Getting a horsebox built?

[Jango]

So I'm currently looking for a lorry to buy and there isn't much available in my budget that isn't absolutely ancient. I would like a 5 or 6t with rear load/herringbone and I was considering the option of buying the vehicle and paying to get it converted into a horsebox. I was wondering if anyone had any experience of this and what the approx. costs were? Also if you could recommend any builders within a 2hr from Manchester? My total budget would around 10/11k, so it may not be possible at this price but I wanted to find out if it was possible!

 

[outdoor girl]

Try Chris Ratter at the Horsebox Hospital. It's near Northwich so south of Manchester and about 40 mins from Manchester airport. He keeps our lorry on the road and has done lots of things on it for us like making the ramp lighter, replacing dodgy flooring on an older lorry and he does a good respray job too. I've seen lorries in the process of being built by him and they look really nice. He'll go and check a vehicle for you if you find one and tell you if it's worth converting or not.

 

[gallopingby]

At that price you’re better to buy a good secondhand lorry. Yes they’re difficult to find but much better value. To buy a decent quality lorry for a 5 ton or 6 ton will cost at least 6k plus build costs of at least 10k if not more. A 7.5 base to build on would be cheaper as they’re more about but you’ll still have the build cost on top. Don’t forget that 7.5 lorries if properly maintained can easily do upwards of 300,000 miles. Find yourself a good mechanic and go from there. Good luck!!

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

It's very often cheaper to buy a box already built. Having one built can cost a fortune, not just parts but the labour is expensive.

 

[Leandy]

At that price you’re better to buy a good secondhand lorry. Yes they’re difficult to find but much better value. To buy a decent quality lorry for a 5 ton or 6 ton will cost at least 6k plus build costs of at least 10k if not more. A 7.5 base to build on would be cheaper as they’re more about but you’ll still have the build cost on top. Don’t forget that 7.5 lorries if properly maintained can easily do upwards of 300,000 miles. Find yourself a good mechanic and go from there. Good luck!!

 

[outdoor girl]

I do agree with the other two posters in that it's often less expensive to buy a ready built box. If you find one you like but that isn't quite what you want, you can always try to add or take away from the build. It's the basics like the engine, chassis and the floor which are important.

 

[Ossy2]

The thing is you still need to spend a reasonable amount to get a decent wagon to convert, they’re not the easiest to find and are often for sale as they are being “retired” from their active service. That’s not to say they are not out there. Questions to think about is do you want a box wagon that is suitable for conversion or a wagon to coach build the back on in which case the type of box isn’t relevant? Coach built will be more expensive but you should pick up a decent chassis cheaper than a good box wagon to convert but will be more expensive to build.
I bought my wagon for £4,000 but box on back not suitable for conversion, we removed it and swapped my old box back into the new wagon as it was my cab that was rotten not the box itself.
Chris Ratter, mentioned in a previous post is good but I find him rather expensive, just to put a new back door on mine was into the thousands but luckily I have a mechanically minded husband who did it for me instead.
I’m not sure your budget is enough for something decent I’d think you’d still find yourself with a full conversion on an older wagon for that budget, whereas I’d rather spend the money on the most decent wagon I could and more a basic conversion.

 

[Fiona]

Our 6 ton lorry cost 12K 15 years ago (6K chassis plus 6 build), so I'm not sure if you'd still be able to match those figures??

And we live in NI, so stuff can be cheaper over here.

Fiona

 

[Jango]

Thank you for all the responses! It looks like a build would be out of my price range and I just need to keep looking! Hopefully now after xmas more people will start putting them up for sale ? I've got a mechanic friend to take with me when I find something that isn't ancient! I'm not fussed about the spec for the living, my mare just doesn't like travelling backwards so it's needs to be mechanically good and rear load/herringbone.