Those with Horseboxes, a breakdown of costs please...

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Kub

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I really really want to save up for a horsebox, ideally a little 3.5t that I can drive on my licence. But I know there are lots of maintenance costs apart from the initial buying and fuel. If possible, I'd like an idea of how much the following costs:

Tax
MOT
Plating
Insurance
Initial amount to buy (so I have some idea what to save up to)

Also, how well do they do on fuel?

Thanks peeps :)
 
Hello.

My 3.5 ton cost me this-

MOT- same as a car (under 3.5 ton are done on normal MOT)
Tax- roughly £180 per year
insurance- anyone over 25 including breakdown cover to drive- £280
Fuel on mine is approx £10 for 50 miles with two medium horses on board.

Obv. you have to be careful to get serviced reg. and be religious about checking floor.

My little lorry was a real steal so I won't tell you how much I paid as it was a bargain off a friend, I would expect to spend 4- 7k to replace mine.
 
tax 90 for 6 months
mot 75, re test 37
parts 105
labour. 1000 (im not kidding)
insurance and breakdown, 378 it is insured fully comp for anyone over 25 to drive.
plate.. it has a life plate on it.

lorry cost 1500 is a 7.5ton 3 horse with living.
it is a bedford tk low milage, 6litre engine
to run its not actully costing any more than the 4 x 4 and trailer.
 
jhoward said:
tax 90 for 6 months
mot 75, re test 37
parts 105
labour. 1000 (im not kidding)
insurance and breakdown, 378 it is insured fully comp for anyone over 25 to drive.
plate.. it has a life plate on it.

lorry cost 1500 is a 7.5ton 3 horse with living.
it is a bedford tk low milage, 6litre engine
to run its not actully costing any more than the 4 x 4 and trailer.
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Im not suprised 4x4s are very expensive to run esp tax is £400 or 200 if older than 2006 , lorry £160
however you can use a 4x4 for other jobs so i guess its down to what you need.. I also wonder how long the 3.5 ton vans will last as they are just a cheap panel van realy and
not a heavy built thing like a lorry...
 
Thanks peeps, I'm really debating whether lorry or trailer is a better way to go, though trailer means taking my test...

Can anyone explain plating to me? I really have no idea about it :S
 
I bought my 3.5tonne in September last year. After two weeks the battery died. As I was firing it up with jump leads to go and get a new battery, the clutch went - total including battery, clutch and slave cylinder - £500.
Broke down 3 weeks ago on the motorway. Needed gearbox bearings. It was booked in for MOT and service as well. When they drove it, the alternator went - and as I didn't know whether the cam belt had been changed, I told them just to get on and do it.....total cost £1050.
It is virtually a new vehicle now - anyone else had such bad luck?
Won't tell you which dealer I bought it from as that would be mean...
However even in light of this (and I have now managed 4 journeys in it without having to get recovery out) I absolutely love it!
 
Kub said:
Thanks peeps, I'm really debating whether lorry or trailer is a better way to go, though trailer means taking my test...

Can anyone explain plating to me? I really have no idea about it :S
Click to expand...
Plateting is just the name given to the mot for trucks over 3.5 ton its done at HGV places rather than regular garages and by people who work for VOSA they check the safety and roadworthyness its bit more expensive but if you take the lower tax into account on the 7.5 tonne it works out about the same.. hope that helps
 
Be very careful about buying 3.5 ton conversions. Due to the current driving license legislation and younger drivers only being able to drive 3.5 ton horseboxes there has been a massive increase in conversions. Many of the donor vehicles are one step away from the scrap yard. As a panel van etc they have very little value if any however once they've had a horsebox makeover they are suddenly worth 1000's.

Always take a quality mechanic with you to check over a potential buy. Additionally remember that most panel vans etc have had an extremely hard life before conversion & they were not required to have the 6 weekly checks that 7.5 ton lorries have during their working life. It matters little if they have had a new engine, remember that the rest of the vehicle, steering, suspension, gearbox, axles etc have all done mammoth mileage. We've all seen 'white van man' on the road....so you know the condition of his vehicle when he's finished with it.;)
 
The costs listed are ok provided you have a reliable box. However never buy one without taking a mechanic and a hammer sliding under it and checking the floor struts from underneath plus suspension brake systems and drive shaft.
My 7.5 tonne (bought from a dealer) was a death trap for all concerned. Its now been turned from an f reg heap to a rebuilt 04 plate that I know inside out. Its cost an arm and several legs to do but I now have a vehicle that will fly through its plate and has a secure solid floor. Be very careful.
 
Toby_Zaphod said:
Be very careful about buying 3.5 ton conversions. Due to the current driving license legislation and younger drivers only being able to drive 3.5 ton horseboxes there has been a massive increase in conversions. Many of the donor vehicles are one step away from the scrap yard. As a panel van etc they have very little value if any however once they've had a horsebox makeover they are suddenly worth 1000's.

Always take a quality mechanic with you to check over a potential buy. Additionally remember that most panel vans etc have had an extremely hard life before conversion & they were not required to have the 6 weekly checks that 7.5 ton lorries have during their working life. It matters little if they have had a new engine, remember that the rest of the vehicle, steering, suspension, gearbox, axles etc have all done mammoth mileage. We've all seen 'white van man' on the road....so you know the condition of his vehicle when he's finished with it.;)
Click to expand...
yep very true .. that is the problem with the 3.5 tonners the big trucks are built to last and do colossal mileage and the vans are built to a price and like a cheap car, last for about 10 years before becoming uneconomic to repair as a van but because its now a expensive horsebox it has to be kept running costing $$$$££££s
 
Thanks guys, things make a bit more sense now. I have debated the whole trailer vs. box thing and I think I'd prefer a box, as it's everything in once place and for one use. If I went the trailer route, I'd still want a little run around which would mean getting a 4x4 just for pulling and well, seeing as the fuel costs are about the same and tax is higher on 4x4, box looks like the best way to go. It's going to take a while to get funds but hopefully, in a year or two, I can go shopping lol! :D Or win the lottery and get me a brand spanking new one... One can dream hehe!
 
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