Lorry or trailer- my wonderful 3.5t gotta go.

Spottyappy

Spottyappy

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Had my gorgeous 3.5t lorry built 18 months ago.
Circumstances have changed,as unexpectedly been given another mouth to keep.And, mouth will require transporting places at same time as other equine.
Horsebox won't legally take 2,so having to face other options.
Has anyone changed from a nice, modern (2005) 3.5t to a 5.5/6.5 lorry or a landrover and trailer? How have costs compared?
My little box is very very ecconomical, and hardly costs a thing to keep, no major work or anything( touch wood).
I can't afford to have a bigger box built- I also haven't room to keep a 7.5t box so am having to consider the option of a shorter wheel base 5.5/6.5t lorry, or go back to a trailer(which didn't want to as can't really afford to run a landrover type vehicle so still need to keep small eco car to run round in).
Any help/advise from people who've found themselves in this situation appreciated.
 
there are some 3.5t out there that will take two legally - it's just a case of finding them.
My little box takes 2 but it doesnt have any living and has a wooden body of metal frame - keeps the weight down. No bells and whistles, just ample payload for two.

fancy swapping, lol!
 
Sadly,most 3.5 wont take two heffalump humans,tack and 2 horses weighing 600kg each.
Safety is paramount to me, and the build of my little box is excpetional as I know it was built to a high safety standard.
I don;t want my horses safety at risk for the sake of going lighter. Sadly,even if I uprated it, the payload still isn;t sufficient for the 2 heavier horses plus us and tack/water/spare tyre etc:(
 
mine has a payload of 1800kg and is a safe sturdy little box.

There are smaller boxes out there with decent payloads. What about a 4.5t or 6.5t?
 
If you don't need another test then my friend has a lovely coach built 6 tonne lorry. It's really very nice indeed and has the same engine a 3.5 would have so I doubt it costs more to run. Plus it's a better market as so many people can't drive one now days. I reckon you'd get something really nice with the huge amount of money you'll make from a decent 3.5t. It's win win :)
 
No, JT, I don;t need another test, sadly am too old! Its the length thats a prob on bigger boxes. I have very limited parking,and can't get anything too big into the lorry park. A trailer could be unhitched so it could be manually pushed back. I deliberately went for a 3.5t box though, so my daughter could drive it when older- plus I am really loathe to get into plating as know alot of folk who reckon its a real money pit.:mad:
PMP, what make is yours as that payload is huge for a small box?
 
the cab is a sherpa freight rover but no idea who built the box on it, or when. As i said it has no living with wooden panelling.
I havent had it long and plan on doing it up a bit for next season - needs a lick of paint here and there.
 
I wish I were too old. Don't be sad about it. It just cost me a grand to take my trailer test. Aghh! awful!

Friends lorry is like a 3.5 tonne one. Van type front with box on the back rather than a lorry lorry. If that makes any sense at all. I know nothing about plating though unfortunately. Other than I didn't want to get involved with it, hence trailer test rather than lgv!

I would much rather drive her lorry than the trailer even though I'm not allowed as it's pretty tiny and really easy to manoeuvre compared to the car+trailer. It fits into the same size space as the 3.5 tonne that was there before.

sort of like this only hers is smaller

http://sports.ciao.co.uk/product_media_view.php?ProductId=6666828&MediaId=6666828&MediaType=Image
 
We have a 6.5T lorry which is a dream to drive (says my OH) as it's set up inside like a car would be, and isn't too wide. Has small living, walk-through to horses, herringboned inside so 3 ponies/2 horses. It's very economical (as much or more so fully loaded than a friend's Discovery (not even towing)). Costs per year (given that mine was built in 1989) aren't bad - on average about £500 for plating and necessary repairs, £20 per month insurance incl recovery, and £205 tax.
 
Looks good, Jt. I looked at an uprated 3.5t Wren(like the photo) before having my one built, but it had been used to transport show ponies and would have needed alot of work to reduce the living area and make the horse area larger. They are nice boxes, too.
Just didn;t envisage needing to sell mine on, I intended to keep it foreva!
It's true that I should be able to pick one up at a reasonable price, but it's the upkeep and maintence alongside plating thats concerning me, as money already very short.Just about mange with what I earn, so don't need a money pit.
 
I know exactly what you mean about money. I have to run a big car alongside the ibiza now and it just eats money. Everything about horses is so expensive. Especially once you want to actually start taking them out!

It's a shame about your box. I'd be pretty gutted if I'd had one done especially and then had to get rid. I hope your extra mouth is worth it!
 
Spottyappy said:
Had my gorgeous 3.5t lorry built 18 months ago.
Circumstances have changed,as unexpectedly been given another mouth to keep.And, mouth will require transporting places at same time as other equine.
Horsebox won't legally take 2,so having to face other options.
Has anyone changed from a nice, modern (2005) 3.5t to a 5.5/6.5 lorry or a landrover and trailer? How have costs compared?
My little box is very very ecconomical, and hardly costs a thing to keep, no major work or anything( touch wood).
I can't afford to have a bigger box built- I also haven't room to keep a 7.5t box so am having to consider the option of a shorter wheel base 5.5/6.5t lorry, or go back to a trailer(which didn't want to as can't really afford to run a landrover type vehicle so still need to keep small eco car to run round in).
Any help/advise from people who've found themselves in this situation appreciated.
Click to expand...
If you have trailer intitlement on your licence maybe you could tow one behind in a trailer but check your train weight first!!! but most 3.5 vans are 5500/6000 kgs leaves about 2000kg for a trailer.. so you should be ok....
 
Perfect 11s, thx for that.I hadn;t even thought of the possibility of towing behind the box. According to the manual, it has a gross train weight of 6000kg. Which, if my maths is correct leaves about 2500kg for towing with. You are a genius!
Thx, as this hadn't even crossed my mind. Not sure how I'd cope with towing behind a horsebox, have towed with a van previously though, but may well be the perfect solution.:D
Mystiandsunny, thx too for the info on your smaller box-the costs are similar to what most 3-5t seem to be, maybe I have been lucky as mine's not cost so much yet.But, that would be affordable. Many folk I know with bigger boxes seem to spend several thousand each year getting them through the plate, so maybe there are decent boxes out there that could be affordable if trailer idea doesn;t work out.
Thx
 
I've got a 6T Ford Iveco Daily. Totally reliable and easy to drive, easy to get cheap parts, not much bigger than my old 3.5T. Reasonable living and tack lockers. Had it weighed empty at 4050kg. MOT (or plating is) £70 per year and I think insurance is about £200. It's a 1994 and doesn't look as posh as some boxes at the shows but has good kitchen and a toilet and everyone loves it!
 
Spottyappy said:
Perfect 11s, thx for that.I hadn;t even thought of the possibility of towing behind the box. According to the manual, it has a gross train weight of 6000kg. Which, if my maths is correct leaves about 2500kg for towing with. You are a genius!
Thx, as this hadn't even crossed my mind. Not sure how I'd cope with towing behind a horsebox, have towed with a van previously though, but may well be the perfect solution.:D
Mystiandsunny, thx too for the info on your smaller box-the costs are similar to what most 3-5t seem to be, maybe I have been lucky as mine's not cost so much yet.But, that would be affordable. Many folk I know with bigger boxes seem to spend several thousand each year getting them through the plate, so maybe there are decent boxes out there that could be affordable if trailer idea doesn;t work out.
Thx
Click to expand...

Selling the three 148 ponies and so I have just sold my 6.5T to go back down to a 3.5T for the two horses. My plating has cost the grand total of zilch (except the plating cost of £90). The 6.5T lorries do not always cost a fortune to run. Mine also gave me 30mpg.
 
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