True cost of trailer/4X4 vs lorry?

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DiamondGirl

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Firstly an apology- sorry, I know this has probably been done lots before but if you could give me your opinions/experiences that would be great and much appreciated!

I'm currently running a Defender 90 that I use for commuting to work (approx 35miles/day) plus weekend running around etc and then use this to tow my trailer for competing/lessons. However, fuel prices are getting beyond a joke (126p/litre!) and with that plus mortagage, livery etc etc I cant help but wonder if a small car and a little lorry would be better??

I would I think have a look at the 3.5T lorries but have heard some rumours regarding legality etc- does anyone have info on this? I'd have to do my test for the 7.5T (did my trailer test pre crazy fuel prices!) but would happily do that if its the safer option. But what are the implications re tax, insurance etc? Would it be the same to run a small car alongside my 4x4 as it would run a small car alongside a lorry??

Sorry for the length of question (cookies if you got this far!) but any comments would be greatly appreciated!
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it depends on how often you intend to use the lorry. I have a small 3.5t lorry which at the last fill took £80 of fuel - it does go a fair distance on that though. I have a small car which goes through approx £40 of fuel a week. You'd have to take into consideration the cost of selling both your 4x4 and your trailer and then purchasing another car and a lorry. Might be an expensive exercise to start with but possibly worth it in the long run.
 
Thanks scotsmare, I guess it would be used sometimes 4 times but more like 2/3 times a month- at the moment I'm having to cut down on lessons/competing as I just cant afford the cost of them plus the fuel to get there!

How do you find your 3.5t lorry and what size horse do you put in it?
 
sorry I cant help with answering the question but you have my sympathy. I too have a newish landy 90 and trailer and use the landy for getting too and from work . the cost of diesel is horrendous, and they are putting up the car tax it will be £300 next year and £455 the year after. its really awful..
 
Would it not be cheaper to buy a small car for running about and keeping your 4x4 and trailer???

My mum found out for me taking my LGV test is about £1000 and not that much more for HGV.
 
Its awful isnt it nuffield, the tax is horrendous and with fuel prices going the way they are I really wonder if at some point soon I just wont be able to go out and compete or have lessons any more. I love having the Landy, fab for towing and great for just chucking dogs and tons of horse food etc in but the cost of running it is getting silly
 
My 3.5 tonner takes my 16.1hh (space for a 17.2) mare you generally shouldnt put two BIG horses in though. Payload of most renault type ones as generally 1 tonne. They are perfectly legal just you cant over load them. Much like a big lorry really- most 7.5 tonne lorries take 2 horses within weight but have the space for 3. I love my little lorry, its very practical but may be for sale, PM me if you want.

Have a look at www.freewebs.com/traveltwo there is lots of info on there about 3.5 tonne lorries.

(oh also, we worked it out to be cheaper to buy the lorry and have a little run around than have a trailer and car, PLUS parking a 4x4 on our st wouldnt be fun. BUT agree with above person that maybe you should just buy a cheap run around and keep your 4x4 and trailer as you already have one...?)

ETA Tax wasnt much more than the car... for our lorry and it does run quite far on a tank. MOT the same as a car unlike big lorries doesnt need a plating
 
not a bad idea to get a cheap run about... and keep trailer+4X4. Problem with trucks is everything is bigger and more expensive to repair ....
 
[ QUOTE ]
Would it not be cheaper to buy a small car for running about and keeping your 4x4 and trailer???

My mum found out for me taking my LGV test is about £1000 and not that much more for HGV.

[/ QUOTE ]
It's exactly the same cost to take your 7.5tonne test as it is to take your Category C test (over 7.5tonnes rigid). I went straight for my category C test cos it might come in handy in the future!
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I have been agonising over this just this last week. I saw a lovely little lorry, ancient but looked okay and wanted to swap my 4 x 4 for a cheaper family car - but my OH absolutely refused to let me buy it. He said it would be ridiculous trying to run two vehicles with insurance, tax etc. Reminding me that the lorry had 6 tyres and a spare, etc, etc.

Personally I think its a much better route to go down
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ive just sold my 4x4 and trailer and bought a lorry, cant afford the day to day running of the car (fuel) and am saving money as insurance in minimal (NFU) and tax on lorry and run around is less than same as 4x4,with fuel prices set to rise glad i made the change!!
 
Ive got a 3.5ton lorry and a 1.4 fiesta for exactly this reason. A 4x4 daioly running cost would have crippled me, and the insurance for the 4x4 and trailer combined was over 3x what my car and lorry together cost me!!
My Car costs me £125 a year to tax, £30 in petrol a week, and £260 fully comp insurance (i'm 22) plus MOT etc in future though not got that to pay for a couple of years.
My Lorry costs me £280 a year fully comp in insurance, £80 breakdown, £195 a year tax, a full tank costs me £57 and lasts a fair while!! My last service MOT cost me £400, but thats cos I had a few bits and bobs repaired on the bodywork etc....

To insure a 4x4 fully comp it would have cost me about £600, plus trailer insurance at £200+, plus additional fuel costs a week..... and the high tax bracket..... wasnt worth it IMO!!
 
Thanks everyone, you all seem to be confirming what I'm thinking which is that it is the best thing to do- I just need to get the info together to present to OH (thanks KatB for the breakdown!) as he is a landy owner through and through so its difficult persuading him that I'm thinking financially and not just trying to get rid of the landy!

Thanks again, any more info please keep it coming
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