Horsebox Conversions

[RIDMagic]

Does anybody know how much it would cost to have a 3.5 tonne vehicle converted into a horsebox? Is it cheaper in the end to do this as opposed to buying a ready made horsebox? I've been looking around but for the budget I'd be looking at, they all seem to be very high mileage, and I don't want to be breaking down every 5 minutes! So wondering if I could buy a lower mileage vehicle and have it converted. Any advice appreciated!

 

[Red-1]

Hi, I have been looking around a bit, and found that a couple of companies I would trust charge about 10K for a no frills but solid and safe conversion. This would include reinforced bulkhead for your safety and a way to quick escape your horse if he threw a fit and got over the breast bar!
I have also seen them cheaper but I am not sure they would be solid enough for my rather athletic 16.1 ginger man.

 

[catroo]

Just be aware that what is considered high mileage in a car is low mileage on a van, especially modern ones. 100k is just bedded in, it's more about how they've been looked after.

 

[RIDMagic]

Wow, £10k?! That's a bit more than I can afford! I was thinking more like half that lol. Catroo that's interesting, maybe I'm being a bit fussy when it comes to mileage. I wouldnt really want to buy anything with more than 100k but only because to me that sounds very high. But as you say I'm comparing it to a car which is probably wrong.

 

[Red-1]

My lad is a big and athletic sort so I am talking about the bigger conversions on a platform van, not for one that fits into the normal van body. I need 8' head room so this is the only way to go, although realistically I will only be able to have one horse in with the weight. That is fine, I only have one horse.

For a small horse or pony the 7'4 offered by the smaller van bodies would be fine and much cheaper. Plus with the construction being lighter two small horses or ponies is fine weight wise too.

 

[Abacus]

I was looking recently for a large conversion to carry a 17.1 horse and couldn't find anything that was much good for less than about £12 to £13k (for a used box). You can get the van-shape ones for less, there are a few around for about £8k. I used to have one of these for a 16.2 horse and he always travelled happily in it. There is a company on Ebay offering a conversion from £3k on your own van - I did email them, and they were polite and friendly - might be worth going to have a look at them. This would be for a van-shaped version but they do offer to build a proper box. I have no idea on the materials and safety of them.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-5-HORSE...823?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27dbad4b2f