Clannad48
Well-Known Member
My daughter wants you to adopt her - she's 24 with permanent PMT and attitude if you're interested. Comes complete with 17hh DWB grey mare 
Horsebox build.....our story!
- Thread starter Farmer Chalk
- Start date
Farmer Chalk
Well-Known Member
Thanks people.... Doing it this way works out considerably cheaper than ready built boxes and there's no way we could afford the astronomical prices they charge for them either... The good thing buying a decent one owner chassis which we had fully serviced prior to the commencement of the build should ensure reliability for the future....
Will keep you posted as she develops!
Will keep you posted as she develops!
Bernster
Well-Known Member
Finding this strangely enthralling !
Farmer Chalk
Well-Known Member
My daughter wants you to adopt her - she's 24 with permanent PMT and attitude if you're interested. Comes complete with 17hh DWB grey mare
Sounds interesting.....glad I'm that little bit too far away!
I'm building this for my own bit of sanctity! Lock myself away and make a cup of tea when my two start at each other!
Hats off to all you mums out there! Don't know how you do it!
Farmer Chalk
Well-Known Member
In the nicest way you probably need to get out more!
In all seriousness I hope that people who have considered building a truck can see some of the pitfalls when balancing it up against buying a ready done one....! And we'll see how this one turns out and whether I've made a monumental mistake or not! Should be a laugh anyway!
Last edited:
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
Windston
Active Member
Following with interest. 😊
EquiEquestrian556
Well-Known Member
Wow, what a transformation already! Very envious of your beautiful new lorry.
Do please keep us updated as she progresses, and welcome to the forum.
Do please keep us updated as she progresses, and welcome to the forum.
Spottyappy
Well-Known Member
Very interesting.
I'm buying a lorry sometime next year as sold mine and got a trailer but not happy towing so going back to a box when finances allow probably Spring next year.
I understand if you don't wish to post publically, but can you give me a ball park figure on the cost of sourcing the chassis and then having the build done by a company please? Pm if you would rather not say on a forum.
Thanks.
I'm buying a lorry sometime next year as sold mine and got a trailer but not happy towing so going back to a box when finances allow probably Spring next year.
I understand if you don't wish to post publically, but can you give me a ball park figure on the cost of sourcing the chassis and then having the build done by a company please? Pm if you would rather not say on a forum.
Thanks.
cundlegreen
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure why you felt you had to go the HGV route with all the extra aggravation. My first build made for me by somebody else, weighed in at 5,5 ton without horses. This was on a cargo chassis and a curtainsider body with GRP panels, hence all the weight. I've built the last two myself (went on a welding course). I bought a Daf 45 curtainsider for £800, took the body off and used it as a haystore, and then put a 24ft box van body on the chassis. All alloy, so very light. I cut out a luton so it looked more like a regular horse box. This has a flap so that the cab can still be tilted. Istrengthened it up inside with 4ml box section frames and front to rear box rails to place the telescopic partitions in.The whole thing unladen with a very heavy ramp weighs in at 4.2 ton, so lots of weight left for three horses. I could carry four, but only have two partitions. I have three floors in it as well, so if the top layer rots, I can simply take that one out and replace.
I love your build, BUT.... fitters do not like cabs that don't tilt. Its much harder to get somebody out to work on a coachbuilt lorry. Also, a friend bought his first coach built lorry, had a tyre blow out, and it took all the skirt out. I'm happy to drive my slightly eccentric horsebox about. It has served me well for 7 years now, and cost me the princely sum of £2,000 all in, although I did 90% of the work myself.
I love your build, BUT.... fitters do not like cabs that don't tilt. Its much harder to get somebody out to work on a coachbuilt lorry. Also, a friend bought his first coach built lorry, had a tyre blow out, and it took all the skirt out. I'm happy to drive my slightly eccentric horsebox about. It has served me well for 7 years now, and cost me the princely sum of £2,000 all in, although I did 90% of the work myself.
Fiona
Well-Known Member
Really fascinating photos..
We approached our 6.5ton box in a similar way but sadly have no pics of mid build..
11 years on, the original box has now been put on its second cab/chassis. .
Keep the updates coming. .
Fiona
We approached our 6.5ton box in a similar way but sadly have no pics of mid build..
11 years on, the original box has now been put on its second cab/chassis. .
Keep the updates coming. .
Fiona
Farmer Chalk
Well-Known Member
Excellent news... And well done on the self build... I would love to have done that as well but unfortunately the pressures of my job together with a lack of a decent barn negated me being able to do it....so I've cheated using the Coachbuilders to do the heavy outer bodywork....
The side panels are 22 ft long and are a single piece and unfortunately I just didn't have the tools, capability and enough mates to be able to do the job properly...
This build is a tilt cab....you are very right that access to all the working components is always required...hence right from the off we discussed that it should continue to have a tilt cab.... Not clear on the photos but they have created two steel frames, one that bolts onto the rear of the tilt cab and one on the rear bodywork. These then have a series of mating seals to maintain the water tightness and strength of the build.
The reason I've gone for the 12 tonne route is that I was already an HGV driver.... Hence it was easy to take the wife out and teach her to drive....in fairness the HGV shouldn't be considered too daunting...
It also allows us to carry everything including the kitchen sink! Which trust me is what my ladies take with them. It also allows a decent on board water tank for the shower and horse wash which will be eventually fitted.
The side panels are 22 ft long and are a single piece and unfortunately I just didn't have the tools, capability and enough mates to be able to do the job properly...
This build is a tilt cab....you are very right that access to all the working components is always required...hence right from the off we discussed that it should continue to have a tilt cab.... Not clear on the photos but they have created two steel frames, one that bolts onto the rear of the tilt cab and one on the rear bodywork. These then have a series of mating seals to maintain the water tightness and strength of the build.
The reason I've gone for the 12 tonne route is that I was already an HGV driver.... Hence it was easy to take the wife out and teach her to drive....in fairness the HGV shouldn't be considered too daunting...
It also allows us to carry everything including the kitchen sink! Which trust me is what my ladies take with them. It also allows a decent on board water tank for the shower and horse wash which will be eventually fitted.
Mariposa
Well-Known Member
Loving this thread! My old Tristar is a bit rough round the edges and I love her....but I dream of having a horse wash and shower on board!!
Farmer Chalk
Well-Known Member
The chassis is the all important thing...I wanted to source a good reliable truck that wasn't going to let me down 300 miles from home. Hence I had been looking in the trade press for a little while... Ideally with HGV's belonging to national companies they are obliged to service and check the truck every six weeks.
Thus anything owned by a decent company is fairly assured of being looked after. I had been considering trucks from people like John Lewis, Boots etc...these get released after a period. The one I found was perfect, a Mercedes Atego with low miles and Euro 4 emissions...
It was for sale having come from Eden Springs. I bought it from Walker Movements in the Midlands who are a specialist truck supermarket.
Prior to purchase I had actually contacted Eden and spoken to their fleet manager who was incredibly helpful and gave me a complete run down of what it had had done over its previous life. I paid £9000 for the truck.
This was relatively cheap for a truck of such age as who wants a secondhand lorry with a body adapted for carriage of water cooler bottles!
Er...Me because the body was the first thing to come off!
The cheapest way to make a Horsebox is to buy a box lorry and adapt the body already on it...by adding a ramp and cutting some holes for Windows in the side panels.. We always wanted a coachbuilt one which is significantly more expensive for obvious reasons...
The cost of this is entirely on what you want in or on the lorry. You are really paying for the time of the Coachbuilders to scratch build what you exactly want and then all of the components to be added....for instance a built in generator can be an eye watering £4K.... The powered awning another £1500, the electric tail lift £1500, living and horse air conditioning another £1500 etc etc...
So in answer to your question the sky is the limit depending on what you can and what you can't live with and without!
We are doing it over a period of time.. We have decided to get the basic lorry built but knowing what we are going to put in place eventually. So in our negotiations we have asked for all the ceilings to be put in with all the additional wires in place for future fitments...
Thus doing it in stages as and when we can afford it!
tallyho!
Following a strict mediterranean diet...
I hope you've been nominated for the "Best Dad (& husband)" Award??!!
Tobiano
Well-Known Member
My daughter wants you to adopt her - she's 24 with permanent PMT and attitude if you're interested. Comes complete with 17hh DWB grey mare
If a 17hh is too big, would you and your wife like to adopt me instead? My horse is only 15.2hh
And at 52 I am reasonably well house trained Enjoying reading and seeing the pics of your lovely new horse box!
iaej
Well-Known Member
Following with interest
Enfys
Well-Known Member
Looking good, I am watching to see the interior pictures
We aren't quite as posh (nowhere near in fact) we got fed up with tents or camping in the trailer so Peggy was purchased (Citation RV) we just hitch the trailer on the back, brilliant for day trips or camping. Oddly enough several other people have turned up at campgrounds with RV's and trailers this summer after they saw Peggy
I have my doubts as to whether this would even be legal in the UK
We aren't quite as posh (nowhere near in fact) we got fed up with tents or camping in the trailer so Peggy was purchased (Citation RV) we just hitch the trailer on the back, brilliant for day trips or camping. Oddly enough several other people have turned up at campgrounds with RV's and trailers this summer after they saw Peggy
I have my doubts as to whether this would even be legal in the UK
tallyho!
Following a strict mediterranean diet...
Looking good, I am watching to see the interior pictures
We aren't quite as posh (nowhere near in fact) we got fed up with tents or camping in the trailer so Peggy was purchased (Citation RV) we just hitch the trailer on the back, brilliant for day trips or camping. Oddly enough several other people have turned up at campgrounds with RV's and trailers this summer after they saw Peggy
I have my doubts as to whether this would even be legal in the UK
You can definitely do this in the UK. I have seen a few for sure...
Spottyappy
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the pricing and purchase info,farmer c. Very helpful,especially with dealers contact name for chassis.had also never thought of doing the build in stages, so useful tip.
Farmer Chalk
Well-Known Member
In my dreams!! With a sixteen year old.....!!! If you can get any conversation out of them at all at this age then you're lucky!
Although the phrase 'Daaaaaad, have you got any money for school dinners?' is uttered pretty frequently....
Farmer Chalk
Well-Known Member
If a 17hh is too big, would you and your wife like to adopt me instead? My horse is only 15.2hh
Enjoying reading and seeing the pics of your lovely new horse box!
Sounding more promising! Wish I had the Horse & Hound forum when I was a 17 year old!
maree t
Well-Known Member
We have just had a 7.5 ton Iveco cargo built by an extremely helpful chap in York . He sourced the lorry and has converted the horse area and such like . Resprayed and tack lockers are great . We will fit the living area when we can afford it but we are able to use it for the winter before our first away show in the spring .
Farmer Chalk
Well-Known Member
Excellent...got any photos? We are planning to do exactly as you are doing...get the important horse carrying bits done so we can use it for its intended purpose and then finish off the living in stages...( when money allows....)
Any lessons learnt that we need to think about? Is there anything you would now do differently?
DJ
Well-Known Member
I do hope your daughter genuinely realises just how lucky she is ... Great thread Farmer Chalk
Farmer Chalk
Well-Known Member
Here is the latest developments from the build from the latter part of this week....
[/URL][/IMG]
The roof has now been placed on and runs full length as a single panel...the attention to detail by the guys at Courcheval is excellent... Having climbed up the ladder shown in the photo to inspect the panel you can see every rivet has been measured to be the same distance apart and every fastener has been inserted with sealer to ensure long life waterproofness!
The rear frame has now been welded to the body which will support the rear tail lift and preparations on the chassis have been made for a tow bar to be welded and bolted in place.
The side step has now been enclosed and is now ready for paint to match the body colour.
For those wondering how access is made to the engine on a coachbuilt lorry the following photos will explain all hopefully....
[/URL][/IMG]
As you can see the body splits in half behind the drivers cab..a metal frame has been made up which secures behind the sleeper pod and the'ears'. This ties the front cab together...a similar frame is mounted on the rear body which ties the rear end together.
On the photo above you can see two holes in the front of the rear body. The top one is to allow access to the sleeper pod from inside the Horsebox. The second lower hole relates to the 'cut through' which allows access through to the drivers cab!
[/URL][/IMG]
The photo above shows the frame behind the cab. What needs to be fitted next is the series of rubber seals that fits between the cab and body frames to ensure that no water or rain can access the body...
[/URL][/IMG]
You can see that there is no difficulty now getting access to the engine!
[/URL][/IMG]
The photo above now shows the rear frame in place and the roof sections in....the interior horse area will have a series of additional panels added. The tail lift is soon to be added which will secure the rear end.
[/URL][/IMG]
The front roof panels have been inserted ready for the subsequent interior...
[/URL][/IMG]
The photo above shows the view toward the front of the living area...with the sleeper pod access above and the cut through giving access from the drivers cab...
[/URL][/IMG]
This shows the view from the door back towards the doorway leading to the horse area. The box seen here is the reverse of the side tack locker and will be where the sink and drainer will subsequently be fitted.
The overall idea is that the horses will be tied up on the right side of the lorry and everything related to the horse will be done on that side..so the rear underbody locker will contain the horse wash and grooming tools and the saddle lockers will also be easily accessible from that side as well... A full length awning will run along the right side of the truck to allow shade from either the sun or rain!
Hence we should be able to do everything undercover!
Hopefully the next major thing over the next week is the cutting out of the window apertures and the bonded Windows stuck on...
Keep you posted with the next instalment!
The roof has now been placed on and runs full length as a single panel...the attention to detail by the guys at Courcheval is excellent... Having climbed up the ladder shown in the photo to inspect the panel you can see every rivet has been measured to be the same distance apart and every fastener has been inserted with sealer to ensure long life waterproofness!
The rear frame has now been welded to the body which will support the rear tail lift and preparations on the chassis have been made for a tow bar to be welded and bolted in place.
The side step has now been enclosed and is now ready for paint to match the body colour.
For those wondering how access is made to the engine on a coachbuilt lorry the following photos will explain all hopefully....
As you can see the body splits in half behind the drivers cab..a metal frame has been made up which secures behind the sleeper pod and the'ears'. This ties the front cab together...a similar frame is mounted on the rear body which ties the rear end together.
On the photo above you can see two holes in the front of the rear body. The top one is to allow access to the sleeper pod from inside the Horsebox. The second lower hole relates to the 'cut through' which allows access through to the drivers cab!
The photo above shows the frame behind the cab. What needs to be fitted next is the series of rubber seals that fits between the cab and body frames to ensure that no water or rain can access the body...
You can see that there is no difficulty now getting access to the engine!
The photo above now shows the rear frame in place and the roof sections in....the interior horse area will have a series of additional panels added. The tail lift is soon to be added which will secure the rear end.
The front roof panels have been inserted ready for the subsequent interior...
The photo above shows the view toward the front of the living area...with the sleeper pod access above and the cut through giving access from the drivers cab...
This shows the view from the door back towards the doorway leading to the horse area. The box seen here is the reverse of the side tack locker and will be where the sink and drainer will subsequently be fitted.
The overall idea is that the horses will be tied up on the right side of the lorry and everything related to the horse will be done on that side..so the rear underbody locker will contain the horse wash and grooming tools and the saddle lockers will also be easily accessible from that side as well... A full length awning will run along the right side of the truck to allow shade from either the sun or rain!
Hence we should be able to do everything undercover!
Hopefully the next major thing over the next week is the cutting out of the window apertures and the bonded Windows stuck on...
Keep you posted with the next instalment!
Farmer Chalk
Well-Known Member
Tail lights going in.......
[/URL][/IMG]
[/URL][/IMG]
ROG
Well-Known Member
RVs with trailers are certainly legal in the UK as long as the driver has the relevant licence and the vehicle specs allow for it
littleredmare
Active Member
Tail lights going in.......
[/URL][/IMG]
[/URL][/IMG]
Looks great!
Farmer Chalk
Well-Known Member
Fortunately I'm a Class one C&E driver so I'm okay anyway! Would have loved the lorry to have been a dual purpose race car transporter but unfortunately lengths weights and axle locations conspired against me....but at least I can put the car on a trailer and tow it there!