Ford cargo 1615 - thoughts

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robandrews

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Hi all

New to the forum and posting on behalf of my girlfriend.

We have a very limited budget for the purchase of a horse box, this will be our (her) first box. Done quite a bit of research into boxes and have a feel for peoples opinions etc especially around old ford cargos.

Just wondering (besides the general consensus that parts are getting pretty hard to come by) what to look out for specifically with this make and model? Ideally looking for those with actual experience of owning one of these where possible. Any facts and figures about the engine, number of gears etc etc etc...

The one we're potentially going to look at is having its mot (plate) done today, provided this comes back with a positive i guess its a good start. I understand the box doesn't form part of the test so checking for the floor etc is a given. Any particular areas worth checking out?

I've got a general knowledge of most things mechanical but its always useful to go in with as much info as possible really.

Any guidance, thoughts appreciated (even those that will say not even with someone elses barge pole!)

ps - its an 83/84 'B' reg

Thanks
Rob
 
robandrews said:
Hi all

New to the forum and posting on behalf of my girlfriend.

We have a very limited budget for the purchase of a horse box, this will be our (her) first box. Done quite a bit of research into boxes and have a feel for peoples opinions etc especially around old ford cargos.

Just wondering (besides the general consensus that parts are getting pretty hard to come by) what to look out for specifically with this make and model? Ideally looking for those with actual experience of owning one of these where possible. Any facts and figures about the engine, number of gears etc etc etc...

The one we're potentially going to look at is having its mot (plate) done today, provided this comes back with a positive i guess its a good start. I understand the box doesn't form part of the test so checking for the floor etc is a given. Any particular areas worth checking out?

I've got a general knowledge of most things mechanical but its always useful to go in with as much info as possible really.

Any guidance, thoughts appreciated (even those that will say not even with someone elses barge pole!)

ps - its an 83/84 'B' reg

Thanks
Rob
Click to expand...
so is it bigger than a 7.5 ton or has it been downplated ? check the weight (at least on the brake test sheet) better still on weighbridge to see if it has enouth
payload left... the mecanicals are very strong on the old cargos but the cabs rot!!! check floor, step, and front panel etc hope that helps
 
I am not a mechanic so cant advise you on what to look for etc but i do own a Ford Cargo and i love them! The cabs do rust though but the general lorry is fairly tough. They are a good first lorry. Mine is an E reg. Does it have a wooden body? if it does (like mine) you have to make sure you give the wood abit of a paint with wood stain every so often.
 
They can have both rust issues and problems with the gearbox so get it thoroughly checked out by a mechanic that specialises in horse boxes. (Ask at local yards who they use to service their vehicles if you don't know one).
Take great care to have the ramp thoroughly checked as they are the most likely componet to find rotten wood under them.
Also check the payload of it as you may find it is very heavy and it hardly allows any additional weight to be put in it before going over weight.
 
I used to have one of these.

As I was once told, whilst they will break down, there is that many spare parts for them that it will never be that expensive to repair, the landrover of the truck world.
 
The 1615 is an HGV. Unless it has had the springs removed and now downgraded to a 7.5 ton. CHECK THIS OUT!

Also, cargos rust really badly around the cab. Check this too.

Check the floor from underneath with a hammer and screwdriver. Don't be fooled by granulistic flooring, this hides a multitude of sins!

Check for a battery isolator. In winter the battery will fail if it has sat and not been used, an isolater will switch it off (so to speak) to save draining the battery.

The parts are hard to come by and very expensive. I had a downgraded 13.5 ton. The brakes went at the rear and cost £1000 to fix.

They have good engines though and will pull up most hills very well.

Also check the tyres. The HGV downgrades will still have huge tyres and will cost a fortune to replace.

MOT will have to be done at VOSA and costs £90. Please note that they are very very rigid on inspection and if if fails on something serious, they will PG9 it and take your keys off you as it will be then deemed illegal to drive.

Id walk away from it really. Lorries are fab, but too much bother and £££££ in repairs. If you are out in it 3-4 times a week the yes get a lorry. If it is once or twice a month, it will just sit and rust.

In my honest opinion, Id save money and get something newer, like a 1998 onwards IVECO. Or a trailer and 4x4.

(speaking from a lady who has had 3 cargos, a small 3.5 ton and a 4x4 and trailer)
 
Thanks everyone for the info.

Didn't go looking at this one in the end, instead through a friend, we found out about a very local Ford cargo 0811 7.5t (1986 'D' plate). Owned by the current owner for 11 years, dry stored in a barn. It's been a horsebox all its life (by Mustoe Horseboxes or so the little sticker at the back says) and as such has only done just under 70K miles.

Absalutely solid as a rock, engine sweet as a nut, maintained exceptionally well has never needed for anything. An engineer/mechanic friend came along and gave it a thorough going over, took it for a spin and said it is quite frankly superb for an 'old girl'.

Steps, cab everything is solid - the only bit starting to show its age a little is the front panel beneath the front screen - certainly not beyond repair which we'll get sorted pronto. It does look retro as its a sort of oxford green colour and especially without any skirts to the sides. Depending on existing unladen weight etc we may look at getting some skirts/outside lockers retro fitted - any suggestions where and / or how much this would cost?

I'm guessing the only way to know its unladen weight and subsequently its payload capacity is by taking it to a weigh bridge?

I've got the details from the plate re weights etc - any assistance in determining payload?

Gross Weight 7490kg
axle 1 2900kg
axle 2 5200kg

then in the right hand column it has another figure of 3200kg - whats this figure mean?

It'll now get plenty of use with my girlfriend trundling everywhere in the 'Green Goblin' which shes kindly named it.

Cheers
Rob
 
Baggybreeches

I did think thats what the figure meant but seemed like a lot. To be fair though the box although extremely strong and robust would appear to be quite light weight (relatively) and i've been told the chassis on these are also quite light.

Anyway 3.2t is quite a lot of payload to play with, so there's certainly scope.

Any thoughts from anyone on how we could go about retrofitting site skirts with external lockers a) for aesthetic reasons and b) just for some added storage capacity.

Rob
 
robandrews said:
Thanks everyone for the info.

Didn't go looking at this one in the end, instead through a friend, we found out about a very local Ford cargo 0811 7.5t (1986 'D' plate). Owned by the current owner for 11 years, dry stored in a barn. It's been a horsebox all its life (by Mustoe Horseboxes or so the little sticker at the back says) and as such has only done just under 70K miles.

Absalutely solid as a rock, engine sweet as a nut, maintained exceptionally well has never needed for anything. An engineer/mechanic friend came along and gave it a thorough going over, took it for a spin and said it is quite frankly superb for an 'old girl'.

Steps, cab everything is solid - the only bit starting to show its age a little is the front panel beneath the front screen - certainly not beyond repair which we'll get sorted pronto. It does look retro as its a sort of oxford green colour and especially without any skirts to the sides. Depending on existing unladen weight etc we may look at getting some skirts/outside lockers retro fitted - any suggestions where and / or how much this would cost?

I'm guessing the only way to know its unladen weight and subsequently its payload capacity is by taking it to a weigh bridge?

I've got the details from the plate re weights etc - any assistance in determining payload?

Gross Weight 7490kg
axle 1 2900kg
axle 2 5200kg

then in the right hand column it has another figure of 3200kg - whats this figure mean?

It'll now get plenty of use with my girlfriend trundling everywhere in the 'Green Goblin' which shes kindly named it.

Cheers
Rob
Click to expand...
the plate just tells you the maximum allowable weights
the second figure could be the chassis weight minus the body which was some times shown on the old type ministy plate in the cab... yes you would need to go to a weighbridge to find out your avaliable payload you can look at the brake test sheet which will give some idea with the measured weight worked out by the brake test rollers but its oftern +or- by a 100 or so kg
 
Last edited:
robandrews said:
Baggybreeches

I did think thats what the figure meant but seemed like a lot. To be fair though the box although extremely strong and robust would appear to be quite light weight (relatively) and i've been told the chassis on these are also quite light.

Anyway 3.2t is quite a lot of payload to play with, so there's certainly scope.

Any thoughts from anyone on how we could go about retrofitting site skirts with external lockers a) for aesthetic reasons and b) just for some added storage capacity.

Rob
Click to expand...
if your ok with welding get busy with some 1"x2" thin wall box steel and some alli sheet or ring round the horse box builders have fun with the new lorryand happy trails ...:D
 
Perfect11s

I can't weld myself but the same guy who came to check over the lorry with us also happens to be just about the best welder i've ever seen, he's a tool maker by trade and reputedly got arc eye from welding at the age of 12, basically hes been welding for a lot longer then i've been alive!

We'll take it to a weighbridge anyway just to make doubly sure, don't want to go welding on new bits and bobs and affect the payload too much!

Providing we're ok weight wise, it looks like we'll be going on the beg to see what he can knock up for us!

Rob
 
Rob, be careful adding skirts and low lockers. There are new regs about skirts. i.e if fitted before a certain age it is fine. It isn't fine to add them.

Read up on he new regs before fitting them. VOSA will be able to tell you.
 
asterid said:
Rob, be careful adding skirts and low lockers. There are new regs about skirts. i.e if fitted before a certain age it is fine. It isn't fine to add them.

Read up on he new regs before fitting them. VOSA will be able to tell you.
Click to expand...

Isnt it the opposite way round?? Dont quote me but Im sure they have to have skirts now, whatever age, if the distance from ground to horsebox exceeds so many mm???

Robandrews, congratulations on your new wagon :)
 
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