My first horsebox!!

[Green Bean]

As the title suggests, I have put a deposit down on a second hand 3.5T horsebox!!. I am sooo excited. It is getting ready for me by the dealer so I should have it in two Saturday's time and the time is dragging.... I have all sorts of things planned for the box and have been ordering stuff non-stop since Saturday. I have never owned a horsebox before but always wanted one so can't contain myself. It is a minefield out there and good second hand boxes seem to be sold within minutes of being advertised. I was set to go and see one on Saturday, I had arrange the insurance in case it was okay only to be messaged by the owner 5 minutes into my journey to be told she had sold it to a neighbour. I was fuming. Thank goodness for husband - he just said, while we are out just check if there any others. I didn't have much hope on that as I had been looking daily. I actually found one and it had only been listed that morning. It was a dealer and over an hour away but we went to have a look. It needs some work on it to get it through MOT which has actually proven to be a good thing as it is so easy these days to look up the MOT record to see its history.
I am buying one as my mare is such a nervous loader on a trailer and doesn't travel well, arriving in a pool of sweat. I have persevered with the trailer for quite a while but feel, enough is enough. The box I have chosen doesn't have the separation wall between back and horse area so my horse doesn't feel closed in, doesn't have the wheel arch in the horse area (who figured that was a good idea?) and isn't the stallion configuration. What I especially like (besides everything else ) is you can take the horse out the rear door if there is an accident of sorts that prevents you from taking the horse out on the side ramp. It takes an allen key to release the separation between horse and rear space. I feel so knowledgeable right now LOL.
I had a very good IW HB511 which I advertised on FB marketplace - I had 5 people in the queue to see it after the one that responded first plus others. It is crazy out there at the moment. Was quite sad to see the trailer go as I have had it for 4 years and it has been amazing.
Roll on 27 March!!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Super exciting! I remember getting ours at first. The freedom and not having to always rely on my partner as I haven’t got a towing license.
We still have it but daughter stopped riding so it’s not often used anymore. You’ll be surprised how handy it is to have for other things!

 

[donkeyindisguise]

Awh yay how exciting! Congratulations!
I bought my first lorry in October, due to work commitments my horses didn't do much over winter so it's been sat but got it going now and I've got so many things I want to do! It's a bit overwhelming actually I've never even really had access to transport before!

Now just to teach my mare to load.....

 

[Bernster]

Very exciting! Fun times ahead ?

 

[JGC]

Congratulations, you won't regret it!
I got my first one in September 2020 and I am still so excited when I go use it We'd had a trailer before, but that meant OH had to drive as I don't have my trailer licence.

 

[Antw23uk]

This will be me soon, although im taking my 7.5t lorry licence as i simply cant afford any 3.5t that i would feel comfortable putting my horse in and the 7.5t come up cheaper (but likely more expensive to keep going but hey ho!)

Im excited for you and green with envy I cannot wait to get a lorry, i hated towing with a passion and my horse felt the same so i sold it.

 

[PeterNatt]

Just make quite sure that you get it thoroughly checked out by a reputable mechanic and a body builder with special reference to the floor and ramp(s). Also check its weight on a weybridge to determine how much you can carry. (and get brekdown/recovery insurance cover). Best of luck.

 

[Spottyappy]

Agree with Peter. Get it checked by an independent mechanic who knows what to look for with safety and horses.
I had 2 checked in the last which I am very glad I did, as one wouldn’t have been safe, and the other would have been more than a money pit.

 

[Squeak]

Congratulations! How exciting. I use my 3.5t at least once a week if not more as it is so easy to use.

I found the damage free hooks and strips etc for hanging things amazing in my 3.5t. I didn't want to nail in to the wall but I needed some hooks and other things to get it properly organised and they're still working 3 years later.

Also as Peter and SA have recommended - make sure you get it checked by an independent mechanic/ specialist and see it's weight on the weighbridge yourself. It makes a huge difference if it has an empty fuel tank, no driver etc. and you'd be surprised how many aren't the weight they claim to be.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

As the title suggests, I have put a deposit down on a second hand 3.5T horsebox!!. I am sooo excited. It is getting ready for me by the dealer so I should have it in two Saturday's time and the time is dragging.... I have all sorts of things planned for the box and have been ordering stuff non-stop since Saturday. I have never owned a horsebox before but always wanted one so can't contain myself. It is a minefield out there and good second hand boxes seem to be sold within minutes of being advertised. I was set to go and see one on Saturday, I had arrange the insurance in case it was okay only to be messaged by the owner 5 minutes into my journey to be told she had sold it to a neighbour. I was fuming. Thank goodness for husband - he just said, while we are out just check if there any others. I didn't have much hope on that as I had been looking daily. I actually found one and it had only been listed that morning. It was a dealer and over an hour away but we went to have a look. It needs some work on it to get it through MOT which has actually proven to be a good thing as it is so easy these days to look up the MOT record to see its history.
I am buying one as my mare is such a nervous loader on a trailer and doesn't travel well, arriving in a pool of sweat. I have persevered with the trailer for quite a while but feel, enough is enough. The box I have chosen doesn't have the separation wall between back and horse area so my horse doesn't feel closed in, doesn't have the wheel arch in the horse area (who figured that was a good idea?) and isn't the stallion configuration. What I especially like (besides everything else ) is you can take the horse out the rear door if there is an accident of sorts that prevents you from taking the horse out on the side ramp. It takes an allen key to release the separation between horse and rear space. I feel so knowledgeable right now LOL.
I had a very good IW HB511 which I advertised on FB marketplace - I had 5 people in the queue to see it after the one that responded first plus others. It is crazy out there at the moment. Was quite sad to see the trailer go as I have had it for 4 years and it has been amazing.
Roll on 27 March!!

Congrats


I hope it is not the horsebox seller. Please make sure you have a pre purchase check by a mechanic..

 

[Green Bean]

Hi IluvCowparsley, it is the horsebox seller! Now you have me worried. It all seemed above board when my OH and I were there. The box looked in fairly good condition bar some MOT failures and advisories which they have confirmed in writing will be fixed. They said they use an independent garage which look at it and see to what is required.

The only question I have for the 'Team' on H&H is - how do you check the floor of the box? It has rubber matting on top, so I assume I could peel it back and check it when I go to fetch the box, but what am I looking at (besides the obvious rust)?

 

[Tiddlypom]

Please do get it properly checked by an independent mechanic and also be present (or have a trusted person there) when it is weighed empty on a weigh bridge.

There are many shockingly bad 3.5ts out there. This might well not be one but you don't want to buy a bad one.

No one wants to rain on your parade, but you still have time to swerve this one if it's not as good as you've been told.

 

[Spottyappy]

Hi IluvCowparsley, it is the horsebox seller! Now you have me worried. It all seemed above board when my OH and I were there. The box looked in fairly good condition bar some MOT failures and advisories which they have confirmed in writing will be fixed. They said they use an independent garage which look at it and see to what is required.

The only question I have for the 'Team' on H&H is - how do you check the floor of the box? It has rubber matting on top, so I assume I could peel it back and check it when I go to fetch the box, but what am I looking at (besides the obvious rust)?

I purchased one from them, but I had it independent checkEd. There were a few issues with it, nothing too major, and they did rectify them.
they will allow you to have it independently checked, although they weren’t entirely happy with my wanting to do so.
I have looked at them a few times when wanting boxes, and tbh have had no issues, but I know people are wary of them. The floor, you do need to lift the matting and poke everywhere with a sharp implement, and look underneath too, and do the same. But, you really need your own independent check.

 

[PeterNatt]

You need to get a knowledgeable person to check the flooring and supporting structures from the underside as well as from the top! Aluminium flooring can rot (corrode) as well as wooden flooring so beware. Get the ramp thoroghly checked as well as well as the ramp hinges and springs as if they fail you can have a nasty accident. A vehicle that has had a number of MOT failures is to be avoided as it will be a total money pit in the future.Get it thoroughly checked out.

 

[eggs]

Congratulations but as others have said, do please get it checked by a horse box inspector. The MOT is one thing but it does not check that it is safe for horses. I would want as a minimum the floor, ramp and bulkhead checked.