Would you spare a few minutes for a question please?

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charltonhorseboxes

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Good evening, I wonder if I could ask for your help.
We are a small business specialising in 3.5T and 6.5T lorries.
I buy most of my lorries from a trusted supplier and he has contacted me to ask if I would be interested in some 4.5T lorries. They would be the same size as a 3.5T (7ft chest to bum, just under 8ft high). The grooms area would be at the back. The payload would be approx. 1.5T. Unlike the 3.5T, these are not able to be driven on a normal car licence. I wondered what the interest in these would be? I would really appreciate your comments?
 
if it were me, i would go for the 3.5T that u drive on a car licence as im not old enough to be able to drive bigger without taking the test! it just saves hassle and money
 
Funnily enough I have an LT35 that apparently can be upgraded to a 4.5ton, the reason I have not upgraded it is for resale, as a 3.5 ton it can be driven on an ordinary license which it could not be as a 4.5 ton.

I hope that makes sense
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what I think I am trying to say is that 4.5 ton lorries would be more difficult to sell/hire out because of the license thingy
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I wouldn’t be interested, just because both me and my sister both passed out test after 1997. So the biggest we can drive is 3.5T, which is what we have.
 
I think if I wasn't going for a 3.5t for the obvious reasons that one might), I would go for a 7.5t (which is what I have) because it is potentially more useful (higher payload etc). I don't think I would bother with a 4.5t tbh.
 
I would be interested in something like that, as I would need the payload to take my two out, but parking and turning is very tight where I go, so I would want as compact a lorry as possible.

If I won the lottery, my first purchase would be one of the Marlborough coachbuilt Masters, ugraded to 3.9 tonnes, or whatever weight it is they upgrade them to.

I have a pre-97 licence, but I'm not keen on towing.
 
I have a 3.5t as I have a young driver who can use it when I am not there. I have friends however who like me can drive up to 7.5t but prefer a smaller lorry for many reasons (space for parking, running costs etc) who have 5t lorries to get the bigger payload. This is obviously a smaller market but if I didn't need a 3.5t it is the size I would go for.
 
I would LOVE to have a small lorry that was 4.5 ton. I only ever need to transport two and a 7.5 feels far too big. I don't have the licence problem though as I am ancient! The extra payload would be great, especially when going away overnight to competitions etc.
 
Well, Equitrek do one don't they. We decided against a 3.5T as not enough payload and to be honest not a lot of storage space either. We ended up just replacing our old 7.5T with a newer model!

Personally if I passed my test post 1997 (is that when the new tests/rules started?) I would still spend out and get an LGV/HGV licence as I don't like trailers. If I was on my own and wanted a small wagon - ie less fuel consumption than a 7.5T etc I think a 4.5T or 5 T etc would be ideal as big enough to have a decent payload and a bit of extra storage space but drives more like a car.

I think there is a market for them. The only downside i find is, compared to a 7.5T, the 3.5T/4.5T/5T wagons seem to be very expensive!
 
I'd like a 4.5 ton I think.

I had a 7.5 ton, which I loved. It was stalled for four but only had 1.8 payload - hm, four rescue case TBs to get four in there and within weight!

It would be nice to have something I could take two decent sized horses (up to 17.1hh-ish), and all our gear - I think 1.5 ton payload would cover that (open to correction!).

As to the licence issue, there are loads of us oldies out here who can drive up to 7.5 ton on our normal licences. If I were going to have a bigger lorry, then I'd take the HGV test and not have a weight issue
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I used to have an 'in-between' lorry. Bigger and more comfy than a 3.5t but not as much hassle as a 7.5t (which I have now). I loved it - great first lorry. (I have a pre-97 licence so it didn't matter)
 
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TBH 1.5t payload wouldn't impress me greatly, as the 3,5t Ascot lite has 1.4t payload and still can be driven on a normal license...

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Would there be a price difference of any note?
 
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TBH 1.5t payload wouldn't impress me greatly, as the 3,5t Ascot lite has 1.4t payload and still can be driven on a normal license...

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Would there be a price difference of any note?

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Last time I looked at their website it was about £1K more than the standard one
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It's pretty much irrelevant at the moment though, cause I'm skint
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But the good news is that the baby horse is staying
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We currently have a lorry of just over 5T, which my husband can drive on his normal licence. I can see an issue with those whose licence won't cover over 3.5T, so I would guess they may not be popular. On the other hand, those who have had 7.5t might be interested
 
I have a 7.5 ton lorry with living & a payload of almost 2 tons & wouldn't be interested in a 4.5 ton. The fuel consumption would possibly be less but plating would still apply. As for manoeuvrability, my 7.5 ton turns on a sixpence, infact needs far less space than some smaller vehicles.
At the present time the 3.5 ton market is thirsty for those vehicles due to the driving licence passing date issue. You could possibly sell some mid weight lorrys but I believe a much safer bet is to build good quality 3.5 tonners. You should be able to sell each one you make assuming the build quality is good.
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a 4.5 same size body and chassis gets the disadvantage of an 7.5 tonner without any advantages. i.e. VOSA testing centre MOT, pre 97 or C tested driver, only a bit more payload, no living.
For a compact lorry for two big horses, with basic living, I' d go for a 5.5 / 6 tonner, the Trophy Twin is a very good example, wiht day living adn 2 tonnes payload.
Our current 7.5 tonner, 2 large stalls facing forward and full lviing suits our current needs, if I downsized, I;d still need at least 1.8 tonnes payload for two horses and thier gear and chaning and storing things.
If you are looking for a mid range lorry to add to your range, that is compact but a true two horse do a 6 tonner. They are much sought after.
If you have a supply of good condition host vehicles, downrate to 3.5 and do a practical one horse lorry with lightweight fittings for the one horse owner/competitor who cannot drive a heavier vehicle.
 
Just been nosy and looked at your website
Cannot see any advantage ina 4.5 toner as you do a very neat 6 tonner already in a compact body.
Only difference is a herringbone rear load two does not have much room for big hrorses who need a lot more than full width nose to tail- That in a side loader forward facing would be my perfect layout.
( Our doorway area doubles up for entrance to living and for horses heads and haynets)
 
There is no doubt that there has been a dramatic changes in the purchasing pattern of horseboxes due both to the working time legislation and the expansion of the emmision zones around the country.

The market for 3.5 ton vehicles will continue to grow as youngsters with car driving licenses wish to move their horses around without having to take an additional driving test. They are also very much more economical to maintain and run.

The market for 7.5 ton vehicles will continue to contract as less first time horse box drivers purchase them. Even those owning them at present will consider down grading to 3.5 tons because many 7.5 tons are not Emmision Zone compliant and very much more expensive to maintain and run a 7.5 ton.

The over 7.5 ton vehicles market will contract for private owners due to the working time directive and emmisions control. Commercial operators will continue to use them.

I would not get involved with 4.5 ton vehicles as I do not think that a viable market exists for them and I would stick with developing your range of 3.5 ton vehicles by using the latest technology to keep the pay load up as much as possible.
 
I would prefer a 6t to a 4.5t.
I currently have a 3.5 & 7.5, problem with anything over 3.5t is that all VOSA reg apply, including drivers hours, tachographs etc, etc.

The reasoning for the 3.5t market is as already stated, drivers licencing. Until that changes (which it won't) then there will not be a huge market for anything over that. It won't be long, I am sure before the loopholes regarding 3.5t are filled and they will have the same restrictions that the bigger vehicles have.
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Many thanks to all of you for taking the time to reply, it is very much appreciated. Being a small business, competing against the 'big boys' is not always easy, even more so in todays financial climate. An excellent build quality is of no use if no-one is interested in the 4.5T lorry it is built on.
Once again, thank you and if you are going to see any lorries local to you and you would like to pick my brain with any queries you have, please don't hesitate to call or PM me.
 
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