TRAILER OR LORRY?

Sharing drinks

  • Total voters
    0
E

EquestrianFairy

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 October 2006
Messages
6,502
Visit site
Im looking to buy some horse transport- BUT i dont have a 4x4 so would need to invest in this aswell if i got a trailer.

What do you all have and what are the pros and cons of both?
 
I have a trailer because I already had a 4x4 and at the time I could not afford to spend money on a lorry and a car, I only had two horses and both of mine would travel in a caravan if I asked them to, so the trailer was the perfect solution.

However, I would prefer a lorry as I believe a lorry gives a better ride, I can pack stuff in the lorry and leave it in there, I can make coffee and tea when I get anywhere and I can get changed in the dry. I had a lorry before a lovely big 3 horse but ex forced the sale of that when we got divorced.

It all comes down to cost in the end. if you have a lorry you have to have a car as well. And a decent lorry is about 15k so for that you could buy a brand new trailer and still have £11k to spend on a decent 2nd hand 4x4
 
To buy a reasonable lorry will cost a substancial amount of money & the cost of steam cleaning it, pre-testing it & plating it can be extremely expensive. They don't do many miles to the gallon either. However on the plus side you could carry up to 3 horses/ponies, could have living/day living so hanging around at shows would be less of a chore.#

4x4 & trailers? Well at the moment a 4x4 can be very cheap to buy, they don't do that many miles to the gallon but they probably do more than a lorry. A trailer, providing you buy wisely does not depreciate very much. It's a normal MOT & although repairs can be more expensive than a normal car they are generally cheaper than working on a lorry. Additionally if your everyday car breaks down you would still have a car to get about in.....it's difficult going to the supermarket in a lorry.

If you had a lorry you would still need a car & so I think a 4x4 & trailer is the cheaper option. I had a similar dilema & now keep the 4x4 on the driveway & use it like people use a lorry, it only goes with the trailer to shows otherwise I use my other car.

Have a look at this, pretty cheap really:
http://www.horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM818G2DD/Page//Web/DisplayHorseboxDetail.asp
 
I like my trailers (if you have a bad loader, dont be afraid to spend time working on it - you be surprised at how many people dont prepare their horses to load
smile.gif
)

4x4 have more miles to the gallon than a lorry, i cant afford two MOTs etc so it my case, a 4x4 is more affordable (plus on my licence I can only tow trailers and up to 3.5tonne cos of the stupid after 1997 thingy..lol)
 
I have both, before you all think im greedy, I first had an old 1976 Bedford TK, so had to rely on my Dad to drive it for me, as she is such an old lorry I decide that I would go down the trailer rout so I could be a bit more independent, the trailer test is cheaper, so my lovely old lorry has been stood in the field for a couple of years.

Having said that, I hate the trailer, I think the lorry gives a much nicer ride for the horse, & I feel that they are safer in there! so im now about to do my HGV.
 
I love my lorry - it's much easier to drive than a car/trailer and there is more room in there for the horse. I've got loads of space to keep all my stuff too. Downside is it costs quite a lot
frown.gif
 
I would go with the 4X4 and trailer, as I know lorries have the benifits of living space etc, but having seen so many lorries stuck in the mud at shows, and having to wait to be towed, a 4 X 4 is much better as you just stick it in 4 wheel drive and zoom off.
Also would be cheaper I expect.
 
we have a trailer because...
we dont have room to park a lorry
we didnt want another vehicle, the 4x4 doubled pulling the trailer and a family car!
we only have 2 horses which need to travel

it really is dependent on your situation, a lorry is far more comfortable and if i could have either i would have a lorry

also there is a fuel card from ESS which can save you 2p per litre....www.equestriansupport.co.uk

if all else fails, enter every competition you can to win a lorry/trailer!!l lol
 
Definately a trailer. Used my new one for the 1st time yesterday - towed super. I am lucky enough to have a company car (Freelander2) so it made sense for me.
Whatever you get, don't have a wooden floor though.
Good luck
 
I've had both and personally would never go back to a trailer.

I couldn't afford to run a 4x4 as my main car as do a 56 mile round trip to work.

Lorry gives better ride for horses, you're not filling boot etc with tack equipment every time you want to go out

Current lorry is a 1980 Bedford TL - never get it pre MOT'd - found out the hard way with people charging for work that isn't required - would rather pay 2nd test fee if I couldn't get fixed in time
Never had it steam cleaned for MOT???

In 14 years of ownership it has cost no more that £1500 total to keep on road (inc tyres)

Just about to swap box onto a newer MAN chassis - purely for ease of driving as it has a 5 speed box and power steering but tbh Betty Bedford shows no sign of giving up yet!
 
Don't forget tat the tax on 4x4's is increasing to over £300 pounds next year.
mad.gif

I've never spent money on anything other than tyres, mot etc.
The insurance is about £120 per year.
The 4x4 seems like a reasonable choice, but they will soon be introducing 4x4's into the LEZ compliance.
frown.gif

A lorry gives you the option of having a much smaller car, reducing your monthly outgoings, whereas the insurance, tax and fuel required to run a 4x4 daily might be false economy.
I would suggest keeping a note of all the miles you do in a month, including shows. Write down the costs of the various tax/fuel. Then do a cost summery on trailer/car v lorry.
Very boring but the only way to get a true answer.

My choice would be a lorry every time!
grin.gif

And a 4x4!
grin.gif
blush.gif
 
I have had 2 lorries over the years and moved to a trailer 4 years ago as the lorry was just a money pit. You need to buy a decent lorry or you will continually throw money at it every month (as I did). Whereas you can buy a brand new trailer for around £3500. We have a gorgeous Nissan Terrano that pulls with no problem whatsoever. It does about 30mpg when towing which is very good.
Sadly thinking about selling both now as horsey nearing retirement and no need to keep it. :-(
 
I may be about to buy a lorry. i wouldn't really consider a trailer and 4x4.

I already have a perfectly good and fairly economical small car that does the daily commute, takes my daughter to school, runs to the yard and back every day, etc. I would not want to be doing my daily mileage in a 4x4, partly because I am not the best driver and I'd never be able to park the thing, and partly because it would crucify me on fuel.

A lorry works better for me as there is more space for my big horse, plus I can easily carry another one which is nice if other people want to come for a hack in the woods / come to a show / whatever. There is space to get changed in the dry, have a cup of tea and a burger in your own space and just generally chill out. I get really nervous at shows, so the idea of having my own little "room" where I can sit quietly for a bit before warming up is perfect for me. Also, having the living space means that if my 5 year old wants to come to a show, there is somewhere for her to sit and do her colouring or read a book if she gets bored.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I already have a perfectly good and fairly economical small car that does the daily commute, takes my daughter to school, runs to the yard and back every day, etc. I would not want to be doing my daily mileage in a 4x4,

[/ QUOTE ]
I don't really understand? You would either have a 4x4 + trailer or a lorry in addition to your usual car. No one is saying just have the one vehicle
confused.gif
If that was the case we'd be nipping out visiting & shopping in a lorry
confused.gif
 
I used to have a trailer but just over two years ago I bought a Ford Iveco 6.25ton. It's been the best thing I've ever bought.
smile.gif
Very easy to drive, good on fuel (thank goodness with price of fuel now), starts first time every time and it's an ideal first box. Road tax is £165 for 12 months, insurance (fully comp) is £338. Then it's just the cost of annual service and MOT. It's just gone in garage today for a service then I might sell it and buy a 7.5ton, that's if I can bear to part with it and providing running costs won't be much more on a 7.5t
smile.gif
Personally, I wouldn't go back to a trailer for a big horse but I know lots of people who use them without any problems.
smile.gif
It's individual preference at end of day.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top