Getting Lorry Living Fitted

sj_xc_hannah_

sj_xc_hannah_

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I got my horsebox without the living fitted a year ago next monday. We have thought about doing it ourselves, but after spending a few very cold hours in it doing some filler and putting up one curtain rail my boyfriend and I resolved that it would be best for our relationship if we didn't try that again. It was extremely difficult! So, realising this I would like to get some kind of a living fitted in April ready for the summer and away shows. I'd like it in what I can only think to call mid-range style, not all rosewood and leather but not something that we could have made if I knew how to fasten it to the lorry walls without completely destroying it - however I won't have a huge amount to spend and am very aware that it's not a cheap job either. Does anyone have any recommendations for a company? I don't want to go back to the people that built it. I'm in Hampshire but would travel for the right standard : price, but preferably not a million miles away. Ignore appliances but would need some extra lights fitted/hook up and water.

If anyone has had just the living fitted or knows how much it cost in a full build could you tell me what you got for your money?

Finally, is it possible to put a tack locker in (from the outside - into the living) even though it's already been painted? I would expect so but not heard of this done.

Any advice is helpful!
 
Worth you checking out 2nd hand caravans or caravan repair places.
All the internals are so light and easily ripped out & refitted.
A good chippie or handyman could refit cupboards, seating, line walls & put in flooring for you.
Dont go down the route of a 'Wickes or B&Q' set of cheap units tho, they will weigh a ton & be needed to be cut down to fit.

Maybe ask a horsebox conversion co to give an estimate on the outside tack locker? (could be done, just going through the wall & under the sink in living?
 
Not sure who built your lorry but I am having a lorry built by Barry Gray, Gray Horseboxes in Oakhanger, North Hampshire.

PM if you would like to know more, I can provide pictures etc.
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
Worth you checking out 2nd hand caravans or caravan repair places.
All the internals are so light and easily ripped out & refitted.
A good chippie or handyman could refit cupboards, seating, line walls & put in flooring for you.
Dont go down the route of a 'Wickes or B&Q' set of cheap units tho, they will weigh a ton & be needed to be cut down to fit.

Maybe ask a horsebox conversion co to give an estimate on the outside tack locker? (could be done, just going through the wall & under the sink in living?
Click to expand...

I did something like this as i couldn't afford to go through a proper company.
I did a thread if you want pics
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=496948

The tack locker can be done as my oh may do something similar and put one in to make getting to the gas easier. He is also going to re do the roof lining and put lights in.
Its worth getting things like the gas and lighting done by someone who really knows what they are doing.

Sorry not sure that was actually very helpful! It can be done cheaply if you find the right people, hopefully someone will give you slightly more useful info that i have!
 
Hi

I'm miles away in Kent but to give you an idea i was quoted £300 for a small tack locker into my living - has to squeeze in (8*8ft living) so wide enough for one saddle height for two. On a ali-skinned stick side so re-spray not a issue. This was with a commercial body works company rather than horsebox specialist.

re internal stuff its worth looking at motor-home/camper-van etc. forums/companies who seem to be more realistic on prices and have alot more examples to get ideas from. One's i use the most (i'm doing a diy jobby so more geared towards self build ) are SBMCC (self build motor caravanners club) and club 80-90 forum (volkswagon camper vans - if you like this style you can buy pre-built units which also come up on ebay)

I'm actually finding it great fun and easy so far (touching wood now!) i've made the seating from slot together aluminium framing - very strong and can lift the whole frame with fingers.
 
Oh that's good, that's a lot better price for the tack locker than I thought! Hopefully I can find something for a similar price, the tack locker would be the same size as yours I think. I will definitely get that done.

The wood work does not terrify me as I said before we thought we would do it, but (this is probably a very stupid thing) but how do you secure everything to walls? I'm not sure that I wouldn't rather just pay a bit more and get it all done quickly and professionally. I guess it wil probably come down to how scary the quotes are from companies!
 
Yes the strip a caravan surgestion is good you will also get the gas and electrical bits
and its lightweight and will teach you how a living quarters can be light by simply made framed furniture , I would avoid the horsebox people the standard of most lorry living quarters is apauling most of them use domestic kitchen units and thick ply which is totaly unsuitable for a vehicle and a criminal waste of payload , but if you dont want to DIY best bet would be a camper van convertion place... I would think budget for about £5k get quotes for both price and weight ....
 
sj_xc_hannah_ said:
Oh that's good, that's a lot better price for the tack locker than I thought! Hopefully I can find something for a similar price, the tack locker would be the same size as yours I think. I will definitely get that done.

The wood work does not terrify me as I said before we thought we would do it, but (this is probably a very stupid thing) but how do you secure everything to walls? I'm not sure that I wouldn't rather just pay a bit more and get it all done quickly and professionally. I guess it wil probably come down to how scary the quotes are from companies!
Click to expand...


nope not stupid! the subject of my present research! still pondering this for overhead lockers (but i don't want to screw into the external walls) but for the seating and sink/hob frame i'm going to give sikaflex a try which is a very strong sealant/bonding agent that the motorhome people seem to swear by. failing that the company that sells the framing has brackets with screw attachments. its a L shaped bench running the length of the living and doesn't seem to be going anywhere unfixed so shouldn't be an issue. wood would have been cheaper but i'm very tight on payload so trying to upgrade the living but with lighter units than what i'm ripping out. I was buying second hand so not seen what companies are using now but those fitted out all had kitchen units. budget (or lack of it!) was the deciding factor
 
Ok thanks kizzyjerry - very helpful! I think it will be the same for me - I imagine the quotes will be horrific so will then go back down this road. I'll have a look at sikaflex - If this works well enough then it would, as you said, work well for the things on the floor. If you find a good way to secure overhead cupboards could you pm me? Would be very helpful!
 
Am trying to remember what we did. We insulated the walls and then put on the material used to line caravans so very light weight. We only have one set of high cupboards but these were made out of the same material but with a stronger base and attached to aluminum frames, so light and shiny. Put sliding doors on them. Fortunately had a friend or a friend who does caravans so found a supply of end of line stuff etc so helped keep price down. Is obviously not as pretty as nice oak fronted cabinets but at least we have lots of payload.
 
perfect11s said:
Yes the strip a caravan surgestion is good you will also get the gas and electrical bits
and its lightweight and will teach you how a living quarters can be light by simply made framed furniture , I would avoid the horsebox people the standard of most lorry living quarters is apauling most of them use domestic kitchen units and thick ply which is totaly unsuitable for a vehicle and a criminal waste of payload , but if you dont want to DIY best bet would be a camper van convertion place... I would think budget for about £5k get quotes for both price and weight ....
Click to expand...

I hope you are not tarnishing all of us Horsebox people with the same brush??!! I dont use domestic kitchen units, rather the light weight caravan ply and all our cupboards are hand made to fit !!!! Some of us do the job right, !!!! Weight is so important! the one we finished on monday (16ft body, stalled for 2horse or 3 pony with living and underfloor storage weighed in at unladen weight 5160 kgs!!!!!!
 
steadyeddy said:
I hope you are not tarnishing all of us Horsebox people with the same brush??!! I dont use domestic kitchen units, rather the light weight caravan ply and all our cupboards are hand made to fit !!!! Some of us do the job right, !!!! Weight is so important! the one we finished on monday (16ft body, stalled for 2horse or 3 pony with living and underfloor storage weighed in at unladen weight 5160 kgs!!!!!!
Click to expand...
No but there are some fairly dire people out there letting the side down useing unsuitable materails like marine ply for floors,mdf,chipboard for living and general bodging !!!! .. and some very good ones too, nice to see you care about weight and 5160 kg is fair ULW im going to have another go at a diy horsebox on a 20 ft grp box on a man tgl or daf lf , the last one was 5500 kg on a merc atego no luton, but shower and toilet etc 10 ft living ... few builders/sellers quote weight on websites or adverts which says alot...
 
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perfect11s said:
No but there are some fairly dire people out there letting the side down useing unsuitable materails like marine ply for floors,mdf,chipboard for living and general bodging !!!! .. and some very good ones too, nice to see you care about weight and 5160 kg is fair ULW im going to have another go at a diy horsebox on a 20 ft grp box on a man tgl or daf lf , the last one was 5500 kg on a merc atego no luton, but shower and toilet etc 10 ft living ... few builders/sellers quote weight on websites or adverts which says alot...
Click to expand...

no truck leaves us with out weightbridge ticket , gas test certificate, and if fitted mains electric ticket , all out 7.5 ton lorries weather it be a conversion or new build range between 5200 ish to 5700 depending on length and what has been requested to be fitted, all have lutons and all have tilt cab retained ! WEIGHT IS EVERTHING!!!!!! I prefer MAN TRUCKS :-) sorry but i cannot stand IVECO !!
 
steadyeddy said:
no truck leaves us with out weightbridge ticket , gas test certificate, and if fitted mains electric ticket , all out 7.5 ton lorries weather it be a conversion or new build range between 5200 ish to 5700 depending on length and what has been requested to be fitted, all have lutons and all have tilt cab retained ! WEIGHT IS EVERTHING!!!!!! I prefer MAN TRUCKS :-) sorry but i cannot stand IVECO !!
Click to expand...

Oh and 12mts MOT and 6mts rfl!! customer peace of mind!
 
steadyeddy said:
no truck leaves us with out weightbridge ticket , gas test certificate, and if fitted mains electric ticket , all out 7.5 ton lorries weather it be a conversion or new build range between 5200 ish to 5700 depending on length and what has been requested to be fitted, all have lutons and all have tilt cab retained ! WEIGHT IS EVERTHING!!!!!! I prefer MAN TRUCKS :-) sorry but i cannot stand IVECO !!
Click to expand...
IVECO what's wrong with them??? dont you like brittle plastic ,dodgey electrics and miles of rusty brake pipes ending at siezed calipers that cost an arm and leg to replace!!!:D
 
sj_xc_hannah_ said:
Ok thanks kizzyjerry - very helpful! I think it will be the same for me - I imagine the quotes will be horrific so will then go back down this road. I'll have a look at sikaflex - If this works well enough then it would, as you said, work well for the things on the floor. If you find a good way to secure overhead cupboards could you pm me? Would be very helpful!
Click to expand...

Will do - although to be safe PM me if you do decide to go DIY and i'll send some photos of the build when it actually gets somewhere, the odd money/weight saving snippets i'm finding and more importantly what doesn't work :)
 
I have recently done my lorry, half done by me and my uncle, half professionals. I have a whole album on facebook of what I did to mine if you would like a look, pm me. My living is just about done now, thank the lord!
 
Thanks Coop, I will do. I have had one quote for fitting the tack locker today - extortionate does not cover it! Hoping that other companies will be a bit more reasonable.
 
sj_xc_hannah_ said:
Thanks Coop, I will do. I have had one quote for fitting the tack locker today - extortionate does not cover it! Hoping that other companies will be a bit more reasonable.
Click to expand...

I was quoted £600 plus to fit a locker to the sealed up door already there in the horse area.....sod that! Saddles are going in the living, on racks! I am not a fan of horse area lockers as we have two big mummas, I would rather have had a locker in the living but could not justify the cost as opposed to tripping over the living door a few times, plus more to spend on my entry fees! :D

from this
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/184890_10151086053466459_1538994361_n.jpg


to this:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/598746_10151218213371459_354315925_n.jpg

on the way:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/189917_10151113780536459_1732529254_n.jpg

nearly there:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/6367_10151128375206459_1997569554_n.jpg

Still a bit to go though :D
 
Did not think they worked, second try:
A few pics from mine:
From this
DSCF0564_zps247ac222.jpg

Then ripped off the wood lining the walls, the seating was so high and needed lowering:
IMAG0236_zps91eb6448.jpg

IMAG0253_zps59bec26a.jpg

New seating in progress:
IMAG02441_zps88333d75.jpg

Nearly there:
IMAG0256_zps836f4975.jpg

New wall carpet:
panaramicshotofnewliving_zps449e4850.jpg

Cushions nearly done:
IMAG0300_zps87282d03.jpg


I still have a long way to go with this but its getting there, I have a massive album on facebook if anyone needs more inspiration or help with the stuff to use, I have done loads to the horse area too:
Removal of blueness:
DSCF0574_zps57b1f17e.jpg

Nearly done:
IMAG0232_zpsfee9533a.jpg


It can be done!
 
Yes, well I thought that anything up to £800 would be ok. They quoted £1300 plus 20% vat!!! I'm not an idiot, the tack locker itself can't cost more than £400? Thanks Coop, had a look at the pics on your facebook, it's looking great! I've got a friend who's a carpenter so I'm thinking of getting him to cut all the parts and then my boyfriend and I will fit them (either with or without his help). I've joined the sbmcc too so will be having a look through that.
 
Blimey! Would rather spend that on a new saddle :D
These things always cost more than we think but I would have thought £800 would get you something for 2 saddles etc. My guy said the locker doors themselves are costly and depends if you want to cut into the floor to make it a fuller length, or above floor. Also it depends on where you can have it ie if a tank or something gets in the way, so they can't always go where you would like.

Its amazing what can be done yourself, with a little will power and rather a lot of swearing! :eek:
 
I've found doors + fiberglass box for £672 including vat. How much should I expect to pay for labour and paint? Paint is mainly one colour but there is a green stripe across lined by black and it would need the floor taking out. £1300 starts to sound alright but when you plus the VAT that's a huge amount. If that's how much it will be then not worth doing, no matter how much I want one! Fitting the living is one thing but putting a massive hole in the side of the lorry is another!
 
You sound as obsessive as me lol! I would get a few more quotes, then get your living sorted as a priority, leave space if you need to for the locker, then you can assess it later, well that's what I would do :-)
 
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