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Post by madmum on Dec 3, 2014 20:31:24 GMT
Currently have a Leyland daf but am thinking about upgrading for a slightly newer model. Any tips as to which type of wagon? Please note mechanical terms will not be understood! Thanks
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Post by ponymum on Dec 3, 2014 21:00:11 GMT
Mercedes!
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sues
Junior Member
Posts: 91
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Post by sues on Dec 4, 2014 7:30:10 GMT
Mercedes are brilliant, ours went on for ever! The only down side was when something did go wrong it was rather expensive to put right!!!! We currently have a Citroen which is proving very reliable
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smalley
Full Member
Horses lend us the wings we lack
Posts: 419
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Post by smalley on Dec 4, 2014 7:32:34 GMT
Our mercedes is brilliant, yes parts are expensive but ours is a D reg and is still going strong - It always starts etc
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Post by sjw87 on Dec 4, 2014 8:54:09 GMT
You have to remember that there are two aspects to a box - the chassis and then the box itself.
As far as the chassis goes, I loved the Daf I had and now have a Mercedes. When I was looking to replace the Daf, I looked at a Daf of a very similar age, well looked after but totally different to drive than mine. I love my Merc but some people hate the gearboxes, also not overly cheap to repair. MAN are meant to a good option. Ford Cargo's are love or hate as they are cheap and easy to fix but do tend to rust so often require welding etc to get through plating.
The best bet with a chassis is one with as much service history as possible and if you're not mechanical at all, get a mechanic to look over it prior to buying - there are companies that offer pre purchase horsebox inspections all over the country.
Then you have to consider the box part. How well made it was, how well looked after it has been and how heavy it is. Payload and not being overweight is extremely important and a lot of the older, well made boxes didn't take weight into account so can be very heavy. Replacing the floor/ramp of a horsebox can be costly so if you're not happy to make the observations yourself as to the condition of them, take someone with you who can. Check the bulkhead and walls for strength and see if water is getting in anywhere which could be rotting the body away. Tilt cabs combined with a cut through to the living are notorious for leaking on older boxes so consider if you are prepared to compromise - I opted for cut through with no tilt which means labour is a bit more expensive if it needs work as the seats have to be taken out of the cab to get to the engine bay.
The main thing is, horseboxes can require a bottomless pit of money to get them right if they haven't been looked after, often more than they are worth so if in doubt, get a professional opinion before you buy. There's no point buying a good chassis with an unsafe body or a fantastic body on a chassis that is dying as both would cost thousands to rectify.
Sent from my GT-I9195 using proboards
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Post by hack on Dec 4, 2014 17:47:27 GMT
Will be very interested in this thread, we're currently looking and have been recommended different chassis by different people.
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Post by Philippa on Dec 4, 2014 20:33:12 GMT
Mercedes or Iveco for me. Wouldn't touch a DAF personally. You will find a lot of horse boxes are on DAF chassis due to them being cheap.
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Post by 5874julie on Dec 5, 2014 8:46:59 GMT
just to confuse you we have had two dafs and they have both been excellent and extremely easy to drive!
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Post by gillwales on Dec 5, 2014 9:50:49 GMT
Several years ago I drove a friend's new Mann, it was a lovely box to drive, very smooth and easy to steer. I have no idea about reliability , however I do not recall them telling me of any complaints
Good luck!
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Post by brt on Dec 5, 2014 15:08:38 GMT
I have had Iveco, daf Man and now a Renault Midlum, For me the Renault is by far the more superior of the rest, drives awesomely and the easiest gearbox ever !
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Post by Philippa on Dec 5, 2014 16:09:12 GMT
Lol, its really a personal choice, I had a renault and wouldnt buy another of those either!!!
I suggest you go and try as many different boxes as you possibly can.
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Post by sundance20 on Dec 5, 2014 18:19:26 GMT
We've had a H reg daf and now have an 05 plate, both have been great Also had an M reg iveco which was also good but mum preferred the daf
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Post by jacksprat on Dec 5, 2014 18:48:49 GMT
We had a DAF for 7 years, it never let us down mechanically and is still going strong for its new owner. I do think any wagon is only as good as its history and how well it has been looked after and serviced etc. Ours had over 200,000 miles on the clock but most of these were commercial miles and it has been serviced every 6 weeks
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Post by sofabed on Dec 5, 2014 22:22:42 GMT
Man are brilliant also have bigger Luton so bigger living above ,had daf previously not as good BUT it also depends what the lorry has previously done and how many miles etc also please watch for clocked lorries,there are plenty out there!
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Post by 5874julie on Dec 6, 2014 19:52:35 GMT
based on this thread, i wouldn't rule out anything! i would make a decision based on mechanical soundness for age, then of course the quality of the living! and one that you enjoy driving. if you were buying a new chassis it would be different, but older lorries obviously seem to vary enormously in terms of driveability and reliability.
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Post by madmum on Dec 7, 2014 21:36:33 GMT
Thanks for the replies!
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Post by madmum on Dec 7, 2014 21:39:04 GMT
Thanks for the replies!
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Post by basil12 on Dec 14, 2014 15:53:11 GMT
We had a Leyland and it was great little wagon. Had an Iveco and would never have another!
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Post by andreab71 on Dec 14, 2014 22:07:02 GMT
We have a Mercedes Atego 815, fantastic lorry.
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