Horsebox advice

[BaileyM]

Hi there.
I am hoping to purchase VW35lt D reg with low mileage. 3.5 ton. Beautifully kept inside & out...but its a petrol engine and has no PAS...am I crazy to consider this box or are they quite economical on fuel? How heavy are they to drive (honestly) say on a scale of 1-10?
Thanks in advance for your help & advice.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Dont know about fuel as our LT35 is a diesel, but I wouldnt be too worried about PAS as they are easy little boxes to drive, its not like our old 7.5T lorry - that def needed its PAS!
Fuel wise it would prob only be an issue if you go long distances or every week. And the petrol will be faster - our LT is very comfy drive but being diesel she aint fast. Wave as you sail past us!

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Hi there.
I am hoping to purchase VW35lt D reg with low mileage. 3.5 ton. Beautifully kept inside & out...but its a petrol engine and has no PAS...am I crazy to consider this box or are they quite economical on fuel? How heavy are they to drive (honestly) say on a scale of 1-10?
Thanks in advance for your help & advice.

my mechanic says they are extremely hard to get some parts for, especially brakes but they are straight forwards to swap chassis to a Mitsubishi Canter if the LT35 dies.. Those petrol engines are ok but are slow, thirsty and you'll need to be very strong to manage without PAS- depends how cheap/nice the horsebox bit is!

 

[Coop]

My friend has a d reg one that I have driven, I am quite a strong girl and I struggled a bit when manouvering it in carparks and round junctions, I suppose it depends on how much it bothers you, I found it heavy, you probably would get used to it and it would not be till you had one with power steering you would notice how much easier it is! Parts, especially brakes can be a big problem so I'm told. The petrol would not bother me if I was just doing local trips.

Heavyness 8/10 for me personally I couldn't cope with it for what I do.

 

[BaileyM]

Thanks all....Coop do you know what your friends mpg on lorry is?

 

[Coop]

No, sorry I don't, a diesel would be far cheaper, but it depends how much you do really.

 

[Bernster]

Whereabouts are you OP? I know of two people selling nice smart 3.5t boxes in Herts. Both good runners and well kept. One is a Vauxhall (both might be), think both are diesel and low mileage, around the £9/10k mark I think. Sorry not to be more specific as they aren't mine but they are both on our livery yard so I've seen them out and about.