered.

The pick up is the most sensible option for us as a family, kids travel safely in the back seats and cab kept tidy yet we can carry bales/muddy stuff/tack etc in the back bit and can tow when req.

Have tried the credit card thing, was declined, don't know why as i dont' owe anyone anything. i only have two thousand put away for the winter haylage and if i have to spend this to fix car i wont be able to buy haylage

Unless I can find a cheap as chips car that will keep me on the road literally all day hauling water to the boys i still dont know what to do.... find homes for the boys or, my biggest nightmare, not be able to feed them properly through the winter. sorry to ramble again

 

[*hic*]

Thank you all for replies, feel a bit calmer having "talked" about it and had some ideas. i don't think i made a very good job of explaining why I need the pick up on the road so desperately though.

There is no water supply at the field so I have to cart water to them and they drink a lot as there's no grass left and they are having small bale haylage (the blue one) until i can get my winters supply of haylage delivered.

The pick up is the most sensible option for us as a family, kids travel safely in the back seats and cab kept tidy yet we can carry bales/muddy stuff/tack etc in the back bit and can tow when req.

Have tried the credit card thing, was declined, don't know why as i dont' owe anyone anything. i only have two thousand put away for the winter haylage and if i have to spend this to fix car i wont be able to buy haylage

Unless I can find a cheap as chips car that will keep me on the road literally all day hauling water to the boys i still dont know what to do.... find homes for the boys or, my biggest nightmare, not be able to feed them properly through the winter. sorry to ramble again

I've done all that for some years in an elderly skoda estate so I'm not seeing the need for a big expensive to run car.

SORN the big car, buy cheapo diesel estate and the money you save on fuel (50+mpg) can be put aside towards the cost of buying the estate.

 

[guido16]

2k for haylage for 3 horses is way more than I pay (with 3 horses)

I have to take water to the field and I have a clapped out old car. You dont need a 4x4 to get water to a field. Didnt mean that to sound harsh, not my intention.

Get a water tank (plastic one about 2metres x 2metres) for the field. It collects rain and would mean you dont have to take them water that often.
I reckon you could get your haylage cheaper (dont know where you are - sorry)

You could pick up a cheap run around, as has been said, just for the winter.

The reason you cant get a credit card is because you have NO debts!.
Sounds crazy but they prefer to see a credit history (good or bad) - its very unfair to people like you that have no debt!!

Where abouts are you?

 

[Singing Dawg]

We are in Somerset.

Thanks for replies, all the suggestions are helping, had never thought of trying to collect rain water d'uh!! Am thinking with your help and ideas we might just get through this

 

[guido16]

LOL,

Collecting rain water is a life saver for me!

if you cant afford one of the purpose built water butts then you can easily adapt a few things to make some.

Dont know how you feel about it but you could mix your haylage with straw for them to eat. although straw is going to be pricey this year.
worth doing your calculations to see if its cheaper.

What breed are your youngsters? could they cope with the mix?

 

[cbmcts]

If need be you can buy a cheapy diesel and put a little trailer behind it to tow water etc - kids do take up a lot of room in a car. Sell or sorn the L200. If you have to travel them in an emergency, there are plenty of transporters or a friend will often step up!

Sell one of the youngsters properly - (with the greatest respect, you don't know who the hell is reading your posts, it could be anyone and god knows where your horses could end up if you try and rehome them like this) - which will cut how much forage you need over the winter and maybe release a little cash....

I mean this nicely but once you sort this immediate problem have a long, hard think about whether you can really afford 2/3 horses and......

 

[ihatework]

I'm not sure where the 2K figure comes from?

Okay, assuming expensive haylage at £40 per big square bale, one of those bales should really last 3 horses 1 week .... now by my reckoning 2K will be virtually a years worth of haylage for 3?

So why not spend 1K on haylage to see you through the winter and then see if you can find a cheaper reconditioned engine for your truck.

 

[alainax]

I think youve already decided you need to keep the big car.

What id be doing know would be working how cheap I could feed the babies for, for example is hay cheaper? would a big bale last and be cheaper?

Then id be questioning where i could save money. For example on alcohol, gym membership, take aways, christmas, etc

Finnaly id be thinking about where i can make money. You got any talents? Can you do hair? make up? avon or anne summers?

Maybe itl all work out.

If it doesnt, what about finding loving homes for your babies for buttons rather than rescue centres?

Good luck!

 

[competitiondiva]

I feel for you our renault scenic has gone bang and is going to cost £1500 to fix, and that is local garage price unfortunately. Thankfully good old credit card is there for emergencies, but I can't afford that sort of money out fully, so once the car is fixed we will have to sell it to recoupe the money and buy something like a 10 year old astra or similar with the left over money, the renault is only 6 years old like yours. Can you not do something like that?????

 

[Singing Dawg]

eek, i am guestimating they will eat two bales a week as it will be fed ad lib and the grass is all gone. Am paying thirty pounds a bale for it, delivered and stacked in field. Has to be haylage as nowhere to store hay.

Thank you all, i think i now know how to proceed. Car can be SORN'd and i will try to find a cheapo one, fingers crossed it will last the winter and i will just buy £1000 worth of haylage and get the rest later in the winter. And it means we can keep the boys, advice noted on homes etc, thank you!

BTW it was a local and i think quite honest garage that quoted two thousand, not the mitsi dealer. Seems 03/04 L200's have a bit of a habit of engine failure. Why do i always find out these things too late!

 

[guido16]

3 baies should not need 2 large bales a week!

I have had 5 in a field and 1 bale has lasted a week.
If you dont think it will then dont give them the whole bale in one go. give them what they need each day in 4 big piles. Might be hard work but will save you money in the long term.

 

[Tinypony]

I had my little Subaru Justy for a year, they have a petrol engine, and maybe aren't quite as economical as say a Ford Ka (!), but they are 4WD and would certainly cost a lot less on fuel, tyres etc than your truck. They've got 4 seats and a hatchback, so a bit of space inside for kids and bags of feed etc. With towbar on the back and a little trailer my Justy did everything for me, including hurtling up the muddiest, snowiest tracks, and harrowing my fields and arena.

 

[Tinypony]

By the way, if you owe nothing that's probably why you haven't got a credit rating. You never know when that might come in handy, if you look on moneysavingexpert you should find some ideas on how to start getting a rating.

 

[Singing Dawg]

Can't begin to thank you all for your replies opinions and advice, isnt it amazing where these things lead, recommendations for cars and credit ratings included!

I am only in this financial situation as i helped out and paid a very large vet bill for someone who has not repaid a single penny as yet we normally manage quite well.

Hope i can some day offer the kind of help you have all given me. x

 

[guido16]

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

p.s - sending lots of bad karma to the prat you helped out!

 

[Rueysmum]

As somebody else said, you could declare the 4x4 off road for the winter, spend £1000 on haylage and buy a cheap runaround with the rest of the money and in the meantime try to save up with a view to selling the runaround at a later date and getting the 4x4's engine fixed.

Don't panic, Mr Mainwaring, it's still only August, although it feels like October.

To be honest, if I were you I would feel a bit wary about spending a whole £2000 on haylage if your field is 6 miles from your house (sorry, haven't read the whole thread), as there is always the chance that it could be stolen by thieving scumbags before you even get the chance to use it.

 

[perfect11s]

Can't begin to thank you all for your replies opinions and advice, isnt it amazing where these things lead, recommendations for cars and credit ratings included!

I am only in this financial situation as i helped out and paid a very large vet bill for someone who has not repaid a single penny as yet we normally manage quite well.

Hope i can some day offer the kind of help you have all given me. x

has the person who owes you got a car or something you could sell to clear there debt?? and yes shop round the breakers/ebay for a engine I would think you should get one for about a grand and then fitting it make sure there is some garantee and make sure the belts, oil and filter are changed

 

[china]

im also somerset, this is from trade it, bristol/ south west, this would be ideal for you, people swear by them
http://www.trade-it.co.uk/cars-isuz...er-10216310.html?impression=normal_impression
i think £1000 worth of haylage will be plenty to see you through the winter.

 

[moses06]

I can't, for the life of me see how it's going to cost 2 grand to feed 3 babies this winter!! I fed a eight horses ranging from 14hh newfie to 18hh warmblood on one large bale of hayledge per week - they were fed huge piles twice a day (they all looked fab on it too) - I refuse to put it all in the field to be wasted and trampled in - this year it will be short anyway and no one can afford to do that.....even if there is no grass - I sure as hell didn't have any - they don't really need to stand and eat all day!! or buy some cheapo nuts and fling them around to give them something to look for!! Put some straw out for them to pick at too....

Car - declare it sorn - I did this a few years back when the diesel pump went on my car - I bought and old volvo for a couple of hundred quid, it was sooo bloody good I ended up selling the newer car and keeping that!! As other posters have said you can get a recon engine fitted for alot less than 2k. If it's a 4x4 you want there are plenty of cheapie older ones about - discoveries start at about £500, with 6 months MOT - enough to see you through...good luck with whatever you decide to do!!