Van conversions - any feed back...?

H's mum

H's mum

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27 November 2003
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www.coligone.co.uk
I need to change my van shortly and ideally a van conversion would be the best choice - it would allow me to use the vehicle for work, every day and also to travel the ponies in - Just wondered who had one and if you had any feedback/pros/cons etc?
Thanks
Kate x
 
Hiya

I brought a Battsbridge Boxes Van Conversion a couple of months ago.

I can't rate it highly enough, the best feature is that it has a secondary exit (removeable breast bar) in case of emergencies - there are so many horror stories going around at the moment :-/

It is so easy to drive and manouvere and it drives the same with or without horse. It is a Vauxhall Movano and is very economical to run, parts are easy to come by too as the Renault Master is exactly the same vehicle therefore if you cant get it at Vauxhall you just go to Renault!

http://battsbridgeboxes.com/
 
I have a Marlborough Sport and love it, it has a payload of 1200kg, I took it to a local farmer to have it weighed with and without horse, horse is 550kg so I have plenty to spare for tack etc. Very occasionaly carry a small pony with him as well.

It's great to drive, does between 35 and 40 mpg. Costs the same as a car to MOT. You can park it easily at the supermarket!!

Only downside that I have found is that it isn't good if the ground is wet when parking at shows etc, needed a tow out a couple of times.
 
I got my Renault Master van from a guy in Yorkshire that converts them.
I had looked at a few and didn't think i would get on with them as i was downgrading from a 7.5 tonne but saw his conversion and was very impressed and now i wouldn't swap back.
Cheap to run, parks anywhere and my TB loves it.
 
jacksmum said:
I got my Renault Master van from a guy in Yorkshire that converts them.
I had looked at a few and didn't think i would get on with them as i was downgrading from a 7.5 tonne but saw his conversion and was very impressed and now i wouldn't swap back.
Cheap to run, parks anywhere and my TB loves it.
Click to expand...

Is it possible for you to say who in Yorkshire converted it for you?
Thanks
Kate x
 
My friend has had a converted renault master for many years, and she went all over with her pony. She had loads of storage in it too. She bought it from someone who altered it professionally. As far as I'm aware, she had no problems with it, and no plating, just a van MOT so could be done at a local garage.
 
I have a Renault Master van conversion, with a 1200kg payload, so can carry my 2 14.2hhs plus tack or 1 small horse plus tack but would not travel a horse over 16hh in it (even though they are often promoted as taking a 16.2hh.)
I love it - easy to drive, economical, cheap to insure, and even has reversing sensors so no more backing into barns out hunting!!
They have had a bad press recently, but mine has a filled in breast bar that is 5 ft high and can't see how a horse would be able to get over that - horses also have equally nasty accidents in trailers and bigger lorries, and a lot depends on if they are good travelers in the first place - not always what they are travelling in.
Mine travel very well in it and always arrive relaxed and happy wherever we go.
Good luck!
 
MrsMozart said:
I like these, but can you get one that:

seats four people; and
takes two horses (17hh and about 16hh-ish)

Would very much like one :D
Click to expand...

Yes, but you'd need to get the Dizzy one to skin and bone with matching friend, and then the passengers would have to be similarly emaciated with no luggage or clothing and only the driver could be over 2 years of age - and of course you wouldn't be carrying any tack for the horses and never put more than a gallon of fuel in at a time.

hth :D
 
YO has a van type
her horses travel well and its easy to maintain and park etc

only issue shes had is her mare tried to jump the breast bar and had to be cut out of it. so she had her bar raised and cross ties them downward now.
and her dizzy gelding also reared up and slipped and started to strangle himself as he lost his front legs (tied directly to the tie ring using one of those chain and rubber ties!!)........
she says she has 1.5t payload but not sure if its actually been weighed as most of that age have about 1t.

only issue is having a horse over 16h in there.
my 16h looked massive in hers so i went for a coachbuilt 3.5t box
 
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