Ford transit with Ifor williams container?

[nicnag]

Well, I'm in the middle of a hunt for a 2 horse small lorry to replace my 4x4 and trailer as the £85+ weekly diesel bill is becoming ridiculous fo my work commute alone. Therefore the thought is to sell the trailer and buy a small lorry and runaround. I have a buyer for my trailer who is happy to wait until I find a lorry so cash is set to go but finding a lorry is proving less easy!
I am trying very hard not to be swayed by larger lorries as although I can travel my mare up to an average of 3 days a week, I don't often compete far from home so don't feel I need a large living etc, I also occasionally take a 2nd horse but not all the time.
I've been given the number of someone with a ford transit with a Ifor williams container (2004 container) bu I'm not too sure my girlie would fit. She's a 16.1, ISh leaning to Tb type. My present trailer is a HB510 but was bought for my previous mare who was 17.1, I've travelled her in a 505 and she was ine but I felt it looked snug but could be I'm just used to seeing her rattling about in the 510?
It's not particularly local so can't take her to try it before I buy, and it's all very well being told the heights etc but I'm useless at imaging these things

So anyone with any experience and could I crowbar her in comfortably! Longest journey we ever do is an hour and a quarter

 

[KatB]

Dont like them, sorry! She would prob fit but it would be very unstable as they are tall and narrow.

 

[nicnag]

I've got to admit that was one of my first impressions of any I've seen, they seem to be quite high.

 

[jewel]

i'm sure i read somewhere that they have the same headroom as a 505. but transit are meant to be unstable as they are so far off the ground.

 

[Native Speaker]

[ QUOTE ]
Dont like them, sorry!

[/ QUOTE ]

Likewise, I'm afraid.

I went to see a couple a few years ago when I was looking for a small lorry, and I thought they were awfully tinny and unstable. I bought a Bryan Lawrence conversion on a Bedford CF chassis in the end. It was a little older, but a far more robust little truck. Only sold it when we moved here, after putting lord knows how many miles on it - reliable to the last!

 

[miss_bird]

Sorry going to be the disagreer here i have one and i easily fit my 17'2" ISH and 16'2" holsteiner in it and they travel really happily.
Much better than in the trailer which my holsteiner hates.
Also travel all my mares and foals in it and have no trouble with loading or stablility

 

[nicnag]

I think I'm going to hold out for a VW LT35 or a small as possible ford cargo or similar. I wasn't really enthusiastic about the transit! Anyone got any bad experiences with any of the alternatives?

 

[nicnag]

See I knew somone would come along and confuss me!!

 

[lilpinkdonkey4]

Agree dont like the idea at all. Personally wouldnt put my horse in one... but she was bad enough in a normal renault master type 3.5 tonner.... They are very high up so the ramps are also very steep never mind the stability of journey. Have a look at www.freewebs.com/traveltwo they do some nice/cheap ish 3.5 tonne lorries.

Oh and REALLY wouldnt put two larger horses in one...!

 

[jewel]

i agree the VW LT35 look alot better lorry.

 

[cm2581]

Two larger horses, in fact even 15hh will prob be over the legal limit of 3.5 tonnes. You will be surprised at the unladen weight of an ifor williams container on a transit - will prob be at least 2.5 tonnes. So really totally useless for two biggish horses. If your not confined by your driving licence, go for something bigger than 3.5 tonnes or accept that you can only travel your 16.1 alone.

 

[nicnag]

I hadn't investigated that part yet! Good thinking, I'm not restricted and it would seem stupid to limit my self to only carrying one (especially as I have just come off the phone discussing a grey gelding my mate has coming up for sale

)

 

[the watcher]

I have a 7.5 T Ford Cargo and am really happy with it - although my particular one might be a bit small for your horse (which is a shame as it is for sale at the moment). Quite small and easy to drive IMO, although you have to check for rust and holes around the floor of the cab

 

[SpruceRI]

I've had a Ford Transit with an ancient IW container atop.

Although it felt perfectly stable, it was indeed very high up on the chassis which meant that the front and rear ramps were very steep, and I couldn't get the back ramp up on my own unless I was parking downhill !!

Mine was supposed to be big enough for 2 x 15.2hh, though I only ever carried a large pony and a Shetland in it.

A friend has a VW LT35, which is coachbuilt and much sturdier. It's stalled for 2 horses and has a bit of living space. I've no idea on the weight of it though.

 

[nicnag]

I'm used to driving large agricultural machinery so the size doesn't worry me, send me some photos and details if you like, the bay in my sig is the girlie concerned. I can always check measurements against my mates lorry, his is slightly lower than the average but she fitted in fine. I'm always happy to travel if your confident it would happily make the journey back to Scotland - talk about baptism by fire!

 

[LCobby]

IF you have licence to drive over 3.5 tonnes,go for a more substantial lorry.
There are compact 2 horse boxes in 5 or 6 or standard 7.5 tonnes chassis wiht a wide choice and you won't be paying the premium price for being 3,5 tonnes.
Your insurance, road tax and MOT will be the same cost, and wiht an good lorry diesle engne, fule not much more.
Also, once you have had tack lockers, somewhere to sit and get changed and make a coffee, you won't want to be without at least day living

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

laniep, Just because you can fit them in doesn't make it safe or legal. I think you'll find you are over the weight limit carrying your two big boys. Traffic Police & Ministry are stopping horse boxes & taking them to weigh bridges & I think you'd probably fail

 

[apkelly01]

Just some dimensions I've pulled from the HB505, HB510 and IW container for Ford Transit:

Headroom:
HB505 : 2.17m
HB510 : 2.30m
Container: 2.16m (smaller than 505)

Lenght (from backramp to tapered front):
HB505 : 3.05m
HB510 : 3.47m
Container: 3.46m (nearly as long as 510)

Unladen weight:
HB505 : 905kg
HB510 : 1000kg
Container: 940kg (not including your chassis)

Like you I wanted to change from trailer (hb510) to a lorry. I've only one horse (+ foal) so a big lorry was too much. I considered the IW container on a Ford Transit chassis but when I realised the headroom wasn't great I decided not to go for it.

Since then I've sold my jeep and trailer and bought a 2 horse Renault Mascott conversion which is 6.5ton (I've a provisional C1) and I've a small car as a run around

I wish you good luck with your decision. If it helps, I have to say changing from jeep/trailer to lorry/car has been a good move and I don't regret it

Hope that helps

Here's the link to where I got the dimensions:

http://www.westwoodtrailers.com/brochures/horsebox.pdf

 

[clairencappelli]

I have an old alloy lambourne container ( with a new floor ) on a transit.

Mine is a rear load side unload but i wouldnt have have got two in it so i had the partition taken out and heavy rubber mets put down and a new breast bar made and i travel my 16.2 tb cross tied in it.

You have to be careful around turns and bends as its tall so you need to go slowely but i never go above 50 in mine ever.

The ramps are steep ( more so the back than the frount which seems alot shallower ) but my horse copes and i can do the ramps on my own but they are heavy.

As for weight mine with me in it and water on board and a few bits and bobs weighs 2610 kg ( this is with the heavy rubber mats thoas well but no partition ) so i can take 890 kg and my horse is only about 525kg.

I would have loved a lt35 or a renault but i was on a budget so i got the best i could in my price range.

Its does me tho and get me out and about but i dont go miles and miles in it as transits dont have the power really but ok for local ish stuff.