So I took my 3.5t to a weighbridge...

So I posted this thread on another horsey forum and the discussion turned to considering whether there should be more disclosure from manufacturers about how easy it is to reach the limit with just one horse?

When I bought the box I asked for a certificate for the unladen weight so none of this has been a surprise to me but I can imagine that lots of people don't necessarily think to do this (I was firmly told I had to obtain said certificate before parting with any cash).

Admittedly no one on that forum spotted the requirements for fish to travel in water....
 
I spoke to vosa when I was looking into buying a lorry and they said if you are pulled in and checked they give you quite a bit of leeway on the 3.5t weight. It was 10% I think (cant recall exactly) but might be worth a call to them to check if you worried about being just a little bit over.
 
I think an awful lot of horseboxes of any size are way over their respective weight limits. Especially those with fancy living areas.

I know of a girl with a supposedly 3.5t VW LT35 that weighs 3.5t when it's empty! Doesn't stop her driving 2 horses around in it though.........
 
Suziq77 said:
To do that I've said we have to take the two horses separately to the weighbridge, load the second one into my almost empty box (containing only me, my horse, my handbag and the fuel) and weigh it again. IF it came in sufficiently under 3.5t to factor in more fuel / other unforeseen additions such as more hay/grass in the horses then I might consider it. BUT 3.5t is the maximum and I'm not sure I'm wild about driving bang on maximum weight - the limit must be there for a reason.

ETA she's not nagging me, I think a lot of people genuinely don't realise how tight the weight is to make.
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another way would be take the second pony on its own either to the weigh bridge, weigh with the pony on and then take the pony off, this would give you both the weight of the lorry with everything bar the pony and also the weight of the pony. this way you will know how much you pony weighs and her pony weighs and how much the lorry with the basics weigh.
 
I have to confess that my maths is terrible so please correct me if I'm way off! Piggy backing off OP to check if my thinking is right...

I have a very similar situation to OP, with the same kit and unladen lorry weight but I had mine uprated to 3.9t.

So if OP was just under 3.2t in total with kit and one horse (who weighs the same as mine), that means I have another .7t that I could carry? I carry a bit of water and a second horse who is about 600kgs. Sounds like I might just be squeaking in under/on weight??
 
I don't know why anyone would want to sail so close to the wind with towing, I really don't.

I might be wrong but I doubt the max weight of a vehicle is there to pee horse owners off, more likely it's there for safety. Why anyone would WANT to load something up as high as it could go to the line of danger, just to get two horses in, I really don't know.
 
BoolavogueDC said:
I don't know why anyone would want to sail so close to the wind with towing, I really don't.

I might be wrong but I doubt the max weight of a vehicle is there to pee horse owners off, more likely it's there for safety. Why anyone would WANT to load something up as high as it could go to the line of danger, just to get two horses in, I really don't know.
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I agree! It isn't just affecting horse owners. My parents own a caravan site and frequently have people arrive with large, posh caravans jammed full with gas canisters, picnic furniture, kids toys, bedding, enough food for two weeks etc. Added together this weight is often over the 85% "rule" and very close to the max breaked towing limit.

I think this website is very useful. It shows the 85% "rule" and the max towing limits for vehicles. I used it the other day when someone told me her L200 could tow 5000kg!?! EKKKKK!!!
 
That's more like it, Ifor is just under a tonne. Horse is roughly 550kg so just over a tonne to play with - those are the kind of numbers I like to play with! :)
 
Farma said:
I spoke to vosa when I was looking into buying a lorry and they said if you are pulled in and checked they give you quite a bit of leeway on the 3.5t weight. It was 10% I think (cant recall exactly) but might be worth a call to them to check if you worried about being just a little bit over.
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Hmm. One of the liveries on our yard was pulled by VOSA last month in Wales. They had 2 ponies on their 3.5T, it weighed in at 3.7T (so 6% over) - and they have been fined (not a huge fine, around the £200 mark I think?)

It never ceases to astound me how many people have the 'it's stalled for 2 16.2hh, so it'll carry 2' when they buy 3.5 tonners...
 
bernster said:
I have to confess that my maths is terrible so please correct me if I'm way off! Piggy backing off OP to check if my thinking is right...

I have a very similar situation to OP, with the same kit and unladen lorry weight but I had mine uprated to 3.9t.
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So what benifit is there to having one uprated to 3.9??? you then need hgv licence , vosa plating , speed limiter , tachograph operators licence if you use it for bussiness or hire/reward... why not just buy a proper lorry !!!!????
 
I don't know about all those things you're quoting but...
Maybe because these little lorries have a low chassis which helps the horses have a more stable ride. Also maybe because these lorries with their low ramps seem to help some more difficult loaders. Also, it's better for horses to travel backwards. Just some thoughts.
 
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