Trailer / car advice

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Baycobsmum

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Hi
I'm looking some advice on what's best to do re a trailer.
I am currently in the nice position for the first time ever that I can afford a horse box :)
I'm my parts £2500 buys a nice box

However my car will only tow one horse to be within a safe weight
I either need to buy a box and change my car so I can tow two
Or buy a small lorry / van conversion

I can spend up to 10k to include changing car and box or 6/7k for a lorry as it will cost more to run

Alternatively my dad could tow me or I could borrow his car to tow when needed
But obviously Id be dependent on his car then

Any advice much appreciated
My dad thinks a box is more practical and that it won't be too much of a pain to not be able to take a friend as I'm on a big yard and 5/6 of my friends have their own boxes and only can tow 2 with her car

Thank you :)
 
When you say box I assume you mean trailer?

What car do you currently have? And what licence, can you tow/drive more than 3.5t?

Most 3.5t boxes/van conversions can only travel one decent size horse due to payload so if you defiantly want room for two then it's either larger lorry or double trailer.

Personally I prefer Horsebox to trailer but if you already have a car suitable for towing one that you are happy with then I wouldn't be upgrading on the off chance you might want to take two.
 
Yes sorry I mean horse box ie Ivor Williams 511 or something similar

My horse would b just under 500kgs

My current car is the new Volvo v40 2lt diesel - so I think could manage mine on his own (just)
It's only a year old do don't really want to change it but would if I had too

I just think I'd rather bring a friend as I've only been off the yard competing a handful of times and want to do it more but think a friend would b good company

I don't have my b&e so would have to do my test for that and hgv test whatever I decide to go for
But my dad thinks I mite as well do the hgv to have it since I'm over 25 now

My dad is in haulage game for 40+ years so he could help get me ready then I'd just have my test to do

Just not sure how others manage in their own or if they wish they could tow two ?
 
Don't forget the weight of tack, feed and water was well. If you don't want to change your car you would probably be better off with a box. And you get somewhere dry to sit on wet competition days!
 
Yes shay thanks - easy to forget about that
My dad said my car would b fine with just my horse but he'd put me on the weighbridge
 
Two horses about 500 kg each is very unlikely to be ok in a 3.5 tonne horsebox - need 5 tonner or similar on a LGV C1 licence

Alternatively you need B+E to tow two horses

With one horse you could stay with B towing as long as the vehicle GVW added to the trailer plated MAM does not total more than 3500 kg

Check out post 2000 in the HHO TOWING CLINIC or the HHO LGV CLINIC - both links below
 
If you are ok to tow only one horse then you definitely won't need a 511. Personally I'm not a fan of single horseboxes as they tend not to be as stable on the road as doubles. My recommendation would be to go for a 505 and tow your horse in that as its more stable. 505's are about 675kg I think, so total weight of your horse + trailer (give or take) will be roughly 1100kg for example. Add on the weight of your passengers, your gear and all that jazz, and that's the total you'll be towing. Check this against the towing capacity of your car then.

Alternatively, you could buy a lighter box like the Cheval Liberte, though I would personally have the preference for the IW. Single boxes will be lighter, but as I mentioned you could have stability issues, unless only travelling short distances.
 
nato said:
If you are ok to tow only one horse then you definitely won't need a 511. Personally I'm not a fan of single horseboxes as they tend not to be as stable on the road as doubles. My recommendation would be to go for a 505 and tow your horse in that as its more stable. 505's are about 675kg I think, so total weight of your horse + trailer (give or take) will be roughly 1100kg for example. Add on the weight of your passengers, your gear and all that jazz, and that's the total you'll be towing. Check this against the towing capacity of your car then.

Alternatively, you could buy a lighter box like the Cheval Liberte, though I would personally have the preference for the IW. Single boxes will be lighter, but as I mentioned you could have stability issues, unless only travelling short distances.
Click to expand...

HB 505 is about 900 kg empty

NEVER heard of anybody with stability issues with single horse trailers - I have also taught a few to tow them so I do know from experience

As the OP only has a B licence at the moment then the 3500 kg total of the plated rules are in force but if they tow under B+E rules then the lower of either the vehicle towing capacity or the plated weight on the trailer will be the max actual weight which can be towed

Passengers have nothing to do with the vehicle towing capacity unless you are going to put them in the trailer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Last edited:
Thank you
I've not picked a box yet . . Just trying to decide if I should get a box or do my hgv and get a lorry

My dad will keep me right with weight ect and can check the weight in the weighbridge @ quarry
My license doesn't have b+e as I'm in NI and done my test after the date it was removed

I'm just trying to decide if I should do my b+E and just tow my own horse or if I'd rather have the option to have company really. Don't want to regret my choice

So I don't know weather to go for a lorry or box

Thank you for a ur replies
Very helpful ! :)
 
Baycobsmum said:
Thank you
I've not picked a box yet . . Just trying to decide if I should get a box or do my hgv and get a lorry

My dad will keep me right with weight ect and can check the weight in the weighbridge @ quarry
My license doesn't have b+e as I'm in NI and done my test after the date it was removed

I'm just trying to decide if I should do my b+E and just tow my own horse or if I'd rather have the option to have company really. Don't want to regret my choice

So I don't know weather to go for a lorry or box

Thank you for a ur replies
Very helpful ! :)
Click to expand...

As you are in NI and have a manual car licence you can do auto B+E and get manual B+E

Remember that the weights for B towing go on the plated weights and not the actual weights
You could try putting one horse, a passenger and all the gear etc into a 3.5 tonne horsebaox and weighing it to see how much is left for another horse but I seriously suspect it will not be enough
 
One thing which may help those who can get 2 horses and a passenger into a 3.5 tonner but nothing else is that they can tow one of those small 750 kg trailers with all the kit etc in it on a B licence
 
Brilliant rog
Ty very helpful
Was considering 7.5tonne (I think) lorry with living thou as maybe easier option n doing test for that
Rather than trailer . . Which I'm worried about weight
Just trying to work out which is easier n best value for money ;)
 
Baycobsmum said:
Brilliant rog
Ty very helpful
Was considering 7.5tonne (I think) lorry with living thou as maybe easier option n doing test for that
Rather than trailer . . Which I'm worried about weight
Just trying to work out which is easier n best value for money ;)
Click to expand...

B+E will remain valid for as long as your car licence is valid which is virtually for life = no theory or medical needed

LGV will only remain valid if you keep the medical valid which is every 5 years from age 45 and yearly from age 65 - theory tests to be passed
 
ROG said:
B+E will remain valid for as long as your car licence is valid which is virtually for life = no theory or medical needed

LGV will only remain valid if you keep the medical valid which is every 5 years from age 45 and yearly from age 65 - theory tests to be passed
Click to expand...

OP sorry for asking on your thread.

ROG: Could you please tell me - on a C1 licence, do I have to do the medical every 5 years from age 45 (and yearly from 65)?
 
npage123 said:
OP sorry for asking on your thread.

ROG: Could you please tell me - on a C1 licence, do I have to do the medical every 5 years from age 45 (and yearly from 65)?
Click to expand...

Pre 1997 C1 no as that is valid til age 70 but if gained by passing a test then yes
 
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