Which 3.5t van conversion for 16.3hh?

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hph

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Unable to find a 3.5t van conversion which is right, I'm considering buying a van myself/through a third party and getting the conversion commissioned.
Can anyone let me know which vans (e.g. Vauxhall Movano) are tall enough for a 16.3hh warmblood? It would just be him travelling alone.
His previous owner had a courcheval for him but they're out of my price range.
Thanks
 
The maximum payload you will get with a 3.5 ton is 1.3 tons but most are much less.
You need to go to a reputable builder such as Bloomfields, Boss, Marlborough or Oakley.
There are a lot of chancers out there building lorries but the vehicles are badly built and not safe.
The best chassis/cab is a Renault Master because it has a very low centre of gravity.
However you are better off with a 7.5 ton as they are a far stronger chassis cab and their wheels are wider apart making a better and safer ride for your horse.
 
Owlie185 is correct in saying go to a reputable builder.

That said, the 3.5 can be great for most averaged sized horses. Mine is coachbuilt & NOT a van conversion and have taken 17hh comfotably in it as headroom and length have not been compromised.

The Renault Master and the Vauxhall Movano have exactly the same running gear, many parts (not all) are interchangeable and either is a good choice to have as a cab chassis particularly as both have low centre weight.

Good luck & happy shopping :)
 
As others have said coachbuilt (square shape) and a good coachbuilder are the key! Mine is coach built on a Movano and it has about 7'11 head room, this is very good (quite a few 7.5t don't have that much) and would happily fit a 16.3. I had a local coachbuilder do mine (GC horseboxes) as he was one of the few who let me see his builds in progress and who included safety bulkheads and rear escape doors etc. Good luck, I much preferred being able to source the van myself (although coachbuilder checked it over and bought it on my behalf) as at least you get control over things like service history etc, and it worked out cheaper than a lot of second hand boxes! I have had a 7.5t too in the past and would say they do feel more sturdy (especially for naughty horses!) but the 3.5 is much much easier to handle on my own and my horse loads better with it so think he likes it better too.
 
I have a Foxy Twin Renault master and travel my 16.3 in it easily (height wise) I travel without the partition to save on the weight and have a carpeted ramp too.
 
Newlands said:
I have a Foxy Twin Renault master and travel my 16.3 in it easily (height wise) I travel without the partition to save on the weight and have a carpeted ramp too.
Click to expand...

Hi Newlands, I have thought about taking the partition out in mine too - does your horse not try to turn around with all that space without the partition? thanks!
 
My still van shaped 3.5 comfortably fit my friends 16.2 wb/WelshD when I took her to the vet. It's a high top long wheelbase one, I can see how the standard non-coachbuilt ones would be a squash.
 
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