Rupert-the-bear
Well-Known Member
Currently have a Nissan X-trail and unlimited free use of a trailer (but thinking of buying our own) but was wondering whether it would be cheaper to buy a 3.5ton lorry?!?! Any idea's/experiences?
Trailer & 4X4 VS 3.5ton lorry
- Thread starter Rupert-the-bear
- Start date
dotty1
Well-Known Member
I have the same dilema and I also find it impossible to load my awkward 5 yr old on my own so thought a side loader may be easier. The only downside I can see is that I wouldn't have a second car and also when the snow comes I need a 4x4 to get to the ggs. I couldn't afford to run a 4x4 on a daily basis so have an old defender just for towing/backup.
Rupert-the-bear
Well-Known Member
Luckily our car is not to bad to run, but thinking it might be cheaper/easier to get a lorry :/
ROG
Well-Known Member
For how many horses - 1 or 2 ?
Abacus
Well-Known Member
I have never had a trailer but my 3.5 ton van (Vauxhall Movano) was fantastic. Running costs and insurance were very low. From memory insurance was about £230/year and I never had more than a few hundred on servicing/repairs and MOT. Obviously payload limited me to 1 large horse, so if you need to carry 2 it wouldn't be an option.
Rupert-the-bear
Well-Known Member
Would be for one 14.1hh pony. Unfortunately, cannot afford one of those lovely van boxes 
Rupert-the-bear
Well-Known Member
bump. anyone?
Tiarella
Well-Known Member
How much is your budget? I shopped around for a while and bought a Renault master van made by Marlborough horse boxes for £4000!! In 2009 when it was made it was £13000 and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. Do you need to do your trailer test? By the time you've added up all the out goings - trailer test, service on car, service on trailer, mot on car, needing it repaired, petrol etc it is actually a lot cheaper to buy a lorry!
ROG
Well-Known Member
The OP would not need to do the trailer test
Most Nissan Xtrails can be used to tow a single horse trailer which has been down plated so that the Xtrail GVW added to the plated trailer MAM totals no more than 3500 kgs
ONe example -
Nissan X trail (4X4) with these specifications/dimensions
Unladen/kerb = 1515
GVW = 2050
Towing = 2000
Max trailer plated MAM = 1450 kgs
Deduct trailer unladen weight from max trailer plated weight to get maximum load/horse weight for the trailer
Example:- Nissan (1450) minus IFOR HB403 (770 appx) = load/horse 680 kgs
Most Nissan Xtrails can be used to tow a single horse trailer which has been down plated so that the Xtrail GVW added to the plated trailer MAM totals no more than 3500 kgs
ONe example -
Nissan X trail (4X4) with these specifications/dimensions
Unladen/kerb = 1515
GVW = 2050
Towing = 2000
Max trailer plated MAM = 1450 kgs
Deduct trailer unladen weight from max trailer plated weight to get maximum load/horse weight for the trailer
Example:- Nissan (1450) minus IFOR HB403 (770 appx) = load/horse 680 kgs
Rupert-the-bear
Well-Known Member
We have the higher power x-trail which can tow 2500kg, have been using it all summer to tow (checked all weights etc and is legal) so no need for trailer test. Issue is we get around 30-35mpg but do just over 300miles a week so costing a fortune in diesel!
Budget as low as possible, but max around £5000 for perfect lorry.
Budget as low as possible, but max around £5000 for perfect lorry.
ROG
Well-Known Member
THIS XTRAIL has a gvw of 2170 and a towing capacity of 2200 (cannot find one with 2500) so the max trailer plated MAM for B licence towing would be 1330 kgs
With a B+E licence that max trailer MAM could be up to 3500 kgs but the actual weight being towed would be 2200
What model can tow 2500 ?
Last edited:
Rupert-the-bear
Well-Known Member
Its my mum that tows, and yes she does.
ROG
Well-Known Member
AH - got it - explains all - thanks
Am still interested about the 2500 .....
Does seem that a 3.5 tonne horsebox is likely to be your best option if the 4X4 is deffo going and at least with a 3.5 you can drive it on a B licence to give mum a break
Rupert-the-bear
Well-Known Member
We have an X-trail 2.5L (07 plate) (might be 2000kg actually, not 2500kg) which we will keep if we don't get a lorry. Personally, I think a box would be better (and easier!), but trying to work out (and convince my mum) that a lorry will be cheaper/no more expensive.
Very interested in the whole weights thing though if you wouldn't mind working it out for me?
Very interested in the whole weights thing though if you wouldn't mind working it out for me?
Tuffles 23
Well-Known Member
Hi we sold our 4x4 and trailer and now have a 7.5ton lorry , wanted a smaller one but as a family of 4 we just would not fit .
The 4x4 was costing an arm and a leg to run so now have small car for everyday and lorry for days out and have really noticed the difference in my bank account
The 4x4 was costing an arm and a leg to run so now have small car for everyday and lorry for days out and have really noticed the difference in my bank account
ROG
Well-Known Member
Weights for a 3.5 tonne horsebox will not be an issue with only one horse
I put an earlier post in this thread which detailed the weights for towing on a B licence with a particular Xtrail
If your Xtrail has different specs to that one then please post what you have
Last edited:
Rupert-the-bear
Well-Known Member
Little confused by this, how do I know if this is correct for our car?! Also, you say a 3.5ton would be fine for one horse, if I was wanting to take two, would it pay to get a bigger lorry? If so, how big can my mum legally drive?
ROG
Well-Known Member
Two horses in a 3.5 tonne horsebox is 99% likely to be a no no weight wise
You need to find the info of your car and trailer before I can answer anything specific for yourtowing set up
If your mum passed her car test before 1997 then she can tow anything with a vehicle of 3.5 tonnes and under and will only be restricted by what the vehicle and trailer can legally be - she can also drive any lorry not more than 7.5 tonnes GVW
Rupert-the-bear
Well-Known Member
What about two 14hh ponies in a 3.5ton? Just thinking it might be useful to have the option of having a 2nd horse. Will find out info on car and trailer for you. Thanks for all your help so far, its such a minefield! Hmm, perhaps a 6.5 ton or something similar might be more suitable?!
ROG
Well-Known Member
2 lightweight ponies in a 3.5 is possible but is likely to require a trip to a weighbridge to know if legal - a larger GVW would be better but then you will need a LGV C1 licence to drive it - your mum will have that if she passed car test before 1997
Do you already have a car licence?
Sukistokes2
Well-Known Member
I had this very debate myself,
I went for a little transit lorry, very old but just what i needed. I've not looked back since. I think it was the cheaper option for me because of the large distance I drive to work. Also my box is fantastic to drive, easy and although it is old so far has been totally (touch wood) reliable.
I don't think I would be so happy towing and also I go everywhere on my own as my partner plays golf so wouldn't do horse shows.
I went for a little transit lorry, very old but just what i needed. I've not looked back since. I think it was the cheaper option for me because of the large distance I drive to work. Also my box is fantastic to drive, easy and although it is old so far has been totally (touch wood) reliable.
I don't think I would be so happy towing and also I go everywhere on my own as my partner plays golf so wouldn't do horse shows.
Rupert-the-bear
Well-Known Member
Ahh that makes sense! No, I don't have a car licence so mum would have to drive anyway! 7.5 ton lorries seem to be alot cheaper too (i'm guessing because not as many people can drive them) so if we got one of them, then no worries on weights, and nice living area for my mum to hide in at shows