Advice sought for new Arb business.

[Macaulay]

Hi all,

I have recently got a job as a tree officer on a part time basis 20 hrs a week. So I feel this is the perfect time for me to go self employed. I have been climbing for 5 years and have been to Shuttleworth and Moulton college which I got the FdSc degree in Arboriculture.

 

I have some savings which I intend to buy a van and chipper with. I have been mulling over what the best van for me is and I am leaning towards a double cab transit tipper and a timberwolf tw230.

 

I basically want to pick all your brains for what you think would be the best setup and maybe share the mistakes you made when setting up so I can try to avoid them.

 

Thank you for any help and advice you can give.

[Macaulay]

 

I am thinking of this as I thought I could line the cage and keep my tools in the back seats. Any pros or cons to doing it like this?

[Chris at eden]

If you are going to be working in or around certain cities then I would wait until the toxin tax is released before buying anything that runs in diesel.

[Macaulay]

I read about that. I've not seen any petrol vans for sale I saw an electric one but was a bit dubious. I am based in Bedfordshire so I don't think it should be a problem.

[Chris at eden]

I read about that. I've not seen any petrol vans for sale I saw an electric one but was a bit dubious. I am based in Bedfordshire so I don't think it should be a problem.

 

If you don't go into the cites affected then it shouldn't be a problem. I do unfortunately. You can still go diesel from what I have read but they have to be EU6 compliant engines. This is anything built and registered after 01.09.2015 I believe. i.e. expensive.

[Macaulay]

Ok thanks for that I will bear that in mind. 👍🏻

[eggsarascal]

If you don't go into the cites affected then it shouldn't be a problem. I do unfortunately. You can still go diesel from what I have read but they have to be EU6 compliant engines. This is anything built and registered after 01.09.2015 I believe. i.e. expensive.

 

I thought you will still be able to use older diesel vehicles in the affected cities, but there will be a daily charge of £20?

 

Not that I think it's right mind.

[treequip]

Any pros or cons to doing it like this?

 

Security for one, nothing more than a pane of safety glass between the scotes and your kit. Ditch a seat or 2 and get a security box fitted. The price of security is eternal vigilance

[Al Cormack]

I thought you will still be able to use older diesel vehicles in the affected cities, but there will be a daily charge of £20?

 

 

 

Not that I think it's right mind.

 

 

In London, if your vehicle is not complaint it is £200 a day! You left a nought off Eggs.

 

 

http://www.cormacktreecare.co.uk

[treequip]

Have you considered the conflict of interest angle?

 

I can see plenty of scope for contractors to get rubbed up the wrong way and terms like gamekeeper turned poacher or conflict of interest drifting about.

 

Make sure your employer know about it or you could be buying a van and a huge headache at the same time.