Help please - trailer vs 3.5t horsebox

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hettystearn

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Trying to decide which option I should choose and could do with some help. I have a 17.0 TB and do not want to keep relying on my parents for lifts so would like to get my own transport. I do not yet have lorry or trailer license or a 4x4 so no bias there.

I do quite a few miles driving to yard, shops, work etc so bit concerned about fuel costs etc of a 4x4 especially given fact that I think i would need quite a beefy 4x4 to pull horsey and IW 511 trailer (my preferred trailer). As I do not own car or trailer yet I do not know the figures to use the help provided on the HHO towing forum.

I would only really transport 1 horse and would on average be out once a week with the horse (sometimes more and sometimes less). Parents have always had a horsebox so never used a trailer before. Can see quite a few pros and cons of each and seem to be going round in circles at the moment, help!

Thank you.
 
What driving licence categories do you have B, BE, C1 ???

You can tow on a B licence but your choice of vehicle and trailer will be somewhat limited due to the B licence towing rules
 
hettystearn said:
I have just a category B at the moment.
Click to expand...

Here are a FEW ideas of 4x4s and trailers for B licence towing

BATESON LIGHT HORSE TRAILER
CHEVAL LIGHT HORSE TRAILER
IFOR LIGHT HORSE TRAILER

Contact trailer manufacturer to have trailer downplated if needed (free or very little cost)

Toyota Rav 4 (4X4) with these specifications/dimensions
Unladen/kerb = 1425
GVW = 1785
Max towing weight = 1500
Max trailer plated MAM = 1425 kgs


Nissan X trail (4X4) with these specifications/dimensions
Unladen/kerb = 1515
GVW = 2050
Towing = 2000
Max trailer plated MAM = 1450 kgs

Kia Sportage (AWD) with these specifications/dimensions
Unladen/kerb = 1678
GVW = 2140
Towing = 1600
Max trailer plated MAM = 1360 kgs

FREELANDER 1 (2001 - 2005)
Unladen/kerb = 1500
GVW = 2040
Towing = 1800
Max trailer plated MAM = 1460 kgs

SUBARU FORRESTER (4X4)
Unladen/kerb = 1465 minimum
GVW = 2050 maximum
Towing = 2000
Max trailer plated MAM = 1450 kgs

Skoda Yeti (4X4) with these specifications/dimensions
Kerb = 1530
GVW = 2070
Towing capacity = 2000
Max trailer plated MAM = 1430 kgs

Suzuki vitara (4X4) with these specifications/dimensions
Kerb = 1400
GVW = 1950
Towing = 1850
Max trailer plated MAM = 1400 kgs


Deduct trailer unladen weight from max trailer plated weight to get maximum load/horse weight for the trailer
Example:- Nissan (1450) minus IFOR HB403 (770 appx) = load/horse 680 kgs
 
I just sold my first 3.5 t box. Lots of people say a 3.5t and a small car is cheaper than running a large car and a trailer, I am not sure myself and guess it depends on your mileage. For a box-

Obviously miles more expensive to buy!
£200/year insurance
£240/year to tax
£90 year breakdown
Then obviously there is your mot. If buying an old box I would allow £300 min!

I have been told before that running an older (10-15 years) box you need to allow £1000 a year maintenance, and I do agree with this, that includes mot, tax etc. it isn't cheap but is better than hiring every week!

I don't know much bout the cost of having a trailer but hopefully this will help you on the box side.....
 
I was in the same situation last year ... I ended up getting the trailer as I could easily store that away and forget about it until I need it rather than having another 'vehicle' that needed taxing etc ...

We went for the Cheval Liberte and its a beautiful trailer and tow it with a Mitsubish L200 (new shape) ... the L200 has very low tax but a pain to insure as its classed as pick up and a lot of companies don’t insure them but very good on diesel … I actually had a shogun a few years back and prefer the Shogun to be fair although was more to run in terms of diesel (3.2 warrior) … but thinking of getting another this year ;)
 
I have travelled my 2 x 16.3 horses in a few 3.5 ton lorries now, and have to say I did not feel they had a good solid ride in any of them! (i travelled in the back with them a few times as well as the front!)

The wheels are so small, and they seem to swing/roll around quite a lot.

Consequently, since I cant get a 7.5 ton lorry which would be my ultimate goal, I myself have decided to get a trailer instead, as they seemed to travel better in them.
 
Thank you so much for this, a spanner in the works here might be that these light trailers do not allow enough headroom for a 17.0 horse, they allow for a 16.2 horse but mine is quite a bit taller and longer.
 
hettystearn said:
Thank you so much for this, a spanner in the works here might be that these light trailers do not allow enough headroom for a 17.0 horse, they allow for a 16.2 horse but mine is quite a bit taller and longer.
Click to expand...
the internal dimensions of a trailer can be found on the internet - just google for them
 
Gerdy said:
I have travelled my 2 x 16.3 horses in a few 3.5 ton lorries now, and have to say I did not feel they had a good solid ride in any of them! (i travelled in the back with them a few times as well as the front!)

The wheels are so small, and they seem to swing/roll around quite a lot.

Consequently, since I cant get a 7.5 ton lorry which would be my ultimate goal, I myself have decided to get a trailer instead, as they seemed to travel better in them.
Click to expand...

Most 3.5t don't have the weight capacity for 2 x 16.3hh, that might have been part of the problem.
 
I now have a lorry (3.5t) after having a trailer and I much prefer the lorry so would, if money wasn't an issue, go for a lorry every time. I found driving the trailer very stressful as I worried about what everyone was doing around me as you need to be very careful with breaking suddenly. I can relax far more in the lorry, people respect the lorry a bit more and I like being in the same vehicle!
 
Sorry to hijack slightly but I have a VW Passat estate which I think I would prefer to save for best so to speak and not kill it off by towing but if there is a good solution with lightweight trailer then would consider using it but I expect it is too light.

I have looked on my licence and I have B, B1, f, k, p and am unclear on what I can drive in the way of a box with a 15.2hh lightweight ex racer on board?

Any advice would be gratefully received if anyone is able to help? It seems to be a minefield and like OP I have previously relied on parents and would like to be able to get out and about without spending a fortune or having to get OH to tow as he is old enough to have licence!
 
Billabongchick said:
Sorry to hijack slightly but I have a VW Passat estate which I think I would prefer to save for best so to speak and not kill it off by towing but if there is a good solution with lightweight trailer then would consider using it but I expect it is too light.

I have looked on my licence and I have B, B1, f, k, p and am unclear on what I can drive in the way of a box with a 15.2hh lightweight ex racer on board?

Any advice would be gratefully received if anyone is able to help? It seems to be a minefield and like OP I have previously relied on parents and would like to be able to get out and about without spending a fortune or having to get OH to tow as he is old enough to have licence!
Click to expand...

ANSWERED HERE IN POST NUMBER 864
 
i used to have a bateson trailer, and disco vehicle and i swapped mine about a year ago for a small 3.5ton and i have to say is MILES cheaper, specially if like you say you do lots of miles on a day to day basis, my daily car is a 206 peugeot and costs next to nothing to run. i go lots of places on my own and feel much safer in my box my horse is 16.3 WB so box can only legally carry her but thats fine with me, you do have to pay 2 lots of tax, insurance etc but both mine combined is actually less on insurance and tax that what i paid for my disco so in actual fact the only extra is your MOT. which is feel pays for its self as my box is dirt cheap to run £20 will last me approx a month and thats doing 1-2 15mile journeys a week. whereas the disco would cost me £20 nearly every time i took it out. my advice would definately go for the 3.5ton. youll also save money on not having to do your test like i had to.. if you need any more help feel free to PM.
 
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