Carriage Driving - Transport Suggestions

Pikachu

Pikachu

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 February 2003
Messages
137
Location
Bedfordshire
Visit site
My mum and her partner carriage drive as their health issues stopped both riding several years ago, currently have a pair of 12.2hh ponies and a 4 wheeler which they got a 7.5t lorry for a couple of years ago but both are now starting to struggle to get up the ramp of the lorry so we have tentatively started discussing other options. They have considered a 3.5t with a trailer but one main aspect of the 7.5t was the living where they could sit down in relative comfort, out of the elements and have a rest when they needed which they will not have with a 3.5t.

I wondered if they would be better off looking at the 4.5t or even 5.5t as they could then have a bit of living, but they would still need a trailer for the carriage as I do not think that there is enough room inside to fit everything.

I know someone on here has mentioned the Equi-trek Carriage Treka before which would tick all the boxes as has living and room for the 4 wheeler and lower ramp, but how practical are they as they look ginormous from the pictures.

As an added complication, it would ideally need to fit my beasts (16.1hh ID x TB and 16.3hh ID) rather than us all having different modes of transport. I have my B+E but not yet got around to doing my class 2. It was something I was looking at but it seemed too much hassle to re-configure the set up of the lorry to just pop to a school hire or clinic, which is why they were going with the 3.5t route as I can then toddle off on my own with one of mine but I have been toying with getting a 511 if need be as our old 505 isn’t big enough for the latest addition but would be perfect for the carriage.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what they have, what works, what doesn’t etc so I can start to properly research.
 
Can you not use a winch set up to help load the carriage? Our local driving yard have a carriage trailer, but they only use it for the big away shows as it is an extra hassle to use (and seems to involve a lot of manual labour - speaking as someone who is often 'spare hands' when they are loading up!). They usually just put carriage into the lorry.

I think that the equitrek ramp, while less steep than a typical 7.5T is still quite steep (I have a showtrekka, and I think the ramp is steeper than most trailers or 3.5T conversions as the horses are above the wheels).
 
your first problem is, if you have a lorry of some sort you'd need to check how much you could tow behind it. plus you have to be ab le to hitch and unhitch with it full just in case of an emergency. the pretty heavy once loaded.

my boss completes ponies at carriage driving at world championships level and uses an HGV lorry for 2 14.2's and a trailer for the carriage and bits and bobs.

again with the equi trek you'd need to be careful about the towing vehicle. But it might be worth a look. and I'm sure they would advice about cars for towing.
 
oh yes forgot to say get a winch fixed to the lorry you've got now. we have that in the HGV as the carriage used to go and in there and they work brilliantly.
 
Thanks for the replies, have a winch for the carriage but it’s the physical walking up/down themselves that’s the issue and they didn’t seem impressed when I suggested winching themselves up ;)

Currently have a Land Rover Discovery which should be up to the task but would look into the spec if go down that route.
 
I think it depends a bit on money available too, if it's not much object and you can get people to make what suits, that's very different than trying to find that set up already.

They'd be fine with a 3.5T but you won't be :p and not sure uprating that to 3.9 which is fairly easy for most would be sufficient (and not all have the head height).

I'd probably be thinking of a van style 4.5-6.5T which will not have the steep ramp. New options for those would be racemaster/fred govier (sp?!) and then trailer for the carriage. iiirc RM do a 6.5T, I've seen a couple of Fred's 4.5T that are nice. That would give you some living too.
 
Found a pic of the 6.5T racemaster so you can see the ramp
21741262_2131493746876322_6275240571527771536_o.jpg
 
I had a carriage treka for a while the carriage goes into the living area you have room up the drivers side of the living for a row of units sink cooker and a fridge
I had camp beds and folding chairs I had stable fitted to the trailer .
You put up the stable then rolled out the carriage and cleaned out and set up base camp using the horse area as well there was lots of space
We camping tables and things like that .
It was a really compact way to get a carriage and horse about .
Down side was carriage trekas while very stable to tow have three axles and are a pain to hitch and move about in tight spaces .
 
Ps I have a 6.5 ton like the above put with living in front and a slide out you put a stable on it and but the carriage in trailer behind .
I have seen that done .
 
I have an enormous triple trailer for my 14.1hh and 4 wheel carriage. If I had more money it would not be my first choice! Its a pain to hitch, a pain to move about and it really is huge. It wont fit in a standard parking space as its too long. Its also significantly smaller than the equi trek version.

I've also towed a small unbraked car trailer with carriage in and if you go down that route you absolutely need an electric winch or it becomes a complete nightmare! But otherwise it works well. Make sure theres lash points though.

I'd go for something between a 3.5ton and 7.5ton. Something like Ester suggested. That should give you a small lorry but still with some living and then you can tow the carriage in a small unbraked car trailer. The weight of the car trailer and carriage should be under the 750kg cut off point, so easily pulled by a lorry.
 
ester said:
Found a pic of the 6.5T racemaster so you can see the ramp
21741262_2131493746876322_6275240571527771536_o.jpg
Click to expand...
I had a look at equi-trek as knew they did the bigger smaller lorries, will now have a look at racemaster.

Budget has yet to be decided. I think they only need dayliving rather than full living as I cant see them overnighting it which may make things easier.
 
You can get a carriage and 2 ponies in a Cheval Liberte 4003. Ramp is much shallower than a lorry. However, the thing is a monster to tow. It's not so much the weight as the width which is a PITA.

Cup of tea would have to come with you in a flask, mind.
 
I could get a carriage into the equitrek alone as long as I had little wedges to get the carriage ( 4 wheeler a heartland pro sport for a large horse so a heavy carriage )onto the ramp .
Once I got it onto the ramp I turned back the shafts and moved it into the horse area I then had to do little lift over the lip into the living with both sets of wheels .
The carriage then fixed to floor of the living with ratchet straps .
It was hard work alone but with two people easy a pony carriage would be easier .
 
Goldenstar said:
I could get a carriage into the equitrek alone as long as I had little wedges to get the carriage ( 4 wheeler a heartland pro sport for a large horse so a heavy carriage )onto the ramp .
Once I got it onto the ramp I turned back the shafts and moved it into the horse area I then had to do little lift over the lip into the living with both sets of wheels .
The carriage then fixed to floor of the living with ratchet straps .
It was hard work alone but with two people easy a pony carriage would be easier .
Click to expand...

Theirs is a hartland, crisscross I think, and quite easy to move on own and get up mini ramp/step to its container home but is more tricky up the steep ramp even with a winch. I think until see the equi-trek in person I can’t rule it in or out, so will put it on the list.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top