Recommendations/advice – new lorry 4.5-6.5 tonnes

LFD

LFD

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Hi, I’m finally upgrading my old 3.5 tonne lorry to something newer that can carry two horses with some living (overnight if possible).

I travel a few times a week with just one horse and maybe twice a month with two. It will never be more than two.

I’m looking for advice/recommendations on what to go for – I love the idea of keeping it as small as possible to keep my fuel costs down and for ease as I am usually out competing on my own.

I would prefer not to get a 7.5 as it seems like overkill for just me but could maybe look at a compact one.

• Does anyone have a 4.5 or 6.5 tonne? Would I have any weight issued with two horses in this size of lorry?

• I can spend up to 20k – does this give me enough to have one built or am I just dreaming?

Sorry for all the questions – this is all new to me and everyone I know has either a 3.5, or a 7.5 which just seems too big for just me.

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
I have a 6.5 tons I bought it recently .
It gives me payload for two large horses ,living ( with slide out) small cooker ,fridge loo and shower would sleep three but two of the three would have to like each other very much .One large under floor locker and a big tack locker at the back .
I like it very much it's doing around 30 to the gallon ( better than my car ! ).
 
Goldenstar said:
I have a 6.5 tons I bought it recently .
It gives me payload for two large horses ,living ( with slide out) small cooker ,fridge loo and shower would sleep three but two of the three would have to like each other very much .One large under floor locker and a big tack locker at the back .
I like it very much it's doing around 30 to the gallon ( better than my car ! ).
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Wow - that sounds exactly what I'm looking for. If I PM would you mind sharing make/model/price?

Thanks.
 
I have a 6.5 ton iveco GB bodybuilders horsebox, which I love. It has approx 2.2 ton payload , its 8 ft wide and horses travel herringbone, which was important to me, as I didn't want rear or forward facing. The living is fairly small, but plenty big enough for us. We regularly sleep 2 on the Luton, and the seating pulls out into a double bed. It has lots of storage cupboards, sink, hob, grill and TV. I don't have a loo area, but put a portable loo in the horse area for staying away. It has huge tack lockers and skirt lockers. I bought it second hand, so not sure how much it was new. He builds some super fancy 6.5 tons which are about £50k!! But I would guess you could have a pretty decent one built for about £25k depending on what age chassis you would want.
 
Hipo said:
I have a 6.5 ton iveco GB bodybuilders horsebox, which I love. It has approx 2.2 ton payload , its 8 ft wide and horses travel herringbone, which was important to me, as I didn't want rear or forward facing. The living is fairly small, but plenty big enough for us. We regularly sleep 2 on the Luton, and the seating pulls out into a double bed. It has lots of storage cupboards, sink, hob, grill and TV. I don't have a loo area, but put a portable loo in the horse area for staying away. It has huge tack lockers and skirt lockers. I bought it second hand, so not sure how much it was new. He builds some super fancy 6.5 tons which are about £50k!! But I would guess you could have a pretty decent one built for about £25k depending on what age chassis you would want.
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Your lorry sounds lovely Hipo - looks like I should be too worried with a 2.2 ton payload (I have a 15.1hh and a 16hh so should be fine). Thanks very much for the info. I'll have a look into GB Bodybuilders.
 
I think you have all persuaded me that a 6.5t Iveco is the way forward - now to find one I can afford :-) Thanks all!
 
I went down this route late last year - put simply, after a lot of investigation I discovered that £20k isn't nearly enough to have one built on a chassis that will last with simple living and decent build quality, you really need 35k.

This is of course unless you have family links that can buy the chassis direct or convert the living for you which would save budget.

As I only have one horse in the end I dropped the nice-to-have of being able to occasionally take a friend's horse along and I compromised on a 3.9 with mini living.

You might find a 5/6t ivecco box second hand for your budget, I was hampered by needing an auto which are like hens teeth.
 
I bought a VW LT50 recently for £3,500. It has just over 2 tons payload. Small living, but there would be just enough space for a double mattress in the luton.

So to me, your budget sounds great!

Good luck finding something :)
 
sidewaysonacob said:
I went down this route late last year - put simply, after a lot of investigation I discovered that £20k isn't nearly enough to have one built on a chassis that will last with simple living and decent build quality, you really need 35k.

This is of course unless you have family links that can buy the chassis direct or convert the living for you which would save budget.

As I only have one horse in the end I dropped the nice-to-have of being able to occasionally take a friend's horse along and I compromised on a 3.9 with mini living.

You might find a 5t second hand for your budget, I was hampered by needing an auto which are like hens teeth.
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My early research does seem to show that 20k isn't enough for the chassis and then build. I'm going to chat to my Dad who is a joiner about converting the living for me - I hadn't thought about that. Not sure how much it'll save but worth looking into. Thanks for the idea!
 
sychnant said:
I bought a VW LT50 recently for £3,500. It has just over 2 tons payload. Small living, but there would be just enough space for a double mattress in the luton.

So to me, your budget sounds great!

Good luck finding something :)
Click to expand...

Oh that's interesting as I have a VW LT35 just now! I'll look into the VW LT50. Thanks.
 
I like the 5/6t versions, more compact but give you a good payload and really shouldn't ever have to worry about taking 2 big horses.

I got my 3.5t from Foxy Twin and had it uprated to a 3.9t. That gives me a decent payload for 2 horses and kit (think it's about 1.4t) but that's because it's a basic day box which keeps the weight down (no whistles and bells). If you want living, then def go for something more like the 5t or above.
 
What you want is a short wheelbase vehicle of about 12 Feet. (Distance between the front and rear wheel axels). This will give you a lot of manuvrebility with the ability to park in small spaces and turn in tight circles.
Your best bet would be to have a 7.5 ton one as that will give you the maximum payload for your two horses, living etc. If it is built with lightweight materials you could have a payload of 2.5 tons.
Make sure that you have a fully tiltable cab so as to keep servicing and maintenance costs to a minimum and also make roadside repairs easier.
 
Cgd - I've been in touch with peper harrow but they are way out of my price range but have an older second hand coming in (51 plate) which sounds good.

PeterNatt - I had discounted the 7.5t as thought they would be too big for me out and about on my own (and for fuel costs) but perhaps I should be looking for the short wheebase as you suggested. More research required I think!
 
I'm not selling it (so hopefully it's OK to post this), but I do know of a lovely short wheelbase Kevin Parker 7.5 for sale that is on budget (x reg but low mileage and very well looked after)
 
Two and a bit years ago I was looking to upgrade and ended up with a 6.5ton Iveco; got the chassis and then had the horsebox built - two horses stalled forwards, side ramp and basic living with cut through. Great payload and love it to bits. At that time, 7.5 ton Daf chassis were two a penny compared to the 6.5ton ones. However, the 6.5ton Ivecos drive more like a car and are bonneted so no probs with needing a tilt cab. Also, the short wheel based 7.5 ton Dafs were very rare too.......in fact, I never found one to price.

If you only travel two horses you can give them much more room (lengthwise) by travelling them forwards or backwards, rather than herringbone. However, most 7.5 tonners are (I think) too wide for two stalled forwards/backwards unless you use two partitions to give them support.....and I normally have pretty big horses on board (16.2hh mid-weight plus).
 
I did a lot of research last year and visited quite a few "builders". Two that came out on top were : Priory Stud Essex way, and Freddie Gover near Gatwick.

Prior Stud have been going years and could have built me a 6.5 iveco or 7.5 Daf short (20ft) on a 1999 chasis for £18k (cash). they also get older ones in to sell. - Older guy and end up there hours chatting inbetween cups of tea and getting his albums out.

Freddie Gover - deals more in newer luxurious boxes - his 7.5 start about 45k. I bought one of his first 3.5 but upgraded to 3.9 which gives me a 1.5 - 1.6 payload. on a 58 chasis. He also gets some second hand ones in to sell and when i was there had a older (but looked after 5.5 for 12k) he covers most of the surrey pc lorries and again has a fab reputation.

Becareful because you get what you pay for and if it seems cheap walk away - you cant compromise on safety features over a a flashy paint job.
 
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