Horsebox Payloads Explained

Horsebox payloads and axle loading explained

STOP PRESS April 2024:

Kevin Parker has now updated the information and added diagrams.

Payload can be a daunting subject for horsey customers, especially if they are new to horsebox ownership. It is a subject that, unless they are involved in goods transport, heavy bombers or explosive warheads, is unlikely to have crossed their paths before. Unlike buying a car, where weight is never mentioned, payload it is an integral aspect of horsebox ownership. For many customers, staying safe and legal means learning a whole new subject. For customers who need clarification, I have written this to help break down the acronyms and jargon and explain payload in a straightforward way. I will start at the very beginning, with a simplified definition of payload, but only where it relates to a horsebox and not as mentioned above, explosive warheads!

So, as an example, you are looking to buy a 3.5 tonne horsebox, payload is basically the amount of load you can legally add to the empty horsebox without exceeding the 3.5 tonne maximum authorised mass (MAM). Payload includes, amongst other things, water, fuel, people, horses and tack.
 

The importance of Payload
 

Payload is without doubt one of the top priorities in any horsebox search and I cannot emphasize how crucial this point is. Buying something where the payload falls short of your requirements, means you run the risk of going over the allowed MAM and this will expose you to prosecution, it makes your insurance void and puts yourself, your horses, and other road users at risk!
 

A quick explanation of the technical terms and acronyms
 

If you are new to horseboxes and buying your first one, you may never have heard some of the terms or acronyms used. They are certainly complicated and often there are more than a few with the same meaning thrown in to confuse the issue further.

Unladen weight: This is the weight of the horsebox when it is not carrying any passengers, goods or other items. It includes the body and all parts normally used with the vehicle when it’s used on a road. It does not include the weight of fuel or water.

MAM: This is the weight of the horsebox including the maximum load that can be carried safely when it’s being used on the road. This is also known as gross vehicle weight (GVW) or permissible maximum weight (PMW). It will be listed in the owner’s manual and is normally shown on a plate or sticker fitted to the vehicle.

Payload: This is calculated by removing the unladen weight from MAM.
 

A word of weight certificate caution
 

I have been pushing the importance of horsebox payloads for in excess of two decades and it was initially a way for us to give customers confidence and keep them safe and legal. Happily, with a more informed public leading the charge, weight certificates have become almost commonplace. However, I would add a word of caution here, it is unfortunate that for todays customers ‘weight certificate provided’ has become sales catch in adverts, that is unless it is accompanied by an actual payload figure (kg) in the advert. It is used as a sales hook and is way to get customers to visit. At face value it sounds above board, in reality the payload amount (kg) is an essential factor that needs posting in any advert so customers can calculate whether their horses and associated tack will even fit within the MAM.

This information comes with one more word of caution; when weighing, it is common practice for some sellers to remove heavy items like rubber mats or horse partitions to ‘cheat’ on the stated payload. When caught out or questioned they often claim ignorance. My best advice here is take nothing at face value, if you have the slightest doubt whatsoever, weigh the horsebox yourself.  
 

Start your search with a simple horsebox weight calculation
 

When considering the payload you will need in a new horsebox, you must have some context to make an informed decision. So, this is a sensible exercise to show the exact payload you will require and it is the easiest route to staying safe and legal on the road. It works for any size of horsebox and it means you will be armed with indisputable facts.

Starting with an empty horsebox (unladen) with little fuel, no water, no tack and no horses – weigh the horsebox at your local weighbridge making sure you and any passengers are not in the horsebox or on the weighbridge. This will give you the unladen weight.

Next fill the horsebox (laden) with fuel, water, all tack and all the horses you intend to carry and weigh again at your local weighbridge making sure you and any passengers remain in the horsebox. Now you will have figures in kilograms for laden and unladen weight. To do the math, take the unladen weight from the laden weight and this will give you the amount of payload your new horsebox must have as a minimum. You will probably be shocked at the payload you need!
 
It is not always possible to get to the bottom of what you actually need when a weighbridge is not an option. So the next best option that I would advise is to get an approximate handle on what your horses and tack weigh. As an exercise, I asked the ‘horsey community’ the weights of their horses and tack etc. and below I have put together a brief list of approximate item weights for customers to calculate their requirement for their horsebox payload.
 
Horses
 
When discussing payloads I had always used 600kg as an average horse weight. In surveying my customers, I established that horse weights typically range from 430 to 710kg. I calculated the average to be 542kg, however, for my examples when talking to unsure customers I will stick to using 600kg per as an average horse.
 
Fuel
 
Fairly easy to calculate this, as approximately 1ltr of fuel weighs 1kg. As an example an Aeos 4.5 tonne horsebox has a 90ltr fuel tank (giving a range of approximately 692 miles), so a full tank weighs 90kg.
 
Water
 
Again, easy to calculate this as approximately 1ltr of fuel weighs 1kg. As an example, a Weekender 4.5 tonne horsebox has 85 ltr water tank, so full to the brim 85kg of water. This is really an unnecessary amount to carry for every single trip, when all that is really needed for most journeys is enough to water the horses during the trip. It will save weight and fuel costs if you fill up at your destination.
 
Saddles
 
For saddles we usually allow 10kg each and most customers had saddles at this weight or less. One customer had a saddle 20kg plus but for the sake of finding middle ground we will stick with an average of 10kg each.
 
Customers
 
Again, this can be a can of worms with weights ranging from children to adults. Choosing middle ground again we will plump for 80kg each.
 
Hay bale
 
Most said 20 to 23kg each bale, so we will err on the side of caution and say 25kg
 
Shavings bale
 
Most customers said 10kg each bale
 
Assorted equipment
 
This can really be a long list with everything from food and first aid kits to brushes and assorted tack. It would be very difficult to generalise here as most disciplines differ dramatically in the amount and weight of auxiliary equipment. I think it fair to say this needs careful consideration and some weight allowance made.
 

Lightweight horseboxes
 

Many of the issues with overweight horseboxes stem from cost, where cheap manufacturing usually equates to heavy horseboxes with little payload. As a manufacturer, I know all too well that lightweight horseboxes with good payload cost considerably more to manufacture. By designing horseboxes from the ground up, around cutting edge materials and processes, it is possible to manufacture lightweight horseboxes. Although a more expensive route, these materials and processes have many benefits for our own horseboxes. These include added strength, stiffer construction, reduced vibration, reduced noise, improved appearance, added longevity and much reduced corrosion, to name but a few. If you are just starting a search, it is a minefield and my best advice is research thoroughly, ask questions on the forums and social media and check the weight certificate.