speedbird
Well-Known Member
Im trying to find a two stall horsebox with basic living for about £10,000. I was thinking of buying a basic iveco truck and having it converted. Has anyone got any positive or horror stories about conversions ?
Horsebox conversions
- Thread starter speedbird
- Start date
amandaco2
Well-Known Member
ive heard good and bad.
make sure the van engine and chassis is in good nick!
and choose a company through word of mouth too!
what tonnage are you after?
make sure the van engine and chassis is in good nick!
and choose a company through word of mouth too!
what tonnage are you after?
speedbird
Well-Known Member
Im only carrying my horse so anything from 3.5 to 7.5.
Louby
Well-Known Member
I had one converted but it cost a lot more than £10k Im afraid.
Louby
Well-Known Member
Sorry meant to add, I had mine done by a professional company as I'd seen some pretty shabby, dodgy, unsafe looking conversions. I know its as safe as it could be, reinforced sides, substantial partitions etc. My empahasis was on the horse area and I have a basic day living.
perfect11s
Well-Known Member
Get the newest tidyest box van you can.. you should be able to get the basic horse area and ramp done for about 5k make sure its 8 ft by 8ft grp and its best to have a 20ft box and cut it down to 18 ft so you dont end up with too much overhang behind the back wheels,its best if the wheels are about 5 ft from the back.. about a10ft horse area is ideal. iveco is ok but daf, merc or man much better quailty
lorrys
word of mouth is good advice and ask to see the guys work and get a firm quote for what you want and a date to get it done...
millimoo
Well-Known Member
We got ripped off by a builder, and were lucky to get a lorry at all.... it was a conversion. Although I assume you are buying a 2nd hand one.
Watch out for Iveco's in that price range, if they're not out regularily the breaks can seize up and you have to replace the whole unit (not just the break shoes) which is very expensive.
We've always had Leyland Dafs - easy to get parts, and easy to maintain.
Our first lorry was an ex Link lorry, star ship enterprise mileage, but most of it motorway and with ex fleet they are regularily serviced by Law.
Also make sure if its not a tilt cab that there's a decent inspection hatch to access the engine and gearbox.
Ours was a very solid and reliable lorry thank god. We now have a new Coachbuilt lorry, but again on an ex-fleet lorry (mum now has a working radio which is sheer luxury)
You're likely to see Glasonite or Aluminium bodies, both have pro's and con's. Also be wary of side ramps on a conversion as done badly they can impact the integrity of the box body and make it dangerously weak.
Finally check the unladen weight and whats going on under the floor in the horse area (to make sure it's strong enough)
My mum has been round the houses on this subject, and we've learnt alot over the years.
Good luck, i'm sure you'll find a nice lorry
Watch out for Iveco's in that price range, if they're not out regularily the breaks can seize up and you have to replace the whole unit (not just the break shoes) which is very expensive.
We've always had Leyland Dafs - easy to get parts, and easy to maintain.
Our first lorry was an ex Link lorry, star ship enterprise mileage, but most of it motorway and with ex fleet they are regularily serviced by Law.
Also make sure if its not a tilt cab that there's a decent inspection hatch to access the engine and gearbox.
Ours was a very solid and reliable lorry thank god. We now have a new Coachbuilt lorry, but again on an ex-fleet lorry (mum now has a working radio which is sheer luxury)
You're likely to see Glasonite or Aluminium bodies, both have pro's and con's. Also be wary of side ramps on a conversion as done badly they can impact the integrity of the box body and make it dangerously weak.
Finally check the unladen weight and whats going on under the floor in the horse area (to make sure it's strong enough)
My mum has been round the houses on this subject, and we've learnt alot over the years.
Good luck, i'm sure you'll find a nice lorry
Louby
Well-Known Member
Totally agree the firm quote, written even better. I was quoted £x and after paying upfront for the chassis was pretty much stuck when the price went up, luckily not by much. I did have to be firm towards the end as some things promised albeit minor little things werent given at first. Mine was an 18ft box van with 10ft horse area. Watch you weights too. My basic box weighed in finished at 5.3t but seen a fancy full living on the same chassis advertised the other day as being quite a bit lighter???
flyingfeet
Well-Known Member
If you are near the Midlands (coventry) I can recommend Midland horseboxes, they would definitely be able to sort something out for you
perfect11s
Well-Known Member
Oh and make sure the chassis is registered to you before you take it any where and the same if the converter supplys you the chassis make sure you fill out the paperwork and get it back from the DVLA it might help if you have a "misunderstanding"
amandaco2
Well-Known Member
i think new build coach builds are usually around 11k plus the van from all the companies ive spoken to (was on look out of 3.5t but sorted now!).
often the company will give you a warrenty on the chassis if they choose it. if you supply one they often only give a warrenty on the bodywork..
the van type are a bit cheaper to convert and have greater payload generally around 1.3t, but are often narrower and have less headroom...
often the company will give you a warrenty on the chassis if they choose it. if you supply one they often only give a warrenty on the bodywork..
the van type are a bit cheaper to convert and have greater payload generally around 1.3t, but are often narrower and have less headroom...
millimoo
Well-Known Member
I'm back again.....
I would be very careful about having one built to order unless the company / person is trusted and has a good history. We got burnt, and I know he had 3 other lorries in build at the time, and we subsequently found out some didn't get anything. We also fiund out he had set up and gone bust more than once - we also had a written / agreed spec, and he also kept askinf for more money.
Another option might be to buy an knackered old lorry with a good body if you already have the chassis.
Failing that, you should get a nice private sale somewhere for that money.
I'd also prefer a 16ft behind the cab, 18ft for 2 horses is an awful lot of room - and I wouldn't touch a 20ft with a barge pole.
I'll get my coat now .....
I would be very careful about having one built to order unless the company / person is trusted and has a good history. We got burnt, and I know he had 3 other lorries in build at the time, and we subsequently found out some didn't get anything. We also fiund out he had set up and gone bust more than once - we also had a written / agreed spec, and he also kept askinf for more money.
Another option might be to buy an knackered old lorry with a good body if you already have the chassis.
Failing that, you should get a nice private sale somewhere for that money.
I'd also prefer a 16ft behind the cab, 18ft for 2 horses is an awful lot of room - and I wouldn't touch a 20ft with a barge pole.
I'll get my coat now .....
perfect11s
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I'm back again.....
I would be very careful about having one built to order unless the company / person is trusted and has a good history. We got burnt, and I know he had 3 other lorries in build at the time, and we subsequently found out some didn't get anything. We also fiund out he had set up and gone bust more than once - we also had a written / agreed spec, and he also kept askinf for more money.
Another option might be to buy an knackered old lorry with a good body if you already have the chassis.
Failing that, you should get a nice private sale somewhere for that money.
I'd also prefer a 16ft behind the cab, 18ft for 2 horses is an awful lot of room - and I wouldn't touch a 20ft with a barge pole.
I'll get my coat now .....
[/ QUOTE ]
Im assuming you are taking about 5.5/6.5 ton ???
as 20 ft box on a 7.5 ton without a luton can work fine, mine with loo, shower etc is 5.5 ton unladen however if I built another it would be 18ft and again stalled for 3.. most converters go wrong weight wise when it comes the living by using cheep but very heavy domestic MDF kitchen units and thick plywood insted of caravan stuff which is very light...
I'm back again.....
I would be very careful about having one built to order unless the company / person is trusted and has a good history. We got burnt, and I know he had 3 other lorries in build at the time, and we subsequently found out some didn't get anything. We also fiund out he had set up and gone bust more than once - we also had a written / agreed spec, and he also kept askinf for more money.
Another option might be to buy an knackered old lorry with a good body if you already have the chassis.
Failing that, you should get a nice private sale somewhere for that money.
I'd also prefer a 16ft behind the cab, 18ft for 2 horses is an awful lot of room - and I wouldn't touch a 20ft with a barge pole.
I'll get my coat now .....
[/ QUOTE ]
Im assuming you are taking about 5.5/6.5 ton ???
as 20 ft box on a 7.5 ton without a luton can work fine, mine with loo, shower etc is 5.5 ton unladen however if I built another it would be 18ft and again stalled for 3.. most converters go wrong weight wise when it comes the living by using cheep but very heavy domestic MDF kitchen units and thick plywood insted of caravan stuff which is very light...
TrentfieldStud
Well-Known Member
Your budgets a bit tight for what your looking for, and you certainly will not get a good quality chassis and having a good quality conversion for this, and don't forget that the running costs are considerably more than a trailer. You might be better looking for an older lorry thats been done, or the money you want to spend you will get a super equitrek. Your prob. best look for a Horsebox Dealer on somewhere like www.horseboxworld.com
millimoo
Well-Known Member
Hello again..... 
No, we now have a 16ft body on a 7.5ton V reg Leyland Daf - however this is Coachbuilt. Our previous Conversion was 18ft on a Leyland Daf H reg, but I know at the time there were some 16fter's around which my mum would have preferred just because its a little shorter for manovering etc.
Just our preference, and for 2 horses and day living it's more than enough room.
My mums more bothered about the horse area to the living anyway - they're in luxury in the back, whilst my mums living is unfitted, although carpeted out and ready to go with a toilet / luton etc
No, we now have a 16ft body on a 7.5ton V reg Leyland Daf - however this is Coachbuilt. Our previous Conversion was 18ft on a Leyland Daf H reg, but I know at the time there were some 16fter's around which my mum would have preferred just because its a little shorter for manovering etc.
Just our preference, and for 2 horses and day living it's more than enough room.
My mums more bothered about the horse area to the living anyway - they're in luxury in the back, whilst my mums living is unfitted, although carpeted out and ready to go with a toilet / luton etc
kally05
New User
hey i have a partially converted ldv convoy 3.5 tonne for sale - pics are on horsemart.
i am laid up till march next year so am having to sell, the guy who was going to convert it estimated around 2-3000 to finish it to high standard.
i am laid up till march next year so am having to sell, the guy who was going to convert it estimated around 2-3000 to finish it to high standard.
TrentfieldStud
Well-Known Member
have a look at www.horseboxworld.com you should get a good idea from them!
PeterNatt
Well-Known Member
Please be aware that as from 29 April 2009 the European Community adopted new legislation covering the way in which vehicles can be registered. This means that each converted vehicle and trailer must now undergo testing before it can be registered and used on the road. This is being introduced over a three year period and means that individually converted horseboxes will have to be tested after conversion by the vehicle inspectorate.