4x4 pick ups

[Ratman]

This is a conversation I had with a colleague yesterday. What is going to be on offer vehicle wise for the industry in the near future with Diesel engines seemingly
shrinking in power output. If 4x4 is a genuinely needed option, for the smaller trader is an underpowered pick up tipper the only option if Iveco, Merc, MAN, DAF’s are twice the price.
Will we see Defender tdi’s and RB44’s used more and more. These workhorses all get a fair amount of stick, if you are buying now and it’s a longish term investment, what do you go for?
Cheers
I

I think the emission regs and bollocks rulings on diesels etc are going to force you guys in to buying full on commercial vehicles, or the likes of fastrack vehicles.

[Ratman]

You guys are a niche market and require power for / with weight. Your gona struggle the more they press at vehicles / manufacturing cos of emission shite, tractors are marvellous pieces of kit, but they are restricted by roads and slow!!! You need a fine balance, but unfortunately your not high up in the manufacturers listings, hence your been squeezed on your choices. Its a tricky one.

[Mark Bolam]

43 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

It’s a trap I fell into Mark, one vehicle that does it all, off road ability, tipping and looking smart.

 

Find the actual capacity, then reduce it by a fifth (what you can fit in in real life) understand it’ll drive like a drunken hippo fully laden, then you realise that it’s not compatible with real life tree work.

To be fair Mick, it would tick a lot of boxes for me about half the time.

Then there’s the other half....

I think it would be a handy additional vehicle, though.

The future of diesels would seriously influence me if I’m honest.

If I was going to chuck £25-£30k at something I’d want 10 years out of it, and is that really going to happen?

[Matthew Storrs]

4 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

To be fair Mick, it would tick a lot of boxes for me about half the time.

Then there’s the other half....

I think it would be a handy additional vehicle, though.

The future of diesels would seriously influence me if I’m honest.

If I was going to chuck £25-£30k at something I’d want 10 years out of it, and is that really going to happen?

Exactly why I keep my 20 yr old defender going- can’t find anything new on the market that I can see my self with in 10 let alone 20 years. Just kinda waiting to see what happens with all this diesel stuff 

[Yorkshire Brummie]

Exactly why I keep my 20 yr old defender going- can’t find anything new on the market that I can see my self with in 10 let alone 20 years. Just kinda waiting to see what happens with all this diesel stuff 

Matthew I’ve had 2 of them over the years and let them both go. For all the reasons discussed countless times on various threads - cramped cab, breakdown, high maintenance......
but you can’t argue that they are great workhorses and for now in my opinion nothing on the market that has the same gearing to get you out of a pickle!
Cheers
I

[JonnyRFT]

Mine serves me very well. Not a full Arb conversion as it needs to take loader attachments too but when I get uprated springs then it’ll be perfect. The extra cab takes all the tools albeit stacked to the roof. Tows like a train providing you don’t try and cruise in 6th gear.

[jackrs1]

This is ours it’s a full conversion

[tonytree]

Remember if you do get one I’d definitely get air bag suspension on the leaf springs as the mud flaps scrape the tyres when loaded.

[jackrs1]

We just fitted them a few weeks ago and it makes a massive difference[emoji1303]

[Mark Bolam]

5 hours ago, jackrs1 said:

This is ours it’s a full conversion

Looks smart Jack.

How are you finding it in day-to-day arb work?