emjaynat
Member
I'm looking for new transport. Please can u help on which type to get based on running costs etc. I will mainly be transporting one 16 2 horse and 2 kids and a dog or one horse and one pony. Thanks
Trailer , 3.5 tonne or 7.5 tonne ... Please help
- Thread starter emjaynat
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kinnygirl1
Well-Known Member
I went for a trailer based on the fact that I already had a 4 x4 that could tow it, and you don't have the tax costs for a trailer and the insurance is much less than for a lorry. Also with my budget I could afford a brand new trailer whereas would have to have gone for quite an old lorry... hope that helps. x
becca1305
Well-Known Member
Total up the max weight you would want to carry, don't forget things like water, diesel, haynet, tack, even add a few kgs for each persons handbag etc as well as the animals & people and see what it comes to. That will tell you whether a 3.5tonner is viable or not- I *think* the max payload Ive heard of on a 3.5 was 1.3tonne on a new (and not cheap!) box but others may be able to confirm. If you arent bothered about a full living etc you could always consider a halfway house with a 5 or 6 tonne vehicle? Alternatively some 3.5tonners can be uprated to 3.9 tonnes if you just need a little extra. Obviously specific driver licence requirements with anything over 3.5tonnes or trailer- dont know your situation with this. Also another insurance premium to pay with an extra vehicle. Finally, how big is your dog as if you have a 3 seat 3.5 tonner with you and kids in where will he/ she go? If large dog/ wanting to take more passengers you'd need dual cab, or just dog perhaps he/she could go in tack/ changing area if completely separate from horse area, but you would need to have a box that accomodates this. If small dog and no more passengers then no worries there!
Trailer we used one happily for years before uprating to a 7.5tonner - much prefer the lorry its so nice to be able to get out the rain etc. Consider what vehicle you would need if you havent already got a suitable one to tow with and count extra costs of fuel, tax etc.
7.5tonner. Fab, prefer travelling horses in this to other options. Things to think about - another insurance premium to pay, where will you store it, need starting and running for a bit at least once weekly particularly in winter, MOT cost higher ours is going to be around £115, fuel mileage wise I think mine does around 19 or 20 to the gallon, by 4x4 (sport shogun 2.5L) does about 27 to the gallon.
Other specific running costs are hard to calculate as is which is best for you personally as it depends on your lifestyle if using a 4x4 daily, how far you're going to travel normally with horse and how often. Hope that helps a bit though (and makes sense I'm a little tired!).
Trailer we used one happily for years before uprating to a 7.5tonner - much prefer the lorry its so nice to be able to get out the rain etc. Consider what vehicle you would need if you havent already got a suitable one to tow with and count extra costs of fuel, tax etc.
7.5tonner. Fab, prefer travelling horses in this to other options. Things to think about - another insurance premium to pay, where will you store it, need starting and running for a bit at least once weekly particularly in winter, MOT cost higher ours is going to be around £115, fuel mileage wise I think mine does around 19 or 20 to the gallon, by 4x4 (sport shogun 2.5L) does about 27 to the gallon.
Other specific running costs are hard to calculate as is which is best for you personally as it depends on your lifestyle if using a 4x4 daily, how far you're going to travel normally with horse and how often. Hope that helps a bit though (and makes sense I'm a little tired!).
becca1305
Well-Known Member
Ooh I forgot to mention (possibly teaching you to suck eggs!) bit dont assume a 7.5tonner will have a good/ sufficient payload, and make sure anything you think of buying gets taken to the weighbridge to confirm payload 
.
.Toby_Zaphod
Well-Known Member
Well on what you want to transport I think you can discount a 3.5 ton as you will not have the payload to carry horse & pony plus yourself etc. The best of them normally have a payload of around 1200kg, some even less, a 16h2" will be around 600kg & a pony depending on size will be around 350-400kg. When you put your own weight & that of 2 children, tack, water, fuel etc you will be over weight.
A trailer is the cheapest option as you don't need to insure it by law, it will carry the horse & pony however you will need a vehicle that has sufficient towing capacity to pull it. That can be quite an expense specially if it's your only vehicle & you have to do all your mileage in it. If it's a 4x4, you may need one for the weight you'll be towing, your tax disc will be expensive, insurance quite expensive & maintenance also fairly expensive. Your main expense will be fuel though as they can be thirsty.
A 7.5 ton can be very expensive to run & I believe is the most expensive option. Their mpg isn't great, parts & labour for them is always expensive. Depending on the age of the vehicle you can find that you are having to spend several thousand pounds every year to keep on top of maintenance & keep it on the road.
None of your options is cheap, I think the trailer could be the cheapest option but you will require a tow car.
A trailer is the cheapest option as you don't need to insure it by law, it will carry the horse & pony however you will need a vehicle that has sufficient towing capacity to pull it. That can be quite an expense specially if it's your only vehicle & you have to do all your mileage in it. If it's a 4x4, you may need one for the weight you'll be towing, your tax disc will be expensive, insurance quite expensive & maintenance also fairly expensive. Your main expense will be fuel though as they can be thirsty.
A 7.5 ton can be very expensive to run & I believe is the most expensive option. Their mpg isn't great, parts & labour for them is always expensive. Depending on the age of the vehicle you can find that you are having to spend several thousand pounds every year to keep on top of maintenance & keep it on the road.
None of your options is cheap, I think the trailer could be the cheapest option but you will require a tow car.
Suzie G
Well-Known Member
We bought a trailer last year and nw found because we r doing Bsja that a lot of shows are quite a distance away and if u do the pony premiers then they are held over weekends so we now need a lorry so we will be getting a 7.5 t with living.
ROG
Well-Known Member
Do you already have a pre 1997 licence with B+E and C1 on it or will you need to get the relevant licence when you decide what transport to get?
lachlanandmarcus
Well-Known Member
Another thing to consider is what sort of events/facilities will you be going to. eg if you do events out in the wildy woollies eg endurance, some of the venues dont have parking suitable for boxes only trailers, and some only allow 3.5 t boxes not 7.5t ones.
if your horse will travel in a trailer, and your licence allows you to tow it, I would go for a trailer.
if your horse will travel in a trailer, and your licence allows you to tow it, I would go for a trailer.
perfect11s
Well-Known Member
Well on what you want to transport I think you can discount a 3.5 ton as you will not have the payload to carry horse & pony plus yourself etc. The best of them normally have a payload of around 1200kg, some even less, a 16h2" will be around 600kg & a pony depending on size will be around 350-400kg. When you put your own weight & that of 2 children, tack, water, fuel etc you will be over weight.
A trailer is the cheapest option as you don't need to insure it by law, it will carry the horse & pony however you will need a vehicle that has sufficient towing capacity to pull it. That can be quite an expense specially if it's your only vehicle & you have to do all your mileage in it. If it's a 4x4, you may need one for the weight you'll be towing, your tax disc will be expensive, insurance quite expensive & maintenance also fairly expensive. Your main expense will be fuel though as they can be thirsty.
A 7.5 ton can be fairly expensive to run & I believe is the least expensive option for deprication Their mpg isn't great, parts & labour for them is about the same as a 4x4. Depending on the age of the vehicle you can find that you are having to spend several hundred pounds every year to keep on top of maintenance & keep it on the road.
None of your options is cheap, I think the trailer could be the cheapest option but you will require a thirsty tow car.
What ever you do its and expensive bussiness to move horses, you have to find the best compromise for your situation ...
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