Lorry Inspection recommendations please

[Cragrat]

I am looking at buying a 7.5t, and whilst I'm not going to be spending a fortune by some standards, it is still a sizeable outlay for me - and more importantly I want it to be safe.

I also have quite a specific list of requirements, so the lorries on my shortlist are all at least a couple of hundred miles away - and obviously at opposite ends/sides of the country.

Is there anything like AA inspections, but for lorries? Can I ask them to take it to a weighbridge? Will they poke the floor to see if it is rotten?

 

[Cowpony]

Have a look online for horsebox inspections. Then ring a couple and ask what they do in their process. I'm sure they'll do whatever you want for an appropriate fee

 

[mavandkaz]

Ask on local notice boards/FB pages for reputable horsebox mechanics, and the give them a ring and arrange a pre-purchase inspection.
They will have a standard check list to go through, but you can ask for extras. Just be aware that they will be a mobile mechanic, so won't be able to get it to a garage to get up on the ramp etc, but they should be able to do a thorough inspection.
I just had one done last week and cost £100

 

[lizziebell]

Brad at Bicester Horseboxes did an inspection in wales for me about 15 years ago. Not sure if he still does them, but was very thorough and gave me some useful information about the horsebox which I used to negotiate the price.

 

[Boulty]

Will pm me my experiences with a few different people offering inspections

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I am looking at buying a 7.5t, and whilst I'm not going to be spending a fortune by some standards, it is still a sizeable outlay for me - and more importantly I want it to be safe.

I also have quite a specific list of requirements, so the lorries on my shortlist are all at least a couple of hundred miles away - and obviously at opposite ends/sides of the country.

Is there anything like AA inspections, but for lorries? Can I ask them to take it to a weighbridge? Will they poke the floor to see if it is rotten?

depends where you are - I used a guy up Leicester way and round here.

 

[Cragrat]

Ask on local notice boards/FB pages for reputable horsebox mechanics, and the give them a ring and arrange a pre-purchase inspection.
They will have a standard check list to go through, but you can ask for extras. Just be aware that they will be a mobile mechanic, so won't be able to get it to a garage to get up on the ramp etc, but they should be able to do a thorough inspection.
I just had one done last week and cost £100

Thank you- I'll see what I can find. £100 sounds very reasonable if they are thorough too

 

[Cragrat]

Will pm me my experiences with a few different people offering inspections

Thank you- I am worried about someone saying its fine, then I hand over my money and my mechanic at home shakes his his head in despair!

 

[Cragrat]

depends where you are - I used a guy up Leicester way and round here.

At the moment I'm looking at 3 lorries- South, West and North. I live East!

 

[Bobthecob15]

Can you get one from a dealership? We got ours from Central England Horseboxes and they had a 3 month warranty. They often have cheaper ones in (under 10k) so worth a look.

 

[Lady Jane]

Make sure you get the horsebox body inspected not just the mechanics. Wayne Henning and Rockstar come highly recommended, I have used Wayne myself
Wayne: https://www.facebook.com/Safe.Horse.Transport
Rockstar: https://www.facebook.com/rockstarhorseboxes

Wayne looked at ads for me and advised against a few for various reasons (horsebox build, he can't asses an engine froma picture!)

Last year it was about £120 plus mileage, £100 may just be a mechanical inspection

 

[Lady Jane]

If you get one froma dealership with warranty it still needs an inspection as their view of horse safety may be a bit variable although with 7.5t you haven't got quite the same potential bulkhead issues as with a 3.5t

 

[onemoretime]

Make sure you get the horsebox body inspected not just the mechanics. Wayne Henning and Rockstar come highly recommended, I have used Wayne myself
Wayne: https://www.facebook.com/Safe.Horse.Transport
Rockstar: https://www.facebook.com/rockstarhorseboxes

Wayne looked at ads for me and advised against a few for various reasons (horsebox build, he can't asses an engine froma picture!)

Last year it was about £120 plus mileage, £100 may just be a mechanical inspection

Agree with this. Wayne Henning is very good, he helped us out over an insurance claim when a tree fell and went through the cab of our horsebox and wrote it off.

 

[Cragrat]

Thank you all - I will research some mechanics / inspectors. I have heard varied opinions of Wayne, and of Central England, though tbh they don't have the type of lorry I'm looking for anyway.

I will contact Rockstar and a try to find a local lorry mechanic too.