Cost of running a 7.5T horsebox?

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Maia

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Thinking of getting a 7.5T box as am fed up with only being able to take 1 horse out with what I've currently got and having seen some nasty accidents do not want to tow. Taking test is no problem and OH can supervise while I still have L plates on.

I have about £6 to 7K to spend, max! Ideally a little less so I have some savings left should I need to call on them.

However, what I need to know is will I be able to afford the thing once I've got it (no good having a lovely box if I can't afford to use it!). Obviously I realise some things cannot be forseen but for an "older" box (I'm thinking F-K reg for my budget??) with a reasonably high mileage (again, thinking 150, 000 ish miles, may well be more!) what sort of expenses am I looking at? Think I can budget max £80/month (+ fuel, lessons, comps etc obviously).

Specifically:
*Insurance (would have to include 1 named driver (me) under 25 - clean license - and the standard over 25 drivers
*Annual Plating
*Annual Servicing
*MPG
*Tyres (how often will they need replacing and at what cost?)
*Breakdown cover
*Anything else (am sure I have missed a few biggies!)

Many thanks, Maia
 
At your budget be very very careful what you buy - Don't go for Ford Cargo of this age parts ARE nightmare to get hold of. Make sure your new truck enging is good and sound and all running gear is aswell. It must have 12months mot, plus i personnel would get truck looked at by a man that knows about engines
IMO these are a must as then due to your budget you will NOT get something prefect things will be wrong with it
Check floor - to redo wood on top of good ally base about 1800 quid
check ramps - to redo wood about 800 quid
as for running cost

Specifically:
*Insurance (would have to include 1 named driver (me) under 25 - clean license - and the standard over 25 drivers -195.00 ish
*Annual Plating-£300ish
*Annual Servicing-150ish
*MPG-about 20
*Tyres (how often will they need replacing and at what cost?)????
*Breakdown cover - 100 ish
*Anything else (am sure I have missed a few biggies!)- i put away about 800 plus a year to run truck so this donest included diesel or lessons
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Don't be fooled by shiney re-sprays and ask to see any history garage bills etc.... and take your time as so to be rude but at this price range there are some danger dogs out there!!! If i was you i'd you buy at dealer so at least you get some sort of warrenty
 
How long is a piece of string?
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The first year of running a lorry hopefully will be the most expensive as that is when you find out that the seller told you a load of lies & now it is up to you to get it sorted out.
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My tip is don't blow your whole budget on a lorry as you are sure to need money to get things put right. I had to have mine serviced, a new gasket, oil (15 litres
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) filters etc. Then I found that the fuel tank developed a leak & the air filter box was rusted to bits. Hopefully the lorry you look at will have a pile of bills with it that proves what has been repaired/replaced & when it was serviced.

Tyres last a long time because boxes rarely do loads of miles, just a journey at weekends. Hopefully the walls won't be cracked. You can buy part worn off the internet if you need them, just like parts from lorrys that are being broken up. This will definately save money.

For a 7.5 ton lorry I would estimate between 16 & 18 mpg, depending on the engine. Can't help with insurance as mine is insured with Anthony Evans, it includes recovery etc & any driver over 25.

Plating is about £75 but it depends if it passes or not.

Servicing needs to be done by a mobile or a self employed guy. Don't take it to a garage as you will be charged commercisl rates & that is extremely expensive.

A lorry is expensive when things go wrong..... but so is a 4x4.... good luck with whatever you do.
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I would recommend at Merc as they are very reliable - it was what my garage recommended. Milage is generally not too much of an issue as moder diesels will go on for plus 500,000 easily nowdays.
Insureance i would think 250
Plating - costs £60 if you take it to the test centre yourself.
Service about £250
MPG around 20
Tax about £10 more than a car so about £185 from memory.
Tyres about 100 each but do not need changing all that often every 5 years or more if you are notdoing big milage. amin thing to watch it that it does notstand in one place for a long time as the rubber can perish.
Breakdown, depends on cover but mine is around £200 with Horsebox owners, but hat covers repair, recovry alternative transport & tyres so pretty "gold plated".
Likewise i keep about £1000 as a annual running total.
 
I would wait around for the right box too, don't be taken in by a fancy living on a F reg. You can get a K reg or maybe slightly younger for that price, just keep a daily eye on horsemart and horse and hound and you'll see them pop up.

A word of warning though, if there is one that is a good reg and a good price, see it fast. We bought ours within two days of it being on horsemart, and she had lots of phone calls for it.
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I allow £1,000 a year for basic costs, plus diesel.
Compare with running about in a oldie cheapie car and saving £20 a week on fule instead of running abig tow car for commuting.
Even wiht a 7.5 tonne check payload as some living fittings are very heavy and can leave you with insuffcient payload for two hroses and thier kit.
 
Just a word of caution, if you are looking at boxes of the age you say then be very careful when looking at any Merc chassis as they did tend to be very rolly poley unless they had modification to their springs in the old days, am sure the Atego they use now is better but the old 814's could make you feel quite "sea sick" and didn't give a very nice ride for the horses.
 
If your on a budget buy a basic box without a luton the older conversions mostly had non tilting cabs which puts $$$$£££ss on labour even for simple servicing.. newer the better is best and do not take any notice of mileage on older lorrys unless there is documentry evidence to confirm mileage most will have had a new tachograph head fitted at some point
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the only ones which genuinly are low have been horseboxs from new and are oftern knakered by lack of mainternance/neglect ..
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