What are my options? (Box/Trailer questions)

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I passed my driving test a couple of weeks ago, and my dad is talking about me taking my trailer test.

I'm going to uni in September and taking the Governator with me. It'll involve a bit of shuttling between Warwickshire and back and quite frankly i'm not thrilled at the thought of trailering too and fro by my self.

Dad is getting a driving ban (oh joy) and Mum has point-blank refused to tow the trailer, so I have spent the evening looking at non-HGV boxes, the smart mini-van type conversions - normally side ramp loading and rear facing.

We currently have an IW 510 trailer which really hasn't been used to much as Dad works full time and Mum won't tow. Its towed with an X5 which will be sold if the trailer goes. I'm thinking for the insurance etc on both trailer and car, plus the time/cost etc of me taking my trailer test would it be much different to have a little box for me to drive myself and Gov between Warks and Essex a few times a year and possibly to shows etc?

Any other bright ideas or opinions on these 3.5 tonne type boxes welcomed!
 
I have not much idea but envious of getting to take your horse with you!
I thought the little vans look good
 
Hi, i have a ifor 505 towed with a discovery which really is great apart from the whole hassle of hitching and un hitching etc. I also went and put a deposit on a 3.5t renault master caochbuilt box on friday. It's a brilliant little box, i don't pick it up til next week but i let you know what i think when i do. My first journey in it is the 2 hours home M1-M69-M42-M6-M5 which will be nice so should be a test (horsless though) I'm keeping the ifor to see how we get on with the box as it has awning on it so don'twant to loose it if i don't like/use the box.
 
hi i too am in the process of getting another small lorry after a disatorus (sp) purchase last year & i found it really easy to drive the van type lorries than a more horseboxy type that we brought last year.

atleast with a lorry you can store stuff in it easily & pack it all away the night before & nowadays they are built for the single handed female driver so are light & easy to work on your own. also with 4X4 tax on the increase it would cost you quite abit to run it if its your only vehicle whereas i have a cheap to run car & a lorry as the insurance isnt much different for a lorry than a trailer.
 
The thing to consider with a lorry is that you have to tax and mot it and also maintain it - if it's not used much it's probably best to go for a trailer. Having said that, lorries are much nicer to drive and 4x4's drink fuel - there are pro's and con's for both. I'd work out how much both will cost you in general - ie, do you do a lot of miles in general? If so, having to run a 4x4 may be too expensive. Check out the insurance premiums as well and remember that you need more than one person covered to drive, so think about who would do it. horsebox premiums can be pretty high considering you don't normally do many miles. Good luck!
grin.gif
 
I am a long term trailer driver, but IF I had the money I would switch to a little lorry like a shot. They are lovely to drive, very cheep on fuel and give the horses a really nice ride. I'd look for one with cctv so I could see what the horse was up to.

Thing is they seem to start at around £12.5K so way out of my price range.

So much better in the bad weather as your horse is safley inside out of the spray from the lorries going past etc.
 
That was pretty much what I was thinking, I think i'd be fairly happy driving one (bit of a change from my Polo but still better than a tractor like 4x4 with something behind it.

Plus I think I could use the extra space in the transit type boxes for carting his (and my) stuff to and from uni. They are a bit more expensive than I expected though.
 
Hey. This is something that has been debated many times in my house over the last few months/years! We currently have a 4x4 and an iv trailer. I'm really not keen on the thought of towing. At the moment I don't hold a towing lisence but I can't see any amount of practise will make me more confident! I would much prefer to sell the 4x4 and the trailer and get a lorry. But the thing I'm most put off by is the price of maintaining a lorry. As I would want to take 2 horses I'm sure a 3.5tonne lorry would be too small and I'd be over the weight so I'd need to take an additional test to drive a 7.5 and below. Anything in my price range is old and will probibly cost me a fortune to maintain! Least with a trailer they hold their value and thanks to the 4x4 road tax the price of 4x4's is coming down abit.

The other thing is... If you drive a lorry to uni you won't have a car to use wilst you are there, to nip in to town, to fetch something from the tack shop. If you had a 4x4 and a trailer you can use the 4x4 to drive to the yard ect. But then it depends how much running cost you will inclure as they are petrol guzzlers.

Just as a warning... it cost my parents an extra £500 - £600 just to add me to their insurance and that was after I had been driving for 2 years so I imagine the insurance for you will be horrendous!

Good luck with what ever you choose!
 
you cant drive those little 3.5t boxes on your license....

It would be over the weight limit with horseys in it...
 
Yes you can drive a 3.5ton license on a just passed car license. WOuld only be over weight with more than one horse in it.
 
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