Horse transportation. 4x4?

cb262

Hello

I'm currently in the need of transport for a horse.

Have ruled out a Hourse box as too expensive to run/mantain a 3rd vehical. So left with buying a used 4x4 and trailer.
I would have to use the 4x4 during the week to drive down the motorway to work, 130 miles each way.

Need a vehicle that will be strong enough to pull a hourse+trailer be cheap to run with good fuel consumption.

"Does such a Motor exist?"

LandyAndy

cb262 wrote: »

Hello

I'm currently in the need of transport for a horse.

Have ruled out a Hourse box as too expensive to run/mantain a 3rd vehical. So left with buying a used 4x4 and trailer.
I would have to use the 4x4 during the week to drive down the motorway to work, 130 miles each way.

Need a vehicle that will be strong enough to pull a hourse+trailer be cheap to run with good fuel consumption.

"Does such a Motor exist?"

That's going to be a struggle.

How often and how far do you need to transport the horse?

colino

Having had a box and a trailer, I'd advise on a slightly different option. The box, unless you are a (very) regular eventer or competitor will make your eyes water if you work out cost per mile, especially if it needs plating (instead of the MOT).
I'd get a good quality trailer that will suit your needs and get a regular family car fitted with a towbar for short trips. You can easily hire a 4x4 by the day if you really need it for a longer haul or more space for the team.

BenL

How good a 4x4 do you need? A full on one? or something like a Skoda Octavia 4x4 or Volvo V70AWD/XC70.

I guess Subarus will be quite common in the horse world as well?

Ben

Strider590

Judging by the barely legal tyre's and the black smoke bellowing out of most horse boxes I see, I always assumed they were exempt from MOT, tax and/or insurance. :rotfl:

davemorton

Colino beat me to it. Get something like a Mondeo estate which will be comfy enough for your long drives to work, and also be large enough to fit horsey gear in and has been proved to be a very good tow car.

madmittens

Sorry Davemorton and Colino, I have to disagree with you.

What's the towing capability (weight-wise) of a typical family car/Mondeo estate? Given my horse trailer weighs over a tonne empty, then I want to put say a 550kg horse in it (or two), and load the car up with stuff (and myself), and still be able to brake safely...

IMHO It has to be a hefty 4x4 every time (I run a Shogun for exactly this purpose); if you find one that has good fuel consumption let me know :cool:

davemorton

madmittens wrote: »

Sorry Davemorton and Colino, I have to disagree with you.

What's the towing capability (weight-wise) of a typical family car/Mondeo estate? Given my horse trailer weighs over a tonne empty, then I want to put say a 550kg horse in it (or two), and load the car up with stuff (and myself), and still be able to brake safely...

IMHO It has to be a hefty 4x4 every time (I run a Shogun for exactly this purpose); if you find one that has good fuel consumption let me know :cool:

Towing capacity for a Mondeo is 2000kg (braked, which I presume most/all horse boxes are.)
Granted, its not the ideal situation, but if it is not to travel huge distances, it should suffice.

An example....
Ifor Williams HB403 horsebox trailer 767kg
Horsey 550kg
Total 1317kg...easily do-able

Strider590

^^ and lower centre of gravity would surely make things much easier/safer at speed?

maxheadroom

Most double horse trailer however are plated to around 2.2-2.5 tonnes so are above the capacity of the car - you would be stuck using a single.

Remember its the plated weights that count not what its actully towing and its actual weight - easy ticket for the police ( Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence) as its just adding up and a hefty recovery fee for trailer and horses (as most recovery agents cant move livestock) if you are stopped as someone at stable was recently.

Also remember towing licence is needed if passed test after 1997 (cant remeber exact date)

Simple advice on towing weights here
http://www.iwt.co.uk/customer-care/downloads

The mondeo combination can be used with a lightweight cheval single trailer

maxheadroom

@Dave

But the MAM for the HB403 is 1600kg which is what counts so legal to tow on pre 1997 licence but not for post 1997 without doing the trailer test
Mondeo MAM is 2195Kg, Tow capacity 1800Kg

So the combination would be 3795kg which is is above the MAM of 3500KG permitted on post 1997 Cat B

Alternative would be down plating the trailer which IWT will do but the can only carry lighter horses or getting a lighter trailer.

Or second hiring one of the lightweight horseboxes based on the renault master when required