What are the payloads of your 3.5 tonne boxes?

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mudmonkey17

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As title really.

I know these boxes can't fit 2 big boxes but would they fit 2 light 15.2 tbs?

I would mainly be hiring one as needed until can afford to buy something of my own. Can't justify running a 4x4 on my 90 mile commute to work.

Probably going most places alone but would like the option of taking friends little mare aswell.

Thanks for reading
 
Most have a maximum payload of 900-1200kg. The lower end of that would certainly not carry 15.2s given thhat you have to add in fuel, driver and any passenger, plus all the horses gear - which all can add up to going on for 300kg in some cases.

1200kg might carry 2 15.2s if there was a single light driver, tank half full of fuel and the gear went in another car.

But basically 3.5Ts are only suitable for one horse or two ponies.

Only way to check the legals is at a weighbridge with everything loaded up except the horse, and know the accurate weight of the horse/s too.
 
I have 1.1t, but that has to include fuel, gear, me, the kitchen sink, dog, etc as well as the pony (15hh welsh cob weighing 540kg). Ditto what lachlanandmarcus has said I'm afraid.
 
I would ask the company that you will be hiring from as I think they can vary a lot.
I drive a 3.5 van for a living and our payload is only 875kg . We are given our payload weight on our paperwork each day. The van is fitted with racking which keeps our payload down but safe.
Some vans may have higher payloads but not have strong fittings. Fuel also weighs quite a lot so you have to think about everything you are putting in that weighs.
 
I have 1.180 with half tank of fuel & me in it - so still will only take 1 unless 2nd one is Tiny Fuzzy.
With 1 x mw 15hh, by the time I've added 'stuff' like tack, water, hay, rugs, riding kit, grooming kit etc its getting on for 480 left for a 2nd one:)

And then you have the weight of passenger & their stuff.........
 
I have 1.25t payload. I can just about do a 16.1tb, 14.1Welsh me (I'm quite small) and just tack. I also think I could get my hubby in too as he doesn't weigh much either but yes I do have to be careful if I have 2 in. I will only have 2 in very very rarely.
 
I took my Ford transit box to a weighbridge and with very little petrol and me in it, I had 1080 kgs so this would only be enough for my horse and my things really.
 
I have a Equitrek Sonic :) It has a payload of 1060kg. Manningtree horsebox hire have them if you are thinking of hiring one. I got caught out before and bought one which was advertised at 1100kg and in fact it only had 800kg payload :( So be very careful. Basically the more extras they have - lockers, sink, etc. the heavier they will be.
 
Happytohack said:
I have a Equitrek Sonic :) It has a payload of 1060kg. Manningtree horsebox hire have them if you are thinking of hiring one. I got caught out before and bought one which was advertised at 1100kg and in fact it only had 800kg payload :( So be very careful. Basically the more extras they have - lockers, sink, etc. the heavier they will be.
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Agree with this - the plated unladen weight will probably have been arrived at before any of the partitions, living, fuel etc are in the lorry - that stuff can be very heavy - only a weighbridge gives you any proper idea of payload - if you only have the manufacturers stated payload to go on and theres a fair amount of living bits and bobs I would take off at least 25% from the stated payload before you start.
 
Mine is very old but when we weighed it at a weighbridge it allowed 1060kg (with me driving), I have since upgraded a section and so would allow 1000kg.
 
Mine has a payload of 1100, including about 1/4 tank of fuel, so I can fit mine & my friends 15hh tb x horses (weigh bridged at under 450kgs each), 2 people & 1 set of tack. Water, other set of tack & extra rugs go in separate car.

Once my other pony is back in work (14hh NF, weighs about 400kgs) will be able to take tack, water & extra rugs myself :D
 
My van conversion (ie not coachbuilt), has a payload of 1200kgs.

Therefore I can take 1 x15hh and 1 x 13.2hh plus equiment and my son as a passenger.

For 2 x 15.2hh's I think you may be ok if they are lightweight, but would be careful carrying a lot of equipment/passengers.
 
My Movano van conversion has 1.5 tonnes, with 1/4 tank of fuel but otherwise empty.

I take two 15.2 polo ponies in mine (one pretty chunky), or my big (17.2 WB) alone.

To keep the weight down I:

- only had windows in the back doors and bulkhead
- have NO living at all
- have light weight EVA matting throughout
- had a plain ramp, rather than a fibreglass moulded one

I love it, drives like a dream.
 
Mine is 1.1 tonne with a heavy driver and a full tank of fuel.

I would travel my 2 16.2's in it though as these boxes are rated for 4.2 tonnes in europe and the uprating to 3.9 tonnes here isn't worth it as mechancially does very little.

As I drive like a granny I figure that is probably worth half a tonne too.

Basically I would be I reckon all up about 300kg overweight but only travel max 30 miles on rural roads.

Before I get shot down in flames I have only just purchased this box and actually am getting a companion pony for stressy mare so that I don't have to travel my 2 biguns together. But for very local (one show centre is less than a mile) other less than 7, I will do.
 
scarymare said:
Mine is 1.1 tonne with a heavy driver and a full tank of fuel.

I would travel my 2 16.2's in it though as these boxes are rated for 4.2 tonnes in europe and the uprating to 3.9 tonnes here isn't worth it as mechancially does very little.

As I drive like a granny I figure that is probably worth half a tonne too.

Basically I would be I reckon all up about 300kg overweight but only travel max 30 miles on rural roads.

Before I get shot down in flames I have only just purchased this box and actually am getting a companion pony for stressy mare so that I don't have to travel my 2 biguns together. But for very local (one show centre is less than a mile) other less than 7, I will do.
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As long as you know that A) you invalidate your insurance and B) You'll be fined if you get caught...
 
*dons hat* actually if u check dvla website they don't take any action up to 5% over weight, it's some thing like 10% over weight before u get fined or points, will try & find link.

Good point about the insurance tho.

*runs away quickly*

Disclaimer - not in anyway advising people over load, just want to make people aware of the facts :)
 
Polotash said:
As long as you know that A) you invalidate your insurance and B) You'll be fined if you get caught...
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There is I believe a standard fine of £60 per incident.

I think the hassle factor is more the issue here. I have heard of people having to unload. I just wish they would stop the umpteen saloon cars I see towing Ifor's 2 up.

Didn't think about the insurance though but I'd be very surprised in the case of an accident if the police got a mobile weighbridge in place?
 
mudmonkey17 said:
As title really.

I know these boxes can't fit 2 big boxes but would they fit 2 light 15.2 tbs?

I would mainly be hiring one as needed until can afford to buy something of my own. Can't justify running a 4x4 on my 90 mile commute to work.

Probably going most places alone but would like the option of taking friends little mare aswell.

Thanks for reading
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Solution:-

Hire such a vehicle for as little time as possible

Load both horses and all the other stuff you are likely to every carry into it then take it DIRECTLY to your nearest weighbridge.
If it is overloaded then drive it DIRECTLY back to where you loaded it.
That is perfectly legal even if overloaded but not if unsafe
 
Mines a van conversion with no living, no extras so literally just the horse bit converted and thin rubber mats and I have 1250kg payload. I can just about carry my 15.2 middleweight and something smaller along with me a passenger and some tack (literally just saddles and bridles not loads of stuff).

Fortunately if I'm going to a show someone normally drives too and I fill their car with other stuff.

Being honest though there are plenty of people on my yard who carry two big horses in their 3.5t lorries, none of them have ever been pulled over, let alone fined. Not saying its right, just that I see it happen a lot.
 
I have a van conversion. OH took to to a council depot weighbridge recently and got a certificate. It was weighed with him in, a full tank of fuel, all buckets, rugs, spare wheel and other paraphernalia in and our payload was 960kg. I was happy with this as I wanted to know the worst case scenario. I have only ever transported my two once (one 16.1hh TB and one 13.3hh) and I took out the spare wheel, every rug, bucket and other stuff as it was only to collect them from their holidays so I knew that I had at least 1 tonne even with me in. Not something I would want to do on a regular basis though.....
 
This makes really interesting reading as I am currently looking for a 3.5T horsebox and am amazed by the amount of sellers that do not know the weight of their lorry or the payload etc....either that of they just don't want to tell me and are waiting for someone to come along and buy it without asking the question....The amount of sellers that tell me that they will find out and come back to me or that they will go to the local weighbridge and come back to me but never do....:rolleyes: I'm a genuine buyer with a good budget but sellers think I am mad for being so insistent on finding out what the payload is, and I have even been told "what's your problem - its a horsebox and it takes 2 horses!!" lol..!!

Quite sad really that I cant drive a box bigger then a 3.5T without taking another test as my pony won't travel on his own, he weighs in at about 475kg and must have a friend with him or has a melt down.

The amount of people that I know that regularly put two big horses on their 3.5T's and go off competing without a second thought....!! I have actually asked many people what they payload is of their lorry and they have said they have no idea...

I didn't know that it would invalidate your insurance either if you were slightly over weight...great another thing for me to worry about...:eek: and another reason for me to push to find out payload with the seller.

I have seen some beautiful boxes that are proper study and coach built like the VW LT35's with twin axel that you would feel safe driving your horses on as they are rock solid and don't move when the horse loads etc....but i'm sure weigh a lot more then the flimsier weight saving type that you would probably have a much higher payload on but rock and move about a bit when loading horse and would worry me about their safety as don't seem solid enough to carry a horse weighing 500kg..?
 
We've got 1300kg not including diesel/spare wheel etc.

Renault Masters also have a towing capacity of around 2000kgs which is worth bearing in mind if your license allows. If/when we end up wanting to take two ayrabs/one ayrab one pony, we'll take the 'stuff'/spare wheel/water/etc in a box trailer and tow it. That way the box isn't loaded up to the max and it spreads the weight a bit.
 
EstherYoung said:
We've got 1300kg not including diesel/spare wheel etc.

Renault Masters also have a towing capacity of around 2000kgs which is worth bearing in mind if your license allows. If/when we end up wanting to take two ayrabs/one ayrab one pony, we'll take the 'stuff'/spare wheel/water/etc in a box trailer and tow it. That way the box isn't loaded up to the max and it spreads the weight a bit.
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Thanks, just out of interest what Make/Model is your horsebox.....a Renault Master..?

Thanks :-)
 
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