How big in a 3.5t?

S

Sults

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 December 2001
Messages
191
Visit site
I am thinking of getting a Equestrivan Sportsman. I plan on travelling a 16.2 on his own in this but my concern is the height of the canopy, the top half of the ramp. In some other conversions (for example, 3 counties) their canopy opens higher up than the Equestrivans do.

Has anyone felt the canopy could be higher on thier 3.5?
 
When we were looking around at 3.5t boxes one of the things I didn't like was how the top ramp wa angled. Most sat level, some even angled down.
I made sure ours had the upper ramp angled upwards to be more inviting.
Box itself is also taller than a lot of similar boxes and the ramps are wider than standard. Lower ramp was made taller to give a shallower loading angle and reduce the size of top ramp.
This is ours. The horse in it is 15.2hh and as you can see looks almost lost in it.

Picture038.jpg
 
This is my lorry, ramp is on driver side, and I have comfortably had a 17.2 in here , who was very iffy about lorries, but walked straight into mine to go to dressage. BOSS have a web site and they build to your requirements and after sales is second to none...
p1010275.jpg
 
I hired one at the weekend where the top section was split in the middle and opened sideways as two doors like a cupboard, I thought that was a good and easy to use design, the doors fastened back with a 'press in' type of arrangement and each could be closed independantly if you had a horse stood on the lorry when it was raining for example
 
My lorry also has the split doors which open to the side instead of a single door that opens above. I find it more inviting. In terms of your horse fitting in, it will be no problem. I have had a 16.2 in mine with loads of room for him.
 
I would not transport a 16.2hh in a van conversion, but you should be fine in a 3.5t coachbuilt.

I have a van and it is fab, but travel 14.2hh's - many are as advertised as taking 2 x 16.2hh's but I think there is not enough headroom (and not enough paylaod unless they were emaciated!).
 
Yes, it is a van conversion that i am looking at (i can't afford the coachbuilt unfortunately).

I will only be travelling 1 horse and so i am happy with the payload.
I am happy with the internal height as its the same as a 505/506 ifor williams trailer, which he travels happily in.

Its just the height going into the van that i am concerned about, as there is an overhand on the equestrivan (which some others have, however on the 3 counties vans the canopy opens virtually to the top of the van).
 
Sidney said:
I would not transport a 16.2hh in a van conversion, but you should be fine in a 3.5t coachbuilt.

I have a van and it is fab, but travel 14.2hh's - many are as advertised as taking 2 x 16.2hh's but I think there is not enough headroom (and not enough paylaod unless they were emaciated!).
Click to expand...

Agreed its a snug fit. I had a 16hh horse in my Renalut Master conversion and wasnt over happy about the about of headroom. Luickly my 14.2hh fits in nicely
 
Mine is a Three counties and have a sideways flip top door which goes virtually up to the roof. I don't like the ones that open upward s as am always fearful if a horse reared and smacked its head on it!

They tell you the van has the same dimensions as a 506, which in theory is true, but the edges of the roof slant in so remove a bit of head room. Also I was of the understanding 506's were up to 16.1 but could be totally wrong?

If your horse is a good traveller and with not hugely high head carriage you may get away with it - do you know anyone locally that has one you could try your horse in?
 
Unfortunately no, i don't know anyone with this type of van to try first. Perhaps i will try and go for the barn doors rather than the canopy opening.

Another things i've seen a lot about is drainage holes... I've never seen a horsebox or trailer with drainage holes before! is this something you would pay more for or is it just a marketing ploy?! Surely if the horsebox is well made and all sealed then all should be fine??
 
webble said:
Agreed its a snug fit. I had a 16hh horse in my Renalut Master conversion and wasnt over happy about the about of headroom. Luickly my 14.2hh fits in nicely
Click to expand...

I have a Renault master conversion, I have a 16.1hh horse who travels very happily in it, however when the gas struts that hold up the top section needed topping up, he was a bit more reluctant to load as the section didn't stay up as well. So you are right to be concerned about loading up the ramp, they do need to feel there's plenty of room. The headroom in the actual box is fine for him and would just about take a 16.2hh but no bigger. i looked at lots of 3.5s before buying and they are all different. Some are def only for ponies. I don't think any of them will take 2 big horses + tack without being over the limit, but if they suit your purpose they are great and I wouldn't go back to a 7.5.
 
With regard to drainage holes, mine doesn't have any and I don't feel they are needed. However, we did put some in our last lorry as I had a horse that always staled as soon as it was loaded and I'd rather have the pee running out of the lorry than staying in the lorry until we dropped the ramp.
 
Sorry I can't tell you as I bought it second hand and it doesn't have any info. I bought it from Somerset and got the impression it was locally built. It was about the strongest built I looked at, some looked very smart but were very flimsy. I just thought about how close the horses bottom is to the back of the driving seat and in an impact would I end up with the horse sitting on me! also some of the ramps don't seem very strong. this has back doors that open out completely but as I knew I'd be travelling horses I went for one with a very high breast bar, some were too low IMO. I have been very happy with it and it does have a decent payload despite being strongly built.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top