Transport advice

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Shilasdair

Patting her thylacine
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I am looking into buying transport for my herd, hopefully in the next few months....and would like advice...so far I'd thought of three options;
1. Land Rover Defender + trailer (prob Ifor Williams)
2. Renault Master 3.5 ton
3. 7.5 ton lorry...but know nothing about them.

I have three horses, a 16 hh (weighs 550kg) one which will be about 16.1 (weight 550kg) and the Shire x which will probably end up at 17hh (weight 700kg).
So what do you advise, oh wise ones?
S
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If you end up going with option 1 then I'd say you'd want the Ifor 510 as it's the biggie and has plenty of height, width and length for your 17hh to travel comfortably
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If you end up going with option 1 then I'd say you'd want the Ifor 510 as it's the biggie and has plenty of height, width and length for your 17hh to travel comfortably
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Thanks...she may even end up taller...although I'm doing my best to stunt her growth
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Are IW the best trailers for heffalumps?
S
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If there is a chance you will want to travel 2 together then rule out the 3.5T box to start with!

7.5T will be best but lorries tend to be better if in regular use, if it's just the odd trip out you will be far better will a trailer.

You can't go far wrong with a Landy.

Trailer wise there are loads on the market. Ifors are solid, relatively cheap and have good resale, so you can't really go wrong with those. Go for a 510 if you get an Ifor. Another option is the richardson.
 
Ok if travelling more than one of your two just don't go down the 3.5T route and to be honest you will struggle to find a 7.5T that will carry all three legally, they exist but are very rare and normally are of the variety with no living, which is normally the main advantage of having a lorry.

They will fit in a trailer although will be tight squeeze but you will save on insurance.

Comes down to what you find easier to drive in this situation I reckon. I personally got a 7.5t lorry as easier to drive in my opinion
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Katie
 
Definitely 1 or 3.

You'd need to make sure that a 7.5 tonne had enough payload for the heaviest combination you'd be travelling, and enough space for the shire.

I've just had the same dilemma, but for 2 horses, and am going for the 4x4 + trailer option.

I had a look at some 5.5/6 tonne lorries, but they didn't have enough room for Chloe, without a lot of work on the horse space, and I wasn't confident enough I'd be able to carry both horses within the payload.
 
I love my 7.5 ton lorry. Its old and battered and scrapes through its MOT every year but its better than a trailer any day. Go for the lorry if you can afford to, loads nicer to go to shows in.
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I wouldn't get a 3.5t lorry, you would be better spending your money on a 7.5t and then you will have all the space you need for your big guys.

I use a Landrover Discovery and Westfalia trailer (very old but absolutely wonderful) for my hefty ID mare 16hh and a Welsh x Arab. It has great headroom and would easily take a 17hh horse but I think the modern versions would be extortionately expensive.

Being a very poor person sadly I don't think I can justify to the OH having a lorry, even if I could afford to buy one, as the extra tax, insurance, servicing, plating, etc.

You see, I can be reasonable and helpful, sometimes!
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Thanks for your responses, can I ask a couple more questions?
Why are 3.5 ton boxes a problem? Would there not be enough payload for any of my fatsos?
And would I also struggle with the weight in 7.5ton boxes? What is the normal weight of horses they can carry without being overweight?
I'd probably only want to use transport a couple of times a month....would a Landrover not also die a death if left for long periods?
S
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Personally I would choose the nicest colour over and above reliability and safety
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Oh, obviously I'm going to have to have whatever I buy sprayed black...and the windows tinted.
S
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If you get a Landy you'll find yourself driving about in it more and more - you can deal with all the arseh*les on the road very efficiently in them
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If you get a Landy you'll find yourself driving about in it more and more - you can deal with all the arseh*les on the road very efficiently in them
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I have automatic right of way due to my manic driving plus religion anyway
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S
 
3.5T boxes are great, I have one
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But about the lightest unladen one one could buy (that would be big enough for heffalumps) would be in the region of 2.3T, giving you about 1.2T capacity, so theoretically you could get 2 x 16.2hh but you would be right on the limit and that is minus fuel/water/passengers etc. Even then these boxes are the fancy modern ones and you are looking at paying 18K plus.

The older, roomier 3.5T tend to be heavier and only have payload for 1 horse. For example, my D reg VW is massive inside (easily 2 x 17.2) but only has an 800kg payload, therefore is a 1 horse box.

The 7.5T boxes vary enormously. You will find them capable of carrying all 3 but you will struggle if you want lockers, fancy living etc.

As a general guide allow 750kg per horse to include all the extra weight
 
Yep agree with what BandJ has said about the 3.5ton boxes. Mine has abour 1.3ton payload, and I wouldnt be able to carry more than 1 big horse in it....it weighs in at 3.125tonne with a 16.2hh, me, all tack, half a tank of diesel and water on board.
 
Rice B60 or the Richardson equivalent would carry the big one comfortably. The are wider and higher than anything else I looked at. I pull my B60 with a Defender but if you dont have one already, I'd go for the LWB as getting all the gear for two in a SWB is a bit of a squash plus there is a bit more weight to the vehicle so should be safer in terms of weight allowances or whatever they are called! (I only travel one big one so it doesnt matter to me).
There is a higher Ifor but I dont think it has the extra width which is important with the wider horses. I also wont touch an Ifor because of they are the most popular with trailer thieves.
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Right, so I'm discounting the 3.5 ton idea...as I don't reckon I can starve any of my three sufficiently to squash them in...
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7.5 ton boxes seem to be quite problematic too...so I may go for Landrover and Trailer option...any warnings about Landy Defenders? Or Ifor Williams 510's?
S
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I did have a 4x4 and trailer, which was fine for local shows, and the 4x4 was my every day car too. It cost a fortune to run daily though. If you are only going to use yours for towing and occasional use that woldn't be such a consideration.

I bought a 7.5 box in the end, stalled for 3 but I would realistically keep that to 2 unless I was shifting small ponies. Part of my rationale though was that I want to do bigger shows this year which will be further away and might require overnight stays.
 
Only thing I'd say about the Ifor's is that you should leave the handbrake off especially in the winter, i just have a rock by my wheels. The classic ones are good as the jockey door can be opened from inside (practical if you are on your own!).
The 510 is indeed a lot wider than the smaller version so I'm sure yours will be fine in there!
 
If you buy a landy with windows in the side you may have to pay the big road tax so you need to check that! It depends on the age of the vehicle but I'm sure its easy to find out. No windows in the side then its classed as a commercial vehicle/van and you pay normal road tax. But the blind spot is huge.

(I'd also try to get heated seats!!!! And go on an offroading course!
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I started off with a Disco and Rice Beaufort trailer but soon discovered that a lorry was required for the bigger and therefore longer stay shows. Nothing beats having reasonable living for 3+ nights stay. Oh and most importantly a LOO!!!!!!!

I kept my Disco because I love it so much - its a G reg and dispite being old it still very tidy. I like to play chicken with people in posh - therefore expensive - cars.

I have a 7.5 Leyland Roadrunner 813 and its great, no dying on hills and has overtaking power. Having a 7.5 also means peace of mind in that I have plenty of payload when I go to shows having to take everything for a 5 day stay.

I would say option 1 if you only intend to go for day trips or option 3 for overnight stays.

 
I have a new baitson ascot it's the top of the range one. I bought it last year so its a year old now. I tow it with a discovery and it's fab. It has a tack pack in the front of the trailer, it's light and airy and my horse travels great in it.
We are looking for a lorry now as we are competing more and need something with living. So am going to sell my trailer I am going to keep my landrover though. It is very expencive to run but i JUST LOVE IT.
Good luck on your hunt for trailer and 4X4.
and a Happy New Year to you all.
 
If you can legally drive a 7.5 tonne id go for one (i can only drive a 3.5 tonner so have gone for a renault master... i only travel my one mare though)? With a 7.5 you only have to maintain that and your car rather than the tow vehicle, your car and the trailer... unless you sell your car...!?! If size is putting you off ... you can get lots of smaller / shorter lorries (or even maybe look at the 6.5 tonne ones). As realistically youll find it hard to find one that will be able to travel all 3 of your horses!
 
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