Lorries - conversion/coachbuilt

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Dreckly

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I am starting my quest for my first 7.5t lorry (currently have 3.5t).

I know it is preferable to have coachbuilt, but can someone please explain the difference to me and why coachbuilt is better.

Many thanks
 
Its posher but not better. For example ,how many coach built boxes give easy access to check the brake fluid reservoirs (a daily check) ,in my experience, none . then they put on fancy wheel trims ,again ,you cant check the wheel nuts ,a daily check. (incidentally,turn up for a test with them fitted and they will turn you away)How many coach built boxes can you tilt the cab on. Precious few. The manufacturers designed the cab to tilt for a reason! Most coachbuilt boxes are rubbish mechanically and design wise
 
Thanks for that Mike, but what is the difference when building, how and why do they differ. All ads I have seen are boxes that have been built on chassis that have a previous use fot both types so how does the build differ?
 
Conversions normally utilise the existing lorries container which is adapted by installing the ramps etc.
Coachbuilt normally means removing the existing bolt on container and then building a new container on the lorry. This container can not be removed as it becomes integral with the chassis cab.
You can also get removable containers where the existing bolt on container is removed and a new bolt on container is built on the lorry which can be removed at a later date.
However make sure that any lorry you purchase enables the cab to be fully tilted to service or repair the vehicle
 
A coach built horse box is specifically built for that job, carrying horses & has not been adapted from another vehicle. The container on the chassis will be removed & a purpose built one will be built there. The existing body will not be modified, holes cut in for windows & doors etc. My lorry was specifically built as a horse box. The cab does tilt & gives access to engine etc for ease of maintenance. Some don't have tilt cab & have various access plates that can be removed to access various areas of the engine. They are not necessarily 'posher' as Mike007 puts it, mine certainly isn't as are many others. Mine is built by Tristar, it has day living although but we have stayed away at shows in it for several days. It has an unladen weight of 5.5 tons so I have a payload of 2 tons which is plenty to carry my two horses if I decide to take both with me.

Many of the really fancy horse boxes have loads of extras fitted to them, full size cookers, showers, central heating, massive water tanks etc but all this adds tremendous weight. As a result of this some have very little payload & are almost overweight before a horse is even loaded. If you want a lorry with all the bells & whistles you really need an HGV.

Always ask for a weight certificate for the horse box from a weighbridge before you commit to buying a lorry so you know what your payload is. If you are caught by the Ministry being overweight you have real problems.
 
Thanks for that. I am amazed at how heavy some lorries are and even more amazed that the majority of ads do not state the available payload
 
You must check payload .
I would never buy a conversation .
My 7.5 ton could carry two large horses but if we were on an overnight trip with two I had to be careful.
Might you consider a two horse van type on a seven ton chassis these give a great payload but are expensive .
 
PeterNatt summed it up pretty well.

Conversions can work very well but can also be done on the cheap, with inadequate strength or too much weight added to put strength in.

Tilting cabs are pretty universal, walk straight away from anything without one.

A lot depends on your budget...if you can give a steer on that I'm sure more specific advice will follow :)

Quite possibly including a number of "My Gran is selling hers..." pms!!!
 
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