HELP ME decide what to do.. Lorry confusion!

[EquestrianFairy]

This is a recently purchased horsebox which cost £1000.. This is halved with a friend so £500 each.

In general the cab/chassis is in VGC and has power steering as an extra.

Now, unexpectedly it needs more work than we envisaged and i recently got a quote from a local horsebox manufacturer for just over £1000 (an additional £500 each) they will do two new ramps with gates, replace part of the floor and fit a new partition/breast bar. The box will also need some welding on the roof as it leaks a little so that will be a little extra.

I had put the box up for sale and today someone came and offered £950..

Im torn on what to do- sell it and start again but this time use the whole budget of around £2500 for a box that needs no work but will be older or get this one done up and keep it?

Im torn over whats best to do?

 

[MissTyc]

Does it need no mechanical work at all?

... If not, I think on your budget I would keep and do up the horse area.
I had my entire floor replaced on mine for £280 (£180 materials).
Maybe get a second quote for all the work you need?

 

[lq22]

Have you considered asking a joiner to give you a quote? I would expect the cost to be lower from a joiner, and provided you stress that the floor must support the weight of your horse(s), I don't see why they wouldn't be able to do it.

 

[SpottedCat]

I think you'll be v lucky to spend only 2.5K on a box and it not need *any* work! Older ones always take some keeping on the road.

Have you had it completely checked out by a mechanic? If you have and it doesn't need anything doing to it, then spend the money on getting the work done - better the devil you know. If you haven't had it checked - get it done before making a decision!

 

[EquestrianFairy]

Its been checked over by an independant mechanic and randomly the guy who came today was also a mechanic so had two opinions for the price of one.

Anyway, mechanically its in excellent condition yes.

 

[lcharles]

I have a 3.5 tonne leyland daf 400 van with the same type of back as that one. We paid £3900 for it, it has only 48000 miles on it so that made it a bit more than average priced but needed no work at all. It also carries 2 17.2hh horses. The one thing i'd say bad about it is that if i only have one horse in it, it is very one sided and to drive you have to go round corners mega slow - it feels like it'll tip over otherwise!! (down side to front loading 3.5tonners!)

Transit fronts are very prone to rust and the main reason we didnt get a transit. Check all its joins, under the doors and mirrors and around the windscreen wiper for 'touch ups' etc. I dont think £1000 is a bad price at all if it is mechanically sound. If you re-floor it, make sure whoever does it uses hardwood as alot of places (other than horsebox specialists) will use softwood which will absorb the water/moisture, swell and split and wont last or be strong enough for horses.

Why does it need 2 new ramps? can these be strengthened instead? x

there seems to be a lot of damp got into it, by looking at the rear view picture. How badly has this affected the interior of the box? If its mechanically sound and not too high mileage, personally i'd try and get someone to fix it up cheaper than £1000 by hunting about for quotes! x seems a nice lorry but make sure you're aware of how much it swings around going around roundabouts and corners with one horse! x

we've had no problems with ours and its brilliant so fix it up and it'll hold its money x

 

[EquestrianFairy]

Thanks all:

Charles: Im not horsebox minded as such so its possible that new ramps wont be needed and just the original ones strengthened but i thought it best to get a quote and go for the most expensive option so that anything less would be a bonus!
Yes the interor damp is due to a leaking roof- its now been covered in taupaulin but it will also need welding and the side ramp lets water in also (hence the damp around that part)

My OH is a joiner but neither of us know anythung about horseboxes so although hes happy to help, he needs to be told what to do when it comes to things like the floor etc. He can replace the rotten wood at the front of the box but until the side ramp is sorted to stop it leaking theres no point as yet.

 

[Holly Hocks]

If it is totally mechanically sound, then it's worth getting fixed - I would use thick marine ply for the floor if you can afford it. Although are you travelling two horses at once in it? If you are, then not teaching granny to suck eggs I would check the payload - personally I wouldn't want to carry two big horses in it. It's quite high from the ground and will be top heavy. Good luck with it!

 

[EquestrianFairy]

Looks like we'll be keeping it then!

 

[ROG]

Although are you travelling two horses at once in it? If you are, then not teaching granny to suck eggs I would check the payload -

That was my immediate though as well - the weight if loaded with 2 horses

 

[claireandnadia]

I paid £1250 for my transit box and I spent about £1200 on a new cambelt, tyres, floor and roll on rubber.
I'm so glad I bought cheap and did the work myself as at least I know that it has actually been done. You could spend £2500 on a box and they say it needs no work when it actually does.