Looking for my first vehicle

[Donnie]

Will be getting into tree felling within the new year. I'm looking for my first vehicle in the forestry industry. I'm tied between a small van like a Berlingo or a pick up truck like a L200 as I will be going down a lot of forest roads which I know are in most cases horrendous. 

 

If anyones got any photos of there set ups that'd be great also. Cheers. 

[topchippyles]

A Berlingo is not going to be suited to that type of driving is it. Need a 4x4 truck ideally. 

[Donnie]

2 minutes ago, topchippyles said:

A Berlingo is not going to be suited to that type of driving is it. Need a 4x4 truck ideally. 

Yeah I know. I've seen a few forestry guys going about in Connects and Berlingo like vans I was just wondering how well they do on the day to day basis. As the running costs for a pick up is far more than the likes of a Berlingo.

[5thelement]

I had a Berlingo for years, very economical and reliable, unfortunately it’s will loose traction on the slightest wet incline. I used it when cutting on sites with hard woodland tracks. I now have a Defender 90 for all year round access. A 4x4 is essential unless you work with someone who will take your gear in, or you will be humping gear to the cutting site, even harder to hump it all out again after a day on the saw.

You could buy an older Jimny and put some off road tyres on, relatively cheap to purchase and run, they will go just about anywhere.

[Donnie]

49 minutes ago, 5thelement said:

I had a Berlingo for years, very economical and reliable, unfortunately it’s will loose traction on the slightest wet incline. I used it when cutting on sites with hard woodland tracks. I now have a Defender 90 for all year round access. A 4x4 is essential unless you work with someone who will take your gear in, or you will be humping gear to the cutting site, even harder to hump it all out again after a day on the saw.

You could buy an older Jimny and put some off road tyres on, relatively cheap to purchase and run, they will go just about anywhere.

I was considering a Jimny to be fair. I'd just tint the back windows completely blacked out (if that's legal I'm not sure). I'd be looking to spend about 3-5K on a vehicle to start off but I think a pick up at that money would maybe be a dog 😂.

 

I'd hate to take a loan out on a 10-15K pick up when I'm just starting out. 

Edited December 24, 2021 by JDon

[Svts]

What sort of daily mileage will it be doing? The 4x4 pickup looks the part and is occasionally useful. But it takes a heavy toll on your wallet for the occasional benefit. 

A small van will half your fuel costs and make your insurance premium more paletable. Very rarely I put more than £60 a week in my van. But can easily put £120 a week in the 4x4.Personally I hate the cost of running a 4x4 just to save an occasional longer walk in. 

Most woodland roads will be driveable with 2wd ime. 

I've recently been impressed with the Dacia Dusters off road ability. Thinking of stripping the back out of one to use for work. 

 

 

[Donnie]

That I'm yet to find out as I'm waiting to get my tickets. Just need to get everything organized but I'd imagine 60 miles a day on average with a little more if working further away. I know the costs of a pick up would be savage, I planned on working my way towards a pick up in the future and starting off with the likes of a Berlingo. Cheers for the reply. 

[Dan Maynard]

Think @BigJ had/has a Berlingo, sounds like 60 miles a day that's the way to go.

[doobin]

3-5k would buy you a decent ranger. You don’t need a poncemobile. 
 

howevr, decent winter tyres on a normal front wheel drive van like a berlingo might surprise you. 

[Haironyourchest]

Thinking outside the box here: a Transporter or similar, medium sized van, with a tracked mini dumper in the back. Configure the dumper to hold all your gear and keep it all on the dumper. If the track is undrivable, back the dumper out and go the last bit with it. Can go into the trees as well, less walking. Couple of planks for crossing deep trenches etc. Save energy by not carrying your gear, take your gear to the work in one trip instead of two or three. Dumper can even pull trees around, within reason. Plus, you have a mobile base for your stuff, so it doesn't get scattered around the woods and lost.