Swap trailer & 4x4 for bigger box - opinions?

[JVB]

Hi, I've got a HB511 and X reg Disco both in good nick and well looked after, but would prefer to have box as my mare would travel better and I feel they are safer on the roads should you get into an accident...

Anyway, I reckon after looking on web that my trailer and 4x4 combined are worth about £8k.

So, is it worth selling them both and buying a box, I would also have to factor in costs of doing cat C training and test so need about £1k for that.

Also, is it better value to have a conversion done - any recommendations for north-west area, idea of costs? Only looking at decent basic build, needs to be safe, don't really need anything in the living (managing with Disco boot currently), but ideally needs to be able to take 2 big horses plus tack and two people etc

Also interested in 3.5t but wary of payload and having to change in a few years when will probobaly need to travel more than one horse.

When would be a good time of year to swap, 4x4 has 11 months MOT and tax currently but just at start of show season, do people buy now, later in year, or best to wait till next spring?

Runnings cost a factor but having already compared them, not a major concern.

Sorry, ended up quite long, any advice appreciated

 

[bordermare]

I've just done this partly out of necessity as 4x4 died. I reckoned that it would be cheaper to have a 7.5t horsebox making occasional outings and have a small diesel car to run around in day to day.

Did think about getting another 4x4 but they are so pricey to run, not great on fuel and ours was always costing a fortune in garage bills.

I've got a friend who thinks her lorry is better on fuel than her petrol 4x4.

Had the horsebox out at the weekend - oh the joys of being able to make a cup of tea and have a comfy seat! So much more room for the horse as well.

 

[JVB]

Thanks for reply, this is where the running costs won't be that much different. I have a car allowance with work so run another vehicle that has some costs associated with it but the 4x4 is only really used for horsey trips and the odd visit to B&Q or the tip! So I'm paying all normal costs of tax, mot, servicing, insurance, fuel to do about 2k miles a year when towing, if I'm paying all that out just for horse transport then I feel I'd be better off with a nice little box

 

[bordermare]

I thought about the 3.5t but was also wary of the payload issues. Also you can pick up a 7.5t really quite cheaply and if the cab wears out it can be changed.

However being a bit of a wrinkly the licence problem was not an issue for me.

 

[perfect11s]

Hi, I've got a HB511 and X reg Disco both in good nick and well looked after, but would prefer to have box as my mare would travel better and I feel they are safer on the roads should you get into an accident...

Anyway, I reckon after looking on web that my trailer and 4x4 combined are worth about £8k.

So, is it worth selling them both and buying a box, I would also have to factor in costs of doing cat C training and test so need about £1k for that.

Also, is it better value to have a conversion done - any recommendations for north-west area, idea of costs? Only looking at decent basic build, needs to be safe, don't really need anything in the living (managing with Disco boot currently), but ideally needs to be able to take 2 big horses plus tack and two people etc

Also interested in 3.5t but wary of payload and having to change in a few years when will probobaly need to travel more than one horse.

When would be a good time of year to swap, 4x4 has 11 months MOT and tax currently but just at start of show season, do people buy now, later in year, or best to wait till next spring?

Runnings cost a factor but having already compared them, not a major concern.

Sorry, ended up quite long, any advice appreciated

I would look for a box rather than go down the conversion route, get a simple tidy non luton conversion 7.5 ton forget the 3.5 tons they are very expensive and not very practical unless you will only carry one and dont want friends hanging out in your lorry, Sometimes its great to have visiting sometimes not!! remember people can smell tea and coffee from long way away and will assume its coming from the bigger lorrys at a show so you will be invaded ....... a conversion will cost from about 10k upwards depending what you want and the age of the box van your starting with, and I wouldnt start with anything older than 2000, I would think you could sell your LR and trailer right now if you price it right and find a tidy lorry ready to go from about 6K upwards its a pain taking the HGV test but worth it long term...hope that helps

 

[Louby]

I had a conversion done and it cost a whopping £20k, at the time I had it made I couldnt find anything arround my budget of £16k that was half decent. All seemed old, needed work, floors that had been in years etc etc. I have just sold mine after 2 yrs and lost £5k on it but did get a lot of interest so maybe I advertised it a bit cheap?? It was hardly used and IMO although not a pretty box was an excellent conversion. I have seen so many flimsy ones. Mine was done by David Murray who has done coachbuilds for about 20yrs. He isnt cheap!! My box isnt what he normally does but inside was every bit as good as his coachbuilds, probably why it cost so much?
Im hoping to get going again and one day buy another box. I wont go down the same route. There was nothing wrong with mine at all but I just feel coachbuilds seem to hold there money better. If I could afford one of his coachbuilds I wouldnt hesitate to have one. He is in the North West and does build strong solid wagons at a price though.
Good luck in your search.