Usually, a full-size Scania that is registered as a livestock truck doesn’t look anything like this. It’s best described as a high-end motorhome with a separate rear compartment for transporting a number of horses safely and comfortably, in this case created by the Stephex Group from Belgium.
The absolute top models of the Stephex STX line of horsetrucks roll on a Scania, Volvo, or Mercedes-Benz chassis-cab with a 6×2*4 drivetrain (a 6×2 axle configuration with a counter-steering tag axle, standard on big motorcoaches). Their transport capacity varies from four to nine horses. When more capacity is needed, a matching STX center-axle trailer can be coupled to the truck.
According to its vehicle registration, the curb weight of the Scania horsetruck I caught at a show last April is 19,730 kg (43,500 lbs), while its GVWR is 27,800 kg (61,290 lbs).
Right after the truck’s arrival, things started to unfold before my eyes rather quickly.
If you want to see the whole picture, you can watch this recent Stephex YouTube video.
Now how does the Van Leeuwen family earn a living? By collecting and hauling horse manure with a fleet of big rigs as magnificent and immaculate as their horsetruck…
Really interesting transportation. I am sure that these are quite expensive. There is nothing here in The U.S. to compare to these. Thanks for the essay.
That would be a ‘horse trailer with living quarters’ in the US, I guess. Like this one:
https://www.fthr.com/product/horse-trailers/living-quarters/model-9808/
These look like they pamper both the horses and the people. Quite an interesting and expensive looking rig! I wonder how well it does with separating the smells …
They’ve looked into that aspect thoroughly, as horses have a highly developed sense of smell.
hehehehehehehehehehe
That’s extremely impressive! My daughter rides horses (no, we don’t own one), so I tend to eye horse trailers when I see them. I’ve never seen anything like this. The really big and affluent outfits will sometimes have tractor-trailers with air-conditioned trailers for the horses, but even that is pretty rare.
A few months ago I saw a very elaborate-looking all-black tractor-trailer combination with an air-conditioned livestock trailer. It was unusual looking, especially being completely black with no markings. As I got closer, I saw that it had US Army license plates – so I assume it belongs to the US Army Caisson Platoon, which provides the horses used for burials of military dignitaries at Arlington National Cemetery. The horses themselves are kept near the cemetery, and also at Ft. Belvoir, about 20 miles away. So the Army does move the horses around, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they move them elsewhere occasionally too. Anyway, that was the most impressive horse trailer I’ve seen recently, but nothing like this Stephex!
At the other end of the spectrum, still a genuine Stephex STX horsetruck though…
In looking at their website, I noticed that the Stephex Group sells (and assembles) vehicles in North America – both the horsetrucks and vans. Here’s one with a Kenworth cab. Didn’t know about that.
…me neither, but that’s one sweet US-STX!
Wow, that’s a monster. I assume it has the DC16 730 hp V8 – that should get the horses to the show in plenty of time.
Correct Jim, some horses in the rear compartment and 730 underneath the cab.
and I thought Europe had narrow road, or at least did, when I saw Holland and Belgium in 1976.
The heaviest and biggest trucks and combination vehicles must be capable of handling the narrowest roads and yards. Think collecting fresh milk (or horse manure, see last picture) and delivering animal feed, for example. Which requires dedicated, professional drivers with suitable equipment.
Most likely part of the Van Leeuwen steel pipe & tubing empire. https://www.vanleeuwen.com/about-us/history
Doing the horse shows are their recreational activities.
This Van Leeuwen family (see horsetruck’s mud flap and the truck/trailer in the last picture): https://paardenmestcontainers.nl/
Seems like a crappy way to make a living.
Indeed. The owner of the rig below, working in the same line of business, points that out on the trailer’s left cargo door and on the mud flap.
Still no doubt related to the steel family.
Because?