Converting van conversion 3.5 ton to a square body box?

[catembi]

I have a van conversion Renault Master…the sort that still looks like a van. My new horse is going to need more headroom. Currently it’s 7 ft and we really need 8ft. Lorry is 2010 and reliable, and I have kept it well maintained.

Would I be better off getting it converted to a square style body or selling it and starting again? Any rough ideas of cost? I was thinking if refitting the inside anyway and getting a respray so I suppose I would save on that and could put the money towards a new body…

 

[Julia0803]

I’m guessing it’d be so expensive you’d be better off swapping?

I had the same conundrum recently- I had a crew cab coach built box, that I felt was too big really for both myself and pony and wanted to downgrade to a smaller van type.

I dawdled for age’s because it had been really reliable and not caused me any problems…. And you never know buying something else if it’s going to be trouble.

Good luck

 

[The Xmas Furry]

12 years ago it cost me 10k plus vat to have a coachbuilt body put onto (then) a 4 yr old cab chassis unit, the existing van body was cut away.
That included a one colour of paintwork on the outside and logos etc.

You wont be able to 'convert' but might well be able to get a coachbuilt body for yours. However, most box builders dont like to build on anything over 10 yrs old, so bear that in mind.

 

[Green Bean]

I would sell and buy one that is exactly what you are looking for. There are a lot of 3.5t horseboxes for sale at the moment and prices on most have gone down which is surprising. I wouldn't want the headache of conversion when the end product might not work out how you want it to be - there are van conversions and horsebox conversions for a reason, I wouldn't try and chance a combining of the two.
That is just my opinion of course

 

[catembi]

Thank you all…that’s helpful. I think it’s going to get expensive…!

 

[HopOnTrot]

I don’t think you can turn a van into a coach build, they’re different base vehicles.

 

[catembi]

Thank you - I didn't know that! I have been trying to visualise how it might work, and if they're completely different, that explains why I'm not getting very far!

I really don't want to sell my lorry & get another one - I know mine, have looked after it & enjoy driving it. Any new one is going to be an unknown quantity. But mine isn't big enough. I don't really want to go back up to 7.5 ton either. The lorries can be cheap but maintenance is £££££££££££ and I don't like my chances of turning into the driveway without taking out a gate post...

 

[PeterNatt]

Get rd. Get yoursled a 'Chassis Pan Cab' so that they can build a container on it. Best of luck.

 

[WelshD]

Could the roof on yours be raised? I've seen a few where a high top has been made taller but I am not sure whether those were bodge jobs and whether its a structural issue

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I don’t think you can turn a van into a coach build, they’re different base vehicles.

You can.
A 3.5t van will just have the whole body cut off leaving the cab chassis. But it needs to be a lwb to start with, any panel van, tipper etc can be used.

OP would be better to flog existing and buy what she requires if current one doesn't suit horse.

 

[catembi]

Mine’s a LWB…! It also has the extra height roof but is still only 7ft of headroom. My nearly 4 yo is going to grooooow…!

 

[Boulty]

You might be able to get the roof raised without turning it into a proper coachbuilt maybe? This could be a good option if you want to keep the van? Unsure what the limit is on how high you can go

 

[catembi]

Current lorry.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Current lorry.

That is already a high top, I'm pretty sure you wont be able to do anything else to it, unless you pop Fred Flintstone type holes in the floor.....

 

[catembi]

...or a 'sunroof' for her head to pop through...!

 

[SilverLinings]

That is already a high top, I'm pretty sure you wont be able to do anything else to it, unless you pop Fred Flintstone type holes in the floor.....

...or a 'sunroof' for her head to pop through...!

And then you'll save on fuel (the horse can do the work) and have inbuilt air conditioning

Sorry OP, I don't have anything sensible to add as I don't have much experience with vans/lorries (have a trailer).

 

[catembi]

If anyone has got a square type 3.5 ton, would they please be able to measure the height from floor to ceiling and report back? I have just seen one where it’s only 7 ft 3 and it doesn’t seem worth all the time, effort and money for an extra three inches…! TIA

 

[catembi]

I really, really don’t want to go back to 7.5 ton and neither do my bank balance or gate posts…

 

[ester]

I’m having a username fart but someone has a 3.5T for their giant horse because he doesn’t fit in her 7.5..

 

[iknowmyvalue]

My 3.5T Renault master has had the roof extended upwards, and has 7ft8 headroom. Not sure how easy it is to do on an existing lorry though…

16hh horse for scale

 

[catembi]

Thank you…I think that would be the cheapest option. I also look after my lorry and would really rather keep it if at all possible as I know its history.