Please help for clueless lorry buyer

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LizzieRC1313

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Would really appreciate help with this. I know there are other threads which I've read but I'm still confused.

We have found 3 lorries that look suitable but one is 3k cheaper. However it has a wooden floor. Is this an absolute no-no?? And if so what is an ideal floor and how much does it cost to put a new floor in?

Also has anyone used OTHO for lorry inspections? If so would you recommend?

Thanks!
 
LizzieRC1313 said:
Would really appreciate help with this. I know there are other threads which I've read but I'm still confused.

We have found 3 lorries that look suitable but one is 3k cheaper. However it has a wooden floor. Is this an absolute no-no?? And if so what is an ideal floor and how much does it cost to put a new floor in?

Also has anyone used OTHO for lorry inspections? If so would you recommend?

Thanks!
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Personally i woulnt want a wooden floor as i would be worried about rot......I think an aluminum with rubber matting is the one most want. but thats just me.

i don't know OTHO.....my dad is a HGV machanic so im lucky in that respect.
 
Hi,

My lorry has a wooden floor with rubber matting on top, you can take the rubber up anytime to check the wood (in brilliant condition and sound).

The only thing I probably wouldn't touch is a lorry with a liquid rubber floor on top of wood as difficult to check what the floor condition is like.

Not used OTHO, but in the process of selling said lorry and would welcome any inspection by any mechanic if that helps (my dad also box builder/mechanic so I'm lucky also!)

Btr
 
I've built three horse boxes for myself over the years, and always have wooden floors with rubber matting over. But... I have two thinner layers of hardwood ply over the original lorry deck, so if the top layer should go, (its never happened in 25 years of lorries) then its easy just to replace that layer. Some horseboxes have one very thick floor, and if that rots, then its a big job to replace.
 
Me again. Take it found something and more than one yesterday?
My last box had a wooden floor.
It was a single one, which was sound but I felt happier having a double, so I had a second floor put on top using rhino board. It cost me about £800 as. Had new rubber matting put on top too.
I hope this helps, and feel free to pm me with update!
 
Thanks for the folks, rang OHTO & their lorry guy will check all the floor etc so think we will use him. Will it be fairly obvious to tell if the floor is sound?

One more thing, is there some sort of documentation to prove the payload of a lorry? we may sometimes use ours for three so needs to be fairly large payload, or should we just insist on taking it to a weigh bridge?


Spottyappy said:
Me again. Take it found something and more than one yesterday?
My last box had a wooden floor.
It was a single one, which was sound but I felt happier having a double, so I had a second floor put on top using rhino board. It cost me about £800 as. Had new rubber matting put on top too.
I hope this helps, and feel free to pm me with update!
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Hi again! We have a few lined up to go see now but because we don't want to spend a load getting them all inspected we are off to see the cheapest one first to see if it looks a goer. If not we will be off to see another one and the dealer you recommended! Thank you for all your help & I will PM you to update you on the trials and tribulations of lorry shopping!

Lizzie
 
OWLIE185 said:
Aluminium floors also rot as a result of galvanic action caused by urine between the aluminium and supporting structures.
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Yes I absolutley agree with this.

The best flooring is wood, but should be marine ply. You can cover this with rubber matting if you wish but this will add to the weight.
Most 7.5 ton boxes will be overloaded if 3 horses are carried.
 
BTR said:
You'll find the weight of vehicle on the plaiting certificate.
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Dont trust the weight shown on plate. These are often from when the lorry was commercial before being converted. Always best to take to weigh bridge.
You can use the brake test report from the annual inspection as a guide although some people will load the lorry up to improve brake performance so still best to go to weigh bridge.
 
If you are going for a 7.5 ton make sure that the cab can be completely tilted otherwise it is a nightmare to repair and more difficult to repair if you brake down on a road.
 
We used to sell lorries so I will help you if I can. It is right thatmost 7.5 ton lorries will not carry three horses (unless they have little or no living). Get a Trading standards weight certificate - easy to get o your local TS weighbridge. That will show you how muchg carrying capacity the lory has but do think also about water, tack, and all the other paraphanalia that belongs in a lorry. Wooden floors can be difficult to assess. Price is not indicative of quality! Go for a reputable dealer and still have it inspected and you can't go too wrong. You are going to carry your precious horses in it so it really must be safe. Good luck - and do come back to me if you need any more help.
 
lamlyn2012 said:
Yes I absolutley agree with this.

The best flooring is wood, but should be marine ply. You can cover this with rubber matting if you wish but this will add to the weight.
Most 7.5 ton boxes will be overloaded if 3 horses are carried.
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NEVER USE MARINE PLY !!! it rots and horses will go through it IT IS NOT suitable for lorry or trailer floors !!!
Alloy planks is lightest and strong but expensive and can as other said corrode if in direct contact with steel, Keruin planks are strong and resist rotting but heavy, the phenol ply also know as antislip , wisa deck, gorrila board is a good compromise as very strong and long lasting ....
 
BTR said:
You'll find the weight of vehicle on the plaiting certificate.

Btr
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No you will find the plated weights these are the maximum allowable!!! the actual weight is what a weighbridge reads with the lorry parked on it!!!:D this is the only sure way to find out how much your lorry weighs and how much you can put in it and still be legal!!! The brake testing sheet will give a rough guide as the machine weighs the axle to work out brake efficency however it is often out by plus or minus a few hunded kgs...
remember you also need to insure the axles arnt overloaded so ideally weighing each axle as well as the whole lorry is good and the weighbridge opperator will help you do this and give a print out... I woudent buy a horsebox without seeing it on a weighbridge....
 
I had the horse area rotten wooden floor replaced recently in mine, and it was approx £1100 at a horsebox place for the aluminium planking, my horse area is 10ft long and nearly 8ft wide, hope that helps.
 
PaddyMonty said:
Dont trust the weight shown on plate. These are often from when the lorry was commercial before being converted. Always best to take to weigh bridge.
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Excellent advice! I found a lorry that seemed perfect, and thankfully our friend pushed us to take it to the weigh bridge and it turned out that it was almost 6 unloaded, we'd have never been able to carry 4 ponies, people and gear in there legally!
 
I had a wooden floor replaced for £500 by a horsebox firm a few years ago.
As for ali planking, I looked at a horsebox a few months ago, got underneath and there were holes appearing through it, where it was coroding, I was quite shocked really, The horsebox was a fab build by a reputable firm, ok an older box but I was suprised to see holes.
As for weight, my last horsebox braking test sheet made me sweat :eek: as it was soooo heavy, I took it to a callibrated weighbridge as I was wanting to sell it and it turned out 3/4 ton lighter!! so they arent accurate.
 
perfect11s said:
NEVER USE MARINE PLY !!! it rots and horses will go through it IT IS NOT suitable for lorry or trailer floors !!!
Alloy planks is lightest and strong but expensive and can as other said corrode if in direct contact with steel, Keruin planks are strong and resist rotting but heavy, the phenol ply also know as antislip , wisa deck, gorrila board is a good compromise as very strong and long lasting ....
Click to expand...

I always thought marine ply was the best, isn't that what they use for boats?!

I do check my lorry floor on a regular basis but would be interested in other views on marine ply as may be changing lorry soon.
 
lamlyn2012 said:
I always thought marine ply was the best, isn't that what they use for boats?!

I do check my lorry floor on a regular basis but would be interested in other views on marine ply as may be changing lorry soon.
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Yes it is used on old boats and is basicly a high quality ply that is easy to work and resists warping but relies 100% on being sealed with lots of layers of varnish or paint to stop it rotting, why would people risk it or use it when the proper phenol flooring isnt much dearer and will most likely last the life of the lorry and is stronger than the eqivelent thickness bare ply marine or otherwise??? Its commonly used in comercial lorrys that carry goods and survives pallet trucks running over it with loads and pallets bouncing about on it...
 
Saw your thread. I have two lorries to sell as im no longer competing, if you are interested. One has all the bells and whistles, incl aluminium floor, and the other is a good old work horse, with wooden floor. From an experienced lorry owner, I would have either wooden or aluminium again. When purchasing, as long as the floor is in excellent condition and appropriate standard for size of lorry and weight of horses you intend to carry that should be it. Im private individual but if you would like to know more pls ring 01672 851629. Good luck and hope you find your lorry. :)
 
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