Lorry Help please

[3Beasties]

Next month I am hoping to start looking for my first lorry. I initially planned to get a 3.5t one but after all the threads on here recently I have decided it's probably better to get a bigger one.

I have 2 horses and a section A, the majority of the time I will just be travelling one horse but would like the option of taking two without needing to worry about being overweight.

Would a 4.5t one be a better option? I don't really want to be paying out loads to run it so how do they compare to 3.5t or say a bigger 6t? There don't seem to be many 4.5t about so I may have to go bigger!

I'll be 25 next month and passed my driving test 8 years ago so I'm assuming that if I go bigger then a 3.5t I'll have to do a lorry test?

I'm excited and nervous about the whole prospect so any guidance would be much appreciated!

 

[C&C]

If u passed ur test after Jan 97 then u will have to take an additional theory and driving test to drive anything over 3.5t. It costs around £1000-£1500.

 

[jhoward]

If u passed ur test after Jan 97 then u will have to take an additional theory and driving test to drive anything over 3.5t. It costs around £1000-£1500.

its called a c1.

 

[3Beasties]

I thought I'd have to, the price is ridiculous

 

[Stacey6897]

Well, if you do, you might find that a 5t is cheaper to buy, 3.5t trucks will probably fetch a premium because of the licence not being required

My 5t does about 28mpg, it needs to be MOT'd at a designated VOSA test centre, costs £95 I think, insurance is pretty reasonable

Very comfortable, cooker, fridge, bed etc, which you wouldn't get in a little truck

 

[KestralK]

I've got a 6.5t lorry, which has a 2t payload, so there are no worries about being overweight, even when travelling two big horses. It also has a small living with cooker, sink, wardrobe etc. It does more mpg and is cheaper to insure than the 4wd I used to tow with.

 

[Archina]

I am going to do my class C which costs £900, but i live in Scotland so get £200 off from ILA Scotland If your in England its worth having a look to see if theres anything the same.

 

[smellsofhorse]

I am going to do my class C which costs £900, but i live in Scotland so get £200 off from ILA Scotland If your in England its worth having a look to see if theres anything the same.

whats that all about then?

 

[Starbucks]

You will need to take a test for anything over 3.5 ton. I did my mine, can drive anything rigid up to any weight, cost about a grand, totally worth the investment I think.

There is a premium on 3.5 ton lorries because anyone can drive them. Even if you use 1k taking your test, you'd get a better quality 7.5 ton or HGV lorry for your money.

 

[Starbucks]

Oh and the tax for the lorry is only the same as for my Audi A3!! Insurance is much less. Not sure how that works!

 

[Archina]

Its a Scottsh Goverment scheme that helps you pay for learning and for people who have an income of £22,000 a year or less, or who are on benefits. I am not on benefits but do earn less than £22k a year! lol

 

[3Beasties]

Thanks guys

I agree that the lorry test is a good investment, will also give me some confidence to drive on my own I think.

I'm not keen on getting anything bigger then a 6t, I'd prefer a 4.5t/5t but I know these are hard to find.

Budget will be about 6k, am I likely to find a fairly smart but most importantly safe lorry that isn't going to cost a fortune in repairs with that?

 

[perfect11s]

Its a Scottsh Goverment scheme that helps you pay for learning and for people who have an income of £22,000 a year or less, or who are on benefits. I am not on benefits but do earn less than £22k a year! lol

No wonder we are so keen on you lot getting inderpendence

 

[perfect11s]

Thanks guys

I agree that the lorry test is a good investment, will also give me some confidence to drive on my own I think.

I'm not keen on getting anything bigger then a 6t, I'd prefer a 4.5t/5t but I know these are hard to find.

Budget will be about 6k, am I likely to find a fairly smart but most importantly safe lorry that isn't going to cost a fortune in repairs with that?

I think if you take your test and lessons in a big waggon then driving a little 7.5 ton will seem like a doddle good luck and have fun enjoy the challenge , a friends son did it recently and we needed to grease his head to get him through the front door when he passed

 

[majors]

Dont rule out 7.5t as they are all differents sizes, I have only day living and the chassis was cut to fit the box I had. The horses live up a twisty lane so couldn't get anything longer up there. Because its 7.5t I dont ever have to worry about being overweight as my sister in laws horse is half percheron!!

 

[Rb1]

Certain 3.5T boxes can be uprated to 3.9T with a pretty simple procedure I think. You don't have to take a lorry test for it (I'm pretty sure) but it does mean it has to go through plating instead of normal MOT but as you are already considering larger lorries this shouldn't be an issue for you. I would do some research on this as it sounds perfect for you

 

[MissChaos]

Rb1, OP would still need to take a test - the limit on a B licence (standard car licence obtained post 1997) is 3.5T. After that you can either take a test to licence you up to 7.5T or a different test for HGV (i.e. over 7.5T).

 

[ROG]

Rb1, OP would still need to take a test - the limit on a B licence (standard car licence obtained post 1997) is 3.5T. After that you can either take a test to licence you up to 7.5T or a different test for HGV (i.e. over 7.5T).

Spot on

Those thinking of taking a LGV test would be well to consider taking C and missing out C1 .... C covers C1

There are various thing to consider though -
Type of gearbox - usually a car type on on C1
Size - C1s can be large vans and on lorries
Price - may be slightly cheaper for C1

 

[just-me]

Certain 3.5T boxes can be uprated to 3.9T with a pretty simple procedure I think. You don't have to take a lorry test for it (I'm pretty sure) but it does mean it has to go through plating instead of normal MOT but as you are already considering larger lorries this shouldn't be an issue for you. I would do some research on this as it sounds perfect for you

My first box was an iveco that had been downrated from 4.5t to 3.5t. I believe its a case of changing the springs, filling out a form and getting a new test. MissChaos is right though anything over 3.5t you would have to take your test.

I have since taken my C thinking that i would get more for my money but that hasn't been the case. There aren't many HGV's around and they seem to make good money and finding a decent 7.5t (similar budget) hasn't been easy.

 

[C&C]

Yup - if you are gonna do the test then take your C, dont bother with the C1, the tests cost the same and it means you can drive any weight rigid body rather than just upto 7.5t.

I was thinking of doing my test and ALL the centres told me not to bother with the C1 and just do the C. They werent trying to make anymore money out of me as it costs the same

I never bothered in the end and bought a 3.5t but am now having issues with the rock & roll on it. We might end up with trailer and 4x4 yet and have to take that test!! :/

 

[georgiegirl]

Thanks guys

I agree that the lorry test is a good investment, will also give me some confidence to drive on my own I think.

I'm not keen on getting anything bigger then a 6t, I'd prefer a 4.5t/5t but I know these are hard to find.

Budget will be about 6k, am I likely to find a fairly smart but most importantly safe lorry that isn't going to cost a fortune in repairs with that?

Good luck on that one......ive been searching a while now with that budget and nothing has really stood out as being what I want (ie not completely ancient!) from looking around it seems another 3k will buy you A LOT more, just dont have the pennies unfortunately!

If you see any though that you cant get to view then please pass them onto me and I will likewise with you as it sounds as though we are searching for the same thing!