Buying an older 3.5t...advice please

[Lammy]

I’m off to go and view an older 3.5t on Sunday and by older I mean it’s a converted 89 plate ex motor home!

It’s this week passed its MOT and been checked by a local horsebox company and passed as sound and fit for purpose but I will be ringing the company to check. My uncle will be with me who is a car dealer so am happy for him to check the actual vehicle part and go on his advice.

Good things about it is that it’s done less than 60k miles, thinking this is because it was a motor home before and not a van, everything is properly reinforced, has space above the Luton and removable Breast bar so no wall for horse to leap over

It also has a payload of 1200 apparently which I’m dubious about so will be taking it to a weighbridge if I get it but it’s not too much bother if it’s less than stated as only really needs to carry my 16hh boy.

So any tips? Anything I need to ask/look at?
Also horsebox insurance, whose good and who do I avoid? Thanks!!

 

[SpringArising]

Ask and check what the floor is made from. From my understanding marine ply is best, wood is the worst as it obviously rots and becomes weak over time.

 

[WelshD]

I'm on my third elderly horsebox with my thinking being that I buy cheap and run them in to the ground. I've been lucky to get actual currency back for the last two mainly due to my comedy Facebook adverts lol.

I check the floor is sound and the engine starts that's pretty much it but it's probably best not to be like me.

Check any access doors are practical (I didn't and i don't fit through mine!)

Steepness and condition of the ramp, is it heavy to lift etc can you secure it safely alone?

Tyres perish on under used vehicles so check for cracks and bulges, run your hands around the inside of the tyre too

Lift any floor mats in the cab to check for rust as where the wheel at meets the floor is a prime place for rust.

Check number and location of windows, will there be decent airflow?

This list doesn't scratch the surface of the mechanical state of a vehicle but are common sense things people lose sight of.

I entrusted the viewing of my newest box to a friend and ended up with a box where i can't get in to the living area and can't get up the ramp but if course being smaller and fitter than me these things didn't occur to her - to be fair box is perfect otherwise and I have her to help on show days so all is ok.

Try and take a mechanic with you, I recently heard of a box being sold locally that has an issue with the gearbox that a layman would just never have spotted

I use Anthony Evans for insurance and breakdown their service to me has never been anything other than A1 even when i had a box that broke down at least weekly.

 

[Lammy]

Ask and check what the floor is made from. From my understanding marine ply is best, wood is the worst as it obviously rots and becomes weak over time.

It is wood but according to seller it’s been well looked after and this was mainly what was inspected and deemed fit, though I’ll be checking that out for sure. Would look to get it re fitted with hardwood ply and some point as long as it’s in useable and safe condition for this year.

 

[Lammy]

I'm on my third elderly horsebox with my thinking being that I buy cheap and run them in to the ground. I've been lucky to get actual currency back for the last two mainly due to my comedy Facebook adverts lol.

I check the floor is sound and the engine starts that's pretty much it but it's probably best not to be like me.

Check any access doors are practical (I didn't and i don't fit through mine!)

Steepness and condition of the ramp, is it heavy to lift etc can you secure it safely alone?

Tyres perish on under used vehicles so check for cracks and bulges, run your hands around the inside of the tyre too

Lift any floor mats in the cab to check for rust as where the wheel at meets the floor is a prime place for rust.

Check number and location of windows, will there be decent airflow?

This list doesn't scratch the surface of the mechanical state of a vehicle but are common sense things people lose sight of.

I entrusted the viewing of my newest box to a friend and ended up with a box where i can't get in to the living area and can't get up the ramp but if course being smaller and fitter than me these things didn't occur to her - to be fair box is perfect otherwise and I have her to help on show days so all is ok.

Try and take a mechanic with you, I recently heard of a box being sold locally that has an issue with the gearbox that a layman would just never have spotted

I use Anthony Evans for insurance and breakdown their service to me has never been anything other than A1 even when i had a box that broke down at least weekly.

Thanks for this, the cab and windows I would never have thought about really! Just checked pictures, 6 sliding windows in the horse area

I will try to get a mechanic, idea is to go this weekend and see it and just put down a deposit if I like it and potentially go with a mechanic to do a proper check before driving it home. It looks like a lovely little box though. Ramp is on the side which I’m not overly keen on but could put up with it it’s not a deal breaker, jockey door is tall so hopefully won’t bash my head too much


For AE is their breakdown service good? It does worry me breaking down with a horse on board and not having a good recovery service.

 

[WelshD]

Thanks for this, the cab and windows I would never have thought about really! Just checked pictures, 6 sliding windows in the horse area

I will try to get a mechanic, idea is to go this weekend and see it and just put down a deposit if I like it and potentially go with a mechanic to do a proper check before driving it home. It looks like a lovely little box though. Ramp is on the side which I’m not overly keen on but could put up with it it’s not a deal breaker, jockey door is tall so hopefully won’t bash my head too much


For AE is their breakdown service good? It does worry me breaking down with a horse on board and not having a good recovery service.

Its been changed recently to a horsebox specific service. There was a situation in the past where the service was a motorhome one where sometimes the box was towed with horses on board and people were horrified (I wasn't bothered)
If this is important to you ask to see the service policy wording but id like to think that now it's a horse specific service they'd have ironed this out.
Certainly I must have called them out soooo many times to my old horsebox and nearly every time they got it going again there and then

 

[Pie's mum]

With it being an elderly box it’s probably worth asking someone in the know how easy it is to get parts. I knew someone who had an older box they ended up having to scrap due to being unable to source some kind of widget that had broken. I can’t remember what it was but seemed a shame as the rest of it was ok!

 

[Michen]

Love mine. It’s 1998 and has broken down once from needed a new aux but- 250 quid.

It has had four new tyres as I had a blow out and got the rest done for peace of mind. MOT wise it’s flown through 3 with me and the most recent one needed a new steering rack, windscreen wiper.. basic stuff. However it has an advisory of the inner sill being in poor condition so will likely need welding next time around.

It’s been a super reliable box which I bought off ESWalker on here, though she may not have the same view of her as I think she fixed a fair few things

Oh and it has never, ever not started even in -8 degrees.

 

[littlen]

Mine was 1995 and brilliant. Engine never skipped a beat however the rust was a nightmare. It needed constant welding so I would factor this into any decision.
I also found parts difficult to source so a handy mechanic is a must.

My current one is much more unreliable despite being 10 years younger.

 

[TPO]

I've got a 2001 3.5t and despite having a clean bill of health when I bought it in August 2018 apart from very minor corrosion. It's just cost £850 in welding to pass it's MOT.

I am clueless about car things and stupidly trusted someone who apparently knew more than me and checked MOT history for me. I had no idea anyone could do this and just went along with them when they said they could check it because of their job in the industry 🙄 They reported back that lorry was a good 'un. Now that I've learnt anyone can check MOT history's my lorry doesn't have pretty one!

However its apparent that no expense has been spared when repairing it and it's almost new with all the parts that have been replaced. So OP I'd check its history and see if there is a recurrence of the same things or if it's new aged related things as youd expect as the vehicle gets older.

Having said that my lorry is super reliable and starts in all temperatures (even very minus ones) regardless of how long it's been abandoned for. The bodywork is sound and it had a new double marine ply floor when I bought it but I got it reinforced with tread plate for peace of mind too.

 

[Lammy]

Its been changed recently to a horsebox specific service. There was a situation in the past where the service was a motorhome one where sometimes the box was towed with horses on board and people were horrified (I wasn't bothered)
If this is important to you ask to see the service policy wording but id like to think that now it's a horse specific service they'd have ironed this out.
Certainly I must have called them out soooo many times to my old horsebox and nearly every time they got it going again there and then

Thanks for this, I will look into them and definitely ask about sending a separate vehicle for the horses just to be sure

With it being an elderly box it’s probably worth asking someone in the know how easy it is to get parts. I knew someone who had an older box they ended up having to scrap due to being unable to source some kind of widget that had broken. I can’t remember what it was but seemed a shame as the rest of it was ok!

Yes thank you, I had thought of this as it’s an obscure motor home make but thankfully built off of a common body so parts should be ok! Had a quick google/eBay and there seems to be pages and pages of bits.

Love mine. It’s 1998 and has broken down once from needed a new aux but- 250 quid.

It has had four new tyres as I had a blow out and got the rest done for peace of mind. MOT wise it’s flown through 3 with me and the most recent one needed a new steering rack, windscreen wiper.. basic stuff. However it has an advisory of the inner sill being in poor condition so will likely need welding next time around.

It’s been a super reliable box which I bought off ESWalker on here, though she may not have the same view of her as I think she fixed a fair few things

Oh and it has never, ever not started even in -8 degrees.

The one I’m looking at feels really old now, it’s almost 10 years older than yours...it’s actually older than me!
However it looks like it’s been kept in good condition really so hopefully that’s put it in good stead... as long as I look after it properly and don’t ask too much of it like I did if all my last cars (rip)

Mine was 1995 and brilliant. Engine never skipped a beat however the rust was a nightmare. It needed constant welding so I would factor this into any decision.
I also found parts difficult to source so a handy mechanic is a must.

My current one is much more unreliable despite being 10 years younger.

Thanks for the point about rust/welding. Thankfully I do have a great handy mechanic who sadly will be way too busy to come see it but I know he’ll sort out pretty much anything I give him.
He was very sad for the convertible I had which ended up with a hay bale in the boot...

 

[Lammy]

I've got a 2001 3.5t and despite having a clean bill of health when I bought it in August 2018 apart from very minor corrosion. It's just cost £850 in welding to pass it's MOT.

I am clueless about car things and stupidly trusted someone who apparently knew more than me and checked MOT history for me. I had no idea anyone could do this and just went along with them when they said they could check it because of their job in the industry 🙄 They reported back that lorry was a good 'un. Now that I've learnt anyone can check MOT history's my lorry doesn't have pretty one!

However its apparent that no expense has been spared when repairing it and it's almost new with all the parts that have been replaced. So OP I'd check its history and see if there is a recurrence of the same things or if it's new aged related things as youd expect as the vehicle gets older.

Having said that my lorry is super reliable and starts in all temperatures (even very minus ones) regardless of how long it's been abandoned for. The bodywork is sound and it had a new double marine ply floor when I bought it but I got it reinforced with tread plate for peace of mind too.

Thank you for that MOT tip! I never knew that either, i just went to look and it seems it had a lot of work done in 2013 but has since flown through MOT’s so I’ll ask how long they’ve had it. It looks like they fixed a lot on it so I’m hoping they bought it in a bad state and they sorted it, not that it just combusted at some point...

Also it has the advisories they said when I asked them on the most recent one which is again when they said it was. Always nice when the seller is honest

 

[Tiddlypom]

Are you sure that the conversion from motorhome to horsebox has been carried out correctly? They are very different uses. How strong is it?

Check the payload before you buy, not after, to make sure that it's sufficient for your needs. Presume that the floor needs replacing now, not at the end of the season.