Horse Transport Options.... trailer/box?

[JenHunt]

We currently tow an old wooden ward trailer (with extra thick floor boards), c. 1500kg empty with a Merc M380 (very fuel thirsty, and coming to the end of its life) to carry 2 big horses (650 and 680kg) who don't travel/fit well in an Ifor 511 (one is too wide, the other is too long).

We are looking at the options for as and when the vehicle does get to the end of its life...

What would people advise? All drivers have B+E or are exempt having passed their test in the 70s. Only doing a max of 3000miles a year with horses. Trailer is currently stored under cover, and so would any replacements be.

Not averse to getting a small van type box, but feel it would be cheaper to get a second hand 4x4 and lighter weight trailer for the mileage we do - the key really comes down to inital cost (even when offset by part ex on current vehicle/trailer) and running costs.

 

[catroo]

If by 'box type van' you mean 3.5t then that's out as it won't have the payload for two. A 4.5t would be ok but it sounds like not all the current drivers would be eligible without taking further tests.

Are you still happy having a trailer? If the only need to change is driven by the life of the towing vehicle then I would change this.

Is the trailer sound for many more years use?

 

[turnbuckle]

Hmmm.....the 3.5T lorries don't offer great value to anyone who can drive a 7.5T. And insurance and tax on a 7.5T are way cheaper than for a 4x4 capable of tugging 3.5T.

I would go for a 7.5T (safer for horses and more space for kit).

Or another option might be to rebuild the trailer and find a cheap 4x4. If you don't do much mileage a petrol Jeep or Rangey or Shogun may be the answer.

Not far from you, happy to wander over and look at the trailer and chew over...do pm me.

 

[dibbin]

We have a 2003 Shogun, it's great for towing. Ours are about 550kg and 600kg and always travelled together. We have an old Ifor 505R.

A 3.5t definitely wouldn't have enough payload for your two.

 

[JenHunt]

Hmmm.....the 3.5T lorries don't offer great value to anyone who can drive a 7.5T. And insurance and tax on a 7.5T are way cheaper than for a 4x4 capable of tugging 3.5T.

I would go for a 7.5T (safer for horses and more space for kit).

Or another option might be to rebuild the trailer and find a cheap 4x4. If you don't do much mileage a petrol Jeep or Rangey or Shogun may be the answer.

Not far from you, happy to wander over and look at the trailer and chew over...do pm me.

this is sort of what I was thinking really...
Most of our travel is for hunting, the occasional beach trip, XC schooling trip etc, so not huge annual miles, nor any single long distances either. I wonder if a 7.5T box is therefore overkill for this?

I think the trailer is certainly past its best, and I'd have no issues with replacing it really, other than finding one big enough for the two boys. And I suspect that most 'modern' trailers will weigh sufficiently less than our current one, making finding a towing vehicle easier too.

where are you turnbuckle? do you know anything about URO Horse trailers at York? seen a few ads for them now and just wondering if they'd be any help on the partex/rebuild/new trailer purchasing front?

 

[Annagain]

Would you have the 4x4 just for towing? If so, by the time you've bought even something relatively old and a new trailer, you're probably into the price bracket of a 7.5T, expecially if you're not fussed on having living. Having said that, a lorry will probably cost more to tax, plate, insure and maintain and they don't do that well if you don't using them at least once a week. Sitting doing nothing isn't really what they're designed for.

Tow car wise, I'd go for a Defender, you simply can't beat it for towing. The compromise is the daily commute and if you're not doing that, there's no problem.

As for the trailer, I think an Equitrek Space Trekka L would suit. It's plenty long enough for my 17hh 7'-7'3" rug wearing share horse and you can move the partition to give the wider one a bit more room. Their customer service isn't great so I'd go for a 2nd hand one about 4-5 years old as most of the problems they have been known for had been ironed out by then but if anything is going to be a problem, it should have materialised and been dealt with by now. Although to be fair, the Space Trekka doesn't seem to have had many problems, it's the larger models which have caused issues.

 

[turnbuckle]

Near Bedale, Jen. Pm me with yr number and I'll call to discuss. Haven't come across URO, which doesn't mean they're not excellent.....suspect they'll say yours has minimal trade-in value. Re-build may be cheaper than you think...or may not be

It's all down to budget (isn't it always). 7.5T are actually cheaper to tax and insure than a 4x4, but repairs are dearer. "Plating" only marginally dearer than a car MoT.

Defenders are superb tow trucks but pretty pricey relative to others. On the other hand they hold their value......

Not sure what the GVW for the Space Trekka is, but I suspect you'll still have a fairly small pool of towcars to fish in.....my guess is that best value for low annual miles will involve a petrol engined crittur.