Lorry experts - Why is this sooooooo cheap!?

Main down side is no cut through, hence shouldn't travel passengers in the back, but agree does seem real bargain even allowing for this (cut through wouldn't be that expensive)
 
Its cheap because its a very old basic GRP conversion that I would bet has had a tacko change (because of the body)

The body looks tntish, which came with the skirts, hence no sizable lockers.

I would want to know weight, history, what the floor is made of and have a good poke around to make sure its safe.
 
Have you got someone who can go with you to check the lorry? My lorry, M reg, 7.5 tonne cost a similar price a couple of years ago. It wasn't overly smart, but the floor was sound and had a year's plating and my OH looked over the engine, he felt we would need to spend £500 to make it how we wanted it. There's no way I could ever spend more than £4-5K on a horsebox (we just don't have the money for me to spend on something that is purely a hobby!!), but the 3 we have had over the years have not let me down anymore than my friends lorries (which have cost upto 4 times as much!) Don't write it off just because it doesn't cost much, but do go with your eyes wide open and expect that you may have to fix certain things.
 
It is a ford eurocargo rustbucket. I have seen quite a few absolute dogs . The condition of the lorry itself is the most important thing. Having an MOT means very little . It could still be very expensive at that price if the Chassis /cab is knackered. The mileage may not be genuine as the tacho may have been changed(happens a lot.,they breakdown and get replaced). No I dont think it is cheap .
 
I know that the millage may have been changed but i'm not to worried about that. Don't have anyone who knows a lot about lorries to go with me so was planning to get a mechanic to check it before we bought it.

Thanks for all the advice, i was just worried that being a newbie to lorries I was missing something.
 
I'd have a long hard look at that ramp. From the photos it appears to be dipped in the middle and the fit to the rear of the lorry (seen behind the hydraulic rams) looks interesting. Gates are fitted somewhat high for my taste too.

However at this time of year people do sometimes find they need to get rid of stuff quickly at low prices, especially when it's been advertised before for a long time.
here
here
and here

Worth a look with a good mechanic and someone who's sensible about the horse space I'd guess. Personally I'd take cash and make an offer . . .
 
I agree with the previous comment about the ramp.
In my mind the following reduce the price...
No cut through
No luton/ or sleeping
No lockers for tack/hay
Age of chassis
It's a basic lorry which would do for day trips.

Having said that, you dont grab a bargin if you dont look.

Very important to take it to a weigh bridge to find out what the weight is (this can make a lorry worthless)
 
7ft 4 is not very wide - what size are your horses?

I don't think it is a cheap box at all, it has a tatty badly done living with a not very nice ramp and is a narrow box. The horse windows seem a bit strange too. You would need to find out what height it is too.
 
To me the horse area looks really poor. Agree on the ramp:eek:. Looks very cheaply done. When looking at lorries horse space is a main priority for me. 7ft 4 is not wide and would not be adequate for a big long horse. To me it is not cheap as I would not have it at any price
 
To me, a cut through and luton are not the be all and end all, especially if you are not going to be staying away overnight. The living is basic but as above. That is easily tarted up. I would have the fridge checked to see if it has been fitted correctly.

To me, the horse area is where the deal breaker is.

It is basic and not finished off well. The ramp looks to be dipped. We had one replaced on a 7.5t a few years ago as we needed to make sure it would be strong enough for heavy IDs and it cost us between £500-£600 from a coachbuilder.

There isn't a picture of the vehicle from the front which is a bit odd. Perhaps it has a lot of rust.

The tacho head may have been changed, hence the mileage (or is that kms, as most if not all 7.5t are). You need to be sure of what the total mileage is, don't rely on what the clock says. When a new head is put in, the mileage goes back to zero.

If it is close enough to you and the size suits your requirements, there is nothing to lose by having a look. Just look at it with a critical eye and not through rose tinted specs! Having your mechanic with you is a good move, look underneath at the state of the floor aswell. Take your time and don't be rushed.
There isn't a good market for 7.5s at the minute, it may be what you are looking for.
 
TBH I don't think its that cheap! Exactly as irishdraught says, for me the area I am interested in is the horse area and ramp and they really do look a bit poor. I paid not much more than that last year for a 1995 Merc, and its waayyy better than that. Very basic living and no cut through, kept price down. Its built like the proverbial brick outhouse tho, had a friend's new horse manage to throw a complete paddy in the back and he barely marked it, a cheaper lorry he would have come out through the sides!
You need to look very carefully at safety of the floor and ramp, also the fitting and sturdiness of the partitions etc. It all looks a wee bit shaky in the pics. But that might not be the case in real life. Also, as someone said on prev page watch out for mechnical issues as they can be very pricey....I'd want at least 11 month mot, and even then a very good mechanical check over nd look carefully for rust, friends with iveco/cargo seem plagued by issues but that might just be coincidence!
 
looks like an old lorry with a respray to tart it up for sale.....

inside the horse area looks very worn, very small windows for the horses so very limited ventilation, very sharp right angled unprotected corners on the edges of the partitions.

Living is basic - parts of someone's old kitchen.

As otheres have said, I really don't believe the mileage - it's of an age when things start to go wrong mechanically and it could be hard to get spare parts......

the other problem with older lorries, they tend to belong to people who don't use them often or go very far in them, so they spend a lot of time sitting..... lorries are designed to be driven and really really don't like being stationary for long periods of time. Things start seizing up and not working.....

Also, it may well be on the edge of the weight limit, you may find that you can legally only carry a pony or small horse......
 
Not to worried about the size of the horse area as we only have a 13hh and a 15hh at the moment, and i don't think we'll ever be going much bigger.

Thanks for the advice. its mainly things i'd noticed that you are pointing out so i can't be doing too badly.
 
Hi when buying a lorry i would be careful for a number of reasons. As VOSA are now clamping down on weight at all shows so someone genuine should show you a receipt from the weight bridge. Also ask to see the VOSA cert for the plating so you can look for any advisories. also you won't the weight of either chassis so you can double check whether there is any unladen weight that you cannot use. a good lorry mechanic will charge you roughly £50 to check a lorry and it will save you in the long run.
 
IMHO it's as cheap as chips...............

If your are really interested i would ask to see it's service record. What work was done for mot .
Things to check; gearbox, clutch, rust at front door and around wheel arches front and back, brake lines

You need to find out what job it did before it was covered??? to me it looks like ex TNT vehicle (there's nothing wrong in that job) but tacho will have been changed, so milage showing now will be wrong!!

IMHO things I look at lorry is at:
1st mechinally sound first,
2nd horse area safe,
and then nice human comforts

Horse Area:
You need floors and ramped checked

If your budget is very close to asking price I would walk away, if not and you have a bigger budget you happy to reburish you need to work out how much it will take to revamp............

My first lorry was an Iveco about this age and type and was brilliant for job i asked it to do. Easy to drive, cheap and chearfull for garage to service and mot. (IMHO don't be put off with the word 'cargo' lorry, it's the older lorries that people are having problems with getting parts for).

You need to be very honest with yourself about the job you want a lorry to do.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top