New 3.5t box owner, tips appreciated!

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RHGR

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Hello! I was very lucky to gain ownership of a 3.5t horsebox at the start of the year. Brand new conversion of a 20 plate Citroen Relay. Pony has only come into work in the last two months so now thinking about our first trip out. I've done some loading practice with him and he's walking on happily and will stand for me to sort partition and close all doors. Next step will be taking him for a drive in it! I have driven it a few times and confident with driving it empty, but very aware its going to be completely different with 480kg of pride and joy in the back! I'm thinking our first trip will be literally a mile along the road to a parking space to enter the local woods. He's hacked in those woods a few times now so knows the area, it gives me a chance to see how the box feels with a horse in it without the worry/pressure of a longer journey, I can see how he reacts to unloading/tacking up after travelling, and if he won't load back into it afterwards we can easily hack home. Our second journey after that I'm hoping shall be to the beach (20 minute drive, the roads I drive to get to and from the yard everyday as I live near the beach, and work at the beach so know all roads and busy-ness of areas very well). Just looking to see if anyone has any tips or advice about driving a box for the first time, or if anyone can pick out any issues with the plans I'm thinking about.
 
Congratulations, what fun!

With a horse on board start in second gear (if you’re on a flat road), it’ll move off more slowly with lower acceleration. Obvs use 1st gear for a hill start.

Check doors carefully. I’ve had a ramp come down in transit (immediately after being rebuilt - there was a fault). It was not a nice experience.

Maybe for the first journey don’t even unload - go around the block and home to unload as normal.

An alternative for the second is to go to a friends yard or similar if possible - so if there are any loading issues you’re in a safe enclosed space and have help. This is super cautious, I haven’t always done it!

Good luck and have fun!
 
congratulations! I’ve had my new build box for a year now, i don’t think I’ve ever been more excited about something!!

I agree with @Abacus about the first journey ending back at your yard and the second journey being in a more secure parking area, unless your horse is absolutely rock solid (which was not the case with mine!) i am very risk averse with horses and minimise risk wherever possible 😁

I had as much fun buying colour coordinated bits for the horsebox as anything else!

Have fun
 
Not sure how similar towing a trailer is but the best advice I got was drive normally! Just slower, listen to the engine. The first time I took my car out with the weight on the back I burnt my clutch a bit feathering on a hill (Dont - put your break on and drive off with intention) And I did it again reversing. again the clutch was actually enough to push the box back, and driving like I was compensating by putting the gas on was putting unecessary strain on the clutch. Second run no clutch burn! I'd only need to do that if I was really struggling with my capacity which you wont be - your box is built for it trust it.
 
Sounds like a good plan for your first few trips.

Give yourself extra time to get up to speed and extra stopping distance. Take the corners a bit wider and steadier than you would without horse.

In a well designed box operating within its weight limits you shouldn’t notice a massive difference with the horse on board.

Now go out & enjoy it!
 
I used to have a 7.5 and was terrified the first time I drove it (empty). I got a couple of lessons and my top tip from the instructor was "Always imagine you have a large bucket of water on board, full to the brim, and try not to spill any." This served me very well, and I still use it now I've downsized to a trailer.
 
Abacus said:
Congratulations, what fun!

With a horse on board start in second gear (if you’re on a flat road), it’ll move off more slowly with lower acceleration. Obvs use 1st gear for a hill start.

Check doors carefully. I’ve had a ramp come down in transit (immediately after being rebuilt - there was a fault). It was not a nice experience.

Maybe for the first journey don’t even unload - go around the block and home to unload as normal.

An alternative for the second is to go to a friends yard or similar if possible - so if there are any loading issues you’re in a safe enclosed space and have help. This is super cautious, I haven’t always done it!

Good luck and have fun!
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Thank you! A run around the block is probably a good idea, I'm just wary of the unavoidable hills if I do that! But I'll need to face them at some point. The van has hill start assist which is great.
Thankfully at the beach is a friend's yard! She backs and schools, and it's where I bought my boy from so he knows the place. Also means I have an extra pair of experienced hands on the ground if anything goes t*ts up!
 
Thank you everyone! I'm so excited to have transport, just that big leap to drive him in it for the first time is nerve wracking. Having horses as an adult and being financially responsible for them makes every risk much scarier in my mind, didn't have these issues as a teenager 🤣 I was in the car that towed him to our yard and he travelled perfectly in the trailer, just munched away and walked off very calmly when we arrived. Very conscious that if I drive badly I can make him not want to load in the future, so it will be very slow and steady on quiet roads until the confidence rises!
 
RHGR said:
Thank you everyone! I'm so excited to have transport, just that big leap to drive him in it for the first time is nerve wracking. Having horses as an adult and being financially responsible for them makes every risk much scarier in my mind, didn't have these issues as a teenager 🤣 I was in the car that towed him to our yard and he travelled perfectly in the trailer, just munched away and walked off very calmly when we arrived. Very conscious that if I drive badly I can make him not want to load in the future, so it will be very slow and steady on quiet roads until the confidence rises!
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Good Luck , You can do it! Start small and build up. Drive your routes/ look on google maps so you know whats coming - you got this!
 
Make yourself a kit to keep in the box. Hopefully you'll never need it but mine has come in handy before! I have

-first aid kit
-breakdown kit with a fire extinguisher
-spare headcollar, lead rope and lunge line
-basic grooming kit including multiple hoof picks
-couple of bottle of yFood and other shelf stable snacks
-bag of Silvermoor haylage
-2x 25l water containers
-rug suitable for the time of year and a blanket for me.

It's totally overkill but I've used most of it at least once when we've been out. Also consider breakdown cover - I'm with kbis and they're fantastic!
 
My best bit of advice was drive 2 cars ahead! Use your driving height to advantage - the car in front of you will react to the car in front of them - so for example if his break lights come on you give yourself extra breaking time.

Also, if someone is right up your bum (ie very close to your lorry’s rear) you have to leave even more breaking space between you and the car in front, as you are going to have to build in their reaction time.

Finally, always leave enough room so people can overtake you safely so you don’t have to break sharply if they pull in.
 
Landcruiser said:
I used to have a 7.5 and was terrified the first time I drove it (empty). I got a couple of lessons and my top tip from the instructor was "Always imagine you have a large bucket of water on board, full to the brim, and try not to spill any." This served me very well, and I still use it now I've downsized to a trailer.
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This is good advice, I always try to drive very smoothly, imagine a glass of water on the dash that must not spill. Someone told me this years ago, too. The other thing is always look ahead, leave huge stopping distance. No fast starts, no sudden braking, slow round sharp corners, and roundabouts.
 
Tbh, I cannot feel any difference with one 500kg pony in my 3.5ton box, absolutely no need to set off in 2nd gear in a vehicle like this.
Go as slow as you need to, if cars are behind and you want/can pull over and let them pass.
Have fun x
 
meandmyself said:
Make yourself a kit to keep in the box. Hopefully you'll never need it but mine has come in handy before! I have

-first aid kit
-breakdown kit with a fire extinguisher
-spare headcollar, lead rope and lunge line
-basic grooming kit including multiple hoof picks
-couple of bottle of yFood and other shelf stable snacks
-bag of Silvermoor haylage
-2x 25l water containers
-rug suitable for the time of year and a blanket for me.

It's totally overkill but I've used most of it at least once when we've been out. Also consider breakdown cover - I'm with kbis and they're fantastic!
Click to expand...
Yeah we have made sure to get good breakdown cover, didn't want to risk breaking down on the road and not having a way to get him home!
Will get myself a kit sorted, all sound like great ideas, thank you!
 
tda said:
Tbh, I cannot feel any difference with one 500kg pony in my 3.5ton box, absolutely no need to set off in 2nd gear in a vehicle like this.
Go as slow as you need to, if cars are behind and you want/can pull over and let them pass.
Have fun x
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It’s not about the extra weight but about the vehicle moving off more slowly and gradually. (If the weight caused the vehicle to struggle more, then you should definitely use first and not second). Yes it would put slightly more wear on the clutch than moving off in 1st but (I have checked this with a mechanic) it’s marginal, and most vehicles are capable of moving off in 2nd unless on a hill.
 
canteron said:
My best bit of advice was drive 2 cars ahead! Use your driving height to advantage - the car in front of you will react to the car in front of them - so for example if his break lights come on you give yourself extra breaking time.
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But whatever you do keep your eyes on the vehicle immediately in front of you as well. I was once driving ahead and failed to notice that although the car two in front was pulling away, the one under my nose wasn't! It was a close thing ......
.
 
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