Horse box vetting?

PucciNPoni

PucciNPoni

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Do you get a pre-purchase check on a horse box? HOw about one that's under £5k? And who do you get to do it? Would you consider getting AA or RAC?

I know, so many questions! LOL
 
I got the AA to check mine over before I brought it. Unless you have mechanical knowledge I think it is worthwhile. They also check the ramp/floor etc for rotting.
 
PucciNPoni said:
Do you get a pre-purchase check on a horse box? HOw about one that's under £5k? And who do you get to do it? Would you consider getting AA or RAC?

I know, so many questions! LOL
Click to expand...
If you have a horse box mechanic that you use already I would use them otherwise there are people recomended by the horsebox breakdown firms
you want someone who will check and understand the horse bit like the floor, ramp etc
as well as the mecanics
 
This will be for my first horsebox, so no mechanic yet. I'm bringing someone horsey along to go see it, but neither of us is mechanical enough to do a proper inspection. It's a new conversion, so reckon it'll look pretty squeaky clean. <fingers crossed>
 
Being a new conversion means absolutely nothing,except possibly that their workmanship has not yet been stress tested by a horse.I have seen plenty of outwardly smart boxes on ropey clapped out lorrys, with poor,often dangerous workmanship. Idealy you need a truck mechanic with horsebox experience. Always get it checked over regardless of price.
 
I would NEVER EVER buy a horsebox without a mechanic because if you are not that way inclined, you could be buying something that is not only mechanically unsound but is also dangerous and unsafe for the horses.
I looked at many many horseboxes that I thought were safe and would be reliable, but once I got my mechanic out, it materialised they were totally unsafe or mechanically unsound,and sometimes both.
Where abouts in the Uk are you, as I really recommend my mechanic, he is a also a horse owner,and runs a horsebox hire business, so really knows his stuff.
It cost a few hundred pounds in inspection fees, but saved me a small fortune in repair bills, and potentially worse with hurting the horse should the box subsequently have proven unsafe.
 
Personally, would rather have someone with horsebox experience, but as I don't know any in that area, I'm verging on getting RAC to go look at it. However, I realise this is not a reliable horsebox option, unless very lucky on the day to get someone that's done this type of work before.

I'm in Central Scotland and the box is also...

Personally, I wouldn't dream of buying a horse without a vetting being done, and it seems logical to do the same for a horsebox.

Numpty question: What's the normal process for buying a horsebox? Do you go look first, and then put down a deposit pending an inspection? Or do you drag mechanic along first visit?
 
When we bought our first box I went on my own first to see if I liked it and to get a general idea of condition (it was under £5,000) I then arranged to go back with a mechanic, who does work on lorries for other people. I had to pay him for his time - I took him there and back, he gave it a check over and it cost me about £50 for him to do so - albeit 'mates rates'. However. he only was able to give me his 'considered' opinion of the box - no guarantees - he advised me that there would be some work to be done to get it through its next plate and gave me a rough idea of how much it would cost. If I had wanted a more detailed report he was prepared to do that but obviously it would have cost more.

I bought the box, had the various bits and pieces done and it ran well.

Take someone with you or have a reputable garage check it out - it may be worth getting a garage who deals with horseboxes lined up - especially if you are buying a box that will, lets be honest, need plating each year and probably have other things you may want to have done. I have had the same garage plate and fix my lorry every time and have developed a good relationship with them, even when in the cold of winter the thing decided not to start, the mechanic came out and started it for me, no fee, because I was a returning customer.

Check with one of your firends who they use and whether they would recommend them as a garage.
 
Seeing as you dont know any mechanics anyway etc, rather than going to a normal garage go to somewhere that does lorries, like a tachograph place or something similar and ask if they have someone that will go with you as it is highly likely they will have experience of horseboxes :)
 
I looked in to it recently and found a few firms that specialised in this -think it was between £99 and £250 depending on the size.
They were all in the south but I'm sure there will be some in Scotland - just google.

What appealed was not only did they do the mechanical checks but also checked specific things for transporting horses
 
Im in your position at the moment. My mechanic isnt a horsebox mechanic but a commercial vehicle mechanic and there are limits as to how far he would travel with me to look, so Im a bit stumped too. I did view a wagon the other day being sold on behalf of a client, he told me he did horsebox vettings for about £170 plus mileage. I dont know if this is reasonable or not. Its a minefield though and what starts out as being so exciting, does start to get you down as Im findng the pics look great, you get there and they are dissapointing. I looked at one recently that described as mint, I pulled up a bit of the matting and I reckon if I had pushed hard enough my finger would have gone through the floor.
Im looking first then anything I think is ok, Im going to go back with mechanic. Ive missed out on one already as I faffed about and someone went after me and bought it :(
 
You really need someone who is both a commercial vehicle mechanic and also a horse box builder. (Or two seperate people). There can be many dangers in the container especially if it is a conversion (Previously a box van that has ben converted to a horsebox).
The trouble is that there are so many 'chancers' building horseboxes which are totally dangerous.
Buying a horsebox built by one of the reputable horse box companies will at least ensure that the container has been well built and you can probably trace it's history.
 
Do not buy without getting the box checked and do not put a deposit down pending a check! There will be other boxes if this one sells before you get it looked at.

I am in Stirling but my mechanic is in the Borders - have used him for years and wouldn't go past him, even although it is quite a distance to take the lorry. I'm sure he would travel to look at the box you are interested in, alternatively I know of a chap who maintains friends lorries and is near Alloa.

You said that it is a new conversion, I'd be mighty wary of getting a new conversion for under £5k....
 
Okay, I must be a right numpty then - but WHY wouldn't you offer a deposit to secure if you a) like a box and b) want to get it checked by a mechanic? I believe a deposit to be a good faith gesture that you make in order to not have something sold out from under you while getting stuff done like pre purchase checks/vettings/etc. I haven't got a huge budget so I have to look at what I can find. I would rather take a chance on a deposit than to take a chance that it "might not sell"! If I was a seller and someone offered a deposit to secure I'd be happier with that than I would hoping that the buyer might not be a time waster/tyre kicker. But am I just that naive that I think people are like me and honest???

As much as I'd love to go to a big box manufacturer, there's no way I can afford the likes of one of these boxes - I haven't got an extra £20k plus, or even £10k for a second hand one.

I'm a fairly cautious person, and if I go and see this box and see that it's "obviously" rubbish, then I don't spend the money to get it checked. My main concern was whether or not RAC might be able to do the job. The consensus seems to be that no, probably not...which is fair enough.
 
The reason that I wouldn't put a deposit down is simply because if the box turns out to be poor mechanically, you are at the mercy of the seller to return you cash. This may be a straightforward.... "I'm very sorry, I like the box, but my mechanic has advised me that there are a few repairs required" and you get your cash, but not everyone is quite so reliable and you could face losing your deposit.

Do you know if the box has been for sale for a while? Did you hear about it privately or via an advert? If it has been on the market for a while it is either overpriced or a poor specimen! First thing is to look and see if you even like it!
 
Thanks Carrshill for the explanation. I agree that if it's been hangin about for ages there's a good chance it's shi...well, you know. I'm going to see anyway...we'll see what happens later. I'm pretty good at gathering information from as many sources as possible and making my mind up based on the info at hand. For the price that I'm paying I don't expect that it will be perfect. I expect it to be roadworthy...if it needs some changes then they can be done...so long as they aren't very expensive or dangerous if ya get me.
 
Is it a new conversion 7.5t for £5k, if so I'd be wary unless of course its a one off genuine bargain. I would def go tho, its good experience as its opened my eyes after looking at 4 wagons all arround the same price. I thought Id easily get something tidy, ok a bit older for my budget but up to know no such luck.
I recently sold a 2 yr old good solid conversion, hoping to get something similar build quality wise but older and cheaper and I think at first it was a shock looking at how flimsy some are. What gets me as well is viewing them and having to peel back the poo encrusted mats to have a look at the floor, some sellers havent even cleaned them out :(
Good luck :)
 
To be honest, I think this box is a one-off type thing. It was a project that hadn't been completed, so there's some stuff still to do. But it's a very very basic box with nothing extra on it (which is exactly what I want). The extra stuff I can do at my expense and my leisure as I want, but am more concerned that I get a roadworthy, mechanically sound and safe box.
 
Its essential, especially at that price.
Take a mechanic who knows lorries and take a hammer screwdriver and a pair of goggles.
Brief check list:
Floor. Cross members under lorry check for rot especially round horse area and where the rear wheel arches are
Prop shaft. Should be no play if play and shaft goes will come up through the floor!!
Rear tyres inflation pressures
Brakes, undo bleed points on air tanks should be no oil at all
Front suspension check king pins for play
Front tyres cannot be remoulds
Check exhaust for solidity
Look for leaks
If cut through check that there is a frame supporting the cab structure.If tilt cab that is best, if not tilt can you access the bits you need to in the engine for servicing?
Start it do the air tanks pump up do they hold pressure do your brakes work, they should lock up with a loss of pressure not the other way round.
How does it drive
what is its load capacity.

I bought my first lorry last year from a a dealer and had no knowledge of lorries. To say it was a dog defames dogs but it was lethal. I have spent a year rebuilding it from scratch so the only original parts are the box uprights the roof cross members and the rear ramp. Everything else cab and chassis external skin windows floor etc all replaced. Dont learn from your own mistakes learn from mine!!
 
MilosDad - what an informative list ---thanks for the lesson. I will get an experienced person to have a good look. :D
 
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