Horse & Hound, one of the leading equestrian resources in the UK, recently published an online article offering tips for buying used horseboxes. The advice offered is common sense that can be applied to purchasing any used vehicle. We would like to share some of those tips with you in this post.
Keep in mind that the law tightly regulates the safety of horseboxes and horsebox trailers. Before you put a used horsebox on the road, it needs to be checked and certified for roadworthiness. Having said that, here are some of the more important tips offered by Horse & Hound:
- Tyres – The law is very clear about the safety of tyres for all vehicles, including HGV horseboxes, trailers, and tow vehicles. Tyres must be free from any side damage and must possess at least 1.6 mm of tread depth across 75% of the surface.
- Engine – Not only is the engine one of the most critical parts of the vehicle, it is also the least understood by most drivers. You should inspect the vehicle when it’s cold, to see how well the engine starts. A warm engine is too easy to pass off as reliable. Also, check under the vehicle for oil leaks.
- Body and Cab – The body and cab should be checked for excessive corrosion. A rusty vehicle is one that likely has other problems as well. Along those same lines, make sure the transport area has solid floors and walls for the safety of your horses.
- Gauges, Lights and Horn – In order for your horsebox to be considered roadworthy, the horn and all gauges and lights need to be working properly. Check them at the time of purchase. If there are any problems, insist these be fixed before you buy.
Horse & Hound recommends you arrange for a test drive if possible. This will enable you to check the performance of the vehicle more carefully. It also recommends a professional inspection prior to purchase. There are a lot of things to consider that you might not think about when you are looking over the vehicle yourself.
Horsebox Training
Individuals purchasing their first horsebox need to know the unladen weight of the vehicle as well as the combined weight of the vehicle and a full load of horses. If the combined weight is in excess of 7.5 tonnes, the driver will need a special licence to operate.
Here at the HGV Training Centre, we can train you to earn that licence in just a few weeks. Our comprehensive training prepares you for your road test at an approved facility. We will even send a trainer with you to the test. We do everything we can to make sure you pass the first time. It is just how we operate.
The HGV Training centre also provides commercial driver training for all classes of commercial vehicles. We train individual and company drivers at more than 45 facilities throughout the UK.
Sources:
Horse & Hound Magazine – http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/features/15-checks-make-horsebox/
