Ready for the road

Alex Robinson speaks to industry experts who advise on how to ensure your horsebox is fi t for the road post-lockdown

- Alex Robinson

YOUR lorry has probably spent much of this year standing in the driveway with little to no use. But as competitions gather momentum, it’s vital to ensure your vehicle is in full working order so you don’t encounter any problems on your travels.

Charles Oakley from Oakley Horseboxes recommends that all lorries have their mechanics and bodywork serviced, as many will have been left idle for the past six months.

“Horseboxes have numerous moving parts, and over time with no use they can seize up,” says Charles. “But this can be rectified with a body service. We check everything from ramp and partition operations to horse area floor safety. We check all appliance operations such as electrical, heating and hot water systems, batteries and generator. If your box is made of a higher quality material – such as stainless steel, which doesn’t corrode – things might not have deteriorated as much as they might do on a more economical build.”

Brian Burton from Essex Vehicle Inspection agrees that when a lorry has been left idle for a long period of time without maintenance, some of the parts can start to stick.

“The main things to check are the tyres, tyre sidewalls for cracking, and brakes for binding,” says Brian. “Check the handbrake, too, as this can get sticky, though moving the vehicle every couple of weeks should stop this. If you are unable to move the box then run a trickle charge on the battery to stop it going flat.