3.5t to 7.5t

[Matthew Storrs]

Are you doing full operators license or restricted? 

[topchippyles]

I have done both and if you are going to jump up then go 10 ton and not 7.5 as you will see a huge difference in payloads as you mention and the cost of rinning 7.5 to 10 ton in about the same and all the checks involved, I got away with having to do the HGV as my car licence allowed me to drive one,I was doing a self build at the time so if i ever got stopped the truck was used for private use and was insured on my traders policy so as i was already paying that cost nothing to add it on.

Edited August 29, 2019 by topchippyles

[richy_B]

9 hours ago, Matthew Storrs said:

Are you doing full operators license or restricted? 

restricted.

[richy_B]

9 hours ago, topchippyles said:

I have done both and if you are going to jump up then go 10 ton and not 7.5 as you will see a huge difference in payloads as you mention and the cost of rinning 7.5 to 10 ton in about the same and all the checks involved, I got away with having to do the HGV as my car licence allowed me to drive one,I was doing a self build at the time so if i ever got stopped the truck was used for private use and was insured on my traders policy so as i was already paying that cost nothing to add it on.

The thing about 10t vehicles is their scarcity. Having a quick look now there are no 10t tipper (and only one 12t tipper) within 150 miles of me. 7.5t and 18t toppers are in abundance in comparison. 

 

Easier if you are buying new but I don't have the funds, looking at decent 3 year old, 60-80k vehicles. 

[benedmonds]

I rate the 6 ton iveco's as an arb truck (especially if you have pre 97 drivers), although we have no longer have one as have moved to the 7.5 tonners.

You do get a lot of truck for the money when buying used.  

I have not done a direct cost comparison but the bigger trucks are just better designed to carry the weight

The regular checks are a pain but ensure the trucks are safe.

The MOT is MUCH more involved.

 

 

[richy_B]

22 minutes ago, benedmonds said:

I rate the 6 ton iveco's as an arb truck (especially if you have pre 97 drivers), although we have no longer have one as have moved to the 7.5 tonners.

You do get a lot of truck for the money when buying used.  

I have not done a direct cost comparison but the bigger trucks are just better designed to carry the weight

The regular checks are a pain but ensure the trucks are safe.

The MOT is MUCH more involved.

 

 

If your garage is doing a decent job of the regulars checks you shouldn't be getting many surprises at MOT time though, should you?

[Mark Bolam]

13 hours ago, Jimbo9 said:

Go on then spill the beans.. 

Sorry about my joke mate, couldn't resist.

 

I think judging on what you have said about multiple tip trips etc. you should just go for it.

 

I'm downsizing now after running an overloaded 3.5 tonner for years, but if I was on my way up rather than down I'd go down the 7.5t route no question.

The footprint of the vehicles isn't massively bigger for domestic drives etc. and as Ben says the trucks are built for the job a lot better.

 

I think the O licence thing scares people off a bit, but as someone once said it can't be that difficult because scaffolders do it!

[topchippyles]

3 hours ago, richy_B said:

The thing about 10t vehicles is their scarcity. Having a quick look now there are no 10t tipper (and only one 12t tipper) within 150 miles of me. 7.5t and 18t toppers are in abundance in comparison. 

 

Easier if you are buying new but I don't have the funds, looking at decent 3 year old, 60-80k vehicles. 

If you do go down the 7.5 ton route them think about a roll on roll off rear bed as can leave a bin/bed on the job and still use multiple bins/beds. So handy for loading and unloading,I had one and superb for loading my 2.5 ton excavator.Cost about a grand more but what money worth spend as had 4 rear beds with it for that money.

Edited August 30, 2019 by topchippyles

[richy_B]

2 minutes ago, topchippyles said:

If you do go down the 7.5 ton route them think about a roll on roll off rear bed as can leave a bin on the job and still use other and so handy for loading and unloading,I had one and superb for loading my 2.5 ton excavator.Cost about a grand more but what money worth spend as had 4 rear beds with it for that.

Don't get me started! I'm like a kid with an argos catalogue in November - I need very little encouragement to buy more kit! 

[peatff]

33 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

I think the O licence thing scares people off a bit, but as someone once said it can't be that difficult because scaffolders do it!

 

What do you mean by that ? I know a few scaffolders and one of them can even write his own name.