How do you organise your 3.5 ton lorry interior?

[KM-R]

Hello all,
I'm desperately excited, having said "yes" to a lovely, safe, reliable 3.5 ton box of dreams!

This leads me to think - how will I store my stuff in the back? It's quite a simple area, and my aim is to create an effective yet lightweight home for stuff I use only when we're travelling or away from home (XC boots, BD number discs, hairnets etc.) I'm thinking something nicer than clear plastic boxes (although they definitely would do the job) but not too expensive or heavy...

What are your travel essentials? Things you're thrilled that you've done? Wish you'd done? Things you wish you could move? Do these hay catchers I see Partition Pads selling online work, or do they just get in the way?

Please show me pics if you have them!

Thank you!

 

[milliepops]

How exciting
Mine is pretty basic, there are no cupboards etc but I have a solid barrier between horse and grooms area so it stays quite tidy.
I have a hanging organiser underneath my saddle rack on the rear wall, this is great for keeping all kinds of things within handy access but tidy - brushes, hoof oil, numbers, fly veils etc anything that fits in the pockets.
like this - mine is a bit bigger https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ekkia-Stable-Hanging-58-64/dp/B0196EF5IM

I also have a whip holder on one wall so I can quickly reach in and grab them without having to get in
https://www.kramer.co.uk/Rider/Whips-Spurs/Whip-Accessories/Whip-Holder
saves them from floating around getting mangled, made me smile a lot when we put that up, I hadn't noticed how irritating they were on the floor.

I have some basic hooks for jackets, hat bags etc and a couple of bridle hooks

My first aid kit lives in a clear plastic box, I think that's the best way to keep it all handy and clean.

I keep spare rugs on the luton to save space in the back. The lady who I bought mine off had made very simple velcro-on curtains which are a godsend if camping in your lorry

I do wish I had a tack locker accessible from the outside, but it's not worth the effort to put one in. I am very pleased with my climb barrier that was installed for me, good to have peace of mind that the horse is at no risk of going over the half wall. And OH put in some really bright LEDs that don't drain the battery for when I need lighting.

ETA folding step stool is a great space saving extra chair & mounting block

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I have a tack locker on mine, but I don't use it for tack! That's where I carry a 20 litre water container, 2 buckets, with sponges etc and a plastic box with rain sheet and summer sheet, spare girth, reins and stirrup leathers etc. Small box of equine 1st aid kit on top of other box.
Over the luton is spare wheel, poo picker and plastic bag, nothing else up there unless going away overnight.

In the back is collapsible saddle rack where I hook spare bridle under, plus hooks to side for bridle, spare rain coat etc. Under saddle rack is where riding boots go and small grooming kit bag.

On the top of the outside cupboard (on the inside and I put a dowel lip round it to stop small things rolling off) I have a pile of folded towels, lead rope, xc arm band and a very sharp knife gaffa taped to stop it moving.
On the opposite side I have a bench with garden cushion on (easy to wipe) and that's where I throw hat bag and BP etc.

Under passenger seat is spare crash hat with gloves in, spare headcollar and lead rope, a hi viz insulated jacket.
In driver door pocket is 3 or 4 drink cartons.
Passenger door pocket has human 1st aid kit.
Pocket above driver sun visor has copy of insurance cert and breakdown paperwork, pens and paper.
Glove box has wind up torch and spare fags.

I have a big wide bumper at back, so this is great as a mounting step.

Am sure there is stuff I've missed tho...

Ah, yes, a bungee is on the inside tie ring (by side ramp) which occasionally I use to hook partition back if its a very windy day, and I've parked oddly - so partition doesn't swing onto a Fuzzy when loading or unloading.

 

[oldie48]

Goodness I am now feeling very incompetent! I have an external tack locker, the tack goes in there with whips, hat, gloves, spurs and boots. I have an internal top cupboard in the jockey area and I keep a waterproof coat and a gilet, my comp gear also goes in there. In the internal bottom cupboard I keep the horsey stuff including plastic box with grooming kit, plaiting bands, fly spray etc which never comes out of the lorry. I also keep a feed bowl and 2 buckets + sponge and scraper and 2 hay nets permanently in the lorry. when I go away I have a big plastic box which I take all the extra stuff and rugs go into their original bags. I have a wheelbarrow which matches the lorry (purple, yes I know but no-one would steal either!) and it goes into the horse area with feed and mucking out equipment after the horse is on board. My best tip is to have a folding trolley, it takes up no room at all and is really useful when I stay away and helps to conserve my energy. My other tip is to have more wine than you think you could ever manage to drink in the lorry for overnight stays. I do have a first aid kit but I need to improve it. Oh and I do have water, for the horse or the lorry! Have fun with your lorry, how exciting!

 

[MyBoyChe]

Mines a van conversion and I dont stay away but for info its as follows: Luton has a cargo net hooked over the front and I keep spare bandages, riding boots, hi viz and rugs in it. In the grooms bit at the back, on one side is a worktop with double cupboard below, with a sink and running water to one side, the cupboard below this has kettle, gas canister, small hob and spare water in, cupboard the other side has human and horse first aid kits, a grooming bag, his travel rug and boots and spare headcollar and lead rope. The other side of the back has a bench seat with padded cushion for seat and storage below for his boots, fly veils, spare stirrups, leathers, reins etc and a taller narrow cupboard for hat bag, bucket and wash stuff and my boots. I have a few hooks up for bridle bag, spare clothes etc and a saddle rack on the partition between him and the grooms bit. Girths lay neatly over the spare wheel on the back door and I have a mounting step attached to the back above the bumper. We use it to go out and about hacking and can knock up a mean sausage sarnie and cuppa in the back

 

[Michen]

Hahaha I'm going to photograph the back of mine tomorrow to show how everything is organised (basically.. scattered on the floor!)

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Hahaha I'm going to photograph the back of mine tomorrow to show how everything is organised (basically.. scattered on the floor!)

That's mine after I've done an outing to a clinic etc, everything just gets chucked in the back on the floor - tack, boots etc etc, but I do clear it out when I get back

 

[Michen]

That's mine after I've done an outing to a clinic etc, everything just gets chucked in the back on the floor - tack, boots etc etc, but I do clear it out when I get back

I'm terrible.. its a yard joke how messy my lorry is. There's half empty bottles of port rolling around the back where I've filled up my hipflask for hunting over the winter but can never remember if I have any left so just buy a new one, empty cans of pimms, god knows how many loose hairnets/numbers/random boots/individual studs/plaiting bands...

It's actually quite appalling and I intend to sort it out soon!!!

 

[ElleSkywalker]

Hahaha I'm going to photograph the back of mine tomorrow to show how everything is organised (basically.. scattered on the floor!)

*Faints clean away with horror* I kept the back of your box immaculate! Had mounting steps and spare collapsible bucket and small shavings fork bundged onto spare wheel, poo skip, water bucket and water all in a row wedged between spare wheel and wall and jacket, hat bag and grooming kit neatly on the bench seat.

New one is harder. I have tack storage under both side seats one side I have clean things, first aid kit, towels, rugs, body protector and spare whips and other side dirty things so water, washing off bucket, shavings fork and water. I have a mirror and some hooks on one back wall and bridle holders on other so I tend to hang jackets up.

Sounds more organised but as everything is hidden away it all tends to get pulled out making a mess where as old lorry was easier to put hands on things 😮

 

[Michen]

I’m sorry!! She’s a rough and ready kinda box now. It sort of suits us... tired, messy box.. frazzled, disorganised rider... Boggle redeems the picture slightly. Until you get close enough to see his plaits.

*Faints clean away with horror* I kept the back of your box immaculate! Had mounting steps and spare collapsible bucket and small shavings fork bundged onto spare wheel, poo skip, water bucket and water all in a row wedged between spare wheel and wall and jacket, hat bag and grooming kit neatly on the bench seat.

New one is harder. I have tack storage under both side seats one side I have clean things, first aid kit, towels, rugs, body protector and spare whips and other side dirty things so water, washing off bucket, shavings fork and water. I have a mirror and some hooks on one back wall and bridle holders on other so I tend to hang jackets up.

Sounds more organised but as everything is hidden away it all tends to get pulled out making a mess where as old lorry was easier to put hands on things 😮

 

[sportsmansB]

Mine has 2 under seat storage areas where I keep show rugs, boots, studs, grooming kit, spare saddle cloths, etc
A hanging space for jackets, BP, number bib etc
I put up extra hooks for coats as you can never have enough coats, and use them for spare bits of bridle / bits / breastplates etc as well (just B&Q hooks)
Mine has 2 x tack lockers so if I'm going to an event I put my tack in them, if I'm just nipping for a lesson or whatever I just bung it in the back.
Last things to go in back are bucket / sponge/scraper (live in tack locker unless I need it) and steps to get on.

 

[KM-R]

This is incredibly helpful - thank you all! I'm off to buy loads of hanging devices...

Feel free to keep the suggestions coming too!

 

[njyr]

Nobody has mentioned a mirror! (A must if you're showing/dressaging or anything that requires a tie or stock). I bought a plastic on a4 sized and stuck it to the wall of the van with velcro.

 

[WelshD]

I entrusted the viewing and subsequent purchasing of my horsebox to a friend.

The idea of a living area was highly diverting

I went to collect it

This is the access to the living

I am 20+ stone.

So in answer to your query I keep everything in clear boxes or buckets within three feet of this door.