Whats the cheapest way - transport

[Mrs C]

Hi all. I currently hire a box for transport which works as I don't travel much, however in the future id like to do more so am looking at my options.
Ideally I'd like a box but doubt I could afford one. I did see you can do long term box hire, but that was still 700 a month.
I assume a trailer would be the most cost effective taking into account initial outlay plus monthly costs, but wanted to ask in case I'm missing any other options?
Also interested in how people find trailers- hassle or ok? Thanks

 

[Alibear]

If you go the trailer route you then have the extra running costs for your tow vehicle, as it won't be as economical as a standard non-towing vehicle, so fuel, tax etc need to be included.
That said I'm a huge trailer fan, I had a lorry for 4 years but have had trailers for 20+ . I've got my first stay over in my equitrek coming up so it will be interesting to see how that goes.
I have to say having a trailer with a tack locker has been a huge help. It's fab to be able to keep a few useful bits permanently in it. (Water carrier, buckets, muck scoop etc).
I think it really is down to personal preference in the end.

 

[MollyFell]

LOVE my trailer. Fortunately it works with my regular car so no extra cost in that respect. I’ve had a lorry previously and I must admit that I prefer my current setup. I need the extra seats as I have three children and my Mum comes out with us on occasion so it saves having to take two cars. Even when the kids are grown up and I could get a smaller, non towing, car I don’t think I’d go back to a lorry.

 

[Mrs C]

Thanks both. Alibear I was already looking af changing cars as I'd like something better in the snow, so would be killing 2 birds so to speak
Good to hear your view, thank you

 

[Labaire]

Some places also do long term trailer hire-so you dont have one sitting there in the winter doing nothing so that might be worth looking into even if just to see how you get on with one?.

Dont go for an older lorry, they might be cheap to purchase but can be money pits-same as old 4x4s.

 

[Leandy]

Dont go for an older lorry, they might be cheap to purchase but can be money pits-same as old 4x4s.

Not my experience. I've had two older lorries over the years and neither has cost me more than around £1000 pa for insurance, mot, service, repairs etc but maybe I have been lucky, and I don't do high mileage. Those who go for newer, whether it is lorry, trailer or tow car should consider depreciation costs as well as running costs. If you take those into account I've never seen how newer is cheaper overall.

 

[leflynn]

Thanks both. Alibear I was already looking af changing cars as I'd like something better in the snow, so would be killing 2 birds so to speak
Good to hear your view, thank you

I did the same with the same questions! I was tempted for a smaller car plus a 3.5 ton but the cost of running 2 put me off, I only tow one small horse so opted for a Tiguan with an ifor 505 and its been great, thankfully the Tiguan isn't that much more to run than my prev car and I am working from home min 3 days a week, not tried the tiguan in the snow yet as only got it in June!

 

[ROG]

@ MRS C
Do you have B+E on your licence?
If yes then ignore this post

 

[Muddy unicorn]

I started off hiring transport when we first got my daughter’s horse, then realised that things were going to be much easier if we had our own transport.

We were taking one horse out to PC stuff and reasonably local competitions/clinics/arena hire etc - no further than a couple of hours away and we didn’t need living as we weren’t doing stay away shows.

So the options were basically 3.5 lorry or trailer. I couldn’t justify spending the cost of a new/nearly new 3.5 on one child’s hobby and I didn’t trust the build quality and safety of the cheaper makes or older models. We already had a car which could tow and I had B+E on my licence anyway so it made sense to get an immaculate secondhand trailer.

Apart from getting it serviced every year and a bit extra for diesel when I was towing, it was essentially free transport as I sold it 2 and a half years later for the same amount I bought it for. We also had a small extra monthly charge on our livery for storage.

Obviously if you have to get a new car to tow then that’s going to skew your sums a bit but for us it was a no-brainer at the time.

We will probably need to get a 7.5 next as when our daughter is back home she’ll need something with living but for your current needs a trailer sounds perfect