New 2 horse horse van--cost?

[vineyridge]

Theault French small horse vans have just started to be imported into the US. I was shocked at how much they cost just for a stripped down one, which does have some interesting electronics for the driver. You folks use vans much more than we do, and I was wondering what new 2 horse vans generally run in Europe?

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

The most common ones seem to be based on the Renault Master, because horses can travel between the two sets of wheels so quite low slung and comfortable ride, and ramp is very low and headroom is decent. However this is because they are not rear wheel drive so no driveshaft under the vehicle needing clearance, which is fine unless you are in a very muddy field....

Small ponies go in Ford Transit van based little livestock carriers.

However both can struggle with meeting maximum weight limits if carrying a lot of equipment/living furniture as well as two people, water and lots of tack, so that has to be looked at when considering how much equipment to put in

 

[perfect11s]

Theault French small horse vans have just started to be imported into the US. I was shocked at how much they cost just for a stripped down one, which does have some interesting electronics for the driver. You folks use vans much more than we do, and I was wondering what new 2 horse vans generally run in Europe?

A lady I know bought a Theault about 3 years ago she had some options like air con front + horse area, and her choice of colour and it was over £40k say $60 K Not sure why you guys would want one with all the trucks and fantastic goose necks you have over there!!!, the little vans are popular here because you can drive them on a car licence at 3500kg all in... and the weight capacity limits them to one big horse or two ponys ...

 

[vineyridge]

Theaults START at $150,000 here. The importers claim that they had to do some serious redesigning of both the Mercedes chassis and mechanicals to meet US standards. I think people are looking at them and Euro style small bumper pulls because fuel prices here, while still much lower than in Europe, have skyrocketed. My diesel truck when hauling my all steel gooseneck gets 9 mpg. Without the trailer, it gets 16 mpg. And I have to drive 80 miles just to buy horse feed and other supplies. Nearest equine vet is 100 miles away. It gets expensive.