Pick up truck Vs tipper Vs panel van

[Tommygunn1992]

Hi,

 

I'm looking to get my first vehicle and was looking to get some advice, I know similar topics have been covered before so apologies if you feel like your repeating what's been said previously.

 

I'm employed full time and I don't see that changing for a little while but I take on a fair chunk of my own stuff doing arb work, grounds maintenance and landscaping and not sure what would best suit my needs. I only have about £3k which I could either use to buy something outright to tide me over until I do eventually go out on my own or use as a deposit for a finance truck maybe around £8k.

 

My work can range from large tree jobs to grass cutting or block paving so I need a van that works for all. So my question is, what would you do?

[doobin]

I presume this is to be a second vehicle? If so, I vote for tipper, if you need to remove waste or transport materials. Get a micro on the back easily also. 
 

otherwise a pickup is a good all rounder. No easy answer, that’s why I have one of each. 

[Mick Dempsey]

3.5 tonne tipper.

[difflock]

A "no brainer" thattun is.

[Will C]

4x4/van and a 3.5t  tipping trailer gives far better payload than a 3.5t tipper 

[Mick Dempsey]

A tipping trailer costs as much as a half decent 3.5 tonne tipper.

[Will C]

True Mick but a decent ifor or Brian James trailer won’t lose much value over 3-5 years. If you have the funds I think it’s a viable option as you also have a sensible truck or van when you don’t need the trailer. And you can save one lot of insurance and tax.

[Mick Dempsey]

(Gotta get the wife’s Christmas present so must not get dragged into this!)

 

It’s an option, but his budget is limited, so from a financial and business sense it’s not the best one IMO.

 

 

 

 

Edited December 24, 2021 by Mick Dempsey

[JaySmith]

I’ve used many vehicles over the years but IMO a proper tipper truck is worth it’s weight in gold rather than a 4x4 tipper (depending on your work, where you can tip and how much gear you take away). If you did have a pickup you’ll always wish you’d of got a full size truck. I’ve got an L200 and used to borrow a friends Ifor tipper trailer to do privates but the thing is you never have enough room and always wish you had more, some times I’d end up spending too much time running to tip off when I could have been more productive on-site . The problem with the UK pickup tippers is the boxes are sooo small by comparison to a real tree truck and a decent chipper will end up making a mess all over the ground. Also a decent racked out transit tipped can hold all of the climbing kit, saws, rakes, poles etc. If 80% of your work is off road or in woodlands then I would consider a 4x4. I’m sure others will disagree but for me a transit/cabstar/Isuzu tipper would always win. Depending on your location and if you are outside of the ULEZ there should be some good deals about as people swap their current vans for the new Euro 6.

[doobin]

54 minutes ago, Will C said:

True Mick but a decent ifor or Brian James trailer won’t lose much value over 3-5 years. If you have the funds I think it’s a viable option as you also have a sensible truck or van when you don’t need the trailer. And you can save one lot of insurance and tax.

Got to have somewhere to keep it, and keep it safe. Big drawback for many. 
 

Plus  they are daft money currently, and less physical capacity if you’re not going to be carrying heavy stuff.