Lorry info appreciated...

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Stoxx

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With the ever increasing costs involved in running a 4x4, I'm starting to wonder whether it would actually make more sense for me to sell mine and my trailer and buy myself a box and smaller car.

So... my first question is, would I have to do a test as I had to do one in order to drive my trailer?

I would be looking to buy a small box, but it would need to be capable of carrying 16.2+ size horses. Living wouldn't be essential, but an area to get changed in would be nice.

I see plenty of the Renault and Mercedes boxes around but I wonder how good they are? Also with weights etc would I be limited to carry just one horse in them?

I wouldn't want a rust bucket that is going to break down here there and everywhere and I would have thought (therotically) I'd have about £10k to spend. Is this possible?

Sorry for all the questions, but I've only ever had trailers and am clueless when it comes to the ins and outs of horseboxes!
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When did you pass your driving test? as this depends on whether you have to take a test or not!

you could get a decent lorry for 10k easily. Probably a nice little 7.5t - if you are willing to fit living yourself you could probably get yourself a decent conversion and finish it off yourself for that.

its not cheap running a lorry tho, as parts are generally bl00dy expensive, tyres are expensive, then it has to be taxed, plated and insured yearly aswell. Plus anything else that might go wrong with it. Last year we spent 6k on our lorry as it needed 4 new tyres and had to have new break calipers all round.
 
Hmmm I know, I think it's all swings and roundabouts to be honest! My other thought is that I am hoping that once I can ride my hip will hold out and I can buy a new horse that I really want to have a good go with. I don't particularly like travelling horses in trailers for long distances so I thought it may make sense as I will hopefully be competing more often.

I passed my driving test in August 1999.
 
now, i think that if you passed in 99 or before you dont need to take a test to do you HGV. have just been trying to google it but im coming up with nothing and my brains not every good today so i cant quite remember!

i agree that lorries are fab, especially if you have one with living, they are definately better for travelling long distances too and much easier at shows as theres more room to get changed etc.
 
Thanks, I've looked at the DVLA website and I don't think my brain is working very well today either as I can't seem to make any sense of it!!
 
With regards to the type of lorry, I'm a fan of MAN's and DAF's.
I've had both and they've been hugely reliable and easy to get parts for.
I find a lot of the Mercedes to be a bit unsteady.
Good luck with your search, and yes you will need to take the lorry test as I'm fairly sure the legislation was 1997.
 
Legislation was 1997. I am about to go the other way - back to car and trailer (well 4x4) but partly motivated by need for a 4x4 for non horsey reasons and can't justify lorry and 4x4. Part of what you need to consider is how much mileage you do I think - if you do a lot of mileage your savings on fuel will outweight extra plating costs etc, plus I insured my lorry (7.5t bedford) and car (golf) for less a year than it used to cost me to insure my Pajero! But its a minefield finding a lorry that doesn't cost a fortune...I had a couple of bits done on mine the other day - silly stuff like a reverse light, new wing mirror, and levels checked etc, and was joking with the guy at the garage that I would leave mine and take the rather smart looking 1999 Iveco parked in the yard....he actually said it might look good but my 1986 Bedford was probably more mechanically sound than the Iveco! Amazing. It was in for over £1000 of work. I drove off with my bill for under £150 feeling quite smug!
So best advice from me is get someone professional or at least very very experienced to check every aspect of any lorry before purchasing it!
You'd need you C1 or C class test - cost me about £1000 to do the C - equivalent to old HGV.
 
How many horses were you looking at travelling?
As you passed in '99 you would need to take a test to drive a 7.5t lorry but you could drive a 3.5t box.
However if you wanted a 3.5t box you would only, legally, be able to take one big horse and not be over weight.
I used to have a renalut master to travel two ponies in and it was brilliant- horses travelled wonderfully (backwards) and easy enough to drive. You could pick up a decent one well within your budget (well round here you could). You could pick one up from a dealer/manufacturer i.e. three counties (they also do a high top version for big horses giving extra headroom) so you would know it was definately 'sound'.
If you're wanting to travel more than one big horse you'd need to move up to a 7.5t to get a bigger payload- however be careful, some boxes have so many extras or are so heavy they already weigh alot leaving you with a tiny payload, only being able to carry one horse.
Most 7.5t's have an unlaiden weight of 5.5t given you a 2 tonne payload for X amount of horses, X amount of people, X saddles/bridles. So it is very easy to be over weight!!
Hope this helps!!
Also, most importantly, ALWAYS take a mechanic with you to look at a box- they are worth their weight in gold (a horsebox mechanic). Having it looked over could save you thousands.
And recently passing an MOT means nothing!! MOT's do not look at body work etc so in no way guarentees the safety of your neddies!
 
Great thank you, I had a feeling I would have to do another test!
And thanks for the warning, if I go down that route I would definitely get anything thoroughly checked out!
 
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