opinions please! lorry

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vodkas_mum

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ok i have been to see a 3,5 ton ford transit and im just not sure where to value it!
its a h reg (1991) mot until july
7ft high
fairly tidy and takes 2 horses, side facing
its a cab with an aluminium trailer on the back

it hasnt been driven for a while and the battery was flat! this didnt bother my dad (used to be a mechanic) but he said it drove very 'flat' ie when he out his foot down didnt really move and he said it felt asthough it was struggling to get past 30 mph

so he is abit wary, but not really sure if this is just because it needs a service, it did get better after it was warmed up!

so how much do people think? i would put on a pic but i dont know how!
 
If your dad is a mechanic then he should be able to see if it is worth buying or not.

But if it struggled to get past 30mph empty, whats it going to be like when loaded.

Have a look at Horse Boxes for sale adverts ang get some idea what they are fetching (price wise)

Good Luck any way
 
a 3.5T'er that takes horses herringbone (side facing), sounds a bit odd to me, can't picture 2 horses having sufficient room (let alone legal weight). Ponies maybe.

Sounds like you should walk away from this one.
 
I would say about £3000 depends on condition though, if it has living etc, has it been properly converted or not,

you an put a picture on by just copying the link, ( I think)
 
Hi there

You will probably hate me saying this but youasked for opinions....having had a transit a couple of years ago, with IFOR williams alloy body, I'd avoid them like the plague.

Unless it has been lowered so the centre of gravity is lower they are death traps, unless taking small ponies, which you can get away with.

The most you will get on is a couple of small ponies or at a push a large horse on its own (legally). I know they can FIT more but seriously, they are renowned for tipping over and whilst i had the springs hardened on mine to prevent roll, it was always very unsteady and this was a fairly new one with good traveller in it.

Save a few more pennies and get something more solid....IMHO anyway!!

I know lots of people have them but the only thing I'd put in one now (having experienced one for 2 years!!) is my two miniatures......

Many people overprice them as you can drive them on car licence and good for young people, but there a lot of horror stories too.

(Runs and hides!!)....
 
It can fit two 16.2h's but christ I wouldnt put that weight on it, especially herringbone, only take the pair of horses to lean and it would tip over!!

Seller clearly has either no knowledge of weights allowed for safe travel and being legal!!

Steer well clear!!
 
having looked at pics, you would need to check the floor big time, check for the chassis, rust wise, it looks pretty from outside, but underneath cab and under box underside is where you want to get your microscope, rust wise they go quick.
 
thank you for being honest
i would only travel my mare in it by herself, but seriously dont want it tipping over?!?! its my dads money and he wont spend over 3000, any ideas of a better one for that money?

all i will be doing is going at the most 20 miles, she is a good traveler and will be by herslef
 
how big is she? is she in your sig??

My 15.3hh travelled in our one within the partition fine, but it was partitioned facing fowards, you may get away with it with just one?

I would also check the bit where the ramp hinge joins at the back of lorry, they are notorius for dripping water on that bit when it rains and rust quite easily.

They do the job but for 3k you could have non HGV with living, albiet not as pretty and slightly larger, it would be more solid...

I am lorry hunting myself so I know its not easy.

With transits the least of your worry is the horse part, its always the chassis that will be an issue if anything.

Sorry for being so honest!!! I know what its like getting your hopes up etc, hopefully this will be ok for you.

The tipping bit comes from rusty underneaths as they dont check the horsebox fittings etc on an MOT for horseboxes, whilst they do check chassis, whether the box is about to rust off from being joined to the chassis, they do not check.
 
shes 16,1 ish, not he one in my sig no shes a belgian warmblood
dont think i could drive a non hgv with living unless it was still below 3,5 ton cause of my age, im only 21
i dont mind about it being pretty just want one to get me from a to b safely!
 
Ford transits are notoriously unstable. This box is far too small to carry a 16.1 - it is only 6ft wide, so she would have no room to turn round in it. You can get something better for the money, especially as your dad is handy with mechanics
 
Have to say I wouldnt buy it and agree with Winkfiediwantspring about the height. We knew someone who swapped an old petrol bedford for a transit, looked lovely. They put a Section D in it and a Section C and never left the yard as it looked so unstable. They sold it to a man with small ponies and he loved it. The newer 3.5 tonnes are low to the floor and much more stable.
 
I definately wouldnt put my horse in that - sorry. There are no windows for the horse to look out of, its certainly not wide enough for a big(ish) horse herringbone and I would query the payload BIG time. Also the highest part of the roof is in the middle and with those sloping edges you dont actually have the full height where you need it.

Sorry but I honestly think you will waste your money on that. Look around a bit more.
 
Your horse wouldnt fit in that at all. If is only 6ft wide, where will she fit?!! You'd have to take the partitions out completely, put then would have to fit a breast and breach bar to make it safe for her. Would avoid. I have a LDV 3.5ton with alot nicer body on than that, and they arent the most stable of things, but I have travelled 3 different horses in mine and all have travelled fantastically, so although they may feel abit wobbly loading etc, I dont worry about mines stability, but mine is ALOT newer than that (1999 chassis).

If your budget is only 3k, tbh you will struggle to find anything half decent to fit a 16.1 in.
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But please avoid the one mentioned, if it isnt making 30mph unloaded, there is no chance will manage with a horse, you dont realise how much their weight effects the drive!!
 
I know I'm biased but you won't get much for that kind of money. There are far too many of these converted vans which have just been butchered imo to carry horses. They rarely have enough strength in the sides or floor and whilst it may be mechanically sound underneath I think they're just dangerous for anything but the smallest of ponies sorry
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