Thinking about changing my tipper at present have a iveco crew cab been great but time for a change thinking about a transit 350 front wheel drive what you think

[Norrie Sloan tree services]

Transit tipper front wheel drive appost to rear wheel drive?

 

 

 

 

 

[s o c]

Can’t see fwd being any good on grass, especially with weight on back and/or towing chipper.

Also, would drives take as much punishment as rwd set up?

[maybelateron]

I would definitely avoid front wheel drive - bad enough unloaded on loose gravel etc for uphill start, well nigh impossible if towing when unloaded.

Years ago a chap with a Citroen Relay tipper worked with me. I was often having to tow him off the grass.

 

I would imagine a rear axle copes better with transmission forces than drive shafts with CV joints, but I am not a professional mechanic.

 

One of my beefs with so many 3.5 tonners is the inadequate clutch. I have a new shape Iveco Daily, 146 bhp, great power on the move, good c section chassis less prone to rust, but the clutch is dire on hillstarts with a load or towing. Same applied to my previous LDV Convoy I had from new. The commercial garage I used said Transit clutches were no better.

 

One of my subbies has a 12 year old Izuzu 3.5T tipper, plenty of grunt with a clutch to match.

[Conor Wright]

Had both front and rear drive transits, going back about 10 years. Both gave trouble! I reckon they are only good buys when new.
rwd was better to pull with weight. Fwd drove better when semi laden, very poor with a trailer off tarmac.
Decent tyres makes.a.massive difference, as does parking up with your drive wheels on a half sheet of ply, getting a bit of motion going before hitting the slippery stuff is the difference in going home or going for the winch!

[bankhouse builder]

I personally wouldn't go for the front wheel drive unless you are solely on tarmac . I agree with the previous comments regarding the clutches on my 3rd transit now, mk6 crewcab and been the worst for clutches had 3 in 10 years/120,000miles only had one in each of the previous 2 doing the same amount of work and loading and same driver. I also do less towing with this one. I would be interested in peoples opinions on the Isuzu or Nissan nt400 they look like proper little trucks. Another point is that the engines are getting smaller a lot now have 2ltr in them I have seen a transit at 18 months having one replaced I think they are trying to get too much out of a smaller engine something has to give.