Horse Box or Trailer?

[CharlesMax]

I am sure many of you have had to make the decision on which method of horse transport to go for. I do not have a 4x4 so would have to fit this factor into the decision making if going for a trailer.

A horse box is expensive to run but I have 2 friends keen to purchase one with me and split these expenses. I have also noticed that horse boxes are going quite cheap at the moment for obvious reasons!

I only have one large horse but I would often want to take a friend with me when transporting my horse.

Have any of you had experiences with both trailers and lorries - which do you prefer?

 

[Clippy]

I've had trailers, 3.5t lorry and 7.5t lorry and I like the trailer best, though I drive a 4X4 anyway. If I had to start from scratch, I wouldn't bother with a 7.5t lorry, they cost too much to run and unless you can get a recent one, they're expensive to maintain and getting them ready for plating can be a nightmare as the testers are so picky. If you're only taking 2 horses, then i'd go for a 3.5t. You'll find them great on fuel, (better than a 4x4) and they only need a car MOT. A trailer is a handy piece of kit and they're not expensive and hold their value but you'll need a substantial vehicle to tow with and unless you're towing often, you still have high fuel costs for your unhitched running about

 

[sychnant]

Be careful on weights - you say your horse is large and you may want to take a friend, so a 3.5 ton may not have the payload you require. My 7.5 ton has about 1.7 ton payload, although this would be increased with some adjustments to the living (I bought it with full living which adds weight and isn't really necessary for me)

I am kind of opposite to you as I bought my lorry to travel 2, then sadly lost one of mine earlier this year. I'm now selling it to fund a trailer or 3.5 ton as I have no need for a 7.5 ton with only one 15.2

 

[depurple1]

If your horse will travel OK in a trailer, I would go for one of those and a 4x4. I just had to make the same decision and got a Discovery and an Ifor Williams.

It means that I can use the Discovery for carting around assorted dogs and equipment, as well as using it for towing. Both the 4x4 and trailer will hold their value reasonably well, and the 4x4 is cheaper to maintain than a box for me.

The Disco isn't my main car, but doesn't use much more fuel than the car I normally drive anyway. The biggest problem I would have using it as an only car would be parking it!

I think the main advantage of a lorry is that you can leave lots of kit in it if you compete a lot. I have a friend who swapped from a trailer to a 7.5 ton lorry for this purpose. I also have another friend who swapped from a lorry to an Equitrek because it's more versatile as they can still use the 4x4, plus they still get living.

I would also be careful buying with friends - what happens if all 3 of you want to use a 2 horse lorry on the same day? Or go to different events? Who would be responsible for the upkeep? What if one person wanted to sell their share?

 

[china]

Sharing with friends just doesnt work. I have just bought a disco for £1100, was abit of a fluke really as its the best i have seen for its age in a long time, i have a trailer on hire for 6months untill i have the funds to buy one for myself, I have a car for work etc and the disco is purley for towing and yard duties. It does drink fuel mind! i couldnt have it as an everyday car! The likely hood of you being able to carry two in a 3.5t is very little and you will need a big enough 4x4 to pull two also, my disco will pull two.

 

[soulfull]

There have been probably 100's of these posts asking the same thing

maybe do a search and see what comes up

personally lorry and small car for everyday everytime!!

 

[scribble]

lorries need to be used once a week roughly to keep things working esp brakes. we hve just swapped from a 7.5 ton to a isuzu trooper and new ifor williams and much better. The lorry was coasting a lot. just a word of warning DONT leave stuff on a lorry. I used to and got my lorry pinched twice and lost the lot. all my competition stuff gone.