Van conversions?

[Pippity]

I'm looking at getting a 3.5t box to get out and about. I can afford a van conversion immediately. I'd have to save for a coach-built box.

My main concerns with the conversions are

a) how sturdy are they?
b) most of them seem to just have a chest-height barrier between the horse area and the 'living'. Is it possible to make this into something ceiling height, or is there just not enough space? Blue's the sort of horse who goes where she's going and doesn't let anything stop her, so I'm a bit worried about her marching straight through the barrier if she can see a way out!

 

[be positive]

One of my liveries has one with a full barrier, it is a bit restrictive but her 15.2 is more than happy and some will have a bit more room with less space in the tack area, the box itself is well built, is easy to drive, horses never move once in, they are not as nice as a coach built but as a first box they are very useful and worth considering for a small, in height, horse, most will be fine with a chunky cob up to 15.2-3 but not a tall tb as the height will limit more than the weight.

 

[Pippity]

One of my liveries has one with a full barrier, it is a bit restrictive but her 15.2 is more than happy and some will have a bit more room with less space in the tack area, the box itself is well built, is easy to drive, horses never move once in, they are not as nice as a coach built but as a first box they are very useful and worth considering for a small, in height, horse, most will be fine with a chunky cob up to 15.2-3 but not a tall tb as the height will limit more than the weight.

Do you know who did the conversion?

 

[be positive]

Three counties I think.

 

[PeterNatt]

You are far better off with it being built on a Chassis Pan Cab such as a Renault Master as it will be far stronger and safer.

 

[Melody Grey]

All good questions OP, and the same ones im considering as I'm in the same position as you. I'm looking at van conversions and also the IW container- have you considered those?

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

All good questions OP, and the same ones im considering as I'm in the same position as you. I'm looking at van conversions and also the IW container- have you considered those?

Be careful, the IW containers are generally on a Ford transit or similar. They are quite heavy and unless the springs/leaf suspension on the cab chassis unit are very much upgraded, the container will roll dreadfully. If on a Ford based unit, then it will also sit higher, thus helping the instability and giving a steeper ramp.

 

[be positive]

The IW are usually put on transits and are very high up, the ramps are steep and not the most inviting to go on or off, I prefer the vans if well converted, less rattly, lower ramp, storage space for tack etc and possibly a better payload.

 

[milliepops]

Three counties I think.

before I bought mine (coach built but very old!) I went to look at Three Counties workshop and was very impressed. They would have done something to my spec, safety conscious, open to different designs and aware of budget limitations too. I would def give them a ring if you can. They had one of their own boxes traded back in by someone upgrading when I was there so they would have had that in stock at the time, I think it's a good sign when people go back for another from the same people.

I ended up going coachbuilt because I wanted more headroom, a friend has an edquine box (gone out of business for a reason IMO) which is a conversion and mine is much roomier, but her section C was very happy in it.

 

[oldie48]

I had a van conversion (renault master) it was a very solid little box but I had the bulkhead reinforced for my own peace of mind. When i bought it I had a fairly solid 16hh horse but then bought Mr B who was a full up 16.2. I had to teach him to duck as he went on but he travelled really well in it. Mine had a very high solid breast bar which I felt was pretty safe. I have travelled a horse in a transit with the IW box on top. It was horrible, rolled all over the place and the ramp was very steep. I much preferred the van conversion.

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

I love my van conversion, I couldn’t afford a coach built of the same age / miles etc.

I find mine well built and sturdy. My horse is a brilliant loader and traveller (would load into a postage stamp type) but my old horse who was not as good always travelled well in one.

I’ve had an older Renault master (1996) which was great no problems, until it needed that much welding it wasn’t worth doing then bought a Vauxhall movano which is great too.

Both of mine had chest height partition, with the van doors at the back. You can get full height additions that sort of go on a slant from the partition to the roof. I believe you can add these to most vans.

 

[scats]

I love my van conversion. I just have a chest height partition to the little living part, but I do know someone who had anti-weave grills fitted to theirs as a barrier.

 

[catembi]

I love mine too! I have a Renault Master with a full height wall between the horse area & living. I honestly couldn't fault it. It has a fan in the horse area & lighting & the bit between the horse area & cab is reinforced. It's very easy to drive, hardly gets through any fuel compared with my previous DAF, keeps up with traffic, doesn't struggle on hills & is totally perfect for me & my QH. We go out n about all over the place without the stress of driving a 7.5 ton. It's no more bother than driving a car.

 

[Pippity]

Thanks for the answers, everyone. She's only 15hh, so height isn't an issue. It's a shame the Three Counties is so far away, because they do look good. A lot of the van conversions around me seem to be done by Equi-Sport, if anyone has any experience of them?

(I'll also be looking out for second-hand ones, but my must-haves are a full-height partition, reinforced bulkhead, and aluminium floor, so I suspect I won't find what I'm looking for already built.)

 

[oldie48]

In my new (secondhand) box I have this fitted which is collapsible. i really like it as it keeps the box very light and airy. I was going to have a box built with a full height partition but tbh i actually like this better.It keeps the hay out of the jockey area too and give me more room in the jockey area.

 

[Pippity]

In my new (secondhand) box I have this fitted which is collapsible. i really like it as it keeps the box very light and airy. I was going to have a box built with a full height partition but tbh i actually like this better.It keeps the hay out of the jockey area too and give me more room in the jockey area.View attachment 37310

Oh, that looks perfect!

 

[Hack4fun]

Try talking to Chris Moorhouse at Pride Horseboxes. He is very keen on safety and structural strength for humans and horses and keeping within weight limits and good financial sense. His views would be worth listening to.

 

[OldNag]

Try talking to Chris Moorhouse at Pride Horseboxes. He is very keen on safety and structural strength for humans and horses and keeping within weight limits and good financial sense. His views would be worth listening to.

This. He is a sensible chap and very helpful.

 

[JoannaC]

I've got one with just a jockey door through to the living which was one of the reasons I bought it thinking it was safer but my old boy isn't very happy loading in it and I guess it's because he finds it a bit claustrophobic compared to one where they can see into the living. He's travelled in it fine but it's not like him not to load. Saying that my mare travelled from Cornwall in it with no problems and that was a six hour journey. I think if I had the choice now i'd go for a grill rather than completely blocked.

 

[beingachicken]

Interesting thread. I’ve been looking at van conversions.
I had a friend who had hers slightly altered so instead of one middle partition she had two. One either side meaning the horse stood completely centrally and had the maximum head room. Of course it means she really could only ever carry one but that would be fine for me as even if a box could carry the weight I only ever travel with one.
I wonder if you can hire one from anywhere? A sort of try before you buy!

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

All good questions OP, and the same ones im considering as I'm in the same position as you. I'm looking at van conversions and also the IW container- have you considered those?

I saw a transit chassis with an IW container pull into a car park once & it frightened me, the whole vehicle leaned over so much when it turned I thought it was going over. By far the best chassis to use for 3.5 ton conversions are Renault Master or Vauxhall Morvano/Vivaro as the floor is between to front & back axles affording a lower centre of gravity & much more stability. In Transits etc the floor is much higher & more unstable specially when you have a horse in the back. Additionally any straight van conversion needs to be made by someone who really knows what they are doing. Too many ancient vans with little or no value have a quick make over & a spray job to turn them into a 'horse box' & thus worth much more that the old van it was. These vehicles need checking over thoroughly by a horsebox mechanic.