HELP - looking at getting a transit horsebox

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pink_princess

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Im looking at buying a transit horse box - with space for 2 foward facing horses and side ramp - like the ifor williams type - and have herd some bad reviews - does anyone actually own one and what are they like - also what do people mean when they say they roll.
also im aware of weights but only for one 15.3 horse.
 
I wouldnt have one mainly because they seem so high up for such a small box. If you look at the 3.5t boxes they are very low to the ground which makes them more stable but the ttansits with Ifor tops seem so unstable. The front unload ramp is so narrow and steep. I suppose if your horse is an angel travelling you should be ok.
 
The centre of gravity is too high off the ground and they are unstable. Just about suitable for a Shetland Pony.

If you want an under 3.5 ton then the only one to go for is the Renault Master but it must be the one that is built on the Chassis Pan Cab body not a converted one where the container has been cut off.

Make sure that the lorry does not weigh more than 2.5 Tons when empty so that there is sufficient pay load to allow for your horse, tack, driver and passengers otherwise if you go over 3.5 tons you will be overweight and the vehicle will not handle correctly (especially in an emergency situation). You will also be driving illegally if you go overweight.
 
Well I've got a transit and I love it!!!!!

Granted I normally only travel one horse in it, expect or rare occasions and I find it's fine. I don't think it rolls any more than any other box! My boy was a real nuisance traveller in a trailer and a 7.5 ton lorry, but he loves the transit!

Equally I have heard bad reviews about the Renault Master - guess it is personal preference.
 
I've had a transit for about 5 years now, never had any problems driving it and i've been up and down the motorway in it a good few times, yes, it sometimes struggles on steep hills, you cant go fast on the motorway - but you wouldnt want to with a horse in!
My friend had a LDV and she loved hers, she also had a very big heavy horse who wasnt that used to travelling, the only time it felt unstable, it turned out a wasp was in the back annoying the horses (we pulled up as we could tell something wasnt right)
my other friend also has a transit, (being sold after its passed its MOT) and her daughter loves to drive it, took a youngster over to ireland in it even.
An old livery had a very old Bedford CF, she didnt have any problems with that either, my main worry with that was, the breast bar attached to the side ramp!!! so you had to undo the bar before you opened the ramp! very bizarre!
Another old livery also had a Renult Master conversion, no-way would i have trusted that thing with me in let alone a horse, but then again, maybe it was just like the people who owned it! (thrown together home DIY dont know what there doing conversion!)

It really does come down to personal preference, and i guess every transit is different depending on age, condition, what kind of box it has on etc.
 
I've got one and its fine. Drives nicely and D fits inside at 15.2 although wouldn't if she was any bigger. It's reasonably stable, I wouldn't corner at great speed but then I wouldn't with a horse in the back anyway and you wouldn't with a trailer either.
 
Looks like a fairly neat cab. Personally I don't like the ifor williams back because the side ramp is too narrow and too tight a turn IMO. My transit is sideways/herringbone partitions with rear ramp so it is rear load/unload.

IMO 1.4 tonnes is very light for unladen - I'm sure mine is about 2.5 tonnes with all the tack/hay/water/petrol etc I would need for a show so it leaves about a tonne for the horses.
 
I don't actually like the look of them, but have never driven one or actually put a horse in one but thenI don't actually know which ones you are referring to, the 'proper' ones or the converted vans? I have seen some proper 'coachbuilt' ones as it were on a ford transit body but have seen some other conversions that I jsut don't think look safe!

Can't actually find any examples transit wise (maybe they don't do them after all) but I am thinking like this type

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM824N444/Page/4/Web/DisplayHorseboxDetail.asp

as opposed to this sort (but one of the transit vans instead)

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM824NEFH/Page/4/Web/DisplayHorseboxDetail.asp
 
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