opnions.. need to change transport.

[jhoward]

I currently have a 3.5tn lorry,
my horse is 16.2 and a big 16.2 think 6.9 rugs and 11 inch wide saddle he is only just 3 so will grow

my lorry .. over 7 foot in height, and stalled herringbone. no idea of length but you can get 4 13.2 ponies in it (no i dont before any one thinks it)

the problem. horses height is fine he has a ton of room but he is just to big even with a single stall at an angle turning around to come out involves a very good baby horse and a big bum squish on the back wall. now as much as he is good id rather not have to do this for his sake.

so.. options.

i was thinking of changing lorry to forward facing with a side ramp.. BUT im not sure how this would effect the balance of the lorry, so it would then load/unload like a modern 3.5tn. BUT again the balance comes in unless it is set so horse is stalled central ( transit conversion so am aware of the "rolling")

so the above im not sure is practical.

I could sell the lorry,
use part of the money to pass my c1 and then buy a 7.5tn costs arnt to bad as it will only ever be on the road 6 months out of the year. BUT insurance ive not passed my car test a year yet

also storage of a 7.5tn would be tricky but could also look at between 4-7.5tn

sell current lorry ..

buy a 4 x 4.. now this is pratical as house hold needs two vehicels and due to location of horses the 4 x 4 would have much use in winter.

so buy 4 x 4 pass trailer test and just hire or borrow a trailer for when i go out to compete possibley look at buying in future.

down side to this option is im not sure how i feel about towing and my reversing is ermm.. shall we say a bit naff!

is there an option ive not thought about.. budget will always be limited to around 4k. so this needs to factor in and id rather not be looking at throwing away money but having an investment if you see what i meen. (ie money tied up in trailer/lorry)

oh and selling horse is not an option.

 

[Dancing Queen]

personally i would always go lorry over 4*4 and trailer - better ride for the horses IMO.

 

[PaddyMonty]

Is your current lorry a chassis cab or panel cab?
Chassis cab has floor above rear wheels, panel cab has floor set well below top of wheel arches.
Chassis cabs do roll far more than panel cabs due to the higher centre of gravity. If its a panel cab then I would convert to rear facing, if its a chassis cab then I wouldn't.
My 3.5 ton would fit your hourse without any issue as I made the ramp wider than standard so horse doesn't have to bend to get out. Roof is also 7.5" high.
You could also uprate springs/shock absorbers to improve ride.
Horse in pics is 15.3 and pretty long but has huge amount of room left

looks lost in this one

 

[Jerokee]

i think you need to review the type of 3.5t lorry as i had a 3.5t renault and y 17.2/3 kwpn travelled rear facing fine.

yet the transit/ifor back i now use although height ok id never travel him in it yet is fine for my 14,2 pony!!!

 

[OWLIE185]

You are quite correct about the side ramp. Because of the additional weight of them the lorry has to be counterbalanced on the other side thus creating additional weight which reduces the payload of the vehicle.

A £4,000 budget will be unlikely to get you a better vehicle unless you go for an ancient Bedford TK (7.5 or 6.00 Ton) and have an equally ancient mechanic that can cope with the basic technology. You can get some very nice Bedford TK's (Horseboxes)n on E-bay for £2,000.00. Just type in Bedford TK in to the search engine.

 

[jhoward]

You are quite correct about the side ramp. Because of the additional weight of them the lorry has to be counterbalanced on the other side thus creating additional weight which reduces the payload of the vehicle.

A £4,000 budget will be unlikely to get you a better vehicle unless you go for an ancient Bedford TK (7.5 or 6.00 Ton) and have an equally ancient mechanic that can cope with the basic technology. You can get some very nice Bedford TK's (Horseboxes)n on E-bay for £2,000.00. Just type in Bedford TK in to the search engine.

Juno, it is a chassis cab. which is why I know im limited as to how i can change it.

Owlie, my last lorry was a bedford tk and LOL it sold for a lot of money!(crazy buyers that wanted a classic to turn into a mobile theatre, lorry had been very looked after all of its life. )

Im not needing posh, and do not have a issue with needing to tarting up work so an older 7.5tn is doable.. BUT i would have to take out of the budget the money to do my C1 test.

so this again takes me back to the trailer option. I travel on a vast amount of roads, country lanes/motorways long journeys, so im not keen for these reasons.

so .. other option is to sell my lorry and up the budget.. id have 4-6 months to get funds together and find a lorry. but as like the renults.. something that is side loading.

I do like the idea of the 7.5tn the old bedford was such a good runner and cheap to run! and it was nice having the cooker etc not to mention ample space in the horse area.
insurance i can get round by having hubby as main driver (hes old so insurance is cheap hehe.)

and im sure i can find somewhere to keep it.

 

[jhoward]

OWLIE.. sorry just to add my current lorry with 3 wooden partitons in has a payload of 1200. my ramp is really heavy, I could in effect remove back ramp. put on side ramp which would keep payload near the same. but again we have the balance issue.

I really dont want to change to one of the ifor types as front ramps are far to steep for my liking and with a big horse.

 

[mainpower]

If you converted to a side ramp you'd travel your horse on the opposite side so surely that would act as a counterbalance? Or you could just add a side unloading ramp, like a front unloading Ifor type. Or if it's petrol you could sell it to me....

 

[jhoward]

yes did think about putting ramp otherside i guess speaking to a coachbuilder would be the answer there, the rear ramp could come off to allow for weight difference.

really dont want the sort of ramp that the ifor types have as feel they are to narrow for a horse that could well end up over 17hh.. but then tbh if thats the case i really will have to sell.

ps.. is not petrol, and a few people have offered to buy it, apprently so rar to find a herringbone that will carry more than 2 ponies! hehehe. what its an m reg and really well built plus has had cam belt and loads done engine wise so im hoping if i sell it will go for daft money!

ive asked the question today about my options as ive searched the market and not only is there bugger all for sale in the devon area people are wanting daft money for old mankie lorries! so was thinking now may be the time to run a few ads and let fate decide!