Van conversion....is it possible??

[SatansLittleHelper]

OK it's possible I'm being a bit dim but is it possible to convert a LWB high top van into a horsebox..??
I can't afford a "real" one and wondered if this was a possibility or would it end up costing the same/more..???

 

[Michen]

I would assume so. You will probably find it cheaper to look for a reliable old one though. They are hard to find however! Mine is 1998, super reliable (touch wood) and would probably be 6/7k on the open market.

 

[MissTyc]

Will end up costing you same/more to do it properly.
Agree with Michen about sourcing an older one. They do tend to be fairly reliable!

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Thanks guys. Sadly I'm not in a position to spend that sort of money.....back to the drawing board lol

 

[Quigleyandme]

I had a Vauxhall Movano LWB van horsebox. It wasn‘t coach built but had a side ramp, a little tack and seating area at the rear and the height was increased. The partition was very robust for the horses’ safety and it had an adjustable breast bar that would fall if enough weight was exerted on it like a frangible pin. The payload was limited but in all honesty it still handled brilliantly with two horses in it. I loved it and it was never sick or sorry.

 

[chaps89]

I have a 2005 Renault Master lwb high top conversion.
Prior to buying it last year (sale was a bit stop start as was buying from a friend and not sure if it would happen or not) I looked at different options.
A newly converted fancy one is about £12k up.
I reckoned I could buy a reasonable 2nd hand van for £4k and a budget conversion at about £4 or 5k and that was a bit out of my reach too.
Older (1990s) boxes were sort of £4-6k.

 

[Asha]

ive just had one converted. Its a Vauxhall Movano, we have had it from new and I bought it out of the business. I did my research, spent ages looking at all the different builds out there and in the end used one of our customers, who does it for a living.
For what i wanted, it would have cost £36k + VAT for a 2 year old coach built van. ( i didnt want an older chassis as i didnt want someone else's problem, at least with the chassis ive got we have known it from new) I was restricted to a 3.5t as my daughter wants to be able to drive it.
Really happy with it, just need our first outing to see if the horses are too. Payload of 1080kg ( with a full tank of full )

 

[spacefaer]

It would be possible but the labour costs of someone reputable and knowledgeable enough to do it would be pretty strong.

I'd be terrified of not getting the build quality good enough if I was on a tight budget.

 

[MissTyc]

Thanks guys. Sadly I'm not in a position to spend that sort of money.....back to the drawing board lol

My first horsebox was a 25 year old Bedford conversion that I bought for £1600 ... Was cheap to keep, by some miracle! Kept it 6 years and made a profit when I sold it.

 

[Gingerwitch]

ive just had one converted. Its a Vauxhall Movano, we have had it from new and I bought it out of the business. I did my research, spent ages looking at all the different builds out there and in the end used one of our customers, who does it for a living.
For what i wanted, it would have cost £36k + VAT for a 2 year old coach built van. ( i didnt want an older chassis as i didnt want someone else's problem, at least with the chassis ive got we have known it from new) I was restricted to a 3.5t as my daughter wants to be able to drive it.
Really happy with it, just need our first outing to see if the horses are too. Payload of 1080kg ( with a full tank of full )

Not wishing to sound negative but two adults plus tack, plus water, plus hay is not leaving much weight for more than one horse, so please be careful.

 

[MyBoyChe]

Thats exactly what I was thinking Gingerwitch, I hope Asha means smallish ponies when she says "horses". Ive got a 3.5t renault master and I love it but the payload is 1.1! Even with my 1 pony, who is admittedly a rather solid 14.2, there is no way I could travel anything else with him when you take into account water, tack, me etc. It doesnt matter to me and because I bought it as a 1 pony box I have had a mini kitchenette area fitted in the back using Ikea carcasses. I think you could just about manage to travel 2 little Sec b show pony types together but although there is ample room for 2 tbs, given that you would want to fit another barrier to close across the inside of the side ramp , you would be well over the legal limit. Like you, I dont want to sound negative but please be absolutely sure of what your horses and all your stuff weighs

 

[milliepops]

Or Asha just means she has more than one horse but will be taking them individually... i had 5 horses and one little box but never took more than one

to the OP I have no doubt it would be possible but the only way to keep the costs down would be if you could get the work done on mates rates or similar. Before i got by 7.5t OH and I were considering a self build 3.5t but he is experienced with the kind of work that would be involved and I know we could do it safely just for the costs of the materials.
I'd be looking for something older and already built in your shoes I think.

 

[jnb]

I had one converted in 2005 before they became popular, my old cob would fall over in the trailer, I hired a 3.5 rear facing and her loved it so I (accidentally) bought a 5 year old Renault Master LWB Hi Top off EBay (don't ask) and found a ramp builder in Holmes Chapel who agreed to do mine as his first conversion, I scoped out a few local builders and pinched their ideas of what I wanted and didn;t want. He put in the ramp, roof vents, windows and bulk heads and reinforced the floor and rubber matted it.
I had it sprayed by a recommended paint sprayer and honestly I could have sold it a hundred times over, we travelled everywhere in it & my cob loved it.
I didn't have a partition built for it as my cob travelled cross tied and we had over a ton payload. Later, I had very basic wardrobe area added and some cargo net over the luton so I could store rugs etc.
I have recently found the guy who did mine on Facebook, I can pass details on if you like @SatansLittleHelper ?

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Thank you everyone. I think I may have to look at a cheap 4x4 and cheap trailer. Will have a look around....frustrating not to be able to go to parties with the ponies and hiring is very expensive.

 

[AmyMay]

Thank you everyone. I think I may have to look at a cheap 4x4 and cheap trailer. Will have a look around....frustrating not to be able to go to parties with the ponies and hiring is very expensive.

I would do that over a van conversion all day long. I would never travel a horse in one of those.

 

[Sam_J]

@jnb I live in Cheshire and would be interested in the details of the person you used please.

 

[jnb]

@jnb I live in Cheshire and would be interested in the details of the person you used please.

This is his facebook page. I dealt with him before Facebook through!

 

[Asha]

Not wishing to sound negative but two adults plus tack, plus water, plus hay is not leaving much weight for more than one horse, so please be careful.

I don’t think I said I’d be taking 2 horses at a time . We will only be taking one horse at a time . There’s no way on earth any 3.5t can take 2 Irish Draughts . Plan is , if we miss going out together we will get a trailer as well ( as we already have a great towing vehicle) . But as both myself and daughter do different disciplines now , we thought we would Initially try with just the 3.5t

 

[Sam_J]

This is his facebook page. I dealt with him before Facebook through!

Sorry jnb, can't see a link to anything in your post...

 

[jnb]

Sorry jnb, can't see a link to anything in your post...

Oops so sorry!

https://www.facebook.com/ChathamHorseboxes/

 

[Asha]

Oops so sorry!

https://www.facebook.com/ChathamHorseboxes/

thats who made mine. Good people, who have horses themselves and have been doing the job for 30 years.

 

[cremedemonthe]

Friend of mine is having this done at the moment via these people
https://www.facebook.com/gjmconv/

 

[WelshD]

I can only afford cheap boxes - everything on a shoestring here!

I've had three so far costing to buy - £1500, £800 and £1300 and all have done the job for me. yes they cost a bit in maintenance but I've found it cheaper to do bits and bobs when I can afford it, sometimes coming off the road for a few weeks than pay to hire a box. Overall I'm quids in compared to the cost of hiring boxes and have had lots of years of fun compared to sitting at home and saving up for a better box.

I didn't take someone who knew what they were doing to view the first box and that was the more costly in repairs.
The second and third time I did, the second box did a sterling job until a botched repair left the floor ruined and the third is has been brilliant so far, 14 months in and its just cost me an air hose and two tyres, its rough round the edges, shabby inside etc but overall I cant fault it.

There are some utter sh!t pits about but take someone who knows their stuff.

Due to their age and bombproof construction (UGLY!) all have been heavy but I acknowledge that I can only carry one and this gives me plenty of payload to load it up with everything I need and more.

Its not all been a bed of roses but if the integrity of the box is good then it doesn't matter if people turn their noses up when we pull on to a show field - its what comes down the ramp that matters.

Here is beautiful Ruby in the latest truck sharing with my massive airbed for a stay away show lol

 

[jnb]

thats who made mine. Good people, who have horses themselves and have been doing the job for 30 years.

I know a lot of people are very sniffy about van conversions (usually people - not always! that haven't used one)
My big LW Show Cob loved his, travelled like a rock - he would fall over both herringbone or forward facing after an accident in a trailer when I wasn't driving. I hired both types for a week at a time to ensure he was safe and happy travelling.
As I said I had no partition saving approx 20/40Kg and had around 1.2 ton payload from memory when I had it built. Later I added a wardrobe partition, luton net and a few other extras but still had over a ton.
They are NOT for 2 horses, 2 ponies maybe. I can drive a 7.5 ton anyway as I'm old. I loved my 3.5 ton, I bought a 7.5 with my new cob as too old to be sleeping on air beds and I've had a lot of health issues. Driven carefully with sensible loading and careful introduction they're a great solution.
I always cringe when people get on the "ooh they'll jump over the breast bar" bandwagon & yes it can happen. Happens with Ifor trailers too (my mums horse did it at age 2!) but no one gets on their case!
My lorry had a solid breast bar, if I had another I would have a collapsible one and a full wall to the rear. But as my cob was so sensible I didn't need that doing on my old van, who is still going strong with his new owner.

 

[Michen]

This is the kind of thing you need and so rare to find it! It's ten mins from me if you want me to view/take pics etc. Don't know the seller though.

 

[Asha]

I know a lot of people are very sniffy about van conversions (usually people - not always! that haven't used one)
My big LW Show Cob loved his, travelled like a rock - he would fall over both herringbone or forward facing after an accident in a trailer when I wasn't driving. I hired both types for a week at a time to ensure he was safe and happy travelling.
As I said I had no partition saving approx 20/40Kg and had around 1.2 ton payload from memory when I had it built. Later I added a wardrobe partition, luton net and a few other extras but still had over a ton.
They are NOT for 2 horses, 2 ponies maybe. I can drive a 7.5 ton anyway as I'm old. I loved my 3.5 ton, I bought a 7.5 with my new cob as too old to be sleeping on air beds and I've had a lot of health issues. Driven carefully with sensible loading and careful introduction they're a great solution.
I always cringe when people get on the "ooh they'll jump over the breast bar" bandwagon & yes it can happen. Happens with Ifor trailers too (my mums horse did it at age 2!) but no one gets on their case!
My lorry had a solid breast bar, if I had another I would have a collapsible one and a full wall to the rear. But as my cob was so sensible I didn't need that doing on my old van, who is still going strong with his new owner.

We went with a full wall and no bars, so hopefully nothing can get stuck . We even got a little bed in the back . Be perfect when daughter stays at camp ? We did some loading with them the other day, all went on ok. My ID mare was a bit surprised to be going inside, but went on, im hoping that when shes had a couple of trips out she realises its just means to getting out to have fun. The old girl, who is usually the most resistant to loading went on straight away. ( but she had been on a friends 3.5 that i borrowed the other week )

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Thanks for the replies. I think I've gone off the idea pretty rapidly given the costs and hassle.
I would only be travelling one horse at a time so I think a small 4x4 and lightweight trailer may be more financially accessible to me to be honest.

I can only afford cheap boxes - everything on a shoestring here!

I've had three so far costing to buy - £1500, £800 and £1300 and all have done the job for me. yes they cost a bit in maintenance but I've found it cheaper to do bits and bobs when I can afford it, sometimes coming off the road for a few weeks than pay to hire a box. Overall I'm quids in compared to the cost of hiring boxes and have had lots of years of fun compared to sitting at home and saving up for a better box.

I didn't take someone who knew what they were doing to view the first box and that was the more costly in repairs.
The second and third time I did, the second box did a sterling job until a botched repair left the floor ruined and the third is has been brilliant so far, 14 months in and its just cost me an air hose and two tyres, its rough round the edges, shabby inside etc but overall I cant fault it.

There are some utter sh!t pits about but take someone who knows their stuff.

Due to their age and bombproof construction (UGLY!) all have been heavy but I acknowledge that I can only carry one and this gives me plenty of payload to load it up with everything I need and more.

Its not all been a bed of roses but if the integrity of the box is good then it doesn't matter if people turn their noses up when we pull on to a show field - its what comes down the ramp that matters.

Here is beautiful Ruby in the latest truck sharing with my massive airbed for a stay away show lol

View attachment 51294

I think, realistically, these are the sort of prices I'd be looking at....I wouldn't really care what it looked like either

 

[Team_Little_Legs]

Just reading this post as I'm also looking for a van lorry. I only have one horse but he's 15.3/16hh so I was wondering what heights your horses are that are travelling in the vans? Do they fit ok?! Or are the vans more for ponies?

 

[Steerpike]

My new 16h horse travels fine in my Renault master van

 

[chaps89]

Just reading this post as I'm also looking for a van lorry. I only have one horse but he's 15.3/16hh so I was wondering what heights your horses are that are travelling in the vans? Do they fit ok?! Or are the vans more for ponies?

I have a Renault Master high top van conversion and there's loads of head room. Previous owner of it travelled her 17hh mare in it fine- the main issue was head room on the ramp - mare had to learn to duck on the way in and out.