First lorry for my birthday!!

A

Albus15

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 September 2021
Messages
106
Visit site
I've been so so lucky to have received a lorry for my birthday - I've always dreamed of one! No more camping in the trailer at stay aways!

Can anyone recommend the best insurance and breakdown? What sort of things do I need?

Also, are there any bits I should kit it out with? Tips/tricks?

It's an older girl, with a lovely living and bathroom that we will modernize eventually, but it's ready to go!

My current shopping bits are things like:
- Clip on ties for the horses
- Toothbrushes etc for the bathroom
- Mugs
- Bedding for the luton
- Bags for storing saddle pads in the lockers
 
First aid kit and fire extinguisher. Mucking out stuff & grooming kit to keep in lorry. torch. Plates & cutlery.
 
A digital tyre depth guide and hgv tyre pressure gauge are godsends.
Best investment ever is an inverter..not a cheep Chinese one but a good one fitted professionally if you haven't got a competent technician at hand.
The thing with an inverter is that as long as you use under the recommended wattage you can have anything you want.
I've got an air fryer, a microwave and a kettle in my cab. (Run the engine to save the battery and don't overload the inverter)
Tom tom professional sat nav.
Definitely a sacrifice tupperware type box for emergency toilet (the darker side of trucking!)
Enjoy!
 
luckyoldme said:
A digital tyre depth guide and hgv tyre pressure gauge are godsends.
Best investment ever is an inverter..not a cheep Chinese one but a good one fitted professionally if you haven't got a competent technician at hand.
The thing with an inverter is that as long as you use under the recommended wattage you can have anything you want.
I've got an air fryer, a microwave and a kettle in my cab. (Run the engine to save the battery and don't overload the inverter)
Tom tom professional sat nav.
Definitely a sacrifice tupperware type box for emergency toilet (the darker side of trucking!)
Enjoy!
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure it already has an inverter - although it might be something we upgrade in the future!
I will also look into the sat nav!
There is a toilet in the lorry!
 
Happy birthday - lucky you!

Happy trucking! I'm ultra excited to be able to drive our lorry myself now.

I'm currently looking for good plastic containers to keep all the bits a bobs in like teabags, coffee, sugar, biscuits & snacks to help keep the mice at bay in the living area.

Obviously the champagne lives in the fridge! 🤣
 
teacups said:
No help from me as I have never had a lorry: what a fabulous present. Happy birthday!!
Click to expand...
Thank you!
dorsetladette said:
Happy birthday - lucky you!

Happy trucking! I'm ultra excited to be able to drive our lorry myself now.

I'm currently looking for good plastic containers to keep all the bits a bobs in like teabags, coffee, sugar, biscuits & snacks to help keep the mice at bay in the living area.

Obviously the champagne lives in the fridge! 🤣
Click to expand...
Thank you!
 
Sorry I didn't add anything useful there, so here goes!

Insurance - I've used Anthony D Evans who are reasonably priced and they also do there own recovery which my friend has used many times and they have always been fab for her. I now insure through Acres Insurance brokers and have an agricultural policy which has the lorry, my car and quad on it - worked out cheaper overall that way. And I have recovery through Equine rescue (I think that's who Anthony Evans use) which I picked up cheaply at HOYS last year.

In side I use those little moisture absorbing things/dehumidifier things to keep the damp/condensation at bay. I also get the hanging ones for in the wardrobe.

Give you water tank and pipes a good clean through. I use sterilizing tablets in the tank over night and then run the taps until the tank is empty, leave to dry out overnight and then fill with fresh water.

I use big laundry bags to keep bedding in on the Luton when not in use. If not using for a while I bring home to save getting damp.

Ours is an older lady and they do get a bit musty when stood over winter. I try to put the heating on a few time a month to help with this.

If you have a bathroom in there you'll need a towel, shower gel/soap/shampoo, loo roll etc too.

I like to have all my bit and bobs in the bottom of the wardrobe like hairbrush, hairspray, hairbands, deodorant, first aid kit, nail scissors etc etc.

Hope that helps - exciting times!
 
dorsetladette said:
Sorry I didn't add anything useful there, so here goes!

Insurance - I've used Anthony D Evans who are reasonably priced and they also do there own recovery which my friend has used many times and they have always been fab for her. I now insure through Acres Insurance brokers and have an agricultural policy which has the lorry, my car and quad on it - worked out cheaper overall that way. And I have recovery through Equine rescue (I think that's who Anthony Evans use) which I picked up cheaply at HOYS last year.

In side I use those little moisture absorbing things/dehumidifier things to keep the damp/condensation at bay. I also get the hanging ones for in the wardrobe.

Give you water tank and pipes a good clean through. I use sterilizing tablets in the tank over night and then run the taps until the tank is empty, leave to dry out overnight and then fill with fresh water.

I use big laundry bags to keep bedding in on the Luton when not in use. If not using for a while I bring home to save getting damp.

Ours is an older lady and they do get a bit musty when stood over winter. I try to put the heating on a few time a month to help with this.

If you have a bathroom in there you'll need a towel, shower gel/soap/shampoo, loo roll etc too.

I like to have all my bit and bobs in the bottom of the wardrobe like hairbrush, hairspray, hairbands, deodorant, first aid kit, nail scissors etc etc.

Hope that helps - exciting times!
Click to expand...
I've just ran an insurance quote with them and it seems far cheaper than expected!

I use the same things at home and have just ordered extras for the lorry. Haven't thought about the water tank, although we are replacing the cables this weekend so will look at doing this after!
 
Water containers. Buckets.

Go to charity shops for containers for tea/coffee pasta etc.

Get bedding bags so you can take duvets/bedding in to wash then back in bag to store in lorry.

Who is this nice person that I need to ask for a lorry for my birthday?!
 
i’m with KBIS for my insurance - a lot of places wanted either a few k a month or outright said no because of my age and length of time driving, but KBIS were about £320 for the year
 
Gas hob lighter thingy, there is an name but its beyond me.
A thin sponge to put between the glass lid and the hob to stop the incessant rattling.
A spares bag - one set leathers, spare girth, spare reins and either a spare bridle or enough bits to build a bridle. Spare headcollar and rope
Boot jack

I use Anthony Evans and their rescue who have been super over many many years including a rescue off the M25 in rush hour coming home from the RIHS. A nightmare never to be forgotten.

There is one point to be aware of with rescue and this happened to me last year. Despite telling the rescue telephonist the horses on the broken down 7.5 were huge and weighed over 1400kg between them, they sent a 3.5 out. The driver of that called me to confirm eta and I asked what they were bringing, told 3.5 and I advised to turn round and bring a 7.5, this did delay the tow truck who had to wait as I refused to off load on side of road and wait for the other lorry.
 
I insure with NFU and use Equine Rescue for breakdown.
As others have said, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, spare headcollar and rope, breakable tie rings, grooming kit, buckets, poop scoop are all useful to keep in lorry full time
I also keep my competition hard hat, gloves and schooling whip onboard.
Cooler rug, boots and treats (horse and human).
Blankets are useful to have.
Bin liners.
I keep blankets in the lorry (useful on cold days) but keep bedding at home.

Enjoy your present, in my opinion, so much better than having to tow (I hate hitching up!)
 
Parrotperson said:
Water containers. Buckets.

Go to charity shops for containers for tea/coffee pasta etc.

Get bedding bags so you can take duvets/bedding in to wash then back in bag to store in lorry.

Who is this nice person that I need to ask for a lorry for my birthday?!
Click to expand...
Thank you! I've just ordered those Ikea storage bags!

Haha it's my lovely partner who is definitely not being shared😂
 
AdorableAlice said:
Gas hob lighter thingy, there is an name but its beyond me.
A thin sponge to put between the glass lid and the hob to stop the incessant rattling.
A spares bag - one set leathers, spare girth, spare reins and either a spare bridle or enough bits to build a bridle. Spare headcollar and rope
Boot jack

I use Anthony Evans and their rescue who have been super over many many years including a rescue off the M25 in rush hour coming home from the RIHS. A nightmare never to be forgotten.

There is one point to be aware of with rescue and this happened to me last year. Despite telling the rescue telephonist the horses on the broken down 7.5 were huge and weighed over 1400kg between them, they sent a 3.5 out. The driver of that called me to confirm eta and I asked what they were bringing, told 3.5 and I advised to turn round and bring a 7.5, this did delay the tow truck who had to wait as I refused to off load on side of road and wait for the other lorry.
Click to expand...
The long lighter thing was on my B&M haul yesterday! :D

That's really good to know, as both the horses travelling will be over 17hh!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top