Getting the right horsebox

[myheartinahoofbeat]

I have two large horses, mine is 16.3hh and my husband's is 17.1hh. We are looking for a lorry to transport them in. Any recommendations? I was thinking a 4tonne would be adequate as neither of us have a HGV licence.

 

[Zoeypxo]

I dont think you can drive anything above 3.5T without a hgv

a 3.5t wont have enough payload for 2 large horses they are usually around a tonne , do you know how much your horses weigh?

you no longer need a towing licence to tow a trailer so id recommend looking into a 4x4 and trailer for 2 large horses

 

[Abacus]

If you have a pre-1997 licence you can drive up to 7.5 tonnes so could easily get a larger lorry. You’ll want about 1.5 tonnes of payload for these two horses plus all the tack etc so this is the main thing to look for, you might find a 4 tonne with that but more likely a larger lorry. There are some compact 6.5 tonne trucks with good payload if you want a smaller van type.

 

[Zoeypxo]

If you have a pre-1997 licence you can drive up to 7.5 tonnes so could easily get a larger lorry. You’ll want about 1.5 tonnes of payload for these two horses plus all the tack etc so this is the main thing to look for, you might find a 4 tonne with that but more likely a larger lorry. There are some compact 6.5 tonne trucks with good payload if you want a smaller van type.

Oooo, i didnt know that re 1997 license

 

[Abacus]

Oooo, i didnt know that re 1997 license

Check the back of your photo card to see what categories you can drive.

 

[Polos Mum]

Payload will be your focus

2 x horse (assuming not tiny TB type) - 650-750 kgs each
diesel when full - 100kgs
2 x people in coats / boots etc. - 90-110kgs each
2 x tack, water, hay, rugs etc - 25-50kgs each

Make sure it's weighed with spare tyre, partitions etc. in - some unscrupulous sellers will strip the box bare to weigh it.
The more living you have the less payload - fridge, cooker, toilet etc. all take up valuable space.

I think you'd need more like 2000 kgs payload so probably a 6.5t would be best.

4 tonne is rare -most are 3.9T as you can very easily (with paperwork) uprate a 3.5T to 3.9 - so lots do that.

I have a 4.5T - physical uprate of a 3.5T (brakes, springs, tyres etc.) I think 2 that big would be pushing it getting up steep hills in Yorkshire. You don't want to be on the limit of what the lorry is physically capable of.

With luxury living even a 4.5T can have a c.1T payload.

 

[humblepie]

Agree payload and checking that the payload hasn't been obtained by a poor build quality. I had a lovely 5 tonne years ago - two horses herringbone with rear ramp and small groom/tack area, so no living but a nice area to get changed in etc. When I sold it I got a weight certificate done and it had a really good payload. It was quite an unusual box and I quite often had people ask about it when out competing as it sat very nicely and practically between the smaller box and a 7.5 tonne one.

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

Interesting info here, thanks everyone

 

[ponios]

You would be fine with a 3.9t or 4t+ coachbuilt on a fiat ducato type chasis. We travel 2 big horses within payload and dont have any problems getting up steep hills. Pay attention to engine size. we uprated our 3.5 box but we knew when we bought it that is what we would be doing once I passed C1 so found a van that would be capable (we found the van and sent it the coachbuilder) . We were also advised that we could remap the engine if we felt we needed more ompftt but we havent felt the need.