Lorry or Trailer? Which is the more sensible?

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EquestrianFairy

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I have £5k saved and initially I wanted a small 3.5t lorry.
I've found some lovely 2003 prof conversions for my price but they have been too far away for me to get to before they sold. Locally I can get around a 1998 conversion.

My dad recently (Saturday) bought a 4x4 and im wondering if I should use my money to get a good trailer instead.

The issue is that i would need my mum always with me because I'm not insured on the 4x4 avd whilst she loves to help I feel it's unfair relying on her that much? The other issue is that I would need to constantly double check my dad doesn't need it so use may be restrictive. There is also things like the extra chance that the 4x4 might get damaged avd the arguments that would ensue.

However a lorry is more financial maintenance compared to a trailer and I'm not sure if the usage in my head will tally up to the usage it will actually get.

How did you decide what was the best option?
 
For me the choice ended up being one of independence.

I wanted to be able to travel horse on my own. I didn't want to maintain a 4x4 for daily use and couldn't justify two cars AND a trailer. So I got the box and it's not cheap but I've never looked back. I feel safer on my own doing manoeuvres, three point turns, lots on country road, etc! It's nice and solid and happy to stand for most of the week and do nothing ;)
 
I bought a lorry as I don't have access to a 4x4 and so I would have had to swap my diesel hatchback for a 4x4, which would have really put up my day to day fuel costs.
Also the 2 lots of tax I pay per year at the moment is still less that some of the 4x4 tax!
Also to buy a reasonable 4x4 and a trailer would have cost me at least £10k, my lorry was cheaper than that!
If I had use of a 4x4 I would probably get a trailer as cheaper to maintain than I lorry.
 
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I would get insuranced on the 4X4 and get your parents insuranced on your car (assuming you have one) that will avoid them being without a vehicle when you are towing. Having a trailer is a cheap option compared to a lorry. You can buy a very decent trailer for £3K.
 
Think it depends if you have the use for a 4x4. I chose 4x4 & trailer as we use car for other uses & it's great having a good 4x4 for getting to horses in winter :)
 
It's not my 4x4 so obviously I won't be maintaining the costs on it. In all fairness he's bought it partly to help out with the horses (even though he complains about them).
He has said I can get a tow hitch put on and of course use it to tow but my dad is quite temperamental at times and I think if something happened to the 4x4 whether it be a ding from driving it etc he would go mental and that's the type of argument I could do without.

The lorry wouid be totally mine but in addition to that, so would the financial responsibility of any problems with it which are more than the finances of a trailer should anything go wrong.
 
Lorry every time for me. Cheaper to insure and tax and the freedom to get changed in relative warmth and comfort. If you have the space to park it then get a lorry.
 
Many with only a B licence can tow one horse in a lightweight trailer with a standard car or estate providing the ground they need to tow on is not going to be soft

I am wondering if this is an option for the OP as it means having a standard vehicle for all the other stuff besides towing so works out more economical

5K should get a decent-ish trailer and car
 
5k should get you trailer test, 4x4, and a trailer!!!

Or maybe you could get something cheaper than a 4x4, like a mondeo, then use 4x4 if going somewhere muddy!
 
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