Horsebox swaying on motorway :(

Wizbang

Wizbang

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 October 2008
Messages
88
Location
Hampshire
Visit site
Hi all, I have a VW LT35 3.5 tonne and on taking it to a dressage competition yesterday with 2 horses in it I found it was pulling over badly to the left whenever a large vehicle (ie. Lorry or large box) overtook us on the right. Almost as if it were being pushed by the wind. This obviously was quite scary and has made us rethink about taking it out on the motorway, we were not driving very fast either (luckily). Does anyone else have this problem and/or is there some miraculous solution or ideas as to why this happens? It hasn't happened with any of my previous lorries but then my last one was a Leyland 7.5 tonne and was far more substantial.

Any ideas? The horses that are in with were approx 1000kg so it was easily in it's weight.

Many thanks.

Sarah x
 
I have a little 3.5 van and I would not take two in mine, unless two small ponies as it can only carry 1050kg. I would take into consideration your weight, tank petrol, horse tack water etc .
 
OP I would never travel 2 horses on a 3.5 t lorry. I think if you tot up the saddles, water, horses, passengers etc you will find you are quite likely overweight. A HHOer took a 3.5 ton lorry to a local weighbridge and showed exactly that - that with 1 horse on board and her tack she was almost at the limit.
 
Although its reasonably normal to feel some sort of movement when a large lorry comes up along side you (air displacement or something or other!) it shouldnt be enough to move your lorry off course or make you feel like it is hard to keep hold of it. From what you have said, you were hugely overladen and losing control of it as a result of that - I am yet to find a 3.5t that you can get more than one "decent size" horse in. I think you need to rethink your figures, you don't have 3.5t to play around with, at most with some of the weight saving designs you have, as one poster has said, a little over 1t for drivers, passengers, tack, horses, water, fuel, etc etc etc.
 
Thanks all .. it's a shame as it's got a large area in the back plenty big enough for my Arab and TB, I will get it weighed this week .. may have to up size :(

x
 
Another who would say you were over weight. You say the horses are approximately 1000kg but my bet is they are far heavier than you think. In my experience weigh tapes are not very accurate, one friend had a mare that tape said was 525kg on a proper calibrated weigh bridge the same horse was 625kg. Also all the "stuff" horsey folks tend to carry in their lorries adds up. I took my lorry to a local weigh bridge and was concerned. Took it home and stripped out any unnecessary "stuff" then returned to weigh bridge and had lost 140kg!

After that experience I bit the bullet and did my Class C
 
sillygillyhorse, I agree totally about weight tapes, my horse tapes at 470kg on my tape, but at the vets on a calibrated scale he is actually over a 100kg more! weigh tapes should be taken with a pinch of salt and are more an indicator of any change in weight, but not what that might be!
 
You will always get some 'sucky sucky' (our family's technical term) effect being passed by a huge truck on the motorway but as others have said it's 99% sure you were overweight.

Check tyre pressure too as if under or over inflated can also cause handling issues.
 
I've got a 3.5ton and agree with all of the above.

I only ever travel 1 in mine, it is a Transit and has a high COG (Centre of Gravity) combined with a horses naturally high COG can make for some very interesting driving if you're a bit overweight - the lorry not you!

Make sure the horses are over the rear axle and their weight is not behind it. My friend had a vehicle the same as yours and it had some day living, which pushed the horses slightly behind the rear axle - not good as the lorry essentially does a wheely with 2 horses on board. Therefore the weight at the back becomes heavier than the front and the steering becomes light and can feel like it's floating :eek:

I would love a bigger lorry, but finances won't allow atmo :(
 
Firstly, check your payload. LT35s aren't brilliant IIRC - I think the little one I used to borrow was about 1000kgs, and that was a very basic one with no bells or whistles. Whereas you may be able to squeeze two ponies/lightweight horses into a renault, you will have definitely been overweight in an LT35.

Also, LT35s aren't like the little renaults. The've got a much higher centre of gravity and they do get blown. The one I used to borrow really wasn't good in high winds and there was more than one occasion when we had to hit the backroads to get places to keep us off the motorway. It was less stable being passed on the motorway than my trailer was.

They're all right little boxes but you have to take them for what they are and know their limitations.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top