Uprating 3.5t Horseboxes?

J

Jango

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I'm looking at buying transport for my horse (with my parents help!) and I'm struggling to find the right option. I've passed my C1 so I can legally drive a 7.5t. 4x4 and trailer is not possible for a number of reasons. So my choices are 7.5t or a 3.5t. I don't particularly fancy going everywhere on my own, I think it would get pretty boring! And after hearing that some 3.5ts are dangerous and recently witnessing a horrible incident involving a horse getting stuck over the partition I'm not keen to go for one. A 5/6t one would be totally perfect but they are like hen's teeth! 7.5t lorries are much more expensive to run and maintain, but they do have living and can happily take 2 (I would check weights). So as a possible solution I thought if you bought a very sturdy 3.5t and had it uprated could it take two (15hh) horses? If anyone has done this or has any experience with uprating or any advice in general I would be grateful! Also budget is about £7000.
 
Most 3.9s seem to claim a payload of around 1.5t - BUT that's the official payload, i.e. empty fuel tank, no people, tack, water etc - and often no spare wheel either! My 3.5 only has 800kgs spare once I've added me and all my gear, tack, water, rugs, spare wheel etc. (I got it weighed this morning!), so if you add the extra 400 with the uprating you'd get 1,200 - which doesn't leave much room for maneuver with 2 x 15handers (unless they're very slight Arabs or similar).

I also think you might struggle to keep two horses cool in a 3.5 sized vehicle in Summer as even with fans going and windows open they can be like an oven.

If I was in your situation, I'd keep looking for a 5/6t one (there are a few on H&H at the 'mo but well either side of your price point) - I wish I'd bought a bigger box with hindsight so I could take 2 if I needed to and would have some proper living.
 
Thanks for the advice! Very helpful :) I didn't realise the most you could uprate was to 3.9t. Also really good to know about the temperature in summer, my horse is very 'hot' (in temperature not personality) and sweats up easily so that looks like a definite no. I'm going to just have to be patient and hold out for the perfect little lorry and run and grab it ASAP if one comes available!
 
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