which 3 horse lorry? recommendations?

Angelbones

Angelbones

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Have finally decided to take the plunge and get a 3 horse lorry but where to start? Don't want to buy a new one, but even if I did I still don't know which would be the best make.

We don't go anywhere overnight, or long haul, so really don't want a huge living with cooker etc, just enough space for tack, clothes changing and kit, but must be able to seat at least 3 people somewhere...

Does anyone out there have a 'compact' 3 horse lorry? Which partition layout works best, ramp types, tilt cab or not? Easy for a lady (that's me, ha!) to drive / operate, not too long in the body...but big enough to take a 2 x 16.2hh and a pony (or 3 horses)

Can you point me in the right direction re manufacturer etc?

Many many thanks peeps, all replies gratefully received! and any photos would be fab too
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For 3 horses you'll need a 7.5 tonner to be weight legal I would think. Depending on dob you may need to take a test for this.

I guess the most common chassis for these is something like a Ford/Iveco Cargo type thingy.

Loads of manufacturers do nice conversions (like Thorpe, Badminton, Oakley - if you're feeling wealthy)
 
Thanks MrsT, and yes that one does fit the bill but do you think £20K is a close enough ONO on it??! I've been looking through the classifieds and think I've narrowed down which chassis makes seem to come up the size / layout I am hoping for, and Thorpe seem to have several so may go on a shopping trip soon...fingers crossed!
 
I've just bought a Ford Iveco 7.5t and so far love it. I was quite worried to start with about driving something so big after just having a trailer but its actually fine to drive - it took a little while to get used to the gears but not long before I got the hang of it.
Mine has a tilt cab and I've been told this is a major benefit. Before I bought it the previous owner had a repair done on the exhaust gasket and I'm told if the wagon didn't have a tilt cab this job would have been extremely difficult because the access for the machanic is so hard and that would certainly add to the cost of the job too.
Mine is partitioned for 3 horses but realistically will legally only take 2 horses or possibly 3 ponies. The spot at the top is a bit of a funny shape so realistically would only get a tiny pony in there (partitions are herringbone). For 2 horses its fine - I had my 16hh medium weight and friends 16.2hh heavyweight in no problem at all. Mine has a reasonable living area in it so I guess if you have less living area you could make more room for the horse part to get your 3 horses in but I wouldn't be sure what this would be like weight wise - whether you might be a bit heavy then??
My living area has seating and storage space with a portaloo, sink and a gas hob and I find it more than enough for what I do. If I was staying away at shows overnight it might be a bit basic but I think I could probably get away with it in the summer. The tack lockers are external so that frees up a bit more space in the living.
If you want to know anything else - let me know - I'm going to take some photos - possibly tomorrow if you want to see how it looks sizewise etc. My friend has a similar sized Leyland Daf which she loves and says is easier to drive than the Iveco although I have to say I'm finding the Iveco fine to drive now I've got used to it.
 
You would do worse than ringing Gwyn Williams at Tristar.

i have a 7.5T and it is fantastic..small rea for changing, full aluminium back and the best thing...i have a LEGAL payload of 4T!!!! which means i can get 4 16.2 on or 5 up to 15.2.

www.tristarhorseboxes.co.uk

this is mine...

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Wow! that's impressive to get that many on a 7.5T legally!!! Our last two 7.5T have been fairly average boxes, but both have only ever had 2 horses on... having said that, weighbridges are not too expensive to use.
 
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Thats a very nice lorry JM07 - and from the materials used its easy to tell that it is nice and lightweight.....

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thank Ovidius...

its a great lorry an so easy to drive..and wash out after use!!!

and not expensive either, in the grand scheme of things....
 
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Wow! that's impressive to get that many on a 7.5T legally!!!

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its easy really..

there is NO living, which can be at times, one 1/3rd of the payload no skirt lockers, no extras, it is totally aluminium including the floor, partitions and rear gate....
 
JM07, a 4 tonne payload seems a lot. Have you taken the lorry to a weighbridge?
The cab and chassis alone will weigh about 3.5T and that is without the box.
Any lorry with over 2T payload is a good payload and would suit most people, but 4T seems very high?
 
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JM07, a 4 tonne payload seems a lot. Have you taken the lorry to a weighbridge?
The cab and chassis alone will weigh about 3.5T and that is without the box.
Any lorry with over 2T payload is a good payload and would suit most people, but 4T seems very high?

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it is totally correct.....all weighed and papered...this vehicle doesn't have ANY fancy extras..just a decent good old fashioned workhorse...
as you can see by the pictures, the box area is 100% aluminium..even the structure is aluminium...partitions/gates/ramp all aluminium...
 
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it is totally correct.....all weighed and papered...this vehicle doesn't have ANY fancy extras..just a decent good old fashioned workhorse...
as you can see by the pictures, the box area is 100% aluminium..even the structure is aluminium...partitions/gates/ramp all aluminium...

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I wouldn't call it an "old fashioned work horse"

I think its a very fashionable lorry
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it is totally correct.....all weighed and papered...this vehicle doesn't have ANY fancy extras..just a decent good old fashioned workhorse...
as you can see by the pictures, the box area is 100% aluminium..even the structure is aluminium...partitions/gates/ramp all aluminium...

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I wouldn't call it an "old fashioned work horse"

I think its a very fashionable lorry
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It doesnt have anything though..no living, no lockers...except the two storage boxes at the rear, which aren't waterproof!!
but it does have a decent luton for tack etc!!

i ve had a sqwizz at the paperwork and ttt is correct....it has a 3.9T payload..i stand corrected!!!
 
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i ve had a sqwizz at the paperwork and ttt is correct....it has a 3.9T payload..i stand corrected!!!

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JM07, 3.9T and 4T is splitting hairs, I wasn't interested in splitting hairs or causing an argument. I find it very surprising that there is a 4T payload on this chassis and I just wanted to ensure you were not going to be overweight if you loaded up with 5 big horses.
If the chassis is approx 3.1T and the payload is 3.9T, it means that the whole box weighs less than 500kg which is the weight of one of my ponies, I would put this lorry on a weighbridge.
 
as i said further up the thread..it can easily carry 4 16.2s...NOT 5..

I can carry 5 UNDER 15.2s.......

it is carefully weighed out regularly, plus checked by the ministry every 6 weeks as i use it commercially...

don't worry its been on more weighbridges than most folk have had hot dinners!
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