Horsebox vs Trailer

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vikkiandmonica

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I am trying to persuade my parents to buy a horsebox, not an extremely huge, expensive one, just a 3 horse one, so me and my sister could take all 3 horses out.

The thing is though, do you thin it would be cheaper to ditch the trailer (does the job, but very old and tatty
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) and get my mum a smaller, more fuel efficient car, and get a horsebox?

At the minute, mum has a Nissan Terrano, which she mainly uses to get to work about 20 miles away, although does go further sometimes. And at the minute, we are going to shows etc. quite rarely, though should pick up soon to about 2 shows a month.

Don't really know if it would be cheaper getting her a more efficient, smaller car, and then a lorry?

Thanks for any help
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Lorries require tax, mot and monthly insurance so you have that to consider straight away, parts and problems will be more expensive to fix. Also, if you are thinking about putting 3 horses in it weight could be an issue so it is unlikely you will get a small box to suit.
 
Ah right, didn't really take that into account. Think parents could take up to 7.5 tonnes because of when they took their tests.

Didn't really know whether, even with all that included, over time, the petrol costs would sort of, cancel it out?
 
Sorry Katie_Connie, missed your post. Not sure they can afford it, but we would sell the big car, and get a smaller, more fuel efficient one.

Just to add, I think I would be getting a lesson in between the shows, so maybe 4-6 outings a month maybe? Not too sure really
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Yes that's true the petrol costs would be reduced... but you've still got the lorry's fuel to pay for.. so it's hard to say... hope your parents say yes!!
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We have a lorry and I think the horses much prefer it
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The lorry issue is fraught. Your problem will be finding one that is in good condition and likely to remain so.
Trailers are far cheaper to maintain and repair and are useful for other things.
As a warning to you re lorries: I bought a lorry last March.
I currently have two chassis and cabs at my yard, the March one outgoing the other incoming. My box is on jacks in the shed currently without roof or floor. Literally all we have is sides and some roof cross members. I have had to cut out every single floor cross member due to rot, replace the side steels and weld in new cross members then we redo the sides and put a new roof on, panel it out, floor it and then fit it out prior to putting it on the new chassis. Please dont even ask the cost but thats the risk you run in buying a lorry.
 
As did mine, unfortunately the MOT doesnt cover the body and a new floor serves to hide a multitude of sins.
Be prepared to crawl under it with a screwdriver or hammer and a pair of goggles and dont be half hearted when you hit it. Good steel will withstand any amount of hammering bad steel wont.
I love my lorry it gives me flexibility which is why I am rebuilding it but unless you really go in with your eyes open and have a reasonable income trailers are safer
 
As a note of caution, a lot of 7.5 ton lorries will be overweight if you have three large horses on board.

A lorry will cost extra in terms of road tax, insurance and service/testing (approx £1,200 pa) before any big repairs.
 
To be honest if you are thinking of buying a 7.5 ton horsebox with living, to carry 3 horses, your dad driving, you & your sister & mum on board together with all the tack you will be wanting to take then forget it as you will be overweight & would need a HGV. Even if you buy one of the lighter models you will still be very close to the weight limit if not over. A conversion is invariably heavier & has less payload.

To carry 3 horses & your family in a 7.5 ton lorry you would need something like a dealer wagon. That's one which has no living, just a little tack storage & the rest partitioned for the horses. One of those would have the payload, but any living will take you over weight.

You will have seen fancy 7.5 ton lorries with showers & all manner of kit on board carrying 3 horses to shows, but I assure you the owners live in fear of being stopped by Police or VOSA. Apart from that when you are overloaded the lorry handles differently, it is less stable & the brakes are designed to stop 7.5 tons not 8.5 or 9 tons

Once you have a lorry you will need tax, plating, insurance maintenance, diesel etc, etc all of which is expensive & you don't have all this on a trailer.

If you do go for one don't buy too old, apart from rust & mechanical issues there can be parts availability issues. Get a lorry mechanic to check it all out before buying, don't believe a word the seller says unless they can produce dicumentary evidence for servicing/replacement parts etc. Don't buy without having a full 12 month plate. Finally ask for a weight certificate for the lorry, they are easy to obtain the lorry only has to go to a public weighbridge & a weight certificate will cost about £10. This will tell you what payload you have, some are almost overweight before a horse goes on.

Good Luck
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I have a 7.5t lorry with a payload of nearly 2.5 ton!
Good advise from others, I was very lucky and bought mine ( 1991) with full service history;
No rust on it at all, passes plaiting easily, had the brakes overhauled and some new tyres, so not bad over 5 years.

They are however a luxury if you don't use them regular, but a very nice one, especially whe its raining and you can sit down and have a nice cuppa
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What you really need is one of these! It would solve the lorry tax thing.
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That's a serious set-up though.

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Except you'd have to get a vehicle with a fifth wheel, and the length could be a slight problem as well.
Most people around here just use livestock trailers for every day use, hose it down after the cattle get out (or not) and pop the horses in.
http://www.fletchershorseworld.com/trailers/eclipse.html
 
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