weighing up my options.. lorry or trailer

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showjump2003

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Thanks to those who took part in my poll a few days ago about lorries and trailers.

Soo, here's my dilema!

I'm 20 years old and can't tow a trailer or drive a lorry and don't have a willing driver to drive me! I'm getting sooooo fustrated about missing shows ect. I live in a very rural area and every show is at least an hour away and there is no way I can get a lift ect.

We own a 4x4 and a trailer, although I am not on the insurance on the 4 x 4.

I rang up to ask how much it would cost to add me to the insurance and it was about £600 on top of the current policy price!

My options are to either do my towing test or work towards the idea of a small box. The thing that puts me off the trailer idea is reversing it! lol. But I can see the positive side to having a trailer... less likely to get stuck on a field and less maintenance. A lorry would be easier to drive hopefully and I would have an area to site in the warmth at shows. Last year I looked in the 3.5 tonne lorried that I could drive on a car lisence but anything worth having was 10k plus and I heard some bad reports about them. In less than 3 months time I will be 21 so I could take the test to drive a bigger lorry so I believe.

I won't ever want to travel more than 2 horses at once and would be using it on avaerage once a week? maybe twice possibly.

I'm just not sure what the best option would be for me.

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How do people cope with trailers?! lol
 
TBH I would probably look at getting a smaller box, for comfort, safety etc. Horses tend to travel better in lorries, and you can get some fab small boxes which aren't that expensive.
We are going down the trailer route simply beacuse we can't afford to run a 4x4 AND a small lorry, and with two ponies to transport about three times a year, a lorry just isnt viable!
 
I have the same dilema except I am not quite so youthful!

I have weighed up the options and no matter what way I look at it a lorry is the best answer. It is just finding a good one and for a resonable price!

3.5 tonnes are fine, I used to have one and it was great, only travelled one horse though.

However I think there are some new weight issues in the law, so you will have to consider what size and weight your horses are and how much additional stuff you will carry, you may find a 3.5 tonne could be overweight.
 
I know what a pain it is, I am 24 and did my trailer test 3 years ago. To be honest, it was a pain, I can reverse really well and I think I am a careful driver- still took me 3 attemps (hence expensive!) and the guy I had a lesson with said I should defo pass! I think the pass rate depends on your area tho!

On the flip side I can now tow- I have a landcruiser which is mega reliable and tows really well. I have a 16,2 and a 17h and it sails up hills with my 510. Only prob is living (am looking for a 2nd hand equitrek).

I looked into getting a renault master 3.5 t. They are good as low unladen weight so could fit both of mine and kit etc in (just- according to weigh bridge). But only into the van sort not a big backed one (no weight left for kit etc). This would be fine as although snug they fitted fine (same size as 505 ifor) and they both travel really well so no probs. Guess it depends how big ur horses are and how well they travel??

I could only afford to run 2 vehicles as OH is a mechanic- otherwise I think its cheaper to just run a 4x4 as long as its reliable. And shop around for the insurance!

Also if you do HGV test at 21, you still cant tow a trailer should you ever need to!

Lots to think about but hope that helps. I think for me it was worth doing trailer test as can not afford a big lorry so no point in doing test for that. Only thing that puts me off 3.5 t is running costs but otherwise think they're good.
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Well personally I would always go down the lorry route....BUT....if you are baulking at the extra £600 on your 4x4 insurance, remember that the lorry will cost y ou at least £300 a year to insure, plus another £165 to tax, then you will need to MOT it every year as well, which can run into ££££'s thousands
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ETS: Forget trying to travel more than 1 horse in a 3.5t too.....
 
Really tricky decision. I am a bit older than you, but had to do my trailer test (reversing comes with practice, don't worry!). But now my OH has a big horse who doesn't travel well in my trailer so we have bought a lorry and I am doing my HGV.
It really depends on you...know thats not much help! In terms of costs, I can now get rid of my very expensive to run/insure/unreliable 4x4, and lorry insurance is much cheaper! so as long as the maintainance on lorry isn't much moer, I will still be better off as insurance less/tax the same! But my 4x4 has cost several thousand £ to keep on the road over last few years so can't be much worse than that I hope!
Having said that if it wasn't for new super-sized horse, I'd probably have stuck with the trailer!
 
I think if you are going to do a test - do the lorry one and get 7.5 tonner.

If you really don't want to do a test then get a good 3.5ton box- like a rear facing Master - but beware of weights
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Because age and driving experience aren't an issue for me, I am seriously looking in to getting a 7.5 lorry, then I can exchange my 4x4 and trailer combo for a small runaround. It comes down to comfort and being able to cover longer distances for me..also one of mine is a monster to load in a trailer so I am going to try her with a lorry to see if that helps.
 
In that case, if I was you (bearing in mind you already have a 4x4 available and trailer) I would do your trailer test then no outlay except extra insurance and can take any sized neddies
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I am lucky in that I passed my test way before the need to take an extra towing test
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. However I have had both lorries and trailers and have eventually stopped changing and decided to stick with a terrano and a 510. My issues were that I could either afford a cheap lorry or a new trailer so for me as saftey for my neds and reliability for work were paramount I thought it would be best to go for a new trailer and fairly decent towing car than a clapped out car for me and a clapped out lorry for the horses. Its worked great my car is S reg (not new I know but very very reliable and tows like a dream) and the 510 was brand new just over a year ago. In the long run it does work out cheaper like this and its also such fun tearing the plastic covering off a new trailer!!!!
 
That would probably work out very pricey if she is out once or twice a week, might be a good short term solution til turns 21 though?
 
Unfortunatly there is nowhere local to hire lorries from, I have tried this route.

Will ring around tomorrow about towing lessons I think!
 
People are often fazed by the idea of reversing a trailer, but honestly - once you learn to do it, you will wonder what you were ever worried about. It is definitely cheaper to run a 4x4, as it is only one vehicle to tax, MOT and insure. Also, you only get no claims bonus on one vehicle. Also, a lorry needs to be used regularly, and older ones can easily go wrong and leave you stranded. If you have a tame mechanic then it is of course a different matter, but we don't so stick to the car and trailer. Another big plus for a trailer and a 4x4 is they rarely get bogged down!
 
I have gone down the lorry route. My 4x4 was getting to the age where it cost a lot, also I used it as my main car and it was costing me a fortune in fuel ( I drive a lot for work). I sold the trailer and 4x4 and managed to buy a small car and a fairly old (C reg) renault dodge The first MOT was fairly costly (new brake shoes and master cylinder), however the mechanic said it was in good shape for its year. Insurance is low for me, works out cheaper than the 4x4 and trailer. Plus its much more comfy for me and horsies.
 
I had to do a towing test a few years ago and as long as you get a good instrutor, then the test is a formality really. We have a large 4x4 and Ifor 510 and use it on a fairly regular basis (hores been out of work recently so not used as much!). I have friends who have lorries and een out with them and got to say it's nice to have the living part with comfy seating and somewhere to have summat to eat - but for me it would mean another test and a huge outlay to buy a lorry. I like having the 4x4 and trailer - you get quick at hitching up and I do think in some repects they are far easier.
 
3.5ton lorry. I've got a renault master van conversion and its fab. I can fit 2 16.2hh horses in it, but the payload is 1200kg so just have to be a bit careful. It's low to the ground so there's no movement and they love travelling backwards as well. Mine's even got the window in the back door so they can see where they are going. I got mine new for less than 7k, but must admit a few small things needed changing, but you get what you pay for. I asked someone with a coach built renault master and they had paid 19k, it was really posh, but not sure it really was worth the extra 12k.
 
Out of interest, how did you pay so little? Did you have it converted yourself and have the floors strengthened etc? If so where? When you say payload of 1200kg do you find this enough for 2 16'2's? Sorry for the questions but I didn't go down the 3.5t route as wanted to carry 2 horses - one a 16hh TB and whatever we may end up with in addition to this! The other reason was the astronomical cost of buying a 3.5t!
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Hi, i got the number of the horsebox builder on horsemart, he was just starting out with the renault masters and had previously built 7.5 ton lorries. This was 2yrs ago and I know he had loads on order, so may well have put the prices up since. But he basically included, side ramp, partitions etc the floor is designed to carry the weight anyway, but its got waterproof wooden floor plus rubbermating. He even offered to pay for small adjustments I had to make, but as I didn't pay for them, couldn't send receipts for work. Re weight my horse is 16hh and I do take 16.2hh in with him, but only short journeys. I did ask what being over would do to the van, but was assured by a mechanic that the vehicle would be more than capable of being just over limit, but if you get sent to a weigh bridge the fines 1k for each ton your over.
 
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