Tow car vs horse box hire?

[Vimto22]

I currently have a broken car - I had towed my ifor 403 with it.
I do about 16k work miles per year - sometimes arrive at bumpy yards or fields so like a suv anyway!
I’ve noticed I barely go anywhere, liked to aim for 2/month but realistically I’ve use it about 5 times through the winter, i tend to rely on OH to drive it for me

Saw a local horse box hire with driver, £50 minimum, £1/mile, £10hr waiting over 1 hr. Thinking if I get a more economical low tax suv, 70+ mpg and no road tax etc I’d probably be better off? Not to mention newer car for less ££!
Anyone found it’s a pain to hire etc? Not sure what to do!
Many thanks

 

[Widgeon]

I had planned to hire but actually a box is £100 a day minimum, and the only trailer hire places were really too far away - plus with either option you have to pick it up and return it (cleaned) the same day or the price goes even higher. So I bought a single trailer and now we go out every fortnight in the summer. I drive myself though - I can't imagine relying on my OH to do it for us! I would probably say, buy the most economical towing car you can afford and spend some money on driving lessons with a towing instructor so you can be more confident and self sufficient.

 

[SDMabel]

I've got a cross over type - have always used these just check the towing capacity of them to your trailer and horse set up.

Current vehicle is an Antara, its not too bulky, doesn't guzzle fuel, plenty of storage and smart inside so ideal day to day care but also tows my set up really well.

Prior to this I had an X-trail which was less fancy (old model) but towed like a dream and didn't drink too much fuel either.

I think as Widgeon says, there's the extras of cleaning, calculating in picking up box etc that would just be too much of a pain in the backside personally.

It's also quite handy to have in the case of an emergency without scrambling round trying to organise transport

 

[JGC]

Also you have to consider the availability of the hires - we had two near to our yard for hire but you had to be super quick to get one when there was a local comp and they've both now been sold anyway. Next nearest is half an hour and 30 miles away - you already use up half of your included mileage just going to get it.

 

[criso]

I've done horsebox hire and in some ways it's great. The driver has also been an assistant which is great if you're on your own and you don't have to worry about all the maintenance and aftercare, not even having to sweep the box after.

The downside is that on busy weekends everyone is booked up unless you get in early and if shows don't run to time, the waiting charge can add up.

 

[Zigzagged6260]

I hired a 3.5t before I got a trailer. I found benefits of having your own transport to be worth it -

• Trailer available at all times in case of emergency.
• Trailer available in evenings when hiring may be more difficult.
• Trailer can be used for things where hiring might seem pointless like a summer evening hack out somewhere different.
• If you're out all day the last thing you want to do in the evening is clean the hire box immaculately, refuel it and return it. With your own trailer you can just skip it out and park it up.
• If outings are cancelled you don't lose out on deposits.
• Hiring any more than once per month makes owning a trailer a no brainer IMO.

 

[Annagain]

I don't think I'd like to give up the flexibility my own transport offers. The benefit of the 403 is you could tow it with that same economical car you mentioned in your post, maybe even a 4 wheel drive estate? I think it weighs about 700kg so even with a big horse you could get away with something with a 1500kg towing capacity. A trailer will of course need maintenance but it's not in the same league as a lorry (mine costs be £120 a year to service and things like tyres / brakes every so often. It probably evens out at about £200 a year.) so if you need an SUV for work anyway and can tow with a fairly small, more economical one, I think it's worth keeping your trailer. It might be different if you didn't already have it.

 

[asmp]

Although we haven’t used our trailer much recently I like to know it’s there for emergencies. It’s also handy for moving large items like furniture!

 

[Vimto22]

Thanks all, I need to look into towing cars. My only issue was the wear and tear it put on my car - it was able to tow 2000kg and I only towed 1400, probably as it’s an auto it was worse

 

[Vimto22]

I towed my horse to the vet and ended up very sweaty and anxious but I got there!!

 

[Bobthecob15]

Availability is always the issue...and timings! If you need to be at a show for 8am you'd really need to collect the box the day before...same for getting it back same day/next day? Soon ads to the costs of hire. I imagine weekends are also very popular.

Always go for as big as towing capacity as you can, we tow with a 3500 capacity and you'd not notice the trailer, it really does make a massive difference. Used to have a car with 2000ish capacity, it was rubbish in comparison!

 

[Annagain]

Thanks all, I need to look into towing cars. My only issue was the wear and tear it put on my car - it was able to tow 2000kg and I only towed 1400, probably as it’s an auto it was worse

If you're not towing that often I would say the wear and tear is minimal. Get practising and tow yourself so you don't have to rely on your husband. Have some lessons if that would help. It really doesn't have to be a big deal.

 

[follysienna]

I opted to hire rather than buy a tow car, for now. Luckily there are a few hire companies around me, but even then they get fully booked when popular shows are on so need booking quite far in advance.

 

[Squeak]

If you're not towing that often I would say the wear and tear is minimal. Get practising and tow yourself so you don't have to rely on your husband. Have some lessons if that would help. It really doesn't have to be a big deal.

I used to be a bit nervous driving my 3.5t but after driving it more I'm now happy to drive it around and it gives me so much more freedom being able to go by myself, whenever and wherever I fancy and I use it SO much more.

You could try taking it out without a horse on around some easy routes a few times and then when comfortable go to some easy places with your horse on and then gradually build it up as you get more comfortable.

 

[Vimto22]

Turns out adding a towbar invalidates the warranty

 

[criso]

Availability is always the issue...and timings! If you need to be at a show for 8am you'd really need to collect the box the day before...same for getting it back same day/next day? Soon ads to the costs of hire. I imagine weekends are also very popular.

The OP was talking about an advert they saw for a box with driver so collecting and taking it back wouldn't be an issue.

 

[Bobthecob15]

The OP was talking about an advert they saw for a box with driver so collecting and taking it back wouldn't be an issue.

Oops sorry misread that!

 

[Jambarissa]

So the box will prob cost you £100+ each hire. Would that put you off at all? Even if it worked out cheaper than running a good tow car if you will need to justify the expense each time you go out you'll end up not going anywhere. If you've no worry about cost and can be assured of availability I'd be very tempted to go for that option, would be stress free.

If you're more money conscious I 'd say look at which cars can comfortably tow your horse and box and look at those as an option. I think I'd be happy with 2000 kg if it was a heavy car. You may not need 4x4 if you will never be parking in a field.

 

[Annagain]

Turns out adding a towbar invalidates the warranty

I've never heard of this before. It certainly hasn't been the case with my cars that have had penty of warranty work done on them with a tow bar. I'd look into that further. Is it a second hand car place that has told you that? That might be their policy but it's not common so not everywhere will have that.

 

[Vimto22]

I've never heard of this before. It certainly hasn't been the case with my cars that have had penty of warranty work done on them with a tow bar. I'd look into that further. Is it a second hand car place that has told you that? That might be their policy but it's not common so not everywhere will have that.

It was with Cazoo, it took 2 calls of being diverted in the wrong direction and then finally got to any modifications do invalidate it. Found one on a different dealers that are ok with it though. It can tow 1800kg so a little less than my old car, it is a chunky estate which would be ideal. Think my mare and box weigh in at 1380kg so I’m sure that’s plenty of room? Old car was 11 reg, 150k on clock. This one has more speeds on its auto gearbox and 19reg, 26k on clock, isn’t 4wd though so would have to be mindful of parking conditions!! Much better type of car for every day. What do you think ?
Many thanks everyone

 

[Annagain]

It was with Cazoo, it took 2 calls of being diverted in the wrong direction and then finally got to any modifications do invalidate it. Found one on a different dealers that are ok with it though. It can tow 1800kg so a little less than my old car, it is a chunky estate which would be ideal. Think my mare and box weigh in at 1380kg so I’m sure that’s plenty of room? Old car was 11 reg, 150k on clock. This one has more speeds on its auto gearbox and 19reg, 26k on clock, isn’t 4wd though so would have to be mindful of parking conditions!! Much better type of car for every day. What do you think ?
Many thanks everyone

That sounds great - what car is it? Skoda Ocatvia Scout would be an excellent choice, it has a 2000kg capacity and lots of tow car awards. Passat Alltrack is another good one - almost identical to the Octavia but more expensive.
Something like this. It looks like they stopped for a while so an 18 plate is the newest I can find but they're bringing a new one out this year. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305107211274

 

[Vimto22]

That sounds great - what car is it? Skoda Ocatvia Scout would be an excellent choice, it has a 2000kg capacity and lots of tow car awards. Passat Alltrack is another good one - almost identical to the Octavia but more expensive.
Something like this. It looks like they stopped for a while so an 18 plate is the newest I can find but they're bringing a new one out this year. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305107211274

Thank you, it’s a seat estate, I had the Skoda yeti last and loved it but unfortunately it had rust problems and ended up with too much ££ of issues so it was no longer! I Like the Octavia but the Seat seems similar more within budget, sadly I spent thousands trying to keep the yeti going when it probably should’ve gone 6mo ago

 

[phizz4]

Turns out adding a towbar invalidates the warranty

You should declare the fitting of a tow bar to your insurance company or they might refuse a claim if you had an accident.

 

[Annagain]

Thank you, it’s a seat estate, I had the Skoda yeti last and loved it but unfortunately it had rust problems and ended up with too much ££ of issues so it was no longer! I Like the Octavia but the Seat seems similar more within budget, sadly I spent thousands trying to keep the yeti going when it probably should’ve gone 6mo ago

They're all the same group so again, it will be very similar to the Skoda. My OH has a Seat (a boy racer one, not for towing) and loves it. It's almost identical inside to the Octavia we had before)

 

[Vimto22]

They're all the same group so again, it will be very similar to the Skoda. My OH has a Seat (a boy racer one, not for towing) and loves it. It's almost identical inside to the Octavia we had before)

Sadly I’ve just seen the seat VIN plate and for some reason it can only tow 1600