Sharing a lorry, does it, would it work?

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Shamrock123

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Desperate to get out & about ! Hopeless at reversing our trailer, so need OH ( long suffering) so that means weekend outings only. Would love to do after school trips to an all weather and have lessons for me and daughter on our 2 kept at home horses.
Can't really afford a lorry on my own especially as we would maybe use it 2-3 times a month only one weekend day for shows ( a lot of our local shows are evening/ indoor)
Plenty of room to store lorry here, and my Dad is a mechanic :)
Could be a recipe for arguments etc !
So just thought I would ask you guys if it works for any of you?
I know, maybe I should spend at lot less money on trailer driving lessons :)
 
It could work quite well if the other person has a complete different interest so wouldn't go to the same shows. If they did then you may her to end up compromising by not taking both if yours

Consider the lorry size, one that will take two horses probably won't be ok on a car licence so that could limit your possibilities of sharers

Unless you have a close friend to share with it may be hard to find someone who will buy in to the idea

Unless of course you live within striking distance of me of course :)
 
From personal experience, I would say no, it doesn't work. My arrangement (with a friend) did work for over a year, but when it went wrong it went badly wrong and I lost a friend as well as money tied up in the lorry which was sold for far less than we bought it for.

Too many possibilities for disagreements/different priorities and money can drive a wedge through the best of relationships.
 
Friends on our yard shared a lorry sucessfully for years. 3 families all with horse mad girls at the same age, in the same pony club and competeing at more or less the same level. The box took 3 horses so everyone could get out at the same time, or offer the spare space to someone else - from which we benefitted a time or two! Only 2 of the families were able to drive it - but it worked out well for all. The only reason they stopped was because the girls grew up and 3 stopped riding. The third has a trailer now.

It can work - but you need to be very clear as to expectations, costs etc. And probably fairly good freinds!
 
:) we are north Suffolk near Diss. Good point about the size of lorry too!
I miss livery yard life ;) but don't want the stress /disagreements. I agree it will be tricky, I have enough field space but no stable yet for a " friends" horse to live here. I joke that lorry owners would get preference! I haven't thought too much about that option really, for the same reasons. Perhaps wait for the right person to come along! Oh and the fields/ponds to dry out lol!! Thanks :)
 
Just read the posts from RPM and Shay, thought it would be a minefield tbh thanks everso for your experiences, the only big fall out that I have had with a horsey friend was over money, not nice at all ! See those dreaded trailer driving lessons look more appealing now ;) or a lottery win!
 
Shame your not near me , i have a lorry who is doing not a lot at the mo (i'm a fair weather rider) and would happily lend it out so at least it would get a run :D
 
I have shared a lorry with a friend for a couple of years now. We both do the same things and so go out together. We split the bills 50:50 and it works fine. We are now at different yards but we work out where the lorry should be based on the next outing. So if we're going somewhere nearer me next time, she drops me off and takes the lorry to her yard and vice versa.

You should have something in writing regarding money and what will happen if one of you wants out, e.g. sell or the other one buys you out.
 
It's practise practise practise. Our PC runs a summer trailer driving session so it allows mums and dads to practise round the pony club field round an obostacle course as many times as they want, followed by a timed competition (gets v competitive) and a BBQ. Have to say that it was VERY noticable who had and who hadn't attended trailer training at the rally straight after (we have a tight squeeze in the PC field.)

For myself I was very nervous having not reversed a trailer for over 25 years but very quickly picked it up and got back into the swing of it. I would suggest go and book on a lorry reversing course and you'll soon find how easy the shorter trailer is to reverse!
 
When I had my box, a friend paid half of insurance (and was a named driver) tax and service and we both filled up when we'd used so it always had a full tank of fuel.

It worked for us but we are like minded people in that we look after things, always clened box out after use, checked tyres and oil etc.

If you know someone in a similar position then buying and sharing a horsebox could help you both although, you might also need a written agreement to protect you both :)
 
OP - if you have your own vehicle and trailer and a B+E licence then you could drive it to a trainer and use your own set up - that is a lot less cost than using the trainers set up

If you were near me (Leicester) then I would help you for FREE

If you do not already have a B+E licence then it gets a little more difficult because you need a supervising driver the moment you go onto public roads
 
Shamrock123 said:
Lol FW :)) just saw your reply! Prob' the best option. Just not with OH anywhere near!
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The main thing is find somewhere to practice with plenty of space so you can draw forward to get yourself out of trouble. Practice just going slowly back in a straight line (if you pull forward so everything is straight, it will go back straight with no effort from you!). Once you have done that try some slight turning of the steering wheel then turn back and straighten up etc and see what happens. Folk often over steer and get in a panic. Don't wear a big jacket and have the windows down so you can see easily and not feel hot and flustered. Set aside plenty of time and do not panic. It's a piece of cake, honest.
 
people at my current yard share s lorry.
It works well for them.
They have a lorry diary and try
to plan in advance.
I think ut works because they compete in different things so there rarely is a time when they both want it for separate events.
When this does happen that compromise and the other usually manages to get a lift!
 
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