Is this true? (lorry question)

Paint it Lucky

Paint it Lucky

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I have been considering getting a 3.5 tonne horsebox, probably a conversion. However I was talking to a guy on the Equitrek stand at Badminton and he said that 3.5 tonne conversions into horseboxes are going to become illegal in a few years, something to do with them not being used for their original purpose and so no way to prove they're safe to carry that weight. Has anyone else heard of this? Quite worrying if that is the case, am not sure whether to believe him or not! Would definately put me off buying one if it were true as it would be worthless in a few years. I am hoping it is just scaremongering but have no idea really, was just shocked as have never heard of this before. Can anyone enlighten me?
 
I can't see this being the case! I would imagine he was referring to people who self-convert (which should be illegal anyway IMO) a professional conversion will be fine. You have to be careful about payload limits i.e a 3.5tonne conversion can normally carry about 1200kgs I think inc you, tack, horse and any other equipment. If you are concerned, I would speak to either DVLA or VOSA. Hope that helps!
 
Not sure bout the first part, though sounds doubtful. However 1200kg payload won't carry 2 16.2hh horses, passengers, diesel, tack ect. If you try to carry that (and I see a lot of people who do) you won't be legal.
My sceptical self would suggest these conversions are in same price bracket as equi trek hence the negativity.
 
While I havent heard anything about stopping the conversion of 3.5 tonne vans, it is possible. If there is evidence to suggest that the use is outside the scope of the vehicles "type approval"then this could happen. But on the otherhand, its high time more regulation was brought in regarding trailer construction,and I personaly think that Equtreck would be a prime candidate for a close examination of standards.
 
Mike007 said:
While I havent heard anything about stopping the conversion of 3.5 tonne vans, it is possible. If there is evidence to suggest that the use is outside the scope of the vehicles "type approval"then this could happen. But on the otherhand, its high time more regulation was brought in regarding trailer construction,and I personaly think that Equtreck would be a prime candidate for a close examination of standards.
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^^^ Fully agree. The build quality of some of the equitreks I have seen is shocking. Let alone the concept of such a large trailer.

About 3 years ago I was at the Equitrek stand at the yorkshire show, and i was enquiring about towing weights. I was told by the salesman that he has customers towing the largest trailers with a vitara, rav4 size car. And it is very unlikely that the police would pull a private car over. No mention of what is actually safe!

I think the OP is refering to type approval. Its unlikely that past conversions will be made illegal, but future conversions could be subject to individual type approval. Either way its unlikely to have any dramatic effect.

As for weight....I had a Renault master box conversion with a payload of 1220 kg, and a weighbridge cert to prove it.
 
I can't see them being made illegal - regardless of what is being carried, the gross weight is 3.5t (including the vehicle, passengers, horses etc) so it doesn't really matter whether it's carrying bricks, straw, horses, or whatever - the rule is that it can't go over 3.5t.

I wonder if it's going to be made illegal to advertise them for sale as being suitable for carrying two horses?? I've recently noticed that a lot of people are advertising them as being "stalled for two", but not necessarily able to "carry two".

I have one of the 3.5 conversions and there is NO WAY that I would ever ever travel two horses in it unless they were very small ponies....
 
sprite1978 said:
^^^ Fully agree. The build quality of some of the equitreks I have seen is shocking. Let alone the concept of such a large trailer.

About 3 years ago I was at the Equitrek stand at the yorkshire show, and i was enquiring about towing weights. I was told by the salesman that he has customers towing the largest trailers with a vitara, rav4 size car. And it is very unlikely that the police would pull a private car over.
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OH is a Police Officer who used to work on traffic.....although he didn't pull many over, he had a colleague who regularly pulled over trailers - in fact it was the bread and butter of his job and he had horses himself but couldn't stand the fact that there were so many unsuitable vehicles towing trailers that were far heavier than was suitable for the towing vehicle....so yes the Police do pull over private trailers...
 
OK that does make sense. There are quite a few people who convert 3.5 tonners to horseboxes now professionally so I'm sure they must have to comply with guidelines etc. I have seen one which claims to have a 1.4 tonne payload whic seems alot as few others have over 1.2, the 1.4 one is made largely of alluminium, not sure if there is some compromise on quality/safety in order to achieve higher payload? Ideally I would love to find one capable of carrying two small horses (950kg altogether + me and tack, water etc) but prehaps this isn't really possible, don't want to drive something right on the limit ofwhat it can carry. Am wondering if it would be better to get a trailer, trouble being that I have nothing to pull it with. Oh well life can never be simple can it!
 
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