HELP I thought my horse box would tip!

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neverlate

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I bought a non HGV, and converted it. Took my horses to a show on sat, and with my horses weight leaning on one side of it any time i went around a bend even at 10mph on a 60mph rd, I THOUGHT IT WOULD TIP!
-on a right bend, the road was slightly tiped, lower on the right hand side, and higher on the left hand side, so their would of been a tip anywy, but the horses were leaning on the right hand side of the lorry, wich made it worse.
what can i do? I have 2 horses, both lean on their buts when travelled. apart from change the partitions from side on as they are, to forward or rear faceing, is there anything else?? I was thinking if I travelld the faceing opposite directions it might balance out the weight?my lorry is able to carry over 2 ton of horse weight. with everything else taken into account.
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do lorrys normally tip at all? I dont remember it happening in any other ive been in.
 
This really doesn't sound right, and no way would I travel a horse in it without getting it checked first.
The tough way would be to go down to your local plating centre and ask their advice but you then risk them knowing it's unsafe..
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Isn't there anyone who specialises in HGV repairs you could ask for an opinion?
It sounds to me as if they haven't got the horses' weight over the correct axles or the conversion is too tall for it's size.
Can you post a pic and we can see if the problem is visable?
 
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no, I got it professionally done

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Straight back to the people who converted it then and ask wtf is going on.

As Thistle suggested, the springs might need uprating.

What chassis was it?
 
ye it is a 3.5t. is that nornal though?
i will speak to place that did it, and suggest to them that springs might need uprating.If i can get photos on i will, im not technically minded at all. thanks guys, any more posibibilities welcom
 
what type is it?


how big are you horses??


although i have to say, it does worry me that you've said horses??!!
 
one 16.3hh 640kg , one 13hh welsh X arab.
its a ford iveco, ive seen others like it advertised for sale but never in flesh.
 
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one 16.3hh 640kg , one 13hh welsh X arab.
its a ford iveco, ive seen others like it advertised for sale but never in flesh.

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....
ok....first thing i'd do, for my own piece of mind, is to get to a public weighbridge and weigh it empty..i'd be very doubtful if this vehicle was able to LEGALLY carry your animals and still be under the MPM..Maximum Permitted Mass, or the laden weight..there is no way this vehicle can weigh less than 2T unladen..it's not physically possible with a conversion....unless it was a hideously expensive full aluminium body??...

i'd certainly be wary about driving it TBH....


DOES IT LOOK LIKE THIS??

http://www.recoveryworld.co.uk/allcommer...&pictures=1
 
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it is supposed to be able to carry 3.5t.

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NO!

3.5 tonnes is the absolute total for the lorry itself and EVERYTHING in it include rider, tack, fuel, horses, grooming kit, fags - you name it!
 
6.5 t is the max wheight it can carry including itself. 3.5t is what i can can take on it, minus wheight of partitions etc.
i will need to check the wheight of it with them
 
er you'll find that means the total wieght of vehicle NOT what you can carry!
as JM says get it weight at public weigh bridge empty and then you'll be suprised how much you can't carry........
 
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ye it is a 3.5t. is that nornal though?

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6.5 t is the max wheight it can carry including itself. 3.5t is what i can can take on it, minus wheight of partitions etc.
i will need to check the wheight of it with them

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OK in terms that are usually used that is neither a 3.5 tonne nor a 7.5 tonne lorry, that is a 6.5 tonne lorry, which is where the confusion had arisen.

And yes you are correct that 6.5 is the max it is supposed to weigh on the road, ie with everything and itself.

Still think you need to do two things - take it to a weighbridge and talk to the converters.
 
put a pic of the lorry on here so we can get some idea.
fwiw i have had a 2-horse Ford Transit (both forward facing, side ramp) and that was very stable, as was 3-horse (herringbone) Cargo and 3-horse (herringbone) Iveco i have now. it really shouldn't feel unstable at all. i've had one on 2 wheels (with 2 eventers on!) avoiding an idiot who started to do a 3-point turn in front of me when i was doing 50 mph on an A road, and even that didn't turn it over... it shouldn't feel unstable at all.
the horses always travel with bums all on one side, never had a problem with weight distribution.
have you driven any other horseboxes? it might be worth trying someone else's, seeing what theirs feels like to drive by comparision.
 
It definately should not do this - I would take it back and ask for the problem to be sorted out or for my money back. It does not sound fit for purpose.
 
Depending on what the lorry was originally designed for, depends on what springs it will, have a lot of conversions are done on courier trucks, which are not very well sprung, you can get the springs uprated, and it may be worth checking your tyre pressure, if your front tyres are low it can put a huge imbalance on the wagon as you are turning, but with only that horse and a pony it shouldnt feel like it would tip. I think Kerilli's suggestion of getting someone who is used to driving lorries to have a drive is probably a good starting point.
 
Did you have the heaviest horse at the front or back?

I am assuming you have a rear ramp and they travel herringbone, Try the heaviest horse nearest the living so you don't have the heaviest weight behind the back axle acting like a pendulum.

If you have a side ramp the heaviest horse should be in the middle of the road on the opposite side to the ramp.
 
I just called my OH, they had a ford iveco.

If it's a ford Iveco van conversion, I think you will find it's a 3.5 tonne chassis and that means that 3.5t is the maximum gross weight of the vehicle & it's load included. These are the little boxes that you can drive on a car license. They are usually only suitable for 1 horse as 2 will push the weight up too much.

However, if it's an iveco cargo chassis or the like, it's ok up to 7.5t so you will be fine, but it certainly should not be swaying around on the corners, could be the suspension or something is out of wack!?
 
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