Payload of 3.5ton - Increase required?

moakesville

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Hiya, im looking for advice. Im about to purchase a new 3.5ton converson but am baffled by the payload and whether or not i need to get an extra 'spring' added to give me the additional 400kgs, as i want to be able to carry a 17.2 and 15.2.
Does anyone have experience of doing this?
Does anyone know anywhere in the West Midlands that can do this? if so, any idea of the cost?
Thanks. T:)
 

miss_c

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It may be a 3.5t box, but that doesn't mean you have a 3.5t payload. Plus if you uprate it to a 3.9t you will need to have either passed your test before 1997, or taken an additional test. To be honest I agree with the above poster, even uprated I doubt you would have the payload for a 17.2 and a 15.2. :)
 

competitiondiva

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Agree with above take just for an example the box in the link:
http://www.alexandershorseboxes.co.uk/grand-national-35t
payload is only 750Kg, to take those weights plus driver, passenger, fuel, tack, water, etc etc you are going to need a payload of at least 1600Kg?? you'd probably be bettter looking at a 5 tonne?

And to re-itterate above anything over 3.5 tonne and you will need to take another driving test if you took your test after jan 1997.
 

Booboos

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Other people can't tell you the payload of a specific 3.5 tonne van, you need to get it weighed.

Here's how it works: the factory produces a 3.5 tonne chassis, that means that the chassis can legally carry 3.5 tonnes as its total weight. The chassis already has a certain weight that uses up part of the 3.5 tonne allowance. Owners then add a box to the chassis which could be a horsebox, a refrigerated unit, a general purpose box for a plumber for example, etc. anything they want. The box that is placed on top also takes up part of the allowance. You then need to take the finished lorry to a weightbridge to see what is left.

Typically 3.5 tonne lorries have a 1 tonne, 1.1 tonne capacity if made out of the best, most lightweight materials and with no living. This is nowhere near enough for two horses, but then again you need to get your horses weighed because it depends on the horses!

Don't trust anyone who sells you a lorry with the payload, see for yourself! Either take it to a weightbridge (you can find a list of public ones near you online) or ask for the MOT certificate which should include a payload printout (although this way you don't know what they took out of the lorry before taking it for an MOT, e.g. partition, breast bars, rubber matting).

Finally not all lorries can be upgraded. Ford for example refuses to allow this so check before banking on this route.
 

millimoo

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Moakesville, don't waste your money.
As others have said, you will not have the payload.
Not only are the fines hefty, but you would be putting yourself and your horses in danger.
3.5ton horseboxes are not suitable for 2 horses period. Sorry, don't mean to be blunt, but you'd be better with a trailer and large 4x4 or 6.5 to 7.5 ton lorry.
We have a lovely coachbuilt 'v' reg Leyland Daf about to go up for sale for probably less than your 3.5ton
 

ROG

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Hiya, im looking for advice. Im about to purchase a new 3.5ton converson but am baffled by the payload and whether or not i need to get an extra 'spring' added to give me the additional 400kgs, as i want to be able to carry a 17.2 and 15.2.
Does anyone have experience of doing this?
Does anyone know anywhere in the West Midlands that can do this? if so, any idea of the cost?
Thanks. T:)
What is the weight of both the horses when added together?

What is the weight of anything else that you need to transport including people?

I am guessing like others that you might need either a C1 or B+E licence depending which route you go down for transporting two horses etc
 
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