pony transport options

[Fi]

Hi all,

I'm wondering if any of you would share your transport preferences/pros and cons? I'm starting to think about getting something next year.

It'd be mostly just the one pony traveling, but I'd like the option of taking two sometimes. I had a 4x4 and trailer before but this time I can't have a large car as a main vehicle due to high mileage. So I'm sort of thinking I want a 3.5t lorry.

How have people found this option? Anybody else considered it and then regretted it? Any top tips for purchasing? Safety is paramount, any horror stories?

Fi x

[dalesnfellfan]

I looked at these last year and decided on a 6.5t instead for the following reasons

I wanted to spend several weekends away each year and wanted the comfort of a small living area rather an airbed in the horse area, though if younger this would have been fine

Horses heads and hay nets are in grooms area so every thing gets covered in hay

No division between horses heads so can squabble if carrying 2 ( I recently travel Connie in my friends box and they fought all the way)

Horses have been known to try to jump into the grooms area causing injury or death (some have collapsible bars or anti weave grills) these are easy to fit, my friends husband did hers.

Some boxes have inadequate bulkheads between horses and cab which can be dangerous in an accident or just kicking as most are rear facing ( when my friends mare was kicking the wall was flexing badly) most disconcerting

A lot have inadequate payload to legally carry 2 horses

When the ramp is open on my friends box you can't open the passenger door

Again on my friends box the ramp forms the partition for the second horse so when the ramp starts to lower the horse is inclined to start to step onto the ramp before it's properly down, OK if a second person is holding it's head inside but dangerous if your on your own with 2 horses.

Advantages

Small and easy to drive ( although my 6.5t is very easy)

Doesn't need plating, just MOT

Economical to run

I decided on a 6.5t for the following reasons

Still easy to drive and smaller than a 7.5t

Plenty of payload (over 2 t)

Small comfortable living area (ideal for a few days but wouldn't want to spend weeks in it)also fridge and gas burner and toilet great for days away.

Much more substantially built.

Other thoughts

I love having a camera so I can see what the horses are doing

I have an hydraulic ramp which is great, very easy but I do wonder what would happen if it went wrong with horses on board and it wouldn't open. Apparently you can have an override valve fitted to operate it manually in such situations.

Take a mechanic with you preferably one who knows horseboxes, I've had to spend money on mine rectifying things we didn't notice before buying.

Hope this helps

[mickey]

If you've got a licence that covers 7.5t I'd go bigger than 3.5t. Cheaper to buy and they feel more stable to drive.
I've heard too many horror stories of horses trying to jump the breast bar in 3.5t and getting stuck.
3.5t you also need to be really careful payload wise

[5natives]

We spent much time before my tumble last Summer looking at older 3.5tonners, such as G/H/reg Bedford LT35 that look more like a mini-lorry-which is what we wanted.

We came across some very sad looking wagons which upon close inspection were rotting to pieces underneath the horse area and under the cab and had a poor payload even when the living had been stripped out.

We ended up buying a Rice Europa trailer which needs tlc and an older Trooper to tow it with.

[dalesnfellfan]

Nov 7, 2015 6:21:38 GMT -1 5natives said:

We spent much time before my tumble last Summer looking at older 3.5tonners, such as G/H/reg Bedford LT35 that look more like a mini-lorry-which is what we wanted.

We came across some very sad looking wagons which upon close inspection were rotting to pieces underneath the horse area and under the cab and had a poor payload even when the living had been stripped out.

We ended up buying a Rice Europa trailer which needs tlc and an older Trooper to tow it with.

My old lorry was a VW LT 50, so the VW 5 tonne version of the Bedford LT 35, the difference being twin rear wheels giving greater payload and I think a larger engine.  Mine was in good condition for it's age but it was very heavy to drive and was quite gutless the maximum speed you could safely do on a duel carriageway was 40 and 30 on minor roads, any more than that and it really struggled but also felt unstable and more importantly it took a long time to get there, hills were very challenging for it too.  I know you don't want to belt around with horses on board but it's nice to know you've got the power if needed.
It also had very poor payload for it's size, you really do need to check this with any lorry.

I agree with Mickey if you have the licence to drive it go bigger than 3.5t you definitely get more for your money and much more stable. 

[mickey]

My 7.5t Leyland daf is lovely to drive- not heavy on the steering and will do 70mph on the motorways though is happier doing 60mph. It drives like a car. The cargo it replaced however was enough to put anyone off a 7.5t so worth test driving a few!

[Fi]

Thanks for all the replies. Food for thought. I need to do some thinking and proper costing! I need to seriously think how often I'll use it - my friend worked our she needed to do 17 trips a year to get her moneys worth out of hee trailer combo. That's a lot of trips really.

I am old enough to drive anything, so that's not an issue. One advantage of being old!!

Fi

[dalesnfellfan]

I think I've used mine loads more than 17 times this year and hope to do more next year, also need to count in saving on call out charges for non emergency vets etc. I take mine down to the vets and also to the saddle fitters so save £40 call out each time.

I does depend how much you do though, a lady I've done a couple of rides with didn't know how much she would be doing with her young horse so wanted to test the water before buying. She considered hiring a 3.5t lorry to go to rides but after costing it up opted to have a lorry with driver to pick her up and take her, I think it costs her around £100 to go to a ride but it's still cost her less this year than running a lorry, it just seems a lot per ride when you look at it like that though. Now she knows that they both enjoy rides and wants to do more, she will look at her transport options for next year.

[mickey]

I use mine loads- it tends to move every weekend! Even moved a conservatory my parents bought on ebay in it (the horses are easier to load...)

[kc]

I did loads of research and as you know in the end went for the Equitrek 3.5 tonne but upgraded it to 3.85 tonne so it could legally carry two ponies. It has a separate back area so they can't jump over (which is one of the main reasons I bought it)and all your stuff stays clean. It is fantastic to drive - easier than both the cars. We even take it shopping sometimes!

I must have used mine three maybe four times a week during the summer. It cost a lot of money but is really worth it. It is so much easier than a trailer especially when you are going on your own and sometimes have to turn round in small spaces etc.