Idea on running costs for a 3.5 box

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stacey_lou

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I was wondering if someone would please be kind enough to advise me on their average running costs a month for a 3.5 tonn horse box if say they used it on average once a week.

My friend and I were discussing it the other day trying to weigh up the options between renting as we do or perhaps buying.

We did have an old 7.5 box on loan for a while and once upon a time were concidered buying one that size but seems to make more sence with a 3.5 tonn espically as my mare is a nervous loader and is happier walking onto a smaller box as the ramp is lower to the ground.

Thank you
 
Someone once said to me that if you're buying second hand lorries you need to allow £1000 per year for repairs, MOT etc - I've foiund that to be roughly true with my little Renault master van. Obviously it's pot luck though and depends on the lorry, age, mechanic, etc etc etc.

Road tax is £240 per year and i've got a brilliant KBID insurance deal which is only about £200 for any driver over 25. Obv the MOT depends on the lorry. On average, i tend to travel about 20 miles to comps and reckon on average i spend £10ish a time on diesel.

It's worth it if you compete a lot but if you're only going once a month or less then you may as well hire one locally IMO. But for once a week, definitely worth it!
 
Hi,

I am going to "teach you how to fish" rather than give you the answer ( if you know the metaphor). Find price of 3.5 hb that you want to buy. Then work out the insurance costs ( go to a web site, for example). From tech info on HB get mpg. Decide how often you would travel & typically how far. Do the math. Find out (use a web site, or phone around) how much the annual plating on your HB will cost. Also ask at same source how much a typical servicing will cost per annum. This will give you a general idea. (Very technically you should depreciate the cost of the HB over its life, but I am assuming you don/t want an accountancy lesson, too. The first year will be the most expensive as you will by the HB that year, the following less so, although servicing goes up as the HB gets older. My personal opinion is that HBs only make sense if you travel more than 2 horses, and/or compete a lot and need to stay overnight. Good luck!
 
I've got a Mark 1 Master and its very economical. Probably about £500 per year in repairs etc, does 50mpg, low tax and low insurance. Anything a bit newer has loads of electrics and this can really put up the price. At the end of the day same as cars, some cost thousands to maintain and some just run and run. Thankfully mine is the latter!:):)
 
My 03 Movano probably cost the following:

£250 to insure
£60 breakdown cover - an absolute must, as normal companies will try to tip up the van to tow it home - at a 45-degree angle (nose down)
from £200 to £500 for MOT, service and yearly repairs
Diesel very cheap per outing - not much more than my car in terms of MPG

You should expect a big bill (i.2. more than £300) per year with any hb, even just tyres etc can be more expensive than you are expecting. Then it's a pleasant surprise if it doesn't happen.
 
Maybe the old addage applies here - "if you have to ask - you can't afford it".

These vehicles can be hideously expensive to run. As your horse's life is at stake when you use it - everything always needs to be in tip top condition, and floors need to be maintained and replaced periodically.

Check the payloads too - with a 3.5 tonne box, it doesn't take much more than a couple of ponies to put them way over weight.
 
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