3.5t or 5/6t ?

[Con]

Van packed in a few weeks ago. Got box and tool pod off it and put them on an older transit to get me through Xmas. 

Long term, debating  another 3.5 or 5/6.

Advantages, carry more, less trips, not the worry of overload. 

Disadvantages, more expensive to run, access etc. Is insurance more? Is there anything else I should consider? Thanks 

[Mark Bolam]

‘O’ licence compliance?

[andy ellis]

tacographs,6-8 week inspections and there are fewer places that mot that size stuff, the 3.5t vans are always overweight though , no such thing as a perfect set up i guess, hilux and 3.5t trailer is great for logs/green waste//weight and if you have more vehicles to tow the chipper chippings aswell

Edited November 16 by andy ellis
missed a word

[Con]

4 hours ago, andy ellis said:

tacographs,6-8 week inspections and there are fewer places that mot that size stuff, the 3.5t vans are always overweight though , no such thing as a perfect set up i guess, hilux and 3.5t trailer is great for logs/green waste//weight and if you have more vehicles to tow the chipper chippings aswell

I've got my digital tacho. But only used it working for someone.  Is the procedure for submitting straight forward?  All electronic? 

[richy_B]

I went for 7.5 tonners as I didn't want to worry about being overloaded every day. I know everyone does it but if you get stopped by DVSA or, worse case, in a crash and weighed, you will be in serious trouble.

 

Nearly every arb wagon I see will be coming home at 4.5t so 100% court summons if you encounter police. 

 

My 7.5tonners are probably 50% more expensive per year to run but we save time/can do than if we were using 3.5t vehicles. 

[andy ellis]

22 hours ago, Con said:

I've got my digital tacho. But only used it working for someone.  Is the procedure for submitting straight forward?  All electronic? 

i have no idea to be honest ,ive gone gone down the hilux tippers/trailer route as i felt the 7.5t route would be too expensive especially as none of my team team have the license, 

[parkertrees]

if you CAN, id go HGV. 

 

like @richy_B said, every 3.5 ton tipper on the road is overweight. 

 

I bought a 7ton daily with a big body (11.5 m3) on it, and it happens to have built in scales. with 2 men in, chainaws in the locker its 3.7 ton empty. Brim the body with chip and its 7ton bang on. 

 

the idea of running a 3.5ton one legally is virtually impossible unless you chip a bin full and go tip lol.

O licence really isnt that much aggro, and insurance isn't bad either, only stumbling block is drivers, but if your a small team its not an issue. 

 

 

[Con]

1 hour ago, parkertrees said:

if you CAN, id go HGV. 

 

like @richy_B said, every 3.5 ton tipper on the road is overweight. 

 

I bought a 7ton daily with a big body (11.5 m3) on it, and it happens to have built in scales. with 2 men in, chainaws in the locker its 3.7 ton empty. Brim the body with chip and its 7ton bang on. 

 

the idea of running a 3.5ton one legally is virtually impossible unless you chip a bin full and go tip lol.

O licence really isnt that much aggro, and insurance isn't bad either, only stumbling block is drivers, but if your a small team its not an issue. 

 

 

Decided I'm going for it. O licence application in. I do 90% of the driving anyway. So that won't be an issue. Probably get out of a bit of heavy work, if anything. 

[Ty Korrigan]

I'm due a new truck in 2025 and am looking to escape the 3.5t trap.

I run overloaded for about 30min most days and whilst that might not seem much it would salve my conscience to be legal for that short drive.

So taking advantage of a rainy day, I visited Man trucks this week.

Looked at the 5t tippers they had lined up ready for a telecoms company.

They do a 5.5t as well which is weird and I asked the difference between the two.

Dealer doesn't know, not sold a 5.5t yet but the price jumps by around 5k

These are basically VW Crafters rebranded and also seem similar to the Mercedes Sprinter.

Good ground clearance unlike the Isuzu/Fuso trucks, lot's of under seat storage, fancy tablet, reversing camera, tool pod, cone carrier, side tool boxes.

2 litre engine 163hp twin turbo.

Any thoughts on these?

Waiting on prices now.

[aspenarb]

On 17/11/2024 at 16:57, Con said:

Decided I'm going for it. O licence application in. I do 90% of the driving anyway. So that won't be an issue. Probably get out of a bit of heavy work, if anything. 

 

Its worth studying the rule book, PMI's can be stretched out to 8 or 12 weekly intervals if the mileage is low, low is comparative to something like a 7.5 tonner on mulitidrops that runs around the clock with multiples of drivers,worth considering because all PMI's from April of next year need to include a laden brake test. In our game because driving is only a small proportion of the days work the drivers hours can be recorded in a drivers hours book rather than the digi card or analogue disc. All these need to be put into order before you turn a wheel.

 

Bob