horsebox dilemna

[smiggy]

I had a lovely little (much slated on here ) van conversion. Was a movano 3.5t. Horses travelled rear facing, it was nippy, easy to drive and horses travelled well. I never thought twice about going anywhere.
As we have a lot more overnight stuff this year, I sold it and bought an M reg 5.5t iveco with living. In lots of ways its a fab little box, living/horse arrangement is really sensible and gives the biggest living vs box length I have seen BUT its chuggy and rattly and heavy to drive and really really importantly I dont think the horses travel so well They dont move about a lot but at the other end they just look a bit wild eyed and are standing with back legs splayed like they needed to balance a lot ( I am a very careful driver btw). On sunday my lovely girl had actually sweated up on arrival, she has never done this before and it wasnt that hot.
Already Im putting off going places
but would be gutted to lose the living now
All the small newish lorries I can find are horrendously expensive-65k for a 5t olympic anyone or have a stupid living arrangement/size.
So do I just give up and go back to a little box
OH is planning on killing me either way I fear

 

[perfect11s]

I had a lovely little (much slated on here ) van conversion. Was a movano 3.5t. Horses travelled rear facing, it was nippy, easy to drive and horses travelled well. I never thought twice about going anywhere.
As we have a lot more overnight stuff this year, I sold it and bought an M reg 5.5t iveco with living. In lots of ways its a fab little box, living/horse arrangement is really sensible and gives the biggest living vs box length I have seen BUT its chuggy and rattly and heavy to drive and really really importantly I dont think the horses travel so well They dont move about a lot but at the other end they just look a bit wild eyed and are standing with back legs splayed like they needed to balance a lot ( I am a very careful driver btw). On sunday my lovely girl had actually sweated up on arrival, she has never done this before and it wasnt that hot.
Already Im putting off going places
but would be gutted to lose the living now
All the small newish lorries I can find are horrendously expensive-65k for a 5t olympic anyone or have a stupid living arrangement/size.
So do I just give up and go back to a little box
OH is planning on killing me either way I fear

no you sell it buy a 7.5 tonner and you and your horses live happly ever after

 

[smiggy]

7.5t too scarey and bigger and chuggier surely too

might be nicer for the neds but much as I love them am too scared to drive a massive box

 

[maletto]

could you not get one of those ones that's similar in shape and size to the coachbuilt masters conversions but is just bigger & with bigger living (and about 5.6t i think) ETS I think you already ruled this out

I reckon if you got a nice 7.5t like not too old, it probs wouldn't feel as big/chuggy as you expect. Could always go for a test drive

 

[ttt]

www.charltonhorseboxes.co.uk

They specialise in 3.5s and 6.5s.

 

[MilosDad]

7.5 tonne doesnt have to be chuggy. I have a Daf LF 45/150 and it drives like a car. Big ned loves it, tried him in a trailer and he took 45 minutes to load after our competiton, so no more of those!!

 

[perfect11s]

7.5 tonne doesnt have to be chuggy. I have a Daf LF 45/150 and it drives like a car. Big ned loves it, tried him in a trailer and he took 45 minutes to load after our competiton, so no more of those!!

yes they are a nice little lorry I think my next box project will be on a LF.. got a merc atego at the moment thats nice to drive.
my guess is if you dont want chuggy stay away from the little boxes I amagine haveing a big WB in one would be like having an elephant in a wheelbarrow