Questions to ask when buying a horsebox

[chestnuttyy]

Attempting to find a 3.5T box at the minute and have been trying to compile a list of questions... Can anyone add anything to the list below?

Vehicle:


Are there any examples of surface rust?

Is the chassis rusty?

Has any welding work been carried out on the chassis? If so, what and when?

Are the gearbox and clutch in good working order, with all gears functional?

Are the brakes in good order? When were they last done?

Has the cambelt been changed? If so, at what mileage?

Please detail any advisories that were on the last MOT:



Box:


What is the floor made from? If ply, is it marine grade and double thickness?

When was the floor last replaced?

What is the payload?

Is the box able to be set up to travel horses herringbone (sideways)?

Is the ramp easily done by one person?

 

[perfect11s]

Attempting to find a 3.5T box at the minute and have been trying to compile a list of questions... Can anyone add anything to the list below?

Vehicle:


Are there any examples of surface rust?

Is the chassis rusty?

Has any welding work been carried out on the chassis? If so, what and when?

Are the gearbox and clutch in good working order, with all gears functional?

Are the brakes in good order? When were they last done?

Has the cambelt been changed? If so, at what mileage?

Please detail any advisories that were on the last MOT:



Box:


What is the floor made from? If ply, is it marine grade and double thickness?

When was the floor last replaced?

What is the payload?

Is the box able to be set up to travel horses herringbone (sideways)?

Is the ramp easily done by one person?

Most important is weight how much does it weigh empty in running condition??? how long has it been a horsebox what was it before...
who built it ,any warrenty
re the floor what is it made of ??? should be phenol resin ply or ally plank/ sheet I would avoid marine ply it isnt a good idea as it rots quickly with horse pee and wet unless its been rubber coated and even then I woudent trust it ....

 

[dieseldog]

I don't think you will find a 3.5t box that can do herringbone.

If you find out the V5 document number I think you can look its MOT history up on the VOSA website, including advisories, you can for cars, can't HGVs, but maybe 3.5t you can.

 

[flyingfeet]

Does it leak? That's a good one!!!

 

[barehoofhannah]

All of the above but I'd try to get them to show you as apposed to just ask.

I got an 'Anglian windows' style van. Love it, sorted it myself after guidance from Travel Two as in a real hurry but would have felt safer getting them sort me something but wanted wide back door and only a few in my budget hence went for this newer style as obviously the massive metal trade doors at the back if horse did jump over.

You can review the recent MOT tests via the direct gov website or just google. You have to provide licence plate number and mot registration number I think which is on a v5 certificate or mot sheet.. I'd ask for this info on the phone prior to a visit. If you look back through each one you can start to guage if mileage is legit. Although I think on recent info is uploaded so if really old you wont get full history.

I also like the ones where horses are as low to the ground as possible like the movano/Renault master. The floor of the box sits around about wheel axle level so quite grounded minimal wobbley where as some of the transits (steep ramp i think can give a clue) horses quite high up and i wonder (no experience) if they feel more unstable.

Consider going through Travel Two horseboxes, http://www.traveltwohorseboxes.com/ lovely couple who only source sensible safe boxes on clients behalf then put through a service. Their focus is second hand boxes between. £5,000 and £15,000.

Things since I bought box:
- should have asked if two keys in order to factor in cost of buying a spare and the key card which you need to pay for in order to get proper central locking keys.

- reviewed more carefully what condition the locks were in. Sometimes my locks are rather dubious (got a '53 reg vauxhall movano) and its going to be about £200-£300 to get all replaced and two keys.

- although I got a new battery I got a jump start box for 3.5 diesals not just a car one. That's been great when it's been 3 weeks in winter and want to go out don't need a second person to help me jump start.

- windows - is there enough ventilation although this may only be an issue in my style of van. They put two each side and two roof vents and a window into cab.. Good for air circulation and me blasting calming music through when driving stopping on noisy roads/emergency vechicles passing and i think if musics load he wont hear what's outside!!

- Full service history
- do they have one in build you can see? I got to see what was underneath/behind the white plastic/rubber ie strong metal
- steel bulk head between cab and horse
- is the air sprung ramp strong enough if ramp splits upwards, will it just stay their or on a windy day does it shut/drop slightly because of wind. I paid extra to get stronger air sprung top ramp openers put in.
- 'carrys two' height wise i wouldn't put tall horses in mine although they say 'carries up to 16hh' I prob wouldn't put more than 15hh in mine but others quite fine so depends where top ramp (if its split like that) comes out from; top of van or 10cms down (like mine)
Weight wise could prob do it though as lots of pay load in the style i have.
- suitably set up for two horses, if needed: mine there is no second partition so I'd have to firstly wiggle in doing some complex sideways move then quick sharp shut the bottom and top ramps without them coming back out.

- how aminable/patient are you and horse.. side loading isn't easy into a van alone as the horse really needs to be working with you. You cant just shove them in as they need to go in the swivel sideways then stay there whilst you reach for partition.

- breaks; i didn't feel i hold particularly well on a slope .. This may be the case for all horseboxes.

I've glued a multi cigarette charger into the whole where the ash tray box would be so that can charge phone and have sat nav on the whole time.

- mirrors larger ones been really useful for me. Mine came with and its one mirror piece in 3 sections

- got camera hocked up into horse area which has made me realise just how slow/gentle you need to drive to ensure you give horse a smooth journey.

- partition; wall to floor can horse get head under

- emergency dropping breast bars. If this is important to you and you carrying two horses try and visualise whether and how this would happen. Is it do-able alone with one horse?

Ok long enough list, sorry may have strayed off tophic but always useful to share learning.

Good luck, Hannah

 

[amandaco2]

Defo as above.
I am selling mine as need three horse box....

 

[Kaylum]

check the floor, check the floor and then recheck the floor. Take a screwdriver with you and have a good dig around the floor.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

If getting an older one/concversion, make sure it is registered with DVLA as a horsebox/livestock carrier and not as its previous incarnation as insurers can be a pain otherwise.

If not a front wheel drive/low floor/renault master type, two back wheels on each side will give greater surface area for getting out of muddy fields.

Payload, the plating weight will be without all of the contents incl any living stuff like cupboards etc so all of that needs to be added before you know how much horse people and tack you can add. Some 3.5Ts only have 800kg ish once you do that, barely enough for one large horse tack and a driver let alone someone in the passenger eat

 

[chestnuttyy]

Thanks for all the replies. The floor is double layered marine ply which the seller has stated has always been kept bone dry. It was installed 6 years ago, that sound ok?

Will be asking if she can get it on a weighbridge to verify payload.

If anyone knows of any 3.5t boxes for sale, PM me!! I'm in Wiltshire .

 

[ellie_e]

Mines a 3.5ton thats herringbone!! How much you looking at spending OP?