New trailer vs. old horsebox

[Palindrome]

I might be in a position to get either a new trailer or an older 3.5t horsebox but I am not sure which one to choose.
I am wanting to transport one 16.2hh horse on small trips (max 1-2 hours but mostly under half an hour) once a week or once every 2 week. I may be on my own to hook the trailer, will always be alone to drive and load/unload the horse. The backing up to park the trailer through a gate is a bit awkward but I have done it before. A horsebox would be easier but I am a bit worried it will not be reliable and will always need repairs.
My towing vehicle is not a 4 by 4 but good enough to tow a 1 horse trailer without problem.
The height of the horse is a bit of a worry as she had her ears touching the ceiling on an older ifor, but the one I am wanting to buy (cheval liberte gold one aluline) has more headroom.

What would you go for? Do you trailer your horse on your own?

 

[Parrotperson]

There’s lots more to know though. You say your car is good enough but have you checked it can tow a box and a horse? You need to work out weights of both them see if your car will do it.

I’d always chose a box if you can afford it and get a well maintained one as they’re just so much easier. Easier to manoeuvre, park etc. plus if you get say living then going out is easier with drinks etc. I always feel safer with horses in a lorry than horses in a trailer too.

That said trailers have their advantages and some people prefer them.

 

[Tiddlypom]

What is your budget? High £1000s?

If it wasn't for the reversing through a gateway to park I'd go with a new trailer rather than an older 3.5t, but the reversing could be tricky after dark.

Does your tow vehicle have a reversing camera? That makes hooking up to the trailer a lot easier. How high is your mare - scratch that, I see that she's 16.2hh. Ifors have pretty good headroom as a rule, better than many 3.5t.

What is the headroom in your preferred trailer for comparison?

 

[Quigleyandme]

I had a Vauxhall Movano conversion for years and she was very reliable and inexpensive to maintain. The CV boots needed replacing every second service but that was very inexpensive. The only times it broke down were when a rodent chewed through the fuel line causing her to conk out shortly after I started her up one morning and the clutch cable broke once. Both repairs were very affordable. She was low mileage though having been used for local deliveries only before conversion to a horse box. I would get any older van conversion thoroughly checked by an expert before purchase if you opt for one though. If you are happy towing, a new trailer might be a safer bet with a better residual value.

 

[Palindrome]

What is your budget? High £1000s?

If it wasn't for the reversing through a gateway to park I'd go with a new trailer rather than an older 3.5t, but the reversing could be tricky after dark.

Does your tow vehicle have a reversing camera? That makes hooking up to the trailer a lot easier. How high is your mare? Ifors have pretty good headroom as a rule, better than many 3.5t.

Yes, about 7k now, I could wait to have a bit more as this is quite low for a box. The tow vehicle doesn't have a reversing camera. My mare is 16.2hh but with a fairly high head carriage.

There’s lots more to know though. You say your car is good enough but have you checked it can tow a box and a horse? You need to work out weights of both them see if your car will do it.

I’d always chose a box if you can afford it and get a well maintained one as they’re just so much easier. Easier to manoeuvre, park etc. plus if you get say living then going out is easier with drinks etc. I always feel safer with horses in a lorry than horses in a trailer too.

That said trailers have their advantages and some people prefer them.

Yes, my car can tow and has a a tow bar fitted. I have bought it with towing in mind, it has a powerful diesel engine. I wouldn't want living but it would be nice to be able to have 2 horses occasionally as I also have a 3 years old that could soon come for lessons too.

 

[marmalade76]

As you're going out so regularly, I would go for a box. I have a trailer and the faff of hitching/unhitching is not a problem because I don't use it very often, if I was having to do it every week, I'd soon get fed up with it.

 

[blitznbobs]

If you are doing it on your own — a box but be careful and get it checked carefully.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Don't forget that for a box you'll have to pay insurance, road tax and MOT so as well as buying it , you'd need to factor in those costs

 

[Abacus]

It’s hard to tell if you have a good expensive car but would you consider downgrading it to afford a better box? My personal preference is always for a lorry, even an older one, and definitely a 3.5 tonne for economy of fuel and repairs. They are just blissfully easy to manage and drive. But you won’t get two horses in if they are both as big as your 16.2.

 

[doodle]

I have only ever had a trailer. I don’t find hitching up difficult at all. I also have to reverse into a very tight space (about 3 inches each side) and can do it fine. More often than not I go out alone. While a lorry wound be lovely a trailer can sit without being used and dosnt cost me. I get it serviced annually. It was 3 years old when j got it and apart from servicing costs it has only cost me new tyres). My horse is 16.2 and fits with loads of room in a 511. Friend also has a 16.2 with a single (403 ifor?) trailer with piles of room.

 

[Widgeon]

I have only ever had a trailer. I don’t find hitching up difficult at all. I also have to reverse into a very tight space (about 3 inches each side) and can do it fine. More often than not I go out alone. While a lorry wound be lovely a trailer can sit without being used and dosnt cost me.

Same here. I always go out alone, hitching up is a pain but with a reversing mirror it's not difficult and I'm very quick at it now. I'd love a lorry but can't afford one, and my trailer sits all winter costing me practically nothing. It's very doable. I have a single trailer (401) which makes life a bit easier, as it's narrower and lighter.

 

[doodle]

I do have a reversing camera which helps but before then I worked out the middle of trailer, the middle of car and lined it up. Then kept the jockey wheel at the same height and so knew how far back to go by how much of the handle I could see. They are easy enough to move if a couple of inches out.

 

[Palindrome]

It’s hard to tell if you have a good expensive car but would you consider downgrading it to afford a better box? My personal preference is always for a lorry, even an older one, and definitely a 3.5 tonne for economy of fuel and repairs. They are just blissfully easy to manage and drive. But you won’t get two horses in if they are both as big as your 16.2.

The car is a Renault Espace, it can tow 2000 kg. It's a bit older and wasn't super expensive. I wouldn't want to sell it as I use it for commuting and traveling.

 

[Bobthecob15]

We have a Cheval liberte Tourer trailer, it's absolutely fantastic! Really easy to hitch up (automatic hockey wheel lift thingy) I always do it by myself and have no issues hitching up. Horses absolutely love being in it as it has super suspension and doesn't rattle. We sold our old box and got this and I have no hesitation recommending it. Also has a fab tack locker! We tow with a 3.5 tonne VW and you'd nor know you're pulling it.

If you search here you'll see loads of great reviews. Only downside is the Tourer only takes up to about 16/16.2 max after that you need the chrval maxi herringbone. Although I've heard they are making a bigger Tourer soon for bigger horses.

 

[rabatsa]

If you are doing it regularly you will find hitching and reversing to be easy peasy. I am using my trailer 3x week at the moment and alternate with a sheep trailer averaging 2x week. The tow vehicle is also used to take me shopping, craft groups and to the gym 4+ times a week. In my situation a lorry would be a nuisance in the yard most of the time.

 

[Palindrome]

Thank you all for replying, there is a good mix of experiences/opinions.
I do like the idea of having something new for once and it 's a plus that the trailer would take less space in the driveway, but the reversing and hitching are a bit daunting. It's reassuring to know it's doable to take a trailer on your own.

What is the headroom in your preferred trailer for comparison?

Sorry I missed that bit. The cheval is 7' 6.5'' (2.3 m). My friend's older Ifor is about 7ft, he does take 16hh + draft horses in it (one at a time) so we were surprised my mare touched the ceiling.

 

[Tiddlypom]

You'd be hard pressed to find a decent 3.5t for that budget with 7'6" of headroom.

 

[irishdraft]

I have a trailer which I use on my own & don't have any trouble hitching or reversing I think if you are doing it regularly it's not a problem. Someone I know has the trailer your thinking of and she literally goes all over the country competing on her own with her connie. Personally I would always have a trailer easier all round & cheaper.

 

[Alibear]

I'd vote trailer, as others have mentioned hitching and reversing get easier with practice, and with the headroom issue, budget, and local-ish trips, a trailer seems to make more sense to me.
I am biased, though, as I go out solo and have used trailers 99% of the time for the last 30 years.

 

[Squeak]

The car is a Renault Espace, it can tow 2000 kg. It's a bit older and wasn't super expensive. I wouldn't want to sell it as I use it for commuting and traveling.

I don't tow so may well be wrong but I wouldn't have thought that a Renault Espace would be great for towing, maybe others can advise?

 

[Bluewaves]

I'd love a wee horsebox but I've been using a trailer for the last five years. I had to start from scratch as I'd never transported before.

I have got used to it now and happy enough to trailer him about on my own. If i had the option of a brand new horsebox from a good manufacturer I'd swap but I can't afford it and I'm put off a second hand one by the cost and worry of safely maintaining an older horsebox. My trailer has a good floor and is serviced relatively cheaply every year. I also have replaced parts easy enough as I've gone along.

A reversing camera in my current car has made all the difference to me in being able to line the car towbar up with the trailer and quickly hitch up. It was a bit of a pain when I didn't have one in my last car. Huge wing mirrors on my car also make life easier when reversing the trailer. I just do everything very, very slowly when reversing the trailer.

 

[Annagain]

I don't tow so may well be wrong but I wouldn't have thought that a Renault Espace would be great for towing, maybe others can advise?

It would be fine. 2000kg is a decent capacity for a trailer and one horse which will weigh about 1500kg max. You often see people carriers like the Espace towing caravans. You wouldn't want to take it across a muddy field but there are some 4x4s you can say that about. The idea that you need a 4x4 to tow is a bit of a myth. As long as you have enough towing capacity to be safe, you're fine. You may get through some consumable parts (like the clutch) more quickly as they tend not to be so heavy duty but as long as you factor that in, it's not a huge deal.

OP - from what you've said I think I'd hang on, save a bit more and get a 3.5t. A 7k one is likely to be older and while you might be lucky, reliability is the reason a lot of people sell them when they reach a certain age. You dont want to be stuck somewhere on your own. I get that could happen at any time to any vehicle but I think it's more likely to happen with an older lorry. Having said that, I don't think the trailer sounds ideal with your reversing set up - the Espace will be quite long which makes the reversing harder in a limited space.

 

[Identityincrisis]

I used to have a 401 trailer and it was easy to use and i had no issues towing or reversing but i sold it to get a 3.5 and LOVE it. It’s a converted vauxhall Movano on a 51 plate so she’s old, I’m lucky my Dad can do bits and pieces on her so it helps a bit with costs. If i had a choice i would pick the box every single time.

I also priced it up, because that’s how i can make peace with my decisions, and including tax snd insurance, the 3.5 and a small car costs the same to run as my big car (non 4x4) and trailer.

 

[exracehorse]

You won’t buy a 3.5 for 7k. I hated towing. And hitching. So I bought a 3.5 Vauxhall Movanno locally for 8k. Paint work was tatty but inside cab and box very clean. And very low mileage. However .. the Speedo didn’t work properly. And there was a grind on the right wheel. It cost 1,800 as gear box had to come out. But it was mechanically all thoroughly checked. Pulled apart and put back. Then I needed an anti jump grill. As didn’t want horse trying to get over into groom area. Chap said your need to spend a bit on the floor as it’s checca plate over original metal floor and loose rubber matting. You need wood on top of metal floor. And rubber floor sealed and rubber sealed up the wall. That came in at 2.5k with anti J G. So my 8k did shoot up. Luckily I had some spare savings and cash from selling the trailer. BUT.. I love my lorry. And have been out more in the past few months than a year with the trailer. And I’ve sold the 4x4 and got a cheap little car to get to yard.

 

[exracehorse]

I used to have a 401 trailer and it was easy to use and i had no issues towing or reversing but i sold it to get a 3.5 and LOVE it. It’s a converted vauxhall Movano on a 51 plate so she’s old, I’m lucky my Dad can do bits and pieces on her so it helps a bit with costs. If i had a choice i would pick the box every single time.

I also priced it up, because that’s how i can make peace with my decisions, and including tax snd insurance, the 3.5 and a small car costs the same to run as my big car (non 4x4) and trailer.

How strange. I literally sold my 401 Single and bought an old Vauxhall Movanno built by Chaigley.

 

[Palindrome]

I don't tow so may well be wrong but I wouldn't have thought that a Renault Espace would be great for towing, maybe others can advise?

I have towed a Bateson Derby with it and it tows without problems. Renault makes good diesel engines, they are even used on some Mercedes cars.
I wouldn't tow 2 horses though, but lots of 4 by 4 type cars are not able to tow 2 horses either and those that can have a high fuel consumption.

The choice is more about getting a new trailer or a 20+ years horsebox. I am leaning more towards the trailer now.
I can rent locally the same trailer that I want to buy so I might rent it for a day and see how it goes.

 

[Xmasha]

in your shoes id go for a trailer all day long. For £7k you will get a fairly new one, so less ongoing maintenance costs.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I can rent locally the same trailer that I want to buy so I might rent it for a day and see how it goes.

Great idea. I always try to hire before I buy, too. Then you'll know how you, your car and your horse get on with it .