Buying lorries?

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Skhosu

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IS there anything to watch out for? We'd be getting a 3 horse non HGV lorry. Not too old, with full living, enough for a fmaily of 5 to be comfortable.
Anything you can't do without in yours?
Needs tack lockers etc. too. Eventing.
 
GET THE MECHANICS CHECKED!!! sorry to shout but we didnt (as buying from a 'reputable' dealer) and it has cost us silly money to get it sorted so that it is safe to drive!
 
Ditto Bonita! I bought mine without getting it checked and was then told by a mechanic who looked at it that it needed a new engine!!!
shocked.gif
Luckily it turned out not to be so bad but it still cost me over £1200 to get it on the road. Happy lory hunting!
 
For the sake of £2-300 get it checked.

The ramp, can you lift it by yourself? For me that is very important as a heavy ramp destroys my back.
 
I have to say, i have just bought a lorry.
I was looking for a newish one, but came across some right TAT!
i ended up with a 20yr old lorry that passed a Mechanical and body work inspection. it a proper coach built one with tack lockers and fab living. i put a private plate on it as i'm a bit of a snob!!
Keep your options open, you may find a bargin if you look!
 
We would hopefully be looking at electric ramp, so much easier!
Think we do plan on getting it checked.
 
if you are looking at an older lorry then weight may be an issue. Recently I have been around to numerous reputable horsebox manufacturers and they all say that even with lightweight materials it is almost impossible to have full living and legally carry 3 horses, kit, fuel, water and people. Some even make you sign a disclaimer stating the weight of the vehicle so that there is no come back for them.
if the weight of the vehicle is 5.6 tons that leaves you a paye load of 1900kg The average 16.2 will be around 550kg, so if you carried 3 horses you will be left with 250 kg. Water and fuel weigh 1kg per litre. Then there is the weight of tack and people to account for too
 
Do you have any pics JS65?
We had an iveco 3 horse with full good living, took 3 horses etc. , couldn't really do with any less realistically, problem is if insurance will cough up the full amount!
 
No pics at the mo but will nip out in a bit and take some.
it carries 3 huge horses, it's the widest you can have legally!
It was a 10ton downgraded so has a big pulling power.
it costs me £224 a year to insure with any driver and has alsorts of extras on the insurance. i was looking to spend up to 10k for one and got it for £5500, so is going for a top knotch respray at the end of the show season!!
 
Do you know a mechanic - local who's reliable??

Ask them to accompany you to any viewings and give you a honest opinion.....well worth a few quid and a pint!!!

Check it's plated and serviced... and to save a few bob, if it's got a tacho fitted....check it's sealed and calibrated
 
[ QUOTE ]
IS there anything to watch out for? We'd be getting a 3 horse non HGV lorry. Not too old, with full living, enough for a fmaily of 5 to be comfortable.
Anything you can't do without in yours?
Needs tack lockers etc. too. Eventing.

[/ QUOTE ]

I posted the comments below a while ago when another forum member was looking for tips re: lorry purchase - hopefully this will help you-

Stick to looking at the main 3 chassis - Iveco (not ford cargo) , DAF 45 -150 ( the 130 is a great engine but can be gutless - the 150 / 170 BHP are superior, 180 is 6 cylinder so a heavier chassis), and M.A.N. ( dont forget the M.A.N chassis is around 300 kilos heavier than Iveco and DAF) - we dont rate Renault for reliability reasons, Mercedes are expensive for parts and roll quite a bit giving the horses sealegs, and Volvo although good trucks are again expensive for parts and are a very heavy chassis on 7.5 tonne basis.

Go and view quite a few vehicles and you will get a feel for what is value for money and build quality etc. Ideally coachbuilt lorries will always realise more money - especially for resale, and are lighter than a conversion.

Look to see if the cab tilts - and where it tilts - if the tilt is designed to go through the front of the luton (an older way of tilting) check for signs of leakage. If the cab is fixed then make sure an inspection panel and bonnet has been cut away below the passenger seats for easier engine access .

I would take a diesel mechanic with you - when you have found a suitable vehicle - always go for full service history - the mileage is not too much of an issue as long as the vehicle has been well maintained, the engine is designed to be running up and down motorways so when a vehicle becomes a horsebox it goes into "retirement".

Spend time looking at the underneath of the lorry to check for areas of corrosion - take a sharp pointed stick with you and lift up the mats in the horse area and have a real good poke around especially where the floor meets the body and in the corners.

Raise and lower the ramp - listen to the springs - and see where they are located - ideally the ramp should be undersprung ( springs underneath the ramp at the bottom) and give the ramp a jump up and down (on when lowered) and again check for signs of corrosion.

Ask for appiances to be turned on ie fridge, heating etc - see if you can smell gas - gas bottles should be housed on the external in a well ventilated compartment or on a floating stowage.

Check for signs of leakage- and feel the walls - its not unusual to have condensation at this tme of year but anything more than that will mean a leaky lorry.

There are companies listed in horse and hound who will check the vehicle for you - dont buy in haste and then find you have a total death trap- you are travelling your most precious cargo - usually horses and children so it has to be safe and well built.

Work out your capacity you need and then get a weight certificate for the lorry, make sure it is weighed on a calibrated weighbridge - with partitions on - so at least you know you are legal when laden. 7.5 tonne means it can carry no more than 7.5 tonne no matter what.

Good luck
 
[ QUOTE ]
IS there anything to watch out for? We'd be getting a 3 horse non HGV lorry. Not too old, with full living, enough for a fmaily of 5 to be comfortable.
Anything you can't do without in yours?
Needs tack lockers etc. too. Eventing.

[/ QUOTE ]

get the damn thing weighed...

you'd be pushing it to get a 3 horse with all those extras that is under weight...

on average 3 horses and 3 people with associated clobber would weigh on average 2 1/4 tons....so the unladen should be less than 4 1/2T.....to take into account of extra people/their clobber..
most lorries with living and tack lockers are over that unladen
 
When I bought mine I got it checked by a mechanic I knew and trusted cos I didn't really have a clue what to look for. He said it was a good box and 'touch wood' I've had no problems with it apart from needing a new battery last year
smile.gif
 
Hello,
I have a really nice lorry for sale if you are intrested? Here are the details:
7.5 tonne
P reg
Excellent condition throughout. Horse area just refurbished so immaculate!
Extras include:
Skirt Lockers
2 Tack lockers
CD player
CCTV in horse area- flat screen colour monitor in cab
Horse Shower
Laminate flooring and Ikea 'style' living!Very Smart!
DVD player
Flat Screen LCD TV
Fridge
Freezer
Glass topped Hob and Sink
Toilet
Shower
Hot/Cold Water
Lots of cupboard space
Central Heating
Sleeps 4/4 easily
Rug Racks
Travel Lights
Rubber matting
Padded Partitions
Cruise Control
Tinted Windows
Black and Silver Metallic Paintwork
Very easy to drive
 
Weight! There are many lorries out there being advertised as '3 horse' that can not carry 3 horses as they already weigh too much. You can be fined up to £5000 and your insurance is null and void if you are involved in an accident.
I have a cracking 'P' reg lorry for sale, 150bhp engine, mechanically sound, good floor and has a 2.4T payload so will take 3 horses but unfortunately the live-in isn't huge and will not accomodate 5 people.
Good luck in your search.
 
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