Lorries - again (sorry!)

H

Helga1980

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I passed my driving test in 2001 and as such am looking for a box I can drive on a car license. I’m contemplating getting a Marlborough Hunter , and was hoping for some opinions on the weight and horse size issues!!

The box has got 1200kg weight capacity, I’d be transporting a 17hh 625kg (his max weight - normally around the 610kg mark) horse, approximately 225kg of passengers and the associated tack, rugs, boots and water for SJ.

Based on the estimations Rambo kindly gave in his earlier post I’ve think that full laden we’d be around 1050kg.

So do people think that this box would be suitable weight wise and is 7'6" internal height enough for a 17hh horse?
 
I've been looking at Marlboroughs too - I spoke to David Rees and just received some brochures.

Regarding the weight - it will be fine as long as you are only ever taking one horse. You can upgrade to a 3.9 mt lorry Marlborough quite cheaply which gives you 1.6 metric tonnes weight capacity (which I would personally do even if only take one horse) - I guess that wouldn't suit you though if you passed your test pre 1997. If you PM me with your email address, I would happily scan you the brochure.
 
Thanks Happy Bird - Have PM'd you.

I'm trying to avoid having to take another test hence the 3.5t aspect, but owning 2 horses is not something that is likely to happen any point soon OH would kill me!
 
No personal experience of the lorry in question, but would say from the sounds of it that you should be okay weight wise.

Height wise, i'm less sure. My wagon has 8' headroom, but that is unusual. Suggest looking at the spec of the Ifor 510 as that will give some idea of what is needed to carry a 17hh+ horse
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i would suggest you actually drive one first, a few times, both empty and with a horse on..it could just change your mind!!!
odd little things!
 
Rambo - one day I will start having intelligent ideas like that
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ETS - The head room in a ifor williamd 510 (which he use to travel in happily) is 90.5", the hunter is 90" so think that will be okay!
 
both, really!!

they seemed a little claustrophobic to me, and the drivers visability wasn't the best.

i certainly didn't like the fact the horses heads were almost touching the back doors, i've heard of a couple of incidents where a horse has attempted to exit out through the rear doors when they were closed!!

i know it's a pain, but if "you" can afford one of these little boxes, and they aren't IMO cheap, then take a little time, effort and cash and take an HGV test and buy something a little more substantial.

i realise that since this law has been introduced, a few companies have filled an obvious niche, but i wouldn't buy one of these if i was in the "need to take another test"position.

i'd just take the test and get a decent 7.5.
 
Thanks for the full reply.

You make a good point about the reluctance to take another test, to be honest could probably take the test and get a better bigger box for less than one of these little ones would cost!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the full reply.

You make a good point about the reluctance to take another test, to be honest could probably take the test and get a better bigger box for less than one of these little ones would cost!

[/ QUOTE ]

that is what i cant understand?????

why spend 13k on an ice-cream van, when you could do the test for less than 2k and buy a decent 7.5T
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On the other side of the fence, as someone who doesn't need to sit any extra tests, I'd still rather have something that I can load the horse into and drive off and not have any problems with ramp, turning circles or manoeuverability. I drive 50k+ miles a year in my own car and am not in a hurry to have the hassle of a big lorry. Mind you, I don't have a 17+hh horse... but I've driven a coach-built Marlborough equivalent and it was a very, very easy drive. Perhaps a 7.5 tonner is the same, but I doubt it.

E
 
[ QUOTE ]
Mind you, I don't have a 17+hh horse... but I've driven a coach-built Marlborough equivalent and it was a very, very easy drive. Perhaps a 7.5 tonner is the same, but I doubt it.

E

[/ QUOTE ]

I find my 7.5t easier to drive than my car (a Mini)
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Visibility is fine, steering light, and the gearbox straightforward.
 
mine is great!

power steering, as most have, good mirror visability, a ramp if fitted correctly, should only need one person to lift, and i've had CCTV fitted so i can not only watch the neddies, but i can reverse in safety!!

so no, sorry, no ice-cream vans for me
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I'm with RHT.

My friend and I decided to share a box between us but as I've never driven anything bigger than a car before I wanted us to get a 3.5t'er. We went to look at some and frankly weren't impressed with the space and layout inside, plus as someone pointed out to me with only a side ramp how on earth would you get the horses out in an emergeny if the box flipped onto it's side. Unlikely to happen but you never know. Plus less extreme but if you breakdown and have to get the horse out at the side of the road with a side ramp it's very difficult. Rear ramps are so much better in everyway.

In the end we bought a very compact 7.5t'er which is dead easy to drive (power steering/air suspension/light ramp/great turning circle) - after about half an hour I felt like I'd been driving wagons for years. Plus it feels so much safer on the motorway. And you get a decent living space.

Take the test and get a proper wagon is my advice.
 
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