Horse boxes

[borderbilly]

Following a horse box this morning, and got me wondering. The driver couldn't see behind as the box was wide. Should they be advised to use towing mirrors. If I was towing a horse box I certainly would. Your thoughts on this.

 

[Ukdave2002]

You need to be able to see clearly 4 metres to each side and 20 metres behind the rear of your vehicle, if they can achieve this they don't require towing mirrors.

 

[borderbilly]

Just read up on this, you do need mirrors, probably some country yokel.

 

[JTQ]

Might have an electronic rear view camera system?
Hard to see just the one cm diameter lenes needed these days, peering at you.

 

[borderbilly]

95% of horse boxes are towed by women up here as its right horsey country. The one's driving the 3.5 tonners are the worst, they don't like it when you over take them when they are peedling along at 30MPH.

 

[Sam Vimes]

Following a horse box this morning, and got me wondering. The driver couldn't see behind as the box was wide. Should they be advised to use towing mirrors. If I was towing a horse box I certainly would. Your thoughts on this.

Perhaps it depends on which way the horse is facing. It could act as a look out

 

[borderbilly]

Perhaps it depends on which way the horse is facing. It could act as a look out

🤣 unfortunately it was looking forward.

 

[Dustydog]

Might have an electronic rear view camera system?
Hard to see just the one cm diameter lenes needed these days, peering at you.

Perhaps but isn’t the point of extending door mirrors to see , say a cyclist , motor bike in your blind spot . The camera on the rear of the box doesn’t cover the car or box side

 

[Kevin M]

We see a lot of horse boxes locally and always treat overtaking with caution so as not to spook the horse.

 

[borderbilly]

I dont, I just fly past them as they are a PITA.

 

[Kevin M]

I dont, I just fly past them as they are a PITA.

Fantastic attitude

 

[Johnb]

I dont, I just fly past them as they are a PITA.

I hope you sound your horn as well. May as well do the job properly.

 

[borderbilly]

Fantastic attitude

Well if they showed some courtesy and pull in, like farmers do and let you pass, i would respect them a lot more.

 

[ProfJohnL]

The law requires that the driver must have a prescribed rearward view of their vehicle and trailer. It does not prescribe that that view must be provided by extension mirrors. However when towing with most combinations of car and caravan, the standard mirrors or rear view system cannot provide the prescribed view, so extension mirrors are usually (but not always) necessary. The law in this matter does not differentiate between the purpose of the trailer.

I am however highly upset at some of the views expressed in this thread. they are bigoted and inflammatory and directed a perfectly legitimate type of road user. Why this was started and allowed to be perpetuated in a caravanning forum topic area for "Caravanning" I do not know.

Even if it was meant to be a humorous topic, it misses that mark by a country mile, and I think it should be removed completely. It is totally inappropriate.

For the record I do not tow horse boxes, I am just appalled at the hypocrisy shown but forum members.

 

[Mel]

Moderator note.
I did see Borderbillys comment and considered whether to let it stand. I took it as a daft remark designed to ruffle some feathers. Over moderating is as risky as under moderating so, on this occasion, left it. Should the comments intensify they will be removed.
Can I suggest we just ignore it and return to the towing mirror discussion.
Mel

 

[Buckman]

I thought the initial post was a light hearted comment. It is just as bad being stuck behind a driver that dithers all over the place not knowing if they are going to turn left or right, is doing 20mph in a 60mph zone and then when entering a 30mph zone speeds up! Plonker!

 

[Sam Vimes]

When I first saw those comments I thought the same as Mel but decided to let it run anyway - even adding my own 'daft' comment.

Maybe some members would be wise to take note of Plato before posting some fatuous comments.

But then that would spoil some of the fun sometimes

 

[borderbilly]

Well I thought the forum had got a little flat, just trying to brighten it up.

 

[Gafferbill]

......anyone driving the roads today and puts safety first knows there are some appalling drivers around.
Towing a caravan will quickly bring that to your attention and I'm sure drivers towing horseboxes experience much the same.

 

[Guzzilazz]

Having towed a horsebox trailer many years ago and for many miles, don't criticise until you have been in their shoes. One thing you have to remember is that the cargo is up to a ton of live animal, and they DO NOT stand still. Even with a Scott Stabiliser fitted (that's all that was available then) they could make the trailer move around, and cornering is nowhere near as easy as with a caravan. Back in the day we moved on to a 7.5 tonne truck based horsebox within a couple of years.

 

[Beachball]

When I see a horsebox on a road , always give them a wide berth take it slow when passing 🙏

 

[Buckman]

When I see a horsebox on a road , always give them a wide berth take it slow when passing 🙏

I think the idea is to get past them as quickly and safely as possible as there may be cars behind you that would also like to overtake the horse box while the road is clear?

 

[JTQ]

For obvious reasons horsebox trailers take corners way slower than we and solo drivers would normally do. However, the bit that I notice is some then "gun" it on any straight bit, with their width & length making it with our towed unit very challenging to safely overtake them.
Possibly they sense their road block issue and think it is mitigated by really getting a move on when they can. I actually would prefer they drive enabling overtaking when they can.
But we can often be thought of in much the same light.