lorry or trailer.help and advice appreciated.

[spike123]

I finally am able to start shopping around for either a 4 x 4 and trailer or a small lorry .If I get a lorry I want it to be under 7.5t and carry 2 maybe 3 horses and either have living or room to carry tack. It seems that I can't afford anything under about 10 yrs old so the alternative would be to buy a trailer and 4 x4 which would mean I could get something a bit newer.What I would like to know is which would be the better combination both in running/upkeep costs and the fact I would probably only really use during the summer months. I have heard that older lorries tend to have starting difficulties if you don't use them throughout the year.Does anyone know if this is true? If I go for 4 x 4 and trailer then I am open to ideas as to the ideal tow vehicle and will probably either go for an ifor,equitrek or cheval liberte trailer.What are the pros/cons of these types of trailers?

 

[BSJAlove]

its going to be difficult to find a lorry under 7.5tons that will legally carry more then 2 horses and tack and possible living. our lorry legally carries our 17hh and a pony with overnight living.

i would suggest either a 3.5ton which will legally (estimate) carry a large horse or two smaller horses/ponies. or a trailer.

oh and our lorry is an old bedford TK and its ancient, i mean very old but he still travels around the country. hes a work horse! hes quite cheep to run and because hes the old wooden sort, with a handy man for a dad, hes easy to maintain! having owned several trailers and lorries, we love the lorries more. their much more convenient and less time consuming (for us anyways) but it depends on what your going to be doing.

 

[*hic*]

If you are only using it during the summer months then get a trailer. The costs of the trailers you have mentioned vary widely - check your budget out carefully.

 

[samp]

I have a lorry after weighting up the pros and cons of a trailer. Plus my horse is a stressy traveller and now loves our lorry so I daren't even try a trailer. I think it depends on 1 - how often it's used, 2 the mileage you would do in running a 4x4 as a normal vehicle and towing. The miles I did was cheaper to run a car and lorry

 

[PeterNatt]

There is no reason why a lorry should not start first time even if you have not used it for a few weeks (provided there is nothing draining the battery). I have a 30 year old Bedford TK that starts first time. I buy a new battery for it about once a year to make quite sure it always starts.

However you are best off taking it for a run at least once a week.

 

[spike123]

from the replies so far I guess the main consensus is to get a lorry.Living is not compulsory.It must carry 2 horses minimum and no more than 3. I would like living purely on the basis of if I am taking my family with me it would be alot easier for all of us. My hubby much prefers the idea of me getting a lorry,mainly because he drives 4x4's on a daily basis for work and is always going on about the problems they have with them.They are all new landrovers but hubbys which is only just over a year old has already had to have several things sorted out.So far nothing seriously major,a clutch replaced,turbo hose and silly things like door locks.His is an uprated one as he tows a large boat as part of his job on a regular basis but he is adamant that I should steer clear of landrovers or any other 4x4. I do prefer the idea of a trailer though purely because that is what my horse is used to travelling in.