Senior Citizen Horseboxes.... how far do you guys travel in yours?

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ecrozier

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As I've mentionned in a previous post, we've qualified our RC team for the Nationals at Lincoln next weekend.
Its quite a long distance away, about 150 miles. Our RC chairwoman has offered to drive her lorry (an L reg) which can take two horses....however, of the rest of the team, we only have either a 505 trailer, or my B reg Bedford.
I had said I didn't really want to take Bluebell the Bedford as I though it was rather a long way for a 'pensioner' but then I thought, back in the days before she was a horsebox, she probably did these distances regularly?
Does anyone else have old boxes they regularly do longer distances in? If I do do it, is there anything else I can check before going apart from oil water and tyres? I bought her in December, she has probably done less than a couple of thousand mailes since, and was given a clean bill of health mechanically then by a horsebox inspection guy, who said apart from a smalloil leak nothing much wrong. WOuld it be too risky do you think? How much benefit to the horses would there be of travelling in a lorry rather than trailer for that distance?
 
Not too risky but would get it in for a good service beforehand as this will put your mind at rest and show up any potential problem areas.
You could do it in the 505 but may need to stop somewhere and let your horse have a rest, stretch and drink en route?
 
150 miles is not to far, when we picked up our aincient horse lorry it did 300 miles with no problem at all. just try and take it steady and give yourself lots of time.
i wouldnt think twice about doing 150 miles, infact i did it about 3 weeks ago. and then back again the same day. your not going to be as fast as the more modern boxes but im willing to bet you'll be more reliable.
 
Hi Guys,
Thanks for that. Not sure I can get it in for a service beforehand....it is next week!! Its booked for service/general check over/plating next month (Oct). I might call the car garage I use as they might have more availability than the lorry place. Just for a general health check and maybe a tyre check and oil change.
Conniegirl, what lorry is yours?
 
Hmm, so about the same age as mine, I have a B reg Bedford, so I think she's 85/86 or thereabouts. Going to ring the garage and see if they deal with lorries at all. Sure I saw one parked there the other day! Presumably a good mechanic should understand the basics of both cars and lorries?!
 
mines an old Y reg so yours is probably a bit younger then mine.

I would just check the oil, water and tyres before a longer journey.

I get Ethel (my lorry) serviced every 6months and she is in constant use.
 
Bluebell also in very regular use, at least once a week often twice. Funny, I'd think nothing of going to patchetts or other places an hour or two away, but lincoln scares me a bit!!
 
I went to Devon from Essex (about 250 miles) for a holiday in my old A reg Mercedes lorry - it went beautifully there and back. I did have a basic service before hand, oil, water, brakes etc checked.

I did the same journey a couple of weeks ago with my LWB Pajero and Ifor 510, again the journey went with no problems, I stopped twice to offer my mare water, and she arrived safely and started eating as soon as she was turned out!
 
Make sure you have got your breakdown recovery sorted before you go and you will be fine!

Oil and water check and tyre pressures and off you go!

If your mechanic checked it in December and did an oil change then you will be fine-oil nowadays can go 100,000 miles without a change (although I don't)
 
Didn't change oil in december, as tat was a pre-purchase inspection rather than a service. That was last done last october, but reckon it has done less that 2000 miles since. My brother in law was going to do it a couple of months ago but he has a look at the oil on the dipstick etc and said it wasn't worth it after less than 2000 miles as oil still very clean, filter was fine apparently.
Breakdown is sorted, if we do break down though I guess they bring us home and we abandon the championships though!!
Anyone know anything about Rad Seal? Was telling one of our drivers about my possible water leak and he said to put that in. Or break an egg in there?? If I do that where do I put it?! Where I top up the water?
 
Would check to see if it is leaking before doing anything more!

Rad seal is ok for cars but is only a temp measure and for tiny tiny microscopic pin holes not for tiny cracks-my friends cavalier radiator had a tiny hole in it and 3 rad seals later did nothing for it!


Ask your brother in law to look first as he seems to be lorry wise!
 
Wish I could, they live in London and don't come out our way very often! I don't even know if it is leaking, never any water on the floor underneath when it has been parked. I do have to top the water up quite regularly but that might be normal!
Sometimes a bit of oil on the concrete but I know we have a little leak...the inspection guys said nothing to worry about, and then when the fule line split in the spring the rescue guys said the same...he called it an 'anti-corrosion guarantee'!! It is minimal oil to be honest, i check it fortnightly and haven't had to top it up for several months, oil level drops so slowly.
 
I have a 27 year old Petrol Bedford TK but must admit that I only take it on local journeys just in case.

Just don't go too fast and make sure that you have rescue/recovery insurance in place.

If you are concerned about driving it that distance then just hire a transporter to do the job for you and take the strain away so that you can enjoy the day without worrying.
 
Not worried about the actual driving at all, just the stress on the lorry. Can't afford a transporter really, know it could end up costing more if something went wrong with the lorry tho! Got good recovery service.
She is a TL and turbo diesel so should be ok.
 
Make sure that you always carry a full size fire extinguisher and good condition spare tyre with you at all times just in case.
 
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