PRB Horseboxes

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dressage_diva

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Hi am off to look at a second hand PRB Horsebox today and just wondering if anyone has any opinions on them and also knows if they tend to hold their value well? I've only heard good things about PRB but wanted to check I haven't missed out on any horror stories! (I always get the lorry checked over by a Horsebox mechanic before purchasing so won't be making that mistake!).

The second hand PRBs I've seen advertised also seem to be more expensive than other lorries of similar ages/condition - do they tend to hold their value better than some others (a bit like how you always seem to have to pay a premium for an Oakley)?
 
I viewed these at Badminton horse trials and didn't like the finish to the horse area at all. That really didn't matter in the end as they are short in length and wouldn't carry my large horses as there isn't enough room to turn them. The lorry I've just sold was 25'9" and the one I have in build has had its chassis stretched an extra two feet. I've been looking for a company to build mine for a year and viewed over twenty company's before settling on the one I have. Take your time viewing there a lot of money aren't they.
 
Regardess of the make, with lorry buying, the most important thing is the chassis - make sure it's a quality one, as low mileage and as young as you can afford. I like Leyland Dafs the best - MANs tend to be wallowy and I used to drive an Iveco belonging to an owner which had the most appalling turning circle, and was as slow as the second coming. Drive lots, to make sure you know what you like

Regarding PRBs, they have a great following and hoild their value well. The later ones have a better finish. The Iveco I mentioned earlier was a PRB build, about 6/7 yrs old. It looked brilliant, but as Annie B said, just check the finish - if it had been mine, there were niggly things that would have bugged me. As with most horse lorry builders, there does tend to be a focus on the living to the detriment of the horse area - it also depends on the requirements of the original purchaser - whether it was built to order, or one of their off the peg ones.

Make sure you test everything in the living before you buy - make sure the hot water runs, the overhead light works - things like that are not deal breakers but irritating (and can be expensive) to fix after you've bought.

When I bought my lorry, admittedly about 15 years ago now, I looked at PRB and found I could get exactly the same build and quality from a company called Ian McNeill, for about 10k less. I know the McNeill lorries aren't perfect, but then I couldn't afford what I wanted, which was an Oakley - and I would have had to have spent another 20k!!
 
We have a 25 y/o PRB lorry. Obviously it's different compared to the newer ones, but I really do like it. It's nice & roomy in the horse-area, and they all seem to travel well in it. Living area is also nice. Externally it wouldn't win the smartest or new-ish looking lorry, but it's safe, and does its job, so can't complain.
 
dressage_diva said:
Hi am off to look at a second hand PRB Horsebox today and just wondering if anyone has any opinions on them and also knows if they tend to hold their value well? I've only heard good things about PRB but wanted to check I haven't missed out on any horror stories! (I always get the lorry checked over by a Horsebox mechanic before purchasing so won't be making that mistake!).

The second hand PRBs I've seen advertised also seem to be more expensive than other lorries of similar ages/condition - do they tend to hold their value better than some others (a bit like how you always seem to have to pay a premium for an Oakley)?
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We have a PRB lorry that we have had from new (over 10 years) - and can highly recommend them. And Richard Boton at PRB is always very helpful if we need anything - he is very good on the fabrication of the lorries - hence not the cheapest on the market - but I think he comes frm an engineering background, hence the build is of good quality.
 
Thanks all. I was really impressed with the PRB lorry (compared to other lorries of a similar age) and my husband rang PRB this morning about the lorry and they were helpful too. Fingers crossed my mechanic is happy with it as then it will be mine!
 
I had one a couple of years which was on a G plate chassis, quite old but the build quality was fantastic and it was in very good condition considering!! It is still going now with a local equestrian centre!!

Highly rate the build quality and layout!
 
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