Thoughts on this 3.5 t box?

I really don't know anyone would consider putting their horses in a transit van!! Theres no way these vehicles will carry anything other than maybe a couple of mini shetlands safely. Yes people use them and i'm sure some will come along and say they're absolutely fab but I'd save your money for something more robust and a proper horsebox.
 
gallopingby said:
I really don't know anyone would consider putting their horses in a transit van!! Theres no way these vehicles will carry anything other than maybe a couple of mini shetlands safely. Yes people use them and i'm sure some will come along and say they're absolutely fab but I'd save your money for something more robust and a proper horsebox.
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I agree with this I wouldn't put my horses in one I just can't see how they are safe to carry anything but a small pony.
 
I don't necessarily agree that it is more unsafe than the same type of van with a box built on the back, which is all the other 3.5 tonne boxes are. Just smaller inside (but possibly more stable as it is built within the original van structure).

Incidentally it isn't a transit, it is a long wheelbase renault and there are many differences - the length for one, but also it is front wheel drive which enables more internal height without being taller - due to not needing a driveshaft from engine to back wheels.

However I disagree with the seller description that it will carry 2 x 16.2 horses. I don't think there is a 3.5 tonne box that will do this, the best payload I have ever seen is 1.3 tonnes which is a specialist build with strong/light materials. Based on this and the lack of payload given, I would discount this lorry. Also it looks old to me - private plate so you can't tell but it's an older van - probably 15-20 years old at a guess.
 
Agree with DressageCob re: that being a silly claim.

Having looked at the MOT history below: I would want to check the welding done on this and ask what work was carried out to fix the exhaust gasses problem, as this isn't always a cheap or easy fix and I would be surprised they would bother on a box this old.

Not to mention the fact that is significantly failed in May 2022, then badly failed in June 2022 and then suspiciously passed with no advisories 6 days later , I would say that they probably have a 'friendly mechanic' who is willing to overlook some things. The brake pipes, exhaust corrosion and indicator etc are all cheap, but chassis corrosion is the beginning of bad things and is a significant job to do, I doubt they would have disassembled the whole box to re-weld/weld a plate onto the chassis. And if they have welded a plate which would be the 'easy' fix, then I wouldn't put a horse on it.

It's been corroding as an advisory since 2014, so this isn't a new problem.. It has also failed on several things every year since 2014 which means it will very likely continue being a money pit

ETA: caveat, I am going on the MOT history alone, I have no awareness of the company or how reputable/not reputable they are or whether they have an inhouse repair centre or not

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On the lorry safety subject. A mechanic came to my yard yesterday to fix someone else's 7.5 tonne lorry which has a whole load of problems. The owner is away at the moment. He showed me some of the corrosion and problems it has and was utterly scathing about someone who would put their horses in it. It passed its plating in March. In my opinion a lot of the older 7.5 tonne lorries out there are seriously unsafe, poorly maintained by private owners rather than as they would be for commercial use, and probably only don't have awful accidents through very careful driving. Apologies if this seems irrelevant to this thread but many of the 3.5 tonne boxes out there seem better maintained (perhaps because it's cheaper to do so on a smaller vehicle) than the big ones, yet many people still think they are all unsafe for horses. (And yes, some of them are unsafe of course, through bad design rather than the underlying vehicle).
 
A friend of mine had a master, she only travelled one but they're surprising in that they generally have a substantial payload - they seem to come in about 1.2, so it's optimistic to say it would carry 2 16.2 but maybe not impossible. I think you'd have to take all your tack etc separately though if you wanted to do that
 
There will always be people who dislike the 3.5t van conversions like this, but I think as long as they are well built and you’re not intending to travel a 17 handed in them they’re fit for purpose and a good first box.
This one is an older one (pre-2005 - you can tell by the headlights, they changed shape around 2004/5 from memory) and the MOT history indicates it’s needed/needs a lot of love.
The history on that one would put me off.
I’m wary of ones advertised as will travel 2 x 16.2 without a payload certificate. Just because they can fit doesn’t mean it’s safe.
 
Also have to account for fuel and the weight of the driver. If a 16.2 horse is at least 500 kg and a driver might be 60-100kg, and fuel might be 50kg... you're very close to the limit, without even carrying hay and water.
 
Abacus said:
poorly maintained by private owners rather than as they would be for commercial use
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They may or may not be poorly maintained by private owners but surely they don't need to be serviced etc as they would be for commercial use because they are doing nothing like the mileage and therefore wear and tear as they do for commercial use. Mine is serviced and inspected annually at MOT time (as is my car), and in between if I'm worried about something, but it only goes out once a week or so.
 
Too small lovely, if you go in one yourself you'll see that they really are not big, not a lot of headroom and that one looks very basic inside. The company has a good reputation but I'd not put anything but a small pony in that x
 
Leandy said:
They may or may not be poorly maintained by private owners but surely they don't need to be serviced etc as they would be for commercial use because they are doing nothing like the mileage and therefore wear and tear as they do for commercial use. Mine is serviced and inspected annually at MOT time (as is my car), and in between if I'm worried about something, but it only goes out once a week or so.
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Totally appreciate the point about the mileage, and as long as they move regularly it helps them, but on the flip side many of them sit there unused for longer periods which isn't healthy for the mechanics.
 
Leandy said:
They may or may not be poorly maintained by private owners but surely they don't need to be serviced etc as they would be for commercial use because they are doing nothing like the mileage and therefore wear and tear as they do for commercial use. Mine is serviced and inspected annually at MOT time (as is my car), and in between if I'm worried about something, but it only goes out once a week or so.
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This isn't necessarily a good thing, things which stand and aren't used a lot are more succeptible to rust, things seizing, lubricants and other liquids collecting sediment and corroding rubber brake lines etc (which also will start to split and crack if left dry for a while if the box is standing). Once a week should be enough to mitigate this, but something not being in regular use isnt a good thing. I would rather buy a high mileage ex transport box used daily for years than a lower mileage private box used once a month.
 
The seller is a horsebox company. They put it through an MOT & it failed & when a vehicle fails the MOT tester lists the work to be done. The seller presents the vehicle 6 days later & the vehicle fails again? Then presumably further work is done & it gets presented for MOT & it passes. The seller does nothing about the rusting of brake pipe, leaking exhaust & all four tyres have cracking to the walls. If you do decide to buy be aware that the things the seller didn't fix for MOT & these are things that you will have to do probably within a few months'

I would leave this one & find another vehicle. I've been to this seller in the past & I found that he would do the smallest to a lorry for MOT & then charge top money. He also offers a very low price on any part exchange. Needless to say we walked away.
 
I had a van conversion which a reputable company did for me, my cob travelled the length and breadth of the country in it from 2006-2016 & as he would only travel with no partition he had loads of room. I sold it for more than it cost me to buy and convert to someone I knew and it's still going strong.
However - this one has a very poor tarted up paint job (you can see the original blue paint at the joins of the body panels) and the MOT history does look suspect, I'd want to see receipts as proof the work has been done, and an independent inspection on it before even thinking of putting a horse in it.
 
Size will be fine for a 15/15.1, MOT history would give me major concerns and insufficient ventilation. Adding windows & roof vents is expensive as you also need to add reinforcement as cutting into the body in this type of van reduces its strength
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
This isn't necessarily a good thing, things which stand and aren't used a lot are more succeptible to rust, things seizing, lubricants and other liquids collecting sediment and corroding rubber brake lines etc (which also will start to split and crack if left dry for a while if the box is standing). Once a week should be enough to mitigate this, but something not being in regular use isnt a good thing. I would rather buy a high mileage ex transport box used daily for years than a lower mileage private box used once a month.
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I didn't say it was. They do need to be kept in use I agree, but they don't need the same degree of maintenance as for commercial use, that is my point. I've seen similar comments before, to the effect that private horsebox owners are somehow negligent in not having them serviced every 6 weeks or whatever is required for commercial use. Not doing that does not make owners negligent. There is a happy medium.
 
Just adding to the 'I wouldnt put a horse in one of these' I used to be of that thought too, I used to think how on earth can anyone put a horse in a van! Fast forward to this year and a change of horse to a pony. He hated my 7.5t so after seeing one that was recommended to me I thought that looks good and I downsized to a 'van', best decision ever. I couldnt justify £20k min for what is basically an old box van thats been converted or one built on the same old van chassis, and after having had two 3.5t previously, one well built but barely any payload and the other IMO flimsy, my little van is fab! It is extremely sturdy, has a full wall, so no jumping over and is more spacious that most 7.5t, ok not the same headheight. My pony loves it. I do think though that they are more suited to ponies, mine would carry a 16hh but Id say more suitable for up to 15hh.
I also wouldnt consider that one OP, sorry.
 
Louby said:
Just adding to the 'I wouldnt put a horse in one of these' I used to be of that thought too, I used to think how on earth can anyone put a horse in a van! Fast forward to this year and a change of horse to a pony. He hated my 7.5t so after seeing one that was recommended to me I thought that looks good and I downsized to a 'van', best decision ever. I couldnt justify £20k min for what is basically an old box van thats been converted or one built on the same old van chassis, and after having had two 3.5t previously, one well built but barely any payload and the other IMO flimsy, my little van is fab! It is extremely sturdy, has a full wall, so no jumping over and is more spacious that most 7.5t, ok not the same headheight. My pony loves it. I do think though that they are more suited to ponies, mine would carry a 16hh but Id say more suitable for up to 15hh.
I also wouldnt consider that one OP, sorry.
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thank you :)
 
I don't 'like' the smaller conversions, but they do come in cheaper and with a bigger payload, plus I have seen a client with one in the flesh and think they are perfectly adequate for up to 15.2, as long as they are well built. I think that they have a place for someone who doesn't have 20K plus to spend. At OP's price point, she wants a safe conveyance for one small horse, not a limousine.

I do not like the looks or history of this particular example though.
 
Another who has a Renault Master and is very happy with it. I wouldn't travel anything bigger than my 15.1 and would be wary of two but for my purposes it's great.

I would be put off by the amount of work that one has needed. I found when looking for mine that I had to plan to travel to view anything decent
 
A girl I know has just bought a 25 year old lorry. It's a small one do assuming 3.5t. It looks like the horse stands more towards the rear of the box. They travelled a pony which actually broke out of the back door , made a right mess. She posted the damage on fb. The wood that was broken was rotten. I just really hope she's had the rest of the box looked at.
 
Lady Jane said:
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This one has at least got a decent roof vent and Wayne Jennings has done quite a lot of work on it so should be sound. Also its only about 20 mins from him so the inspection wouldn't be too expensive
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I'd be wary of this in that there is no way of escape should you be blocked in/hit from the side/have your cam belt snap on a narrow country lane and have no space to open the ramp ?
 
I had a Vauxhall Movano conversion by Huish. I travelled my Dales all over the country in it in comfort and safety. I also transported bigger horses for friends but it had been heightened. It cost next to nothing to maintain and was super reliable. It was great to pack, load and go without all the forward route planning I had to do in my 7.5 Kevin Parker.
 
Abacus said:
I don't necessarily agree that it is more unsafe than the same type of van with a box built on the back, which is all the other 3.5 tonne boxes are. Just smaller inside (but possibly more stable as it is built within the original van structure).

Incidentally it isn't a transit, it is a long wheelbase renault and there are many differences - the length for one, but also it is front wheel drive which enables more internal height without being taller - due to not needing a driveshaft from engine to back wheels.

However I disagree with the seller description that it will carry 2 x 16.2 horses. I don't think there is a 3.5 tonne box that will do this, the best payload I have ever seen is 1.3 tonnes which is a specialist build with strong/light materials. Based on this and the lack of payload given, I would discount this lorry. Also it looks old to me - private plate so you can't tell but it's an older van - probably 15-20 years old at a guess.
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Agree with this assessment. I did a lot of research before I bought my 3.5t and they are not necessarily any less safe than a coach built its down to the conversion quality. Equisport for example have a good rep for this type of van conversion. I’ve seen 2 ponies transported quite Safely in these but no way 2 16.2hh. I’ve also heard that this dealer often overprices but I’ve seen some good reviews too. My Renault Master is a 2002 with only 18k on the clock as Horsebox from new.
 
Abacus said:
Also it looks old to me - private plate so you can't tell but it's an older van - probably 15-20 years old at a guess.
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It was actually manufactured in 2000 - so it's 22 years old. And it is still registered as a white vehicle (which is probably neither here nor there, but still....)

IMHO it looks like a money pit and will be more trouble than it is worth. I would keep looking.
 
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