Your Opinions - 3.5ton with living?

Tinks81 said:
What does everyone think of these - they must be overweight???

I really like them for like 2 or 3 nights - i always go to shows that have showers etc or are with people with bigger lorries

I just dont see the point in getting a 7.5ton with one horse and having to take my HGV

http://www.barlowtrailer.co.uk/Barl...Extended_Horsebox _3.5t_Wagon_in_Red_MX07_EVY

http://www.alexandershorseboxes.co.uk/alexanders-grand-national
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I was originally told around 750kg payload on the Grand National so that was no good for me wanting to go away to 3-4 day shows; I got a Boss instead and it works brilliantly for a solo rider/single horse; as with any compact option you need to be very organised but it works well for my needs. Build quality is impressive and it's wearing well, I've done around 4500 miles in it and 30+ nights away so far this year.
 
Hen said:
I was originally told around 750kg payload on the Grand National so that was no good for me wanting to go away to 3-4 day shows; I got a Boss instead and it works brilliantly for a solo rider/single horse; as with any compact option you need to be very organised but it works well for my needs. Build quality is impressive and it's wearing well, I've done around 4500 miles in it and 30+ nights away so far this year.
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oh ok sounds good to me will go and have a look - how much do they work out to be x
 
I would be very cautious about 3.5t horse boxes. There was a thing on BBC South Today this morning and the week before last, about how there have been five or six incidents locally, involving small, rear-facing lorries, where firemen have been called to cut the horse out. They interviewed George Smith, from Marlborough, who makes a lot of lightweight, two-horse racehorse boxes in this style, who was saying that the problem was where the breast bar was too low and horses were trying to jumop over. He said that the solution was to add anti-weave bars, but surely these would need to be tough and therefore heavy.

The trouble is that the ultra lightweight materials that they use are not man enough for the average horse throwing a wobbly. Therefore horsebox builders have two options: use substantial materials that can stand up to a horse, which are cheaper but heavy and will put you overweight, or they use state of the art, lighter materials that are incredibly expensive and make the wagon over priced. As for living areas, I really think that this is asking a lot for a 3.5t vehicle. I will stick with my sturdy 7.5t.
 
I have a coach built 3.5ton lorry with small living in the back. It's great for my ponies but wouldn't want to travel anything bigger than 15hh in it, they soon sway about if you horse moves about much. Please be careful where you buy from there are some real sharks out there, I know I've been done!!!! Check the mileage very very carefully on VOSA website and service history. Sorry to sound negative and Good Luck
 
woodtiger said:
I would be very cautious about 3.5t horse boxes. There was a thing on BBC South Today this morning and the week before last, about how there have been five or six incidents locally, involving small, rear-facing lorries, where firemen have been called to cut the horse out. They interviewed George Smith, from Marlborough, who makes a lot of lightweight, two-horse racehorse boxes in this style, who was saying that the problem was where the breast bar was too low and horses were trying to jumop over. He said that the solution was to add anti-weave bars, but surely these would need to be tough and therefore heavy.

The trouble is that the ultra lightweight materials that they use are not man enough for the average horse throwing a wobbly. Therefore horsebox builders have two options: use substantial materials that can stand up to a horse, which are cheaper but heavy and will put you overweight, or they use state of the art, lighter materials that are incredibly expensive and make the wagon over priced. As for living areas, I really think that this is asking a lot for a 3.5t vehicle. I will stick with my sturdy 7.5t.
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To add to this, there was recently an incident at a show venue near me where the horse tried to get out of the grooms door in a 3.5t and it ended up wedged and upside down. Fire bridgade had to come out and it took ages to cut the poor animal free (lorry was in pieces by the time they had finished).

George Smith Horseboxes is in Shrewton, just outside of where i live. His 3.5ts are lovely builds and extremely solid compared with some which are so flimsy they look like a puff of wind would blow them down.
 
Just to add.....those van conversion types rather than coachbuilt scare the life out of me!

And mine is an old coachbuilt N reg and so is built solidly and so the payload is less than newer builds but after reading this thread I don't think its too bad as its 1200kg -1300kg! which i always worry about when it comes to one horse, all supplies, feed, hay, helpers etc. cant believe some people would think of carrying two!

Marlsborough horseboxes are based near me (mine was actually a second hand they had for sale as a part ex!) and they are brilliant boxes, I know 3 or 4 people with them
 
Been another thread regarding horses coming out over breast bars:
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=437402

The other thing that scares me about these type of vehicles is the fact that the rear axle is just one tyre. Blowouts do happen but I would hate to see what happened with one in these. IMHO I feel that with a double wheel rear axle you would stand a better chance.
 
jnhuk said:
Been another thread regarding horses coming out over breast bars:
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=437402

The other thing that scares me about these type of vehicles is the fact that the rear axle is just one tyre. Blowouts do happen but I would hate to see what happened with one in these. IMHO I feel that with a double wheel rear axle you would stand a better chance.
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Maybe but what can happen with dual wheels is the inner tyre gets puncured
and isnt noticed so the outer one is carrying all the load overheats and fails the key is correct presures and tyres in good condition and then a blowout is very unlikely...
 
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