Lorries

[nikki_07766]

Was just wondering what lorries you all have, i.e. 3.5 ton, 7.5 tons, living, no living, how do you find it etc, at the mo we have a lovely little 3.5 ton one and I love him to bit’s he’s easy, cheapish to run etc, but am now finding as I’m doing more competing two dressage test’s, dressage and jumping etc that it’s become a bit of a pain with two sets of everything room wise etc, not having anywhere to really sit and enjoy a drink etc, so I was thinking of upgrading to a 7.5 I would have to do a test but I think we should be able to get enough for our current one that I can afford to do the test with the left over money. I’m just not sure if it’s worth the stress of swapping there’s pro’s and con’s on both side, I guess what I’m trying to ask is has anyone upgraded and how did they find it?,

 

[SSM]

I've just bought.............................. Does the happy dance

7.5 tonne, takes 2 horses and living - so no more camping in the rain!!!!1

ETS I've upgraded from a trailer, that was hit or miss as to whether or not madam wanted to go in it

 

[kerilli]

i had a little 2 horse with luton and nothing else for years, until the engine blew up the second time...

bought a 3-horse cargo with living, years later upgraded to a better one. lovely. so nice to have somewhere to relax, change, kip, have lunch, read the paper (!), go to the loo (essential). the horses travel better i think, it pulls up hills much better. wouldn't want to downsize, even though i usually only take 1 horse anywhere. it's just so much more civilized somehow. (or maybe it's just me getting older and appreciating my creature comforts...!)

 

[nikki_07766]

see this is my point, but my mum is failing to see the point, she say's we don't sit in the lorry and go to the burger van!, well that's my point we can't!!

 

[kick_On]

I've just upgraded from landie and trailer to lorry at bit like Stonkers.... but it only has day living, with very clever storage and you can put airbed on floor to sleep much much better than tent................ i promise you....

BUT it took me nearly a year to find a good one and in my price range

It's beautiful to drive, engine just purrs along..............

 

[_jetset_]

I upgraded from an Equi-Trek to a 7.5 tonne one with living and partitioned for three horses

I love it, it makes taking them out much more pleasant because I can sit and have a cup of tea while I wait around for classes or lessons

 

[SunshineTallulah]

Stonker - thats a nice lorry!

I currently own a third of a lorry but really really want my own but cant afford it. Gutted.

Upgrade if you can, its worth it. I have been to camp etc and having the space makes a HUGE difference.

 

[Oliviax]

Remember to be careful about the weight though !! its not very often you can take 3 horses with having good living for under 7.5 tonnes, even if they advertise it as being able to !

 

[catembi]

7.5 ton with minimal day living. It's an ex John Lewis lorry & was converted by a coachbuilder who lives in our road.

It's a Leyland DAF & (touch wood...) we haven't had any trouble whatsoever with it in just over 2 years.

http://s154.photobucket.com/albums/s258/catembi/?action=view&current=SP_A0004.jpg

 

[PaddyMonty]

We had a trailer for 5 years then bought our 7.5 ton.
No way would we go back to anything smaller. Just so much more civilised having room to change, eat, drink and store evrything. I also feel much happier doing long motorway journeys in the lorry. Plenty of room for horses.

 

[_jetset_]

I have weighed mine... 5.7 tonnes without horses

Make sure you know the unladen weight before you buy a lorry

As everyone else is putting piccies on, here is mine

 

[dieseldog]

Becki does yours tilt with the luton attached to the cab and is it a cut thru? Have you had any problems with it leaking if it is?

 

[_jetset_]

It has a cut through and also tilts with the luton attached

I have to undo several bolts to get the cab to tilt, but it is pretty straight forwards to be honest.

It has not leaked once because the guy who converted it for me is a stickler for this and leaves them out in heavy rain to double check

 

[lisan]

I've gone back to a 7.5 tonne and love having the living, make v.good use of it, thats the thing i missed most when I had a 3.5 tonner.

Will hopefully look fab if I can ever save up enough to get it sprayed!

 

[dieseldog]

I've got a 6.6t Dodge, it's got small living and it is like driving a big landrover

 

[dressagecrazy]

I have a compact 2 horse lorry with full living. I recently though about selling but then had a major brain check. Im out competing again now & there's nothing like having your little home with you.

Here's mine.

 

[sw123]

I have a 7.5 tonne PRB lorry which I bought last year as I can drive lorries (got full HGV license) but at the time not trailers! We have kept our landy and trailer though and it still gets used.

Love my little lorry has everything you need in the living, plenty of modcons but not too flash and is light so can carry 3 too

 

[BBs]

I had a trailer, then a 3.5t lorry now a 7.5t Ascot supreme 2 horse.
Love it.
Wouldnt want to go back. Like having somewhere warm to sit down and get changed.

I dont need anything bigger than a 2 horse lorry either. I did have a huge 3 horse 7.5t (which would have been over weight had i put 3 horses on board). But it was too big and bulky for my liking, esp when I really only ever took 1 horse.

My ascot is a Daf45 turbo, is very good on fuel (cheaper than my jeep and trailer).
Its like driving a large van tbh.

 

[Alibear]

And if BB's ever sells hers I will rib a bank to buy it

 

[Vicki_Krystal]

this is my second lorry. 3 horse, full living. had it 6yrs now and never had a problem with it.

i love it!!

 

[Taboo1968]

I recognise that lorry!!!!

I love Becki's lorry!!!! Not got any pics of mine on the computer.... same as timefaulters but three diff shades of blue.... and I dont have horse windows going down the right hand side! or the little windows in the luton (however now I have seen them, I can feel some more window installations coming along!)

 

[Thistle]

I have a PRB, 2/3 horses (I partition for 2) with a lovely big living with all mod cons.

 

[Santa_Claus]

I have a 7.5t 2 horse Leyland although actually going to sell it once it goes through its plate at the beginning of March. Had it years now and only selling as can't fit my 17h2 and another horse (except diddy pony!) cause my boy is just too big. Was fine when just had him but now I wanted something that can take two so housemate bought a ford which is same length but has less living so more horse room and we can fit two. I'm going halves with her in that so mine has to go

I had to take the test to drive a 7.5t lorry but really glad I did because personally I just wouldn't drive a 3.5t lorry unless I had little tiny (think 12h2!) ponies on board. I just don't trust the weight and stability.

Was also very picky when I bought mine about the weight, even with huge Dan on board and loads of junk it still comes in well under 6tonnes and same with the new one!

 

[mememe]

i have a 7.5 tonne ford cargo. its dark blue with a gold stripe and is 1st lorry after having a trailor for years and i would hate to go back!! i love my lorry!!

 

[Heidi1]

I don't drive a flash lorry, have a lovely 7.5 ton Bedford TK, partitioned for 3 horses, day living, which is great, but you could also sleep in it if need be. It's not fast, but boy is it reliable. All my horses seem to travel really well in it and to be honest that is the main thing. It's also not a young chap either, it's on the old M reg think around 1973.......

 

[Nic]

13T ancient Merc tank, not pretty but there was no way I was learning to drive in £30k worth of lorry!

 

[nikki_07766]

gosh all your lorries are so posh, i wouldn't want anything to big and flashy, nor could i aford it, 90 % of the time i only take one and then on accasion i stick my lil cob on if were going to the beach or somthing.so should be fine on weigh but i would stick it on a weigh bridge just so i know what i have to play with, it's just like most of you say it's having somwhere warm and dry to change and sit etc, i don't mind taking my test as it may also come in handy for other thing's, those of you who have done it was it hard? i've just got to convince my mum now!!,

 

[jacksmum]

Bought mine cheap off e-bay, Ford Cargo, and love it! Had a trailer before and wouldn't go back now.

 

[mrdarcy]

I'm currently selling my compact 7.5ter and buying a 3.5ter Vauxhall Movano conversion. If you're carting bigger horses about then a 7.5ter is probably better but if you've got smaller horses (I've got two arabs) or just carry one big one then 3.5t is definitely the way to go. When I was persuaded to buy the 7.5ter I was told it was just like driving a car. Total rubbish. Driving a 7.5ter is exactly like driving a lorry because that's what it is. Fine if your destinations tend to be dedicated competition centres with nice wide gateways and lots of hard standing. Not so fine if you generally have to park in fields, through narrow gateways or in lay-byes at the side of roads.

Having driven a 3.5ter that IS just like driving a car. A breath of fresh air. No way would I ever have bothered to drag the 7.5ter out just to go for a hack 30 minutes down the road but with the small box you just throw horse on and away you go - no worries about parking or access at the other end or about narrow country lanes or getting lost and having to find somewhere large to turn round!

Plus the ride for the horses is much more stable in the 3.5t as the centre of gravity is a lot lower - no swaying around on the motorway, no buffeting by the wind. I feel a lot safer in the 3.5t. And the horses are much happier traveling facing backwards.

Definitely swap the trailer but I'd stick to a 3.5t box