Cost of Running 7.5 tonne horsebox

J

JJ1987

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 November 2007
Messages
353
Visit site
This may be a "how long is a piece of string" question but currently looking at upgrading from a 3.5 to 7.5 so I can take two horses out and have somewhere to stay in when on stopovers.

Besides the obvious test I need to take to be able to do this, can anyone give a bit of assistance into roughly how much running costs would be?

Looking to see what the expenses are before I leap in and buy something. Probably have a budget of about £10,000 to spend on box and then need to see what the costs of MOT, Plating, tyres (although I understand once these are good they last due to lack of mileage), insurance and breakdown etc.

Any help would be much appreciated, no matter how much of an estimate it is as I know it will depend on age of box, mileage on box etc etc

Thank you in advance!
 
I have never known a year of a 7.5 tonne box to less than about £1000 in terms of servicing, plating, repairs, tyres, etc. Admittedly mine are never the newest - they were bought for a similar budget to yours, perhaps a touch more in fact. Insurance and breakdown on top would add about another £300 to £400.

My old 3.5 tonne box might only cost a couple of hundred in a good year.

Sorry if that's not good news...
 
Ive had a few and it really is the luck of the draw but if things go wrong they nearly always cost hundreds to repair! They definately need using... regularly, lots on my old yard had 3.5t's sat for months and they were fine, where as a 7.5t needs running to keep brakes from siezing etc etc etc. Mine cost me a fortune in the last year I owned it and the mechanic said it was basically my fault as it wasnt being used enough. As far as plating, near us its about £130, breakdown was £125, insurance was actually cheaper than the 3.5t I had, tax about £220 a year ish. Its so exciting buying a wagon but my advice would be to close your eyes at the fancy paint jobs as lots have fancy resprays to cover a multitude of sins and definately get one which isnt close to plating so you dont get any nasty suprises. Saying all that, they are fab and Im actually considering another atm, as I cant get my head round a trailer and everything in the boot of my car, I must be mad lol
 
Thanks for that, we tend to be out at least once a week if not more as we travel for lessons as well as competitions. Quite happy to overlook paint job and interior as these can always be looked at in the future and done ourselves to how we want it, it's more justifying the running costs. It will be a shared box between myself and a friend so will be looking to share the costs which should make it a bit more affordable
 
And which piece of string would Madam like?

Having said that:


Probably have a budget of about £10,000 to spend on box: Should be enough to get you a decent plain wagon. But please have a proper inspection done. MOT, Plating: Same thing, cost only around £100 more than van MoT. Repairs? Can mount up, much depends on how much effort you or your mechanics are willing to put into sourcing parts. For example Renault wanted £128 for a brake light switch for mine, a BETTER one cost £8 from t'net. Tyres (although I understand once these are good they last due to lack of mileage): not quite true, age can wither them and they can burst.....always have a spare wheel on board, tyre companies charge a fortune if you have need to buy one by the roadside. insurance: Dirt cheap, mine is £180 a year. Breakdown: You get what you pay for, if you only do local runs it may be better to store a network of pals with lorries and local transporters and recovery firms on yr phone!

Overall they are more flexible probably safer for horses and if you don't buy a lemon needn't be that much dearer.

But if yr 3.5T is OK I would stick with the devil.

PS Interior can be re-done v easily. But paint cuts both ways: a glossy paintjob can hide horrors yet really scruffy paint can mean maintenance has been bodged.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for that turnbuckle, I know it's a nightmare just wanting a rough idea of running costs. 3.5t won't take two big horses so would have to upgrade for that. Good tip on the check before purchase, I was looking at this today
 
What you need is a good commercial garage to look after whatever you get - and it's worth asking for their advice about makes and models
 
Totally agree.

Well worth putting in the legwork. But don't be taken in by a smiley face, the first one I used was charming but useless and dear!

Another thing, the newer (post 2003ish) lorries have many many sensors which can spend much of their life going phut.

I would always go for simplicity, and good parts availability. For that the Daf and Iveco are way the best.
 
I'm just downgrading from a 7.5 to a 3.5 for that exact reason. The running expenses are crazy. Most of the problems I found came from it actually standing, rather than running problems.

We will use a 3.5 and probably buy a caravan to tow separate for away shows.
 
ljohnsonsj said:
I'm just downgrading from a 7.5 to a 3.5 for that exact reason. The running expenses are crazy. Most of the problems I found came from it actually standing, rather than running problems.

We will use a 3.5 and probably buy a caravan to tow separate for away shows.
Click to expand...

For one horse that is fine but not for two which the OP needs to take

3.5 with a 750 MTPLM caravan is legal on a B licence for anyone interested
 
ponydi said:
What you need is a good commercial garage to look after whatever you get - and it's worth asking for their advice about makes and models
Click to expand...

Forget going to a garage for your repairs as the hourly rate will be cost prohibitive! Find a mechanic that works in one who will do your jobs as a in his own time. The overheads will not be their & he will charge you significantly less.

Sometimes locating parts for the older vehicles can be a nightmare, be prepared to buy used/recycled parts from scrap yards/dismantlers. I've had my lorry for about 9 years & never had to buy tyres, I've had to replace silencer, brake balance valve, radiator etc but after the initial spend getting the lorry as I wanted it it has not cost me much & normally flies through testing.

Saying how much it costs to run a lorry is a waste of time because it differs for so many vehicles. Also when you chose a lorry chose one that is in service for major haulage companies (TNT etc) i.e. DAF, IVECO etc. They work out the cost effectiveness of the vehicle, servicing, depreciation, mpg etc so whatever vehicles they run should be cost effective for you. But always get a mechanic to take a look at the vehicle you're considering buying, it's well worth the cost.
 
Toby_Zaphod said:
Forget going to a garage for your repairs as the hourly rate will be cost prohibitive! Find a mechanic that works in one who will do your jobs as a in his own time. The overheads will not be their & he will charge you significantly less.

Sometimes locating parts for the older vehicles can be a nightmare, be prepared to buy used/recycled parts from scrap yards/dismantlers. I've had my lorry for about 9 years & never had to buy tyres, I've had to replace silencer, brake balance valve, radiator etc but after the initial spend getting the lorry as I wanted it it has not cost me much & normally flies through testing.

Saying how much it costs to run a lorry is a waste of time because it differs for so many vehicles. Also when you chose a lorry chose one that is in service for major haulage companies (TNT etc) i.e. DAF, IVECO etc. They work out the cost effectiveness of the vehicle, servicing, depreciation, mpg etc so whatever vehicles they run should be cost effective for you. But always get a mechanic to take a look at the vehicle you're considering buying, it's well worth the cost.
Click to expand...

Echo this entirely. My lorry relies on my friendly, second hand part savy mobile mechanic! I reckon my 6.5 tonne costs about £1,200 a year to insure, tax, plating and service. That is money I could use to hire one weekend day a month, and not have my own lorry. So think works out a lot cheaper if go out 3-6 times a month. Plus gives great flexibility.

I use mine 4-8 times a month all year round.
 
Not sure what kind of 3.5t you have and whether it would be possible, but had you thought of looking into having it uprated to 4 or 4.5t? Wouldn't give you the living you get with a 7.5t but would likely enable you to travel two horses safely. I *think* it's mainly a question of having some work done to the suspension and then some admin with the DVLA.
 
Micropony said:
Not sure what kind of 3.5t you have and whether it would be possible, but had you thought of looking into having it uprated to 4 or 4.5t? Wouldn't give you the living you get with a 7.5t but would likely enable you to travel two horses safely. I *think* it's mainly a question of having some work done to the suspension and then some admin with the DVLA.
Click to expand...

Many 3.5s are originally built as 3.9s or higher but are plated by the manufacturer at 3.5 so uprating those will not need any physical work being done - just paperwork by DVLA
 
I worked our fuel costs recently and for our 2007 6.5 ton box it was 30p per mile, and 20p per mile for octavia towing the trailer.

Insurance plus breakdown is about 500 pounds :(

Fiona
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top