Talk to me about 3.5t boxes!

[Jango]

I've had a 7.5t truck for 4 years and now selling that and downsizing to a 3.5t. Budget will be about 20k so not quite enough to get one built, but I am hoping I can get a quality one!

Any makes/models/builders to avoid? Or ones people would recommend?

I know payload is important (I would be travelling 1x light WB 16hh horse) and will be aiming for 950kg plus. How do you check build quality if you are buying from a private seller? I will get whatever I buy checked by a mechanic, it's more quality of the horsebox bit!

Mileage wise with the bigger trucks you don't want something that has sat about, but not sure if that's the same for a van? Or is a van like a car and you want as low miles as possible?

I know I want a safe configuration inside with high partitions and a completely separate groom area.

Thanks in advance!

 

[maya2008]

We had a Marlborough Sport on a Renault Master chassis. I found the build quality amazing, lasted really well. Sold it on as it approached 200,000 miles and 21 years old, still running fine. Had only really needed work on the van in the last couple of years.

 

[Melody Grey]

Definitely avoid anything professing to have a ridiculous payload, like 1100kg. There’s no way you can build quality and give that on a 3.5t in my opinion.

If you’ve had a 7.5t, you clearly have the license so might be worth considering a 3.9 or 4.5t- may give you the payload and better value as the 3.5ts hold their value way over the odds because they can be driven on a car license.

 

[terrierliz]

I had a Marlborough for many years only sold when I had to upsize, it was a really strong box with no luxuries to give a better payload

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I got a racemaster built back in 2012 on an 08 low mileage Movano. On a weighbridge it had 980 capacity, with me, spare wheel, partition, half tank fuel and usual gubbins in it.
You wouldn't call it pretty, but its very solidly built and workmanlike, I take function over beauty.
I got the floor replaced in 2021, as though it was solid under on the metal work, the wood needed replacing. The trade recco is replace every 10 years, thoroughly inspect annually.
These last 2 years it's sat about more than I'd like but this summer has been borrowed by an endurance friend a few times when hers was in the garage, so got some long runs in.
I've ensured it's moved and run every month anyway, but yes they are better than 7.5 for sitting around.
I keep servicing up to date.

Ensure whatever you get isn't just mechanically sound but horse safe too.

 

[lme]

When we were looking (for a solid new stallion build ) we narrowed it down to Tri-Star, Marlborough, John Oates, Staffordshire horseboxes, AM Horseboxes and Equito. There were other makes we liked (e.g. Bloomfield) but those were more expensive. We ended up getting a John Oats and have travelled a mare and foal, young horses and my large ISH really easily. I've also heard good things about Travel 2 horseboxes.

 

[maya2008]

Definitely avoid anything professing to have a ridiculous payload, like 1100kg. There’s no way you can build quality and give that on a 3.5t in my opinion.

If you’ve had a 7.5t, you clearly have the license so might be worth considering a 3.9 or 4.5t- may give you the payload and better value as the 3.5ts hold their value way over the odds because they can be driven on a car license.

Just before we sold ours, we took it to a weighbridge - 1/3 tank of fuel, no person in cab, nothing stored inside. 2.37 tonnes. That was a good make, van conversion, not a luxury or extra attachment anywhere! So yes, 1.1T payload is achievable but not if you have any extras.

 

[Lady Jane]

If you look at Wayne Henning's information on Facebook, it has lots of useful information. I would recommend getting the inspection done by someone who will do the horse box as well as the mechanical part. Re payload, anything over 1100 must be compromised in the build. Mileage, it can have more than a car but less than a 7.5t. I would say anything up to 150k if its been looked after. I wouls also look on FB at The Dodgy Horsebox Builders group, very useful reading on builders and dealers.

 

[Abacus]

Agree that 1.1 tonnes is do-able - mine has this payload also (with certificate). It has a couple of built in cupboards but nothing more, and is very solid. Personally I would take a 3.5 tonne over a slightly larger one (3.9 and upward) simply because of the ease of maintenance and plating vs MOT, and because they are so in demand, as long as you aren’t trying to take two big horses. I can in theory travel one larger and one small horse (16.2 and 15.1) as long as I’m careful on how much stuff I carry. Rarely do it as usually I have a 15.1 and a 14.2, or one big beast of 17.3. They can be surprisingly roomy inside. Personally I prefer the older type with a breast bar rather than a stallion layout. It must be a high breast bar and preferably with a V-grill.

 

[humblepie]

I think most decent mechanics who do horse boxes can check the whole box not just the van part. OH is a mechanic and he’s looked at some for people. There’s one make that has a thinner floor in the groom area to the horse area which probably isn’t unreasonable but he’s seen some that have rotted where rain has blown in, horse wee has run across or people have washed them out too much.

 

[Squeak]

If you’ve had a 7.5t, you clearly have the license so might be worth considering a 3.9 or 4.5t- may give you the payload and better value as the 3.5ts hold their value way over the odds because they can be driven on a car license.

I actually think that the 3.5t - 6.5t lorries can be more expensive as there aren't many around but it might be worth looking at them too. In an ideal world I think it's what I would have, you get the best of both worlds, smaller and easier for driving around but you can have a bit of living and more payload. The downside is that they have to be plated. Having downsized from a 3.5t I really miss not having a proper living.

In relation to your actual questions, I found that if I used my lorry at least once a week I had no problems with it and my bills were just for normal service and MOT but during covid it needed a couple of things doing so you don't want one that's been sitting doing nothing. They can have higher mileage than cars though, agree that 150k is fairly safe mileage to go up to.

 

[ROMANY 1959]

If you can find a used BOSS 3:5 ton you will be ok. Mostly can carry 1200kg very well built. I had one. Sold it few years back when last horse was sold on

 

[dottylottie]

no expert but i just bought a 3.5t, my advice would be don’t get an old vauxhall movano cos it’s a struggle to get parts

look at the mot history of anything you buy, you’ll be able to tell where it’s done all the miles - mine was a commercial vehicle, so crazy mileage up until it was converted, but i also think that generally means it’s been looked after properly.

even with a private seller, if you know who built it, get in touch with them! i contacted the people who built mine and got a response

 

[The Xmas Furry]

no expert but i just bought a 3.5t, my advice would be don’t get an old vauxhall movano cos it’s a struggle to get parts

look at the mot history of anything you buy, you’ll be able to tell where it’s done all the miles - mine was a commercial vehicle, so crazy mileage up until it was converted, but i also think that generally means it’s been looked after properly.

even with a private seller, if you know who built it, get in touch with them! i contacted the people who built mine and got a response

What parts were you struggling with? Mine is an 08 and no trouble in getting parts from Vauxhall or local motor factors

 

[dottylottie]

What parts were you struggling with? Mine is an 08 and no trouble in getting parts from Vauxhall or local motor factors

mine is an 06, needed a universal steering joint and vauxhall said they don’t make them anymore, neither of mechanics suppliers could get one either so i ended with an ebay part in the end. mechanic said another client with the same box gave up on theirs as parts were so hard to source!

 

[Jambarissa]

I dislike 3.5t because of the payload issues but I do think they're a fair solution for the single horse owner. I'd imagine you're under 800kg including water/fuel/humans/equipment so you won't need to look to hard to find something that suits.

Look for good airflow, 3.5t boxes are small, it gets hot in there very quickly. See whether the windows are set up to draw air through the box or if there's a fan installed.

My friend used these guys to inspect six 3.5t horse boxes she was thinking of buying in your budget, every single one failed. They say it's usually 4 out of 5 that fail so she was very unlucky. They've got some useful info and YouTube vids on what to look for https://www.horsemart.co.uk/communi...ice/buying-and-owning-a-3-5t-horsebox-safely-

 

[The Xmas Furry]

mine is an 06, needed a universal steering joint and vauxhall said they don’t make them anymore, neither of mechanics suppliers could get one either so i ended with an ebay part in the end. mechanic said another client with the same box gave up on theirs as parts were so hard to source!

Blimey, our local motor factors are pretty good, hope your UJ from Ebay did the job.

 

[dottylottie]

Blimey, our local motor factors are pretty good, hope your UJ from Ebay did the job.

first one (£130) didn’t fit, but the £30 one did the job…downside is i’ll probably need to replace it again in a year!

 

[blodwyn1]

I have a Marlborough cob I had built in 2006 on a 2002 chassis and it is still going strong. I am doing less now but it has been very reliable I hope I am not tempting fate saying that!

 

[Squeak]

mine is an 06, needed a universal steering joint and vauxhall said they don’t make them anymore, neither of mechanics suppliers could get one either so i ended with an ebay part in the end. mechanic said another client with the same box gave up on theirs as parts were so hard to source!

I wonder if it's where yours is just that slightly older model or something - I also have an 08 plate and have never had a problem, they're the same engine as the Peugeots and the Citroen which are the most common 3.5t lorries (along side the ducato) due to the others having too high a point of gravity so you'd be a bit short on options if you ruled them out.

 

[SEL]

I'm on a medical licence so can't drive more than 3.5 but if I could I'd have gone for 4.5 - same size, better payload.

In short space of time I needed the ramp, floor and one side panel replaced. The panel would have been OK but Babycob leans on it so I needed it bracing. I suspect my payload is significantly lower now.

Check ventilation. I put him off travelling in the first summer it got so hot. When the new panel went in I got an extra window too.

Otherwise I'd go for the newest you can afford with a good MOT history. If they are mechanically sound you can get the panels etc replaced.

 

[Jango]

Thank you everyone! Loads of great advice

My sister in law will borrow it to take my niece out so even though I can have a bigger one I'll stick to 3.5t. I also don't want the expense of plating!

 

[Abacus]

Thank you everyone! Loads of great advice

My sister in law will borrow it to take my niece out so even though I can have a bigger one I'll stick to 3.5t. I also don't want the expense of plating!

There's a nice Bloomfields on Horsequest, sightly over budget but you my be able to offer a bit less.

Bloomfields Legacy 3.5T Vauxhall Movano

Bloomfields Legacy 3.5T Vauxhall Movano. Beautiful lorry converted in 2013, featuring 2 stalls rear facing with aluminium floor, padded partitions, led lighting, calming travel light,<br/><br/>Luton storage, 2 saddle racks and bridle holders, storage drawers and hidden storage...

www.horsequest.co.uk