How old is too old?? for a Daf Horsebox

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Louby

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Ive seen a K reg Daf horsebox that I like, rust doesnt seem to be a problem but my mechanic who hasnt seen it yet is saying basically the chassis is worthless at this age and that it is too old and he thinks too expensive. He can get me a newish Merc chassis and says to get a horsebox put on the back. He isnt horsey and doesnt seem to realise how expensive horseboxes are. Ive done the conversion route and it cost me a fortune, ok it was a good one but was hoping to buy something older this time and cheaper.
How much about for a basic K reg 2 horse coachbuilt thats in pretty good condition. I looked at a younger one today but the K reg was in better condition. They were both the same price!
 
Louby said:
Ive seen a K reg Daf horsebox that I like, rust doesnt seem to be a problem but my mechanic who hasnt seen it yet is saying basically the chassis is worthless at this age and that it is too old and he thinks too expensive. He can get me a newish Merc chassis and says to get a horsebox put on the back. He isnt horsey and doesnt seem to realise how expensive horseboxes are. Ive done the conversion route and it cost me a fortune, ok it was a good one but was hoping to buy something older this time and cheaper.
How much about for a basic K reg 2 horse coachbuilt thats in pretty good condition. I looked at a younger one today but the K reg was in better condition. They were both the same price!
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dont think you can acurately judge a horsebox on age or mileage
depends on condition and quality of build what your guy is saying is bascily right but if it is ok it dosent matter... realy getting a chassis and having one put on is back where you started ie a conversion!! best to keep looking for something up and running maybe, if you want posh it costs, to get something nice on a late chassis 2002 on say £20k up or something basic which will be safe and reliable£10k upwards or about £75k if you want us plebs to turn green with envy:D
 
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My Roadrunner is D reg, and whilst we are somewhat rattly, it is a wonderful reliable old box. I'd decide based on your budget.
 
My Dodge is ancient, A reg first time round so thats errr 26yrs old. Still going strong........ yes rust is a problem in the cab but the box itself is solid. You can hear us coming thou - LOL
 
:D:D:D I wish!

I wish I could find something safe and reliable for £10k ish :(:(
My problem is I want it now, I just cant forget this little box even though last week I said I would leave it. Think today openned my eyes, on the outside a lovely shiny newer wagon, on the inside awful and I dont mean the living, couldnt care about that. I wouldnt have put my horse in it :(
Why cant the little box be a bit newer..... or a bit cheaper, would probably risk it then.....stamps feet...... HARD :eek:
 
So how much then for a decentish k reg, not singing and dancing, just basic, tilt cab, luton, good tyres, the most basic ever cab, basic small living and nice but compact horse area. Resale could be a prob as its a very compact box, would suit me and my ned fine tho :D
 
We paid £3.5K for ours about 2 months ago, its been owned by a couple of vets from its conversion 10 years ago, has nice clean living (day and night) and 101,000 kms on the clock which considering its age is bloody good, haha!! xx
 
Interesting post as we are contemplating selling our N reg Daf with 118,000kms from new and 10 months plate which is coachbuilt to take 3 and has everything - on board generator, central heating, oven, microwave, tv, toilet, shower, fully upholstered, horse shower, large lockers roof vents etc etc. If we could find a quick sale then we'd let it go so I'm interested in the price others put on the K reg.
 
There you go then, deal done, hehe!! Ours take 3 biggies or 4 smallies, its living is only basic nothing as high tech as Measles tho!!. We've a cooker, fridge, bench seat, table, cut thru to cab and above cab bed, its has quite a few cupboards and storage nooks and cranies, a four saddle rack and bridle rack, all of its is really tidy and certainly liveable with. Dont know if it helps measles but the one we bought had been for sale for a good month or so with next to no interest at £3,800 (it had originally been advertised last year for £6,000 with not a single phone call apparently!). Hubby offered £3,500 and they were happy with that. Obviously yours is a few years younger than ours with more mod cons too xx
 
My M reg DAF with 12 months MOT and under 100K km on the clock will go on the market at 5250 this weekend if that helps? Has day living (hob/sink/seats/bed on luton) and 4 saddle/2 bridle racks but only skirt lockers.
 
Ooooh, can you pm me with the dets please and let me know where you are based. I think I may be starting to forget the.......hmmm what was it again:D:D
 
I wouldnt say a '93/'94 chassis would be useless - I've just sold an M reg DAF Turbo with full living, stalled for 2 horses for £3,000 with full years plating. If you shop around you can get a real bargain-do look underneath the cab as the rust issues can be very expensive to sort out and try to test drive too as old DAF gearboxes give up the 5th gear frequently (mine didnt have 3rd downwards when i bought it!!)
Happy shopping!
 
Just sold my G reg Cargo with full living, carried three in reasonable condition looks wise and fully professionally maintained for £2500. I had a fair few callers so it was a good price.

I had a D reg Dodge before that and it was getting VERY difficult to find the spares, they are one of the less common 7.5 tonners and so there aren't as many in the breakers yards to buy the spares off. Older DAFs aren't that common either, you might check the spares situation first. A Cargo could be safest, spares wise, if you are buying one that old, maybe?
 
Ive just brought a f reg cargo for £3250. Good sized horse area and basic living, ali body, luton etc but it has full service history, every recipt since conversion, uber clean underneath and the floor.
Every one was really shocked i paid so little for it, the others i had been looking at were about twice the money but to be honest ropey and needed work. One was rotten and i could put my hand through the tack locker into the horse area, i dread to think what the rest of the body and floor was like.
I think mine was the exception rather than the rule, similar types where up for between 5 and 6k sometimes more.
I was offered 4k for it today but ive only had it 2 days so think i'll hang on to it :D
 
A friend has just sold his 7.5tonner box for the last 20 years.He drove over a WIMS strip on the motorway with 3 horses.9.5 tonnes:eek::eek::eek:£200 fine for a first offence.
 
Thanks Mike :D:D I promise I would have asked that. You are training me well lol.
Why cant I find all these cheaper priced boxes. Up North they seem expensive
Measles, I didnt expect your wagon to be cheap, it sounds lovely, please let me know the details if you do decide to sell.
Thanks everyone, really nice to know that the oldies can be goodies. :D
 
measles said:
Interesting post as we are contemplating selling our N reg Daf with 118,000kms from new and 10 months plate which is coachbuilt to take 3 and has everything - on board generator, central heating, oven, microwave, tv, toilet, shower, fully upholstered, horse shower, large lockers roof vents etc etc. If we could find a quick sale then we'd let it go so I'm interested in the price others put on the K reg.
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That could never be a 7.5T surely?...what does it weigh out as unleaden?
 
My friends was similar and it weighed 6t unladen so it can be done but hers was really a 2 horse although stalled for 3.
 
Friends horsebox was advertised for weeks with no interest, she reduced it by £3k and got a few enquiries via H & H but no sale. Finally sold it to a friend. It was a beautiful box.
 
Louby said:
My friends was similar and it weighed 6t unladen so it can be done but hers was really a 2 horse although stalled for 3.
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I have always been led to believe that every outfit is 3/4 of a ton...that would include horse, tack, water, rider, and sundries.

So, by going with the above, an unleaden at 6T would just be scrapeing by.

A fair few Horsebox manufacturers go with the Client..they are the Pipers that call the tune TBH and it is widely known that at least 45% of vehicles are overweight and the majority of Horsebox owners are either ignorant or apethetic.
 
nativeponies said:
I have always been led to believe that every outfit is 3/4 of a ton...that would include horse, tack, water, rider, and sundries.

So, by going with the above, an unleaden at 6T would just be scrapeing by.

A fair few Horsebox manufacturers go with the Client..they are the Pipers that call the tune TBH and it is widely known that at least 45% of vehicles are overweight and the majority of Horsebox owners are either ignorant or apethetic.
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problem is alot of builders are useless at engineering.. yes they can build a nice looking strong box but they fail on weight too many sheets of thick ply, and the real payload killer... domestic kitchen units and chipboard in the living, its lucky these idiots dont try to make caravans they would need a hgv to pull them, or worse build aircraft...... they would never take off...
seriously it costs to make things light. thats why the best makes are expensive and how fred in the shed behind someones farm could build a cheep lorry that a few years ago didint matter about weight because it looked ok the police left you alone.. now we have VOSA who are trying to get themselves solvent so a overweight/slighty defective lorry is a cash cow to them.....
 
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I reckon a lot of the older boxes are close to the mark, even the well known builders. Was told of one that was 7t with no horse in it. No one seemed to worry about weights years ago.
 
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