"DIY" van to horsebox conversion

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wench

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Just a random though as i've been driving around today. I would much rather have a van conversion than my truck and trailer, but the costs of purchasing one thats not a clapped out old heap are prohibitive.

So I was just wondering if anyone has done a "DIY" one. I'm not planning on doing so, as I dont have the funds even to buy the van, but thought it must be possible to do.

The reinforcement/bulkhead, and putting the "horse doors" on the side would have to be done by a professional, but the rest, ie lining it out with rubber etc must be fairly straightforward?

BTW I mean a van that still looks like a van, not one that looks like a mini lorry!
 
I'd be lying if i said i hadnt considered this but then my ponies are both under 12.2

My thoughts were to reinforce floors and bulkhead and add a collapsable breast bar arrangement like you'd get in a trailer and ponies face forward. I would leave the doors as they are but fit small strong ramps inside those which would flip down on (decent) hinged springs, i personally see no reason to replace doors with ramps but then i may be missing something. I would add windows and a motorised roof fan and line the walls with rubber

Of course i have not looked in to it further but provided the space inside was fine and SAFE for the equine/s i would see no need to do radical changes beyond essential safety modifications but someone more clued up may strongly disagree!
 
My dad uses a van for his daily job (shame its the wrong sort else I would have claimed it after he's finished with it!), and we have lined that out with plastic ourselves. Now I know you wouldnt just line a horse coversion out with plastic, it would need reinforcing, and that would need to be done by an expert, but putting all the mats etc in must save a fortune if you do it yourself?
 
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