horseboxes - what do you consider essential in living?

lucyebbs

lucyebbs

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Finally - after lots of persuasion - my parents have decided to upgrade from our little rice trailer to a 7.5t lorry!! :D
Because it will be our first lorry (how exciting!!!) we don't have a clue what we would need in the living, so...
What do you all have in your lorries and what do you actually use and consider essential?
 
Heating, shower, loo, bed/seats, fridge, sink, hob, hot water, storage. Don't have an oven, but am told they are heavy so am happy to do without. The bed is horrible to sleep on so I have bought a good inflatable bed to put up in the horse section. It needs a proper plug socket to operate so we haven't tried it out yet. Everything else is used and worth having.
Electric hook up is next on my list.
 
Depends what you're doing- we have a hob that works, a luton with a mattress and some duvets, seating, and that's it. Don't need anything else really because we don't do away shows...
 
Depends entirely what you're using it for. Most of the time the only facilities I'd consider maybe not essential but most used (and appreciated!) are a toilet, lots of cupboard space, and a hob for the kettle!

I think our lorry is about bang on for a 7.5tonner; it hasn't got all the bells and whistles that add weight and that I'd want (in a HGV) if staying for more than 1-2 nights away, but fits the bill for the type of lorry it is. The basics ours has- toilet, grill & hob (not oven), luton and convertable seating- sleeping area, heating, fridge, plenty of cupboards! Ours has a TV and satellite, but I consider that a luxury/bonus that isn't really needed.

Things I'd choose to add - freezer to keep ice boots cool for after XC (saves lugging a cool box that I just can't make fit properly anywhere out the way!).

Things I'd possibly not bother with - removable table on pole, its heavy, awkward, and in the way if its left in for most of the time, ours no longer lives in the lorry and we use a fold up camping table instead thats lightweight, easily moveable & can be slotted out the way in the wardrobe.
 
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Firstly consider if you are actually going to stay away at many shows. If you are then have living that is nicely insulated as it gets very cold in a lorry at night. Don't go over the top with features because they add tremendous weight & this reduces your payload. Many 7.5 ton lorrys have beautiful living but barely have enough payload left to carry one horse.

We have a Tristar, it has day living but can sleep 3/4 persons. It has hob & grille, wall & floor cupboards. I have a gas fridge which I set up in the horse area & have mains hook up that I fitted myself (it's easy & cheap to do). I also have a microwave oven.

When we stay away I take a generator with us because venues charge a stupid amount for hook up. It is a 2.7kw generator so can easily power the microwave, lights, & daughters hair straighteners (most important).

My lorry has a payload of 1.9 tons so I have no weight issues. :)
 
HI,

I have a 7.5 tonne, and have been quite careful with weight. I did not have a luton, it is separate, but that does mean that the heating and air con in the cab really is effective while travelling!

For the horse I have an external water tank, about 20 gallons.

In the living I have a toilet/tack shared compartment. The toilet is supposed to be for emergencies only, but it is pretty well used!

We have a seat that converts to a double bed, it is a lovely jig-saw of cushions and a board that slots under the seats and then comes out to fill the gaps. The seats also have storage. I have a HUGE wardrobe with shelves, cupboards and a sink and cold tap that runs off the external water. Other than that I have a hob to make a cup of tea and that is that.

It is comfortable enough to stay away in nicer weather, most permanent centres have shower cubicles and for overnight I heat water in a kettle and just wash!

Hope you make yourself a FAB lorry!
 
A seat, any seat, but a seat long enough and wide to fall alseep on between classes. It needs a good squishy pillow on the base and enough room for removable pillows and you to fit on to.

That is the only essential piece of kit that I think you need on a lorry to be able to survive a weekend away!
 
thanks everyone!
i go training every saturday and compete nearly every sunday, but i want to go to shows that are further away now!
hob, sink, fridge and seating are a definite!
we went to look at a beautiful horse box that was perfect, but was too long to fit on our drive!!!
 
Possibly the most important thing with any lorry is for you to know the ulw BEFORE you buy the vehicle. When I was looking for a lorry I saw a real beauty, it had everything that you could ever want & was beautifully put together. When I asked about the ulw I was told 750kg???? I thanked the girl for her time & complemented her on her motorhome, but you couldn't carry a horse, tack & one driverwith that ulw without being over weight.

TYou can get a weight certificate easily at a public weighbridge & never buy a lorry without one. ;)
 
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