Horse lorry questions

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sloulou

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Ok - so just decided to buy a 3 horse lorry... and I have a few questions!

If a lorry is advertised 7.5 tonnes - does that mean 7.5 tonnes is the max weight it can carry or is that what the lorry weighs? Sorry if stupid question...

I need something that will carry:
1 x 14.2 connemara x tb
1 x 15.2 TB
1 x 15.3 TB x ID

no real living needed - just somewhere to stick the tack..

Am just paranoid about getting something that will end up overweight with the horses on it...

Also - anyone recommend any particular makes?

oh yeah - and obviously am hoping to buy something on a very small budget!
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so up to about 6k

Also would appreciate any tips on what to look out for... never bought a lorry before
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7.5 tons is the max the lorry can weigh with everything including driver, tack, passengers and dog on board. The actually weight of the lorry needs to be low enough so that when you add your horses, stuff and people it doesnt exceed this weight.

Best thing to do is to get a really good estimate of the weight of all the stuff you plan to carry i.e. everything you will put in the lorry including yourself. Take that figure away from 7.5 ton and you will be left with the weight of the lorry you need.

Before buying any lorry, take it to a weighbridge and have it weighed. Ignore any adverts as stating that they can carry 3 or 4 horses because they may be partitioned out for that number but probably will be overweight if they carry that number.

Lack of a living will help because it will make the lorry lighter if it isnt fitted out but it does depend on what the body and partitions are made from too.

I do know of someone who bought a great lorry and was pulled up with one horse and found to be overweight so it pays to make sure. Most new lorries are made as two horse so you can see that the manufacturers have cottoned on.
 
Your maximum weight is 7.5 tonnes, so you need to know what the lorry weighs unladened. Then work out how much your horses weigh, how much you tack and accessories weigh and the people you are carrying weigh. Add that all together and see if you would be over 7.5 tonnes.
 
7.5 ton is the max laden weight the vehicle can be legally loaded to, not the catual weight. This is called unladen weight.
A little point on weights. When buying a lorry dont be fooled by the unladen weight that is stated on the plating certificate which must be displayed in the cab. This is the weight of the lorry at initial registration. Conversion to horsebox can add considerable weight.

What you need is what is ofetn called a hunting box. You should be able to get one that will carry your horses comfortably within the weight limit. Generally it is all the living that adds the weight to the horsebox.

£6000 should get you a reasonable box. My advice here is to go for one that is mechanically sound but a bit tatty looking rather then psending your money on one that looks really nice but is worn out.
 
I've just bought my first lorry. Its an H reg leyland daf and i love it. It is a 7.5ton and it can carry 3 big horses without being overweight. You need to find out the unladen weight of any lorry you buy cos that tells you how much weight you have left for horses, people, water, tack etc. Mine weighs 4.7 ton unladen. It has a small living which we are fitting out ourselves. You should get something for 6k, just make sure someone checks it out for you before you buy it. Mine didnt cost much more than that.
 
They are always advertised with the max laden weight so you do need to be looking for a 7.5 ton lorry - just get it weighed to make sure it comes up under 5.5 ton.

Dont go looking for a 5.5 ton because you will then need a 3.5 ton weight - do you see what I mean? 7.5 ton are the easiest to get so you shouldnt struggle
 
Mine is fairly basic and the bloke i bought it from used it as a hunting box. I have now moved the partition so i can take two with plenty of room and all my tack , water etc goes in the back partition. Then i can keep the living for the humans.
 
Yes! what you want is a 7.5 ton horsebox but when weighed without the horses in weighs about 3.8 ton.

The best to go for are a traditional hunting box (not wooden sided as weigh too much) which would have 3 on the diagonal and a rear ramp with a space at the front for tack.

A nice short one which is 12 feet long from the rear of the cab to the rear of the container will do you nicely. C & R Day and Priory Stud made some nice ones.

There is a gentleman who advertises in Horse and Hounds (Lorry for Sale section that goes nationwide to check horseboxes for people).
 
you can check the unladen weight by looking at the last plating test, they should have some paperwork which shows the front and back axel weight which you can then add together to show the total weight
 
Get it weighed before you buy - though to be fair I think alot of this 3 horses on 7.5t is scaremongering.

My lorry is an ancient old bedford TL downrated 10 tonner (everyone said it'll be havier because of this) it is partitioned for 3 altough physically you could get 4 on - has day living and the box is steel framed, stick sided and glasonite clad.

I originally bought the lorry to travel 1 now got 2 - must have had 20 or so people tell me it'll be overweight, only just legal with 1 etc, etc.

Took it to be weighed on saturday - empty apart from full tank of fuel - 4820kg - so even allowing 180kgs for my and OH (we're not that fat really!) we have 2.5t to play with - my 16.3 weighs 585 kgs, OH's mare 545kgs so round that up to 1200kgs to be safe again - still leave 3800kgs

Watch out for tyres wearing on outside edges - can be kingpins going and expensive to replace.

Check floor with a screwdriver

Can't think of anything else off the top of my head
 
weightwise the lightest chassis are Leyland Dafs..
then M A N

Heavy chassis are Mercedes.

buy something with as little or no wood whatsoever...and if going for living, just have basics..and very little storage.

you will NOT get 3 horses on any 7.5T with full living..it will be overweight...sorry.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Yes! what you want is a 7.5 ton horsebox but when weighed without the horses in weighs about 3.8 ton.

The best to go for are a traditional hunting box (not wooden sided as weigh too much) which would have 3 on the diagonal and a rear ramp with a space at the front for tack.

A nice short one which is 12 feet long from the rear of the cab to the rear of the container will do you nicely. C & R Day and Priory Stud made some nice ones.

There is a gentleman who advertises in Horse and Hounds (Lorry for Sale section that goes nationwide to check horseboxes for people).

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks - really useful
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