Trailers/horseboxes

Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 5:31 pm

I know it sounds lovely!

Master Friend Joined: 05 Apr 2009 Posts: 327

Mine is a Cargo too. Obviously a popular choice here. It has no living though - all space is for the boys, their harness etc goes in bolted-down boxes in the space over the cab. I go under the lorry in a sleeping bag!
I had vents fitted in the roof because they get hot in summer. One is 18hh+ and he has v long ears, so if you see a lorry with a Shire's head poking out of the top, it is us. (only joking)

I would really like the air suspension, it sounds great.

Mine comes in handy for collecting hay/straw or feed, and storing it short term. Transporting friends' furniture, and lots of other errands too.

Having a big clumsy horse, I would say that ground work, as per intelligent horsemanship, helped him be aware where his legs are, and gave him confidence turning around inside the lorry, when entering or leaving.

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:12 pm

Watch the laden weight on 7,5 tonners and down plated class 2'ers...(10 - 13 tonners ect). A downplated 13 tonner has often got less carrying capacity than some of the 7,5 tonn vehicles. I you are ever going to carry 2 grown Shires then you have a payload of almost 2 ton (guaranteed 2 ton with all eqpt too).
I just sold the old box because of 'overloading' already with Dolly and William, so Im going to try a big trailer for a while which actually has larger capacity than the box had, to see how that works out.
I do have a car which pulls 3,5 tonn though too and I know that if I go back to a box, it will be a class 2 lorry (not downplated)...but then one needs a licence to drive that aswell and not everyone does have. So there is a lot of different considerations for varying needs...

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:34 pm

Been looking at this one....

http://www.horsedeals.co.uk/horseboxes/horseboxes_for_sale/Nice_Reliable_Lorry_Herts__08-09-09-53713

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 11:17 pm

Id certainly ask how much its approved to carry and what the ceiling height in the box is... A problem with these 7,5 tonners is that your'e going to be driving it at max (or even overweight) weight with 2 Shires in the back. That means max wear on the brakes and motor everytime you go out, and the majority of these fully laden are like driving a fully loaded cabin cruiser in the bends...lol So I question security / safeness of these small waggons with such heavy horses. I know some of the newer 7,5 tonners are supposedly much better though.
Maybe you could loan or try the waggon for a day if its not far away....get it loaded up and get the feel of it....just a thought..?
If you can drop on a downplated 10 tonner or even 13 tonner thats still retained a decent payload and that you can still drive on your C1 licence you have atleast suspension and motor of a 13 tonner, which is much stronger allround than most 7,5 tonners. Some of the big Cargo's are good...and fairly 'cheap' to repair compared with other makes.
Another thing...look at the 'solidity' of the ramp. Your ton of Shire is going to walk up that...Would you be happy about driving your car up it and still feel that it would hold safely..?

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 11:36 pm

Hello Nick and thanks for the reply!

Height is 8ft, I will only be carrying one at a time but will chevi the other things you mentioned. I have it for considerably less than advertised too.

Thee are some others on the cards too Wink

Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 2:26 pm

Ok Emma...Good luck with your choice. Hope you get good box that suits your needs.

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 8:55 am

Well it is decided that the one in the pic wins the day!

I just have to wait for the damn snow to clear!

Does anyone here live in Hertfordshire? My mechanic doesnt want to come with me and I need someone to look over this box to check out the mechanics etc. I just want the name of a reputable garage who may do it for me.

ANy ideas? AA and RAC are too expensive...

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 9:19 am

Aw Emma, I wish I could help but with the weather and the distance I am sorry I cannot. Good luck with it though and having someone look over it might be expensive but could save you oodles in the long run.

Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:34 pm

Sorry to regurgitate this thread but I am still looking at boxes!

I have been to see this one and although it isnt as high or wide as I would like it will be fine when herringboned.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180458376199&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

What do you think?

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:18 am

....you know that Im the 'eternal sceptic' when it comes to putting Shires in such small waggons...haha...but heres my sceptical penny worth anyway.. Very Happy

Basically MAN have quite a good reputation regarding reliability, but that model here is the smallest of the 'lorry' range..if you can call it a lorry. This is like the first step up from the 'van'.
They make another model which is a bit bigger but still class 1 (7500KG) and has heavier duty brakes and suspension. This one looks ok in the pics..condition wise, although I guess its had a spray job too..?
Dont know what the payload is on this one as it's not stated in the ad..but I guess it would be ok if your not planning on transporting more than one Shire at a time...?
I know a lot of people use Ford Cargo's....The advantage with Ford over MAN is that they are cheaper to repair...cheaper parts/service ect. Although MAN may be a little more reliable/solid and not need so much fixing as a Ford....hmmm.... Id personally go for something a 'little' larger, but Im a 'bloke' too...haha...

Friend Joined: 24 Dec 2009 Posts: 82 Location: east sussex

be v careful putting 2 shires in a modern 7.5 ton lorry you can so easily be overweight far better off getting a bigger lorry say 10 ton and down plating it also re cargos good lorries but so meny are up for due to rot cabs and parts are getting hard to get hold of

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 10:06 pm

You have to watch the laden weight on down plated 10 tonners. If its been down plated then the laden weight is also substantially reduced, but if you can get one with enough laden weight, then you have at least also still got the 10 tonner/heavier duty brakes and suspension ect....(apart from the one leaf spring which is removed for the down plating - but you wont notice that)....I think thats the way Id go personally if I didn't have a class II licence....sorry...Iknow ive said it before... Confused

(Ive just bought a trailer with a bigger load capacity (2 tonn) than the last D.P 10 tonner I just sold - but a box is much more fun though).

Friend Joined: 24 Dec 2009 Posts: 82 Location: east sussex

most 10ton box conversions should give u about 2-2.5 ton pay load if u want to move shires and harness etc etc then u really want to go hgv ive just brought a 15 ton scania for 4 so i can carry 2 x wagon or plough if i could get one in the farm i would have an artic when i was in transport i found most times u have to go down the route of having to much payload as u never know that your plans may change n u dont have to change lorries more so with older lorries if you have to go hgv to suit your needs then that is what you have to do but i woudnt put to shires in a trailer umless i had a fastrac on the front but each to there own

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:02 pm

Emma..are u on facebook...? If so, you can check out my profile...I just added a link there for a box for sale...Not sure its big enough for you either, but i just put up a question to them on the laden weight and box dimensions.....
There are down plated 10 tonners and down plated 10 tonners. Not all of them have a laden weight even close to 2 tonn...but some others do...(my last one didnt....in fact my last 2 havent)...so you need to atleast be carefull to check the weights before you buy. The trailer I have is for 4 horses in herringbone and the biggest one that Aki-Tek produce ( but adapted to 2 big'uns now) but I also have a motor to pull it...so thats an issue too.
Im only trying the trailer thing out at the moment and may end up going back to a lorry If i feel so inclined, but in an ideal world I agree with shaggy that a 15 tonner is probably the best option, but thats not actual for most people because of the licence and cost and parking ect ect...
One can 'manage' with a 7,5 tonner and many do....As shaggy said...'everyone to their own'...

Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 7:12 pm

Im using this at the mo...

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/9555/49339940293.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/834/491984750380.jpg
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/5913/49795075824.jpg
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/9109/49395375532.jpg

Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 7:40 pm

That looks very smart Nick.

Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 7:57 pm

I will try it out for real this weekend. The horses are going back up to my old place to be looked after while im away (last 3 wks in feb)...and thats a 4 hour drive.
As I said before it takes 1,9 tonnes...as opposed to the old Bedford which was good for 1,3. I do have a car that pulls 3,5 tonnes, the same as the Discovery 3, that does too.
Its a fairly solid trailer and very roomy inside...although im sure it will look smaller with my two loaded..haha.....It was originally rigged for 4 ponies.
So im mildly optimistic that it will work well....but if it doesn't then I'll sell the trailer and get a larger lorry. Correction...sell the trailer and start saving my pennies for a larger lorry..haha..

Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 10:32 pm

Hiya Nick,

I am on facebook! will pm you my email addy Very Happy

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 6:41 am

Thanx Emma...see u there... Smile

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 6:43 am

Good good!

Dont forget to send me those links Wink

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 2:18 pm

Ratface wrote:

Good good!

Dont forget to send me those links Wink

Just go to my profile Emma and scan down the latest groups that ive joined and you will see the 'horsebox for sale ' link...

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:57 pm

Just to let you know, I have just put a deposit on this box....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200423336867

Just needs a little cosmetic work but other than that it appears sound!

Thank god for that, I hate deciding on things.... Rolling Eyes

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 9:21 pm

Congratulations!! I am sure you will love having a lorry to travel around in, I thorughly enjoy mine and the weekends away. Gives you so much more scope as to where you go. Enjoy.

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:38 am

Congratulations Emma...Im glad you 'went for it'....Decision making can sometimes seem to go on forever because theres always 'another one' that comes up...and there always will be. Hope you have a lot of pleasure from it. Tilt cab too is good ! Smile