Renault Master - in build

[Eceni]

For those interested in the 3.5 tonne Renault Master/ Movano type vans, I thought I'd post the results of some extensive research and cost/reward decisions.

I've decided to get a van, and to have it built from scratch on a chassis that I found - it's a 2.8 DTi, W reg, 77,000 on the clock and I got it for a good price, with no VAT. It's green, and I'm happy with the colour so don't have to pay for a respray. Of all the builders, Theault and Chaigley were WAY out of my budget, Scothorse and Foxlea were good but also too expensive, so it came down to Marlborough or MD horseboxes, (who build for Staffordshire and Travel Two in Wales). Marlborough weren't answering the phone when I found the box, and MD promised a good service. Box arrives tomorrow. If anyone has any good reasons NOT to use MD, I'll go ahead with them - steel bulkhead, drains in the floor, rubber matting to floor and ramp and connecting window between horse and driver were keys to decision-making on quality of build.

Will post progress as we go alone. They've promised delivery by 25th March

All comments/thoughts welcome.

Eceni

 

[H's mum]

What type of quotes have you been given for a conversion?
I'm always interested to hear from people who do it themselves!

Kate x

 

[Stella]

Hi, How exciting for you

Mine is a Scothorse shuttle and I was very excited waiting for it to arrive. I love it too, they are so easy to drive and my mare travels really well in it - very relaxed

Good luck with it and don't forget to let us know how it goes.

 

[cobden99]

Hey thats really intersting - I have a 6 ton Iveco with a Horsemaster body and I love it, but being quite short I cant get the ramp up on my own so the other half has to be around which is a bit of a pain. Im thinking of changing to a 3.5 ton but the couple Ive looked at have been such poor quality build ! I liked the Marlborough Hunter but found them a but pricey considering the age of the chassis. There was one company I looked at who charged the same for a conversion on your chassis as they did for a conversion PLUS chassis that they had provided - how does that work !! Will be interested to know how you get on, keep posting !

 

[Eceni]

The quote for the conversion is £5,800. Prices and pics are all on their web site MD horseboxes

Scothorse boxes look truly lovely - as do the ones from Foxlea - but a bit out of my current price range. Next time, perhaps.

And yes, having driven one before - and being 5'0" and an 8 stone weakling - I rather like being able to raise the ramp on my own...

Will keep posting as we progress...

Eceni

 

[Eceni]

OK... crashed at the first hurdle.... the van in question turns out to be not as advertised - it's long wheel base but NOT a high roof... so if anyone wants a W reg Renault Master LWB medium roof to convert into a coachbuilt, I know where there's one going for £3500, no VAT, but my budget doesn't stretch to them, so we're back to the drawing board.

rats

just for interest, I was heading for Marlborough, but didn't like the fact that the spare wheels are up in the luton. Has anyone any experience of this? I'm imagining me at 5'0" trying to bring down a 25Kg spare wheel in the middle of the night with horse on board when a tyre's gone... and not liking the image.

more to follow

Eceni

 

[Stella]

Oh what a shame

The Spare wheel in my 'Scothorse' is up in the Luton and I prefer it there. The alternative is that it is fixed where the jockey door would be. Now admittedly ducking down to use the jockey door plays havoc with my back, so I avoid doing it, but its very useful to have when needed. I don't expect to be struggling with a spare wheel myself anyway, I'd be waiting for the nice breakdown man to come and do it! I am a feminist, but I have a dodgy back and I don't like getting my hands dirty

Also with a single wheel on each corner, would it be advisable to remove a wheel with a horse onboard without 'industrial type' jacks etc? I don't know, maybe it is, but why not just have your jockey door and wait for 'the man'?

 

[Eceni]

Fair enough...

or stick the wheel outside the back door, like they do on the coach-builts?

how often do you use the jockey door? I was thinking of having a tack locker there instead, but perhaps a door is more useful?

thanks for info

E