Horsebox - how old is too old?

Caramac71

Caramac71

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I would really love to buy a small van-style horsebox as currently I'm spending a fair bit of money hiring, and aside from the money it would be so much more convenient to have our own transport.

Hubby isn't horsey, doesn't understand why daughter wants to go to rallies, training, competitions, etc and as I tend to fund all things horsey out of my (small, part time) wages he doesn't really see how much is spent on transport.

Anyway, he is starting to come round to the idea so I have started looking at our options. For £3-4k we can get an older style Renault Masters (eg found an M reg that was converted to a horsebox 5 years ago with mileage under 150k). Looks from photos like it's been very well kept over the years but by my calculations it must be about 20 years old. Realistically, what is likely to be the lifespan of a vehicle? Would there be any resale market in say 2 years time?

For another £1500 or so we could get something about 4 years newer. And for a little more than that it would appear we could get a new but basic conversion on a van that's about half the age.

I know major things can go wrong on even very new vehicles, but would I be mad to buy a vehicle that's 20+ years old? Am I likely to wind up throwing so much money at it to keep it on the toad that I would be better to wait, save and spend a little more in the first place?
 
The average privately owned horse box does very little mileage a year, so the longer its been a horsebox the better in some ways. Most of the conversions probably came out of the fleet market, white vans and where hammered in their early years, some have been clocked, so unless you look on the DVLA mileage history ignore the mileage.
My biggest concern is the conversion and the weight. A lot of these conversions are not structurally sound, they where never made to have a huge opening on the side and if they have been strengthened properly they tend to have a very low payload weight. If you can find one that has had a proper horse body put on it and you have it mechanically checked, rust is the main concern,it could be more reliable than a nice shiny new lorry with a much abused chassis and poor build quality.
I used to be the owner of a 1979 Bedford TK, got us everywhere just not very fast. I owned it for nine years, in the summer it was out three times a week and not once did it break down. Older vehicles tend that have survived tend to have very basic reliable engines, its the chassis and body that lets them down.
 
We recently bought a horsebox for £4,200 its a renault master mark one N reg equipe coachbuild its lovely looks almost new inside, the paintwork is worn and tatty outside but its where the horse goes that matters, and it always starts sound engine, We looked at newer more exoensive ones but they were not as nicely built some looked dangerous, so I think as long as its sound and its safe you will find something for that money just because something is newer does not mean it will be better, some of the newer conversions we saw were rubbish and I wouldnt want to put a horse in one, look on the website Travel Two horseboxes he offers fantastic advice and often has older boxes for sale his up north somewhere. Good luck.

Just wanted to add all the horseboxes I found local to us were sold the day they went on line, so we ended up going to Leicester to get ours we are in Hertfordshire so quite a way, for that lower budget I think people will always buy so I think re selling will not be a problem a few years on, as long as its still going of course.
 
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Mine's 1990 but only has 85,000 kms on the clock as always been (my) horsebox. Yes she's a tatty begger on the outside but sound as a pound and flew up to BCA on Tuesday which took 2.5 hours and flew back at the end of the day (faster as M25 played ball!)

I agree that some of the long term boxes are far more roadworthy than recent conversions and unless I only ever wanted to transport one horse personally wouldn't touch a 3.5 t with a barge-pole as most are too easy to be overweight with carrying two and many are on high mileage vehicles. I also have an issue with single axle vehicles transporting horses but that's a personal thing following a rear blow out.

I think you need to go and view a lot and take somebody who is mechanically knowledgeable or go to a professional who has part-x lorries and will give a guarantee. Age is irrelevant.
 
There are still 30 year old oakleys going about no problems!

I would not touch a 3.5t conversion with a barge pole!

They have had a previous life being a courier van or white van man, so been hammered a lot.

They are always over weight with 2 horses and gear unless the drivers are anorexics and had colonic irrigation to boot!

I would either buy a trailer and go out and about with that and then if your daughter still wants to compete then would find a good 7.5t so you can go away in style
 
Thanks for the helpful comments. My experiences of friends with the van conversions have been good so I guess I need to look at a few and see for myself. I have no storage for a 7.5t and I don't feel confident about towing. Also found that by the time you buy a vehicle realistically able to tow a decent weight, and a reasonable trailer, the cost is way more than a lot of 3.5t.
 
We have got a p reg lt35, bought it two years ago and it has countless miles on the clock. It is used 4 times plus a week. Starts first time , mot s no problems. love my little box and up until recently we have had no weight problems. I have had it weighed and with a full tank she weighs 3.2 ton. Kids have only had ponies up until recently so we havent had any problems. We have travelled to Wales and Dorset aswell as the three counties in our pony club area in kent. It is so much easier than car and trailer . I have heard horror stories and did go all the way to wales to look at a box to find a very home made version that would have been totally unsafe . We paid £5000 for ours and will easily get that back.
Are you hoping to travel a horse or pony ? . If it is a horse then it is worth asking for a payload certificate from the seller so you know you can safely carry them. I would take a mechanic or if it is a long way away get a local garage to have a quick look. We went to the midlands for ours as everything in Kent was going before we could get to it. Ours has a back ramp which gives it a good balance and never have a problem with horses not liking loading. Good luck with your search
 
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