Lorries v trailers

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Bangagin

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I know that it is much cheaper to run a 4x4 and a trailer - but have seen some very cheap lorries around at the moment. I know they are more expensive for fuel, but I won't be going huge distances so that doesn't worry me.

However I am worried about buying something cheap, because a friend did that a few years ago, and ended up with a huge bill when the time came for it to be plated. And then there was some horror story she was telling me about the garage not allowing her to drive it away because it failed the plating??

At the moment it's not really practical for us to have a 4x4 as hubby and I have company cars - and so to buy a trailer and something to tow it would be quite expensive. My savings are just under £6000 at the moment, and I've seen a couple of lorries for sale - some as cheap as £2000. Others about £3500.

So just wondered what your experiences were those of you who have bought lorries - particularly in the cheaper price bracket. I would love to be able to afford to spend more on a lorry, but can't commit to anything on top of my savings at the moment.
 
I have a 20 year old transit. It's fantastic! Very reliable and costs me less than £200 each year to service/MOT (not plated as 3.5t). I would recommend getting the lowest mileage you can afford.
Thoroughly recommend! I don't think I could drive a 4x4 all year for as little as it costs me to run that.
 
I have a Ford Cargo 0811, B reg. Fabulous :) Swapped my Ifor 510 for it and it was a good swap - carries 2 horses or 3 small ponies, has full living including loo, starts first time every time and is lovely to drive. The mechanic I used to do the bits needed for plating says it is a really good one, and said if I ever sell it I should ask £7k (not in this market ha ha)

However, I only have one horse to ride now, and sort of wish I'd kept my trailer, because I no longer go out enough to justify the extra tax and insurance :(
 
I have a pick up and trailer. Pick is cheap as chips to run, about £60 a month insurance for a driver under 25 with a recent accident, £30 week diesel doing up to 2 hours commuting every day and cheaper tax as its a 'commercial vehicle' :D
 
Chico Mio said:
So can someone give me an idea of insurance for a 3.5T or 7.5T lorry please?

Both drivers over 40, full licences for donkey's years.
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I;ve always paid in the region of £180 for mine (I'm 47 now). The lorry I'm having rebuilt at the moment is old enough to register with the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society and I will be getting fully comp. insurance with them for £120.
 
What about storage for lorries? Do you all keep yours at livery yards? I haven't got space at home for one.

I wouldn't be able to get a 3.5T - my horse is too big and I would hope to be able to take others out and about too.

So do you think I would be able to find something in my price range? The ones I have been looking at have done 120,000/140,000 miles.
 
Chico Mio said:
So can someone give me an idea of insurance for a 3.5T or 7.5T lorry please?

Both drivers over 40, full licences for donkey's years.
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I've had a 3.5tonne box since my early 20's and have never paid more than £400 a year. At 1st i just had 3rd party fire and theft but now i have it fully comp for that price now i am a bit older.

I drive around in a Discovery as my main car but still have a little horsebox - i prefer them over trailers and TBH, i doubt i would pass my trailer test and its not cheap to do etc.

I keep mine at my livery yard - (i am YO) but also allow liveries to keep theirs there free of charge as long as its not a HGV. A livery recently sold one under your price bracket that was a really good box for the money, so yes, i think you will get one for your money, especially if you are not overly bothered about luxury living.
 
I have a Renault Dodge 50 on an E plate (1987) which costs me £180 a year TFT, I'm in my 50s - it plates as a 6.6 but I only take my 17.2 DWB herringbone on her own, but if required will take three small ponies.
 
I've been having a long think about this today - and whilst the weather is like this it's easy to be going out and about every week - but am wondering whether I will be as motivated in the winter months - and it's not a good idea for lorries to be standing about and not being used.

So perhaps I ought to look for a cheap 4x4 and get an old IW trailer.

Realistically how often do you all use your boxes in the winter? Would it be enough to start it up rather than take it out for a run, or does it need to be driven? I suppose I could always take it round the block a few times, but am thinking about what would happen if we had a few weeks of ice and snow and I couldn't get it out on the roads.

Am I mad wanting a lorry??
 
3.5 and under are quite a bit cheaper than a 4x4 and trailer depending on your tax bracket. Our car is £450 a year to tax the lorry we want is £160.

I have the full figures of the differences somewhere if you want me to find them but I can assure you a small lorry is much cheaper.
 
Hi, I used to have a trailer and tow with a car when I just travelled my pony, but bought an old (1990) dodge 50 lorry about 3 years ago now, when I bought a cob, as i'd have to have bought a 4 x 4 to safely tow him with. I looked at both options, like yourself, and decided that it was cheaper to buy a lorry. I too have nowhere to store it, so keep it at a farm, which costs me £20 per month. Tax is in the region of £160 and insurance £185. Mine is a 6.5 tonne, with over 2.5 tonne of payload. It does around 25/30 mpg, which is considerably better than some people I know who have 7.5 tonnes. Plating is approx £80, and mine has flown through so far ... I had to have a couple of new tyres and these were £160 each. Think it can be quite difficult to source spare parts on some older lorries. Realistically I probably use mine about once a month through the winter. If I havent used it for a while, i'll just take it out for about half an hours run. I work a considerable distance from home, so diesel wise, having a car for this journey, rather than a 4 x 4 is definitely cheaper. I also like the fact I can just get in the lorry and go, without the hassle of hitching up. I also have a small living area which I can stay in and make food and drink if I want ..... plus its far easier to reverse! Hope this helps
 
Thanks Snozzo. That really does help. I too like the idea that I can just get in and go, and would feel more confident driving a lorry than I would do towing a trailer somehow.

Do you keep it on hardstanding at the farm and under cover?

I need to look in to all the technical side of things like payload etc. I have my eye on one with an aluminium body, which they say does 40mpg which I think sounds very reasonable for a 7.5!
 
Bangagin said:
Thanks Snozzo. That really does help. I too like the idea that I can just get in and go, and would feel more confident driving a lorry than I would do towing a trailer somehow.

Do you keep it on hardstanding at the farm and under cover?

I need to look in to all the technical side of things like payload etc. I have my eye on one with an aluminium body, which they say does 40mpg which I think sounds very reasonable for a 7.5!
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40 MPG !!!! yes id realy believe all the other things they say too !!!! or maybe they are bad at maths :D a 7.5 tonne will do 20 ish my merc atego does low twentys on a run and that is newish so it has a speed limiter and the euro 3 engine ,you would be lucky to get 35mpg out of a 3.5 tonner..... and a 4x4 towing will do low twentys anyway dosent make much difference if you only use it at weekends its when its a every day vehicle it hurts.
 
perfect11s said:
40 MPG !!!! yes id realy believe all the other things they say too !!!! or maybe they are bad at maths :D a 7.5 tonne will do 20 ish my merc atego does low twentys on a run and that is newish so it has a speed limiter and the euro 3 engine ,you would be lucky to get 35mpg out of a 3.5 tonner..... and a 4x4 towing will do low twentys anyway dosent make much difference if you only use it at weekends its when its a every day vehicle it hurts.
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OK - I was taking her on her word as she is a member of another forum I go on. I thought it seemed very economical, but who am I to call her a fibber!
 
perfect11s said:
40 MPG !!!! yes id realy believe all the other things they say too !!!! or maybe they are bad at maths :D a 7.5 tonne will do 20 ish my merc atego does low twentys on a run and that is newish so it has a speed limiter and the euro 3 engine ,you would be lucky to get 35mpg out of a 3.5 tonner..... and a 4x4 towing will do low twentys anyway dosent make much difference if you only use it at weekends its when its a every day vehicle it hurts.
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Agree with Perfect11s, my diesel car doesnt do much more than that. Id take 40mpg with a pinch of salt.
 
Hi, its kept on hardstanding, outside, which hasnt proved a problem to be honest. Driving a lorry takes a bit of getting used to, like towing, you need to remember to corner wider and also the steering is slacker than when driving a car, but its ok once you get used to it! Like the previous people say, my diesel 1.6 car will only just about do 40 mpg, most people I know with 7.5 tonne lorries average around 18-20 mph.
 
I have trailer and Xtrail or isuzu crewcab pick up, and few time travelled in friends old lorry find it stuffy for horses , so god knows how hot it is this weather, and looks cumbersome to drive, horses have better ventilation in 506 IW, and I am happier driving and towing as been towing for many years and can reverse where I want as well,newer lorries may be better but cost a lot to buy.
 
I've had my 7.5 Daf for 6 years now :) it has a 2.2 ton payload and I use it at least once a week. Its very very easy to drive and has an amazing turning circle

Plaiting is £95 now, tax £180 a year, insurance with NFU just under £300, but this includes breakdown which I've only used once! ( starter motor went ) I spend about £60 on diesel a month

Parts are easy to come by ( starter motor was £80 brand new off ebay )

I share a car so thats good; I would be lost without my lorry, I love it, and next weekend I'm off on camp for three days :D
 
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