Please Please help me.. argument with my father.. horse transport..

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MissDeMeena

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Ok, everyone is suffering with this credit crunch.. us it seems a great deal as we suffer during normal times..

Anyway, it's been decided that we will have to sell our lorry.. a 3 horse Layland Daf K reg.. i've not really looked into it, but i'm guessing about £8k worth..

Now, here's the argument...
My dad says we should sell the lorry (as we will be doing regardless) AND also sell my mums car (an '03 Ford Fiesta) and replace them with a 4x4 and trailer...
So, lets say (for arguments sake) we get £8k for the lorry, and say £3/£4k for the car.. that's £11k or £12k to spend on a 4x4 and trailer...

My idea is that mum keeps her car.. and we put the money we get from the lorry into one of those little 2horse lorrys..
He says that for the sort of money we have to spend (£8k IF we get that for our lorry) we'll just be getting something with a load of problems...

So far my only argument (thanks to todays bit in H&H) is that 'everyone' is selling their 4x4's to get a small lorry, as a 4x4 is so expensive to run... he says they must be talking about huge 4ltr. 4x4s.. as that it shouldn't be any different to a transit... He also says we'd then have a seperate vehicle to tax/insure etc.


*post cut short.. gotta dash*
 
It depends on the milage your mum does - if it's high (I do 50 miles a day give or take) then way better having a cheap run about and a smaller lorry. If it's low, your father is right. I worked it all out when getting my lorry. As a guide, I paid £7.5K for my M reg 3 horse Daf with day living, hob, double bed on luton, battery isolator etc. No shower, hook up etc though. It's had a couple of things which need fixing, but they've been wear and tear things, and won't need doing again for a long time, rather than mechanical things which are ongoing if you know what I mean.

Just be thankful you can make these choices.....I can't, my horse won't travel in a trailer and diesel is crippling at the moment!
 
The thing with 4x4's is you need a good one to tow with. Therefore you are looking at your bigger diesel engines in the Disco's, Range Rover, Grand Cherokee, Landcruiser, Shogun etc etc.
If the 4x4 is going to be used as a general car as well it's going to take a lot of fuel. Mine's getting through nearly £100 a week at the moment and I don't do a lot of mileage. Plus if I want to update it any time soon I'm going to be in the £400 tax bracket, at the moment I just scrape through.

If needs must then maybe it's the right thing to do but I can't really see the logic personally!
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with a 4x4 you're looking at about 24 MPG on a diesel.

It costs me £97 to fill up my discovery now and on that I get just about 400 miles.

The little lorry is definitely far cheaper to run but very expensive to buy in the first place.

In fact since you already have the lorry I can't understand why you are selling it? Surely it's not THAT bad on fuel?
 
not sure about this one as I was really lucky and got my small lorry for £3.5 K and got rid of my 4x4 and trailer. I have found it to be more efficient (even with tax and insurance etc) running my small lorry with a smaller car than my 4x4 - as like a previous post I was getting through close to £100 a week in fuel (and that was without towing the trailer any great distances!!!!)
 
I think you would be wasting your time doing anything other than keeping your current lorry, where is the saving? 4x4 cost a fortune to feed.......what does mum drive at the moment?

By time all is said and done you may have been better off just keeping lorry and buying a small cheapy runaround car.
 
So why do you have to sell your lorry? I think your current set up with a (hopefully?) reliable lorry and fiesta is the best solution

I have a 06 Kia 4x4 and it does 280 miles on £75 towing at least once with that.

For fuel I would be better off having a lower mpg when travelling the horses and using a little car.
 
Well I'd definately go for a 3.5 ton lorry!! And you really could buy something perfectly decent enough for £12k !!

Just do NOT go there with a 4X4 and trailer- have been there, done it- OMG the amount of diesel they use up is diabolical. And my 4x4 was one of the most economical brands of vehicles. And I found the trailer such a hassle to handle, and it was frustrating having to drive everywhere in a big heavy and cumbersome 4x4 as my general runabout.

I've got a little 3.5 ton 2 horse lorry, its a coachbuilt one and I love it,lovely easy drive ( certainly far nicer than hauling a 4x4 and a trailer around!!) and I think that these lorries are very reasonable on the diesel. My 3.5 lorry even has a sleeping area above the luton which will be great for when Im staying away.
 
Also remember Road Tax on a large 4x4 is set to rise dramatically in the next couple of years if Gordon gets his way ..............

Friend bought a V plate 1yo 3.5t lorry a couple of years ago and that cost 13k - they certainly hold their money well as less limited mileage - personally would agree with the above that it would probably work out cheaper in the long run to keep the current lorry - if it ain't broke don't fix it and all that - obv I don't know your circumstances though
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I have 4x4 (L200) which I have had for a month and is a company car - it is very very expensive to run (I get fuel paid for) but would NOT run it if not.

I use to tow with a Mondeo and it was great to tow with, only issue is you can only legally tow one horse, but I would not hesitate to go back to using one. They are alot more economical than the truck and if the lorry has to go would be a cheap option.

Good Luck!
 
Good luck finding a 2 horse lorry for around £12k!!

Mine cost £30k 5 years ago on a N reg plate.

2 horse with living just dont come up for under £15k unless in a complete state.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Good luck finding a 2 horse lorry for around £12k!!

Mine cost £30k 5 years ago on a N reg plate.

2 horse with living just dont come up for under £15k unless in a complete state.

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Yeah, but your's is a very smart Ascot jobby!!
I'm talking about the no living at all 3.5t van type thing!
I've seen some very very smart ones (6 month old box on a 51reg bottom) for £14k..

Thanks for your replies everyone
smile.gif
although i doubt i'll get anyway.. as all dad will say it that you're all wrong. he knows best as usual.
 
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as all dad will say it that you're all wrong. he knows best as usual.

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Thats dads for you
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Mine was an event rider, vet, show jumping trainer all rolled into one... he'd only sat on a horse once and hadnt a clue about mechanics on the lorry lol
 
You should be grateful that your parents are making an effort to move you and your horse around. It sounds like they are the one's who are paying out, rather than you.
 
If you bought a 2 horse 3.5t lorry - you will only legally be able to put one horse in it. It will be overweight with 2 horses.
 
My dad has actually ridden in p-2-p's plus the odd season of BE and keeps most his cars going to well past 400,000 miles
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Hence he really is the ultimate expert on EVERYTHING!!!

I really really don't want a trailer!!! the thought of having to pack all the bits and pieces into it.. get changed in it, have no where to shelter at a wet and rainy horse trilas doesn't seem to have any bother to him at all.. hence i've got to think of some other arguments..
 
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If you bought a 2 horse 3.5t lorry - you will only legally be able to put one horse in it. It will be overweight with 2 horses.

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I know that.. but not a problem, as we only have two horses, and they're NEVER going to be going to the same shows! Hence we'll only ever be traveling one horse at a time.
 
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If you bought a 2 horse 3.5t lorry - you will only legally be able to put one horse in it. It will be overweight with 2 horses.

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Was going to say the same, although Im not sure MdeM has two horses at the same level to compete.

But youre right, even one horse and all the kit for eventing with water you'd be verging....
 
Not so ! I've just bought a 21 year old Ascot Supreme, three horse with lovely living for £11.5K. In excellent condition. I had it checked over mechanically and they couldn't find anything wrong with it, runs like a dream. Feeling very smug and lucky now
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I have a Range Rover that I've thought about selling but my friend whose husband deals in cars said I'd lose so much money at the moment that it ain't worth selling so maybe you could pick up a reasonable priced 4x4.
I must admit, if I can't sell the RR I am thinking about selling the horsebox, as lovely as it its holding its value better than the RR. I am trying to hold on to see if the current problem eases up rather than rushing into anything and just being economical with local shows and not every week.
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[ QUOTE ]
You should be grateful that your parents are making an effort to move you and your horse around. It sounds like they are the one's who are paying out, rather than you.

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Ouch.
 
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Not so ! I've just bought a 21 year old Ascot Supreme, three horse with lovely living for £11.5K. In excellent condition. I had it checked over mechanically and they couldn't find anything wrong with it, runs like a dream. Feeling very smug and lucky now
laugh.gif

I have a Range Rover that I've thought about selling but my friend whose husband deals in cars said I'd lose so much money at the moment that it ain't worth selling so maybe you could pick up a reasonable priced 4x4.
I must admit, if I can't sell the RR I am thinking about selling the horsebox, as lovely as it its holding its value better than the RR. I am trying to hold on to see if the current problem eases up rather than rushing into anything and just being economical with local shows and not every week.
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But she wants a 2 horse lorry....
3 horse lorries are more sensibly priced it seems.

But agree Ascots are great
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Ok, arguements against a trailer- ( this is exgaggerated so please, trailer-owners, dont get offended!! )

-reversing is impossible, so you will be very likely to bash it up

- horses do NOT travel so well in a trailer. they arrive at the comp less rested.it is harder wear and tear on their backs/legs, as they are facing forwards and the suspension is not nearly so good in a trailer.

-a trailer offers no protection for the horse were you to be in an accident

- overall much higher risk of accidents with a car/trailer

Given the huge number of miles that you have to travel every time you want to go to a comp, and give the fact that you have a very valuable horse, surely all of the above could be a suitable argument?
 
[ QUOTE ]
My dad has actually ridden in p-2-p's plus the odd season of BE and keeps most his cars going to well past 400,000 miles
ooo.gif
Hence he really is the ultimate expert on EVERYTHING!!!

I really really don't want a trailer!!! the thought of having to pack all the bits and pieces into it.. get changed in it, have no where to shelter at a wet and rainy horse trilas doesn't seem to have any bother to him at all.. hence i've got to think of some other arguments..

[/ QUOTE ]

Your best friend Lucinda only has a car and trailer
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I'm sure my friend is selling her little 2 horse lorry for about 5K, she's in Bristol so not far from you!!
I don't think its mega old and its tidy, its just not an all singing all dancing posh one!!
I don't know any of the details but will try to find out, if you are interested PM me
 
i've just bought a 4x4 and getting a trailer. sold my little car. 4x4 is a big 3.0L TD because anything smaller wont be good enough to tow with. it eats £70 diesel a week and i haven't even started towing with it yet. what i really wanted was to keep the little car and get a 3.5tonne lorry, but i couldn't find anything cheap enough that looked like it wouldn't cost me a fortune to maintain. whole 4x4 and trailer outfit for £6000 and 4x4 has relatively low mileage for its age and should go on forever or spend £12000 on a 3.5tonner - hopefully in a few years i can make the swap, but not now!
 
If you have a choice MDM do not get a trailer - they are a royal pain in the arse and it is just annoying to have to hook the thing up, you cannot keep much in it (even if like me you have a tack locker integrated into it) - I could go on and on and on!
 
I've recently paid 8.5k for a 2000 landrover discovery and really wished I had looked into getting a small lorry instead with a wee runaround car. I have had nearly £1000 worth of work done on the car with various bits and pieces going wrong, so you may not be any financially better off if your luck is anything like mine. And the cost of going anywhere at the moment with the price of diesel is shocking even without pulling the trailer. Good luck!
 
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