Opinions on 3.5T transits with Ifor style back

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Walrus

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Hi,

Just wondering what people's opinions were on the 3.5T lorries with the Ifor Williams style back bit (I'm well technical I am! :D). Most of them seem to be on transit chassis which I assume will be fairly reliable and be cheaper for parts? Seen a couple on various websites and they seem to be a little cheaper. Any comments on drive-ability, horse area etc. welcome.

Cheers

:)
 
Easy to drive but roll about so much they give the horses an awful ride.

Ok for smaller ponies; what do you want it for? (size animal)
 
I had one many years ago and it carried a 15.2 but I wouldn't have wanted anything taller in. The ramp was very steep and it had a narrow ramp to the side for unloading. It was 100% reliable and I drove it for 8 years with no problems. It was already 2nd hand when I bought it. You don't see many about now but it was a practical little box.
 
Never really had a prob with mine, had it for years and my horse travelled in it fine.
I did find that if caught in a cross wind on a motorway it would pull about a bit but have seen the same prob with some larger 7.5ton boxes.
Not the biggest of lorries and i wouldnt have put anything bigger than 15,2 in mine, i sold it as there was no way my new boy at 16.2 would fit let alone get back out :rolleyes:
As with all boxes some will be better condition than others reguardless of make so check for rust everywhere, transits are pretty reliable but i wouldnt get a petrol engine nor anything under 2.0l.
Had mine for nearly 10 years and it hardly cost me anything in maintinance and i sold it for not much less than i bought it for, if you find a good one they are useful little lorries.
 
I had one for a few years and mechanically couldn't fault it.

However the 4 minor problems I encountered were:

- Very steep back ramp so not good for tricky loaders, with side unloading ramp very narrow

- Heavy, with 1x14.2hh cob we weighed just under 3,600 kg so would have been hit and miss if stopped by vosa

- Again as the chassis is so high, the container was did not give as stable a ride as other 3.5t conversions - I now have a renault master which has no sway at all.

- Transits are very prone to rusting and mine had several trips to the welders so ideally needs barn storage over the winter.

Hope that helps!
 
I had an LT35 with an Ifor back on it. The actual back was very roomy, easy to clean and well made. It was a little unstable as it was a bit higher, but I usually only carried one 14.2 at a time. Did have to go steady on roundabouts. The Lorry was fab, never let me down, just a little slow up hill.
 
I've hired one a few times, it is lovely to drive and all the ponies I've traveled in it have traveled well. Easy to clean out too. I have not noticed them 'rolling' more than other lorries although I know a lot of people have said they do.
 
I've got 2 Ford Transit boxes (dont ask why 2 lol) and i can say be careful about the actual chassis - one of mine is like a patchwork quilt with bits of welding here and there..... the other.... the opposite - yet this one has a higher mileage!
One is a 2l petrol, the other 2.5l diesel. TBH, not that much difference in them but the 2.5 is much better on hills - i once was nearly pushed up one hill by an artic in the 2l one and to this day i havent a clue how we got up it (and the box was empty at the time!!!)
I do love having them on transit chassis though, and cant fault them.

I did once view one with a Ifor back on, but felt it rather crampted, maybe it was just the one i looked at but the front ramp would have been quite scarey to unload via IMO.

I havent ever really noticed any negative effects of the wind etc when driving either on the motorway in wind etc - my friend had a LDV and that was terrible in comparrision.
 
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